THREAT TO AP - PDP, ACN, CPCin war of words

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 61835

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Ansaru 7: UK, Greece.

Italy confirm hostages' — P. 8 death

2015: ‘Abuja opponents scheme to discredit —P.12 Amaechi’

T H R E AT T O A P C :

PDP, ACN, CPC in war of words

ACN, CPC accuse PDP of sabotage We've received application for another APC —INEC Yerima's arrest, move to clamp down on opposition—ACN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE AWARD

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

L

AGOS — THE parties in the fledgling All Progressive Congress, APC, were last night engaged in a war of words with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged plans by the ruling party to sabotage their merger.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, were furious over what they claimed to be plans by the PDP to sponsor the Continues on Page 5

•P.17 COLUMNISTS:

DELE SOBOWALE •P.32

LES LEBA •P.40

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P. 45

Mr & Mrs

Women's rights advocate, Dr. Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin (middle) of Nigeria being congratulated by U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry (right) and U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama, after Odumakin received the International Women of Courage award at the State Department, in Washington, DC, last Friday. PHOTO: AFP.

Police kill 7 robbers in Lagos —P.7

PIB not a witch-hunt —P. 9 —Mark C M Y K

2— Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—3

C M Y K

4— Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

VISIT: Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero during his visit

to commiserate with the Emir on his return from medical treatment over a recent attack on his convoy, at the Emir's palace, Kano, yesterday.

APC: PDP, ACN, CPC in war of words Continues from Page 1

registration of a new party to be known as the African Peoples Congress, APC. The new political association with the same acronym with the mega opposition party, it was alleged, is being sponsored to deny the mega opposition party registration before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The PDP in a reaction denied the claim, saying it would not be held liable for the negligence and incompetence of the merger parties it described as “our grossly inferior opponents.”

The plan by the opposition political parties to merge into APC ran into trouble on account of the proposal for the registration of

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

What we worship determines who we become. If we worship money…we become greedy. If we worship sex…we become lustful.

If we worship knowledge...we become puffed up.

If we worship power…we become corrupt If we worship Jesus…we become Christ-like! — Mensah Otabil

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

T

HE beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them — Thomas Merton.

JoyBell C, says it beautifully: “You can talk with someone for years, everyday, and still, it won’t mean as much as what you can have when you sit in front of someone, not saying a word, yet you feel that person with your heart, you feel like you have known the person for forever.... connections are made with the heart, not with speech.

"Just imagine to be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow — this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.”

In these sage sayings by George Elliot, I find a great solace and hope for anyone whose heart is full of love and is ready for a beautiful new adventure in love’s wonderland.

Sometimes things become possible if we want them deeply enough.

another party to be known as the African Peoples Congress. The sponsors of the new party could not be identified last night.

Registration remains open —INEC INEC officials contacted on the matter, yesterday, said registration remained open to either of the two parties which first met its conditions for registration.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. K ayode Idowu, confirmed that the commission received a proposal for the registration of the African Peoples Congress, APC, last week but would not confirm the identity of the sponsors.

Asked of the implications, Idowu said the fate of the two proposals would depend on the provisions of the law.

He said: “What the law requires is that if a group applies and the law has already provided for things to be met, like a checklist, it is not a matter of INEC cherry picking or preferences. There is a checklist and once a group meets that checklist, any group that meets that checklist is registered with that name."

Asked if two parties

could bear the same acronym, Idowu said: “That is what I said, I doubt it, I doubt it, but the point I am making is that it is an application and whoever meets the conditions first gets registered."

ACN, CPC finger PDP The ACN and the CPC were, however, not hesitant in identifying the PDP as sponsor of the new party which they claimed was being pushed as a deliberate effort to deny their mega party registration.

“If INEC refuses to register the All Progressives Congress, APC, when all the legal requirements have been met, the protest in Tahrir Square in Egypt will be a child’s play compared to what we will do at the Eagle Square,” the ACN’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said in a statement, yesterday.

“We say this because we are aware that the PDP, which is mortally afraid of the rise and rise of the APC, is behind the phantom African Peoples Congress which has applied to INEC for registration, in an effort to instigate an acronym crisis and give INEC a reason, if it needs any, not to register the All Progressives Congress.

“But we will like to warn that if indeed

INEC has not merged with the PDP, as one of our leaders, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has brilliantly said, then we do hope that the electoral body, which by the way is not unaware of the All Progressives Congress as the authentic APC, will not succumb to the evil machinations of the apprehensive PDP. “It is a PDP plan in collusion with INEC but we will not take it lightly with them and all their plans will come to nothing. Indeed, we are very much aware of that and it won't work, it will fail. We are just watching the INEC as an umpire to check them.

“We have already given indication and the whole world has heard us that we are APC and if they are trying to bring in another APC it won't work.”

PDP denies allegations But denying any involvement of the PDP in the alleged plans, the party ’s national publicity secretar y, Chief Olisa Metuh, told Vanguard, yesterday: “The PDP is totally unaware of the status of the APC registration.

We are unconcerned and completely unperturbed. In the words of our Board of Trustees’ chairman 'we wish them well'.

“PDP cannot be held liable for any negligence and/or incompetence on the part of our grossly inferior opponents.”

The legacy parties in the APC announced their plans for merger on February 6, 2013 and forwarded a formal letter to INEC to that effect on March 6.

Mohammed was, however, insistent last night that INEC had a constructive knowledge of their proposal since

last month when they made their intentions known.

Yerima's arrest, move to clamp down on opposition The ACN, meanwhile, has flayed Saturday ’s arrest of Senator Ahmed Yerima, describing the action of the security agencies in Kaduna as a demonstration of the administration's plans to clamp down on the opposition.

The party ’s s p o k e s m a n , Mohammed in a statement said the arrest of Senator Yerima for alleged incitement was indicative of the fact that the administration is jittery.

The party said Senator Yerima did not say anything extraordinary by threatening a protest, because protests are an integral part of liberal democracy and cannot be wished away or banned by anyone.

The party said it expects more arrests, investigations by anticorruption agencies and other acts aimed at intimidating its leaders in the weeks and months ahead, but warned the Federal Government to make sure it had enough prison space to accommodate those it plans to arrest.

Mohammed said: "After all, it is generally believed that the recent redeployment of Police Commissioners in the states was done in readiness for the pre2015 clampdown on the opposition.

"We know the arrest of Senator Yerima is just a tip of the iceberg, as the PDP-controlled Federal Government gets ready to bare its fangs. But we must warn that fascism can never prevail over liberal democracy.’’

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Navy parades 9 suspected oil thieves

How mistress allegedly drugged, robbed 80-yr-old pastor

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— THE Nigerian Navy weekend paraded nine oil bunkering suspects at Bonny, Rivers State.

Commander, Forward Operating Base, FOB, Bonny, Captain Chukwuemeka Okafor said the suspects were arrested on board a vessel when his men were on water patrol at fairway buoy, Bonny channel, adding that the vessel had 820 tonnes of diesel and it had no certified document authorising it to operate on the Nigerian waterways.

“The Navy arrested the vessel on January 28, and had finished its preliminary investigation and found it necessary that the vessel has more answers to provide as to what she was doing at the place she was arrested, the product she was carrying and her documents in line with regulations of the Nigeria maritime environment.”

Delta impounds 200 Okadas

A

SABA – NO fewer than 200 commercial motorcycles have been impounded

by Delta Government for operating in the state in defiance of the November 1, 2012, ban on them.

The motorcycles, popularly known as “okada”, were rounded up in Asaba between November 2012 and March 7.

Mr Benson Igbakpa, Commissioner in-charge of the Directorate of Transport, said in Asaba that the offence attracts a fine of N10,000 each.

Delta government had in June 2012, announced the ban on commercial motorcycle operation in major towns, including Asaba, Warri and Effurun, with effect from November 1, 2012 The commissioner said that between July 2012 and March, 595 vehicles were impounded for various traffic rules violation in Asaba.

He also said during the period, officials of the directorate impounded 904 commercial vehicles, comprising cars, buses and tricycles for parking at unauthorised places.

He, however, said that 80 of the vehicles had been released to their owners, adding that 72 of them were impounded for wrongful parking.

BY UJU MBANUSI

L

AGOS—AN 80-year-old pastor with a church in Shomolu, Lagos, Godwin Faworinshe, has allegedly been drugged and robbed by his 49-year-old mistress, Funmilola Adesanya.

A distraught Faworinshe from Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State, told a magistrate court in Yaba that his Ikorodu, Lagos-born mistress added sleeping pills to his medication and bolted with his money after he fell into a deep sleep.

In his testimony in the court, Faworinshe said that he had promised to give Funmilola some money to enable her start a new business but that she was not patient enough.

He said: "On that fateful day, I went out in the morning, Funmilola probably thought that I had gone to the bank to collect some huge amount of money. When I got back around 11am, I requested that she give me my medications. I have been on some prescribed medications due to ailments attributed to old age.

"One of the reasons I asked her to move in with me was to help me with cooking and household chores. I have a wife who is currently in my house at Ago-Iwoye, but she is old, so I had to engage Funmi to take care of me. She had always administered the medicines to me. Albeit, without my knowledge, she added some sleeping pills to my medicine that morning and immediately I took it, I slept off till she got the chance to take my bag and the money I had in the bag. The amount she took was N172,000.

Thereafter, she ran out of the house.”

The pastor further told the court that around 4pm, some of his tenants, who noticed that he had been sleeping for a longer period than he usually did during the day started banging on his door, calling “Baba! Baba!! Baba!!!”

When they discovered that the door was not locked, they opened it and found him in deep sleep; they had to pour water on him before he woke.

Not able to explain what happened to him, he asked for Funmi, his mistress, but one his of tenants told him that he saw her going out in the morning hours. He searched his room and discovered that the N172,000 he kept in his bag was missing; that was when he suspected that he must have been drugged and robbed by his mistress.

Arms surrendered by militants at Ibeno jetty, Akwa Ibom State. Photo: NAN.

The matter was reported to the Bariga police station and Funmi was arrested 13 days later in Ikorodu.

Funmilola has, however, denied adding any sleeping pills to Faworinshe’s medicine that morning or stealing his money. She told the court that Godwin had given her the money to go to Ikorodu and take care of her ailing child.

She added that their relationship had been having some challenges, one of which was

Faworinshe’s non-chalant attitude towards the upkeep of her children. A responsibility he did not want to carry.

In her words: “I had told Baba that one of my children was ill, but he did not want to do anything about it, he would always ask me, do you want to bring the responsibility of another man’s children to me?’ This is one of the reasons I want to opt out. Godwin is only accusing me because he must have felt bad

with the thought of me leaving him”.

Information provided by the police, however, showed that the accused had earlier in her statement after she was arrested, admitted committing the crime.

Her lawyer pleaded that the matter be resolved amicably out of court. The case was adjourned, while the accused was granted bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Grandfather jailed for stealing cash, cloths

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE – AN Owo Chief Magistrate court has jailed a 63-year-old grandfather, Benjamin Stephen three years after he allegedly stole N40, 000 cash and clothing materials worth N16, 000 in Owo area of the state.

The prosecuting witness, Inspector Akomlafe Joseph said the accused person entered the restaurant of Mrs Funmilayo Adewole at Ikare junction where he committed the offence after eating.

Joseph said the accused person after eating stole the complainant's money and two different clothing materials of 54yards and fled since 2010.

The prosecutor said the accused was seen at the same scene where he committed the offence three years later and was recognised and the police was invited which led to his arrest.

When the court's charge was read, the accused person pleaded guilty as charged.

The presiding Chief Magistrate; S O Olowookere, found him

guilty and convicted him accordingly.

The accused was sentenced to six months imprisonment with an option of N50,000 fine.

20 militants surrender arms in Akwa Ibom

E

KET—NO fewer than 20 mil itants known as “Lacto Marine” in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom have surrendered arms to Federal Government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Militancy.

The leader of the task force, Air Vice Marshal Jim Gbum, announced this in Eket.

Gbum said the committee received the militant group at the Ibeno Jetty, adding that arms surrendered by them included six browning machine guns, rocket launchers and AK-47 rifles.

He said the militants responded to the Federal Government’s second phase of the amnesty programme for repentant militant groups.

He alleged that the group had been responsible for crimes in the high sea between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

Meantime, Mr Samuel Ayadi, Chairman of Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeira, Akwa Ibom chapter, has commended the Federal Government for extending the programme to those who did not embrace its first phase.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—7

BY EVELYN USMAN

Security agencies investigate alleged killing of kidnapped expatriates

L

AGOS—FRESH facts emerged yesterday, on the circumstances that led to the gun duel between a 13-man robbery gang and policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Area ‘G’ command, Ogba, weekend, with seven of the robbery suspects shot during the encounter, said to have died.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the robbery suspects who were, 13 in number, came from Ogun State and were heading to Ajao estate area of Lagos, where they intended to raid the Osolo branch of an old generation bank, Friday.

While three of the robbery suspects constituted an advance party.

Vanguard gathered however that their mission, was rendered unaccomplished as the Lagos State Command, which was said to have got wind of their action, laid ambush for them at AbuleEgba, along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway .

On sighting the policemen, the bandits moved in two vehicles; a Toyota Sienna with number plate AKD 54 AG and Nissan Sunny car with number plate BT 914 APP, opened fire, thereby leading to a gun duel which lasted close to an hour.

They reportedly bowed to the superior fire power of the policemen who out-numbered them, thereby leading to the arrest of the suspected robbers.

Vanguard reliably gathered yesterday that seven of the injured suspects had died as a result of the bullet wounds they sustained.

It could, however, not be ascertained whether any innocent person was hit during the cross fire, as motorists reportedly deserted the route while commuters took to their heels.

Five AK 47 riffles, five double barrel cut-to-size and a total of 535 live cartridges, according to spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, were recovered at the end of the encounter.

Meantime, unknown to the Police, three suspected members of the gang were already positioned close to the bank, waiting for the arrival of their colleagues.

During the long wait, they reportedly overheard the encounter with policemen from a radio broadcast but could not ascertain if their colleagues were the robbers in question.

Police sources hinted that during interrogation, one of the arrested suspects disclosed the information to the operatives.

“When we were informed, we used the telephone number of one of the arrested suspects to contact their colleagues at Ajao, making him sound as if they were still on their way. They even told them they heard there was shoot-out at Abule-Egba and wanted to find out if it involved them”, sources said.

But when the operatives reportedly stormed Ajao area, the suspects who sensed danger, had re-

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

The Ifelodun plank market, Ketu, gutted by fire yesterday.

Police kill 7 robbers in gun duel in Lagos portedly fled the scene. They were, however, reportedly trailed to a hotel around the area, where one of them, a 48-year-old man whose identity was given simply given as Muftau, was arrested while his colleagues were said to have managed to escape.

During interrogation, Muftau reportedly disclosed that his fleeing colleagues had a rocket launcher, three AK 47 riffles and a total of 600 cartridges in their vehicle.

Identities of the other suspected robbers in Police net were giv-

en simply as Oluwaseyi, 27 and Kabiru 25.

Braide also confirmed the arrest of three suspected members of the gang, describing the suspects attempt as a foiled one, adding that efforts was still on to arrest other fleeing members.

...kill 2 robbery suspects in Makurdi

BY EVELYN USMAN

M

AKURDI—MEN of the Benue State Police Command, weekend, gunned down two robbery suspects who specialized in robbing commercial bank customers in and around Makurdi town.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the suspects, Friday trailed two brothers (names withheld) to a commercial bank at the Makurdi Modern Market were they shot their victims and snatched the money they withdrew from the bank.

According to the witness: “We heard the gun shots near the bank, and there was a sudden stampede in the market because nobody knew what was actually happening.

“It was when we started hearing the loud shout of thief, that the police and men of the Special Robbery Squad stormed the scene and an exchange of gun shots ensued between the robbers and the police.

“At that point, the entire market looked like a war zone; but when it was becoming obvious that the police had a superior fire power the robbers took to their heels after two of them had been shot and

seriously wounded”.

Vanguard further gathered that the people joined the police in chasing after the fleeing robbers, some of whom escaped into nearby bushes with bullet wounds.

Corroborating the story, the Benue State Police Public Rela-

tions Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Daniel Ezeala said that the injured victims of the robbery attack were recuperating in hospital while the two robbery suspects died before medical attention could reach them.

Ondo NURTW crisis deepens

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE – LEADERSHIP cri sis rocking the Ondo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, worsened, weekend, as the Deputy Chairman of the Union, Omobomi Ajisafe was allegedly beaten up by hoodlums..

He was said to have been invited to a drinking joint where he was ambushed and beaten up by thugs sympathetic to the other faction.

Vanguard learnt that the deputy chairman was rushed to the hospital after he was rescued by other members of the union who are members of his camp.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr. Ajisafe who urged the police to investigate the matter said: “After returning from Abuja, I went to our secretariat on Friday, but I was

shocked by the attitude of some junior officers who were abusing me.

"Their attitude towards me was abnormal so, I began to suspect foul play and decided to leave the secretariat. “ As I made to leave I received a phone call from the Chairman who asked me to come to a drinking joint beside the office.

“To my surprise, I saw many of our members there. They were armed but I could not turn back at that point. Before I knew what was happening, I was given the beating of my life in the presence of the chairman.

“At some point, he ordered them to stop beating me and asked my driver who was equally beaten to the leave the place. I was immediately rushed to the hospital where I was treated for my wounds”.

AUCHI –SECURITY op eratives in Bauchi State yesterday said they were still investigating allegations of the killing of seven expatriates kidnapped in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Last month seven expatriate workers of Setraco Nigeria Limited were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. An Islamic Group called Ansaru claimed responsibility for the abduction of the seven expatriates that included five Lebanese, one Briton and one Italian.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Mohammed Auyo told Vanguard, “Police have no evidence that the expatriates were killed. We are still investigating the matter and the veracity of the information pasted on web site allegedly by the group”.

Reliable top security sources in Bauchi told newsmen that they heard about the killings of the expatriates as everybody heard about it, adding: “We are still making our enquiries to get the correct information, because we did not carry out any rescue operation either jointly or separately. We are still monitoring the situation”.

Missing person

P

A Wilson Mordi, 79, left home on Friday, March 8, 2013 to his church and since then he has not been seen. He is 5ft 4”, speaks Igbo and English, wore white stripe short sleeve short and black trousers.

He left home at Raji Rasaki Estate, Amuwo Odofin, between 5pm and 6pm, and was last seen on 1st Avenue, Festac Town.

Anybody with information about his whereabouts should contact the nearest police station or the family numbers: 08034224068, 0 8 0 3 3 8 8 9 0 3 8 , 07088262179.

Pa Wilson

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Gunmen kill 4 in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—UNKNOWN gunmen on tricycle, yesterday, shot dead four persons in three separate incidents in Kano.

Security sources confided in Vanguard that the first incident was recorded at Dakata, where a middle-aged man was shot at close range.

Minutes later, another person was shot opposite Custom barracks, located along Hadejia road all in Nassarawa Local Government Area of the state capital.

The source further explained that two other persons were shot dead at Hotoro Primary School, in the same local government.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, however, said three persons were killed. A statement by the Police boss said: “The attack was carried out by unknown gunmen on tricycle around 1.30pm.

“Five fleeing suspects were arrested along Gezawa road shortly after the attack.”

The killings coincided with the one-day visit of Vice President Namadi Sambo to the state.

Pope: Horse-trading begins

V

ATICAN—THE Vatican insisted, yesterday, that the cardinals participating in the upcoming conclave will vote their conscience, each influenced only by silent prayers and reflection.

Everybody knows, however, that power plays, vested interests and Machiavellian maneouvering are all part of the game, and that the horse-trading is already under way.

Can the fractious Italians rally behind a single candidate? Can the Americans live up to their surprise billing as a power broker?

Will all 115 cardinals from around the world be able to reach a meeting of minds on whether the church needs a peoplefriendly pope or a hardedged manager able to tame Vatican bureaucrats?

MOTHER'S DAY: From left— President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Nkasiobi Okoh, Guest Preacher, and Rev. Obioma Onwuzurumba, Chaplain, Aso Villa Chapel, after a special service to mark the 2013 Mothering Sunday at the Chapel, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

Ansaru 7: UK, Greece, Italy confirm hostages' death

BY UDUMA KALU, with Agency Reports

A

S Europe anxiously seeks confirmation over the seven foreign hostages kidnapped by an Islamist group, Ansaru, in Bauchi last month, Britain, Italy and Greece, yesterday, said it is true that the militants might have killed the hostages, which they condemned as barbaric and cold-blooded.

The Ansaru group on Saturday announced the deaths of all the expatriates abducted from a construction site of Lebanese company Setraco on February 16 in Bauchi.

Ansaru, considered an offshoot of Nigerian Islamist Boko Haram, backed up its claim with “screen captures of a forthcoming video showing the dead hostages,” SITE, an intelligence group said.

According to SITE, “the group stated that the attempts by the British and Nigerian governments to rescue the hostages, and their alleged arrest and killing of people, forced it to carry out the execution.”

Police, last month, said the hostages were four Lebanese, one Briton, a Greek citizen and an Italian, while the company said the Middle Eastern hostages included two Lebanese and two Syrians.

Ansaru said it had carried out the kidnapping to avenge what it called ‘atrocities by European nationals against Islam.’ The victims— three Lebanese citizens and one each from Britain, Greece, Italy and the Philippines— were all employees of a Lebanese construction company,

Setraco.

UK, Greece, Italy react

British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said all the hostages were “likely to have been killed” by their captors.

“This was an act of coldblooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms,” he said, expressing his determination to work with the Nigerian authorities “to hold the perpetrators of this heinous act to account, and to combat the terrorism which so blights the lives of people in northern Nigeria and in the wider region.”

The Italian Foreign Ministry in a statement branded it “a horrific act of terrorism for which there is no explanation except barbaric and blind violence.

“No military intervention to free the hostages was ever attempted by the interested

government,” it said, adding that the killings were “the aberrant expression of a hateful and intolerable fanaticism.”

The Greek foreign ministry said: “Available information suggests that the Greek citizen abducted in Nigeria alongside six nationals of other countries are dead.

“Based on the information we have, there was no rescue operation.”

‘Our motives’

In an e-mail sent to journalists announcing the kidnapping two days later, Ansaru said the motives were “the transgressions and atrocities done to the religion of Allah… by the European countries in many places such as Afghanistan and Mali.”

Ansaru has been linked to several kidnappings, including the May 2011 abductions of a Briton and an Italian working for a construction firm in Kebbi State, near the border with Niger.

The victims were killed in March 2012 in neighbouring Sokoto State during a botched rescue operation.

It also claimed the December kidnapping of a French engineer in Katsina State, bordering Niger. The victim’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Seven members of a French family, including four children, were also abducted last month in Cameroon, and Cameroon authorities said they were then taken over the border into restive northeastern Nigeria.

Their whereabouts also remain unknown.

Meanwhile, Britain’s military said, yesterday, that its warplanes recently spotted in Abuja were there to move soldiers to aid the French intervention in Mali and not to rescue foreign hostages kidnapped by the radical Islamic extremist group.

The extremist group partially blamed the presence of those planes as an excuse for killing seven foreign hostages.

Family releases Esiri's burial arrangements

BY SAM EYOBOKA

F

AMILY of late Nollywood actor, Chief Justus Esiri, yesterday, released details of burial arrangement for the Village Headmaster.

According to the spokesman of the Esiri family and ace photojournalist, Mr. George Esiri, the late actor will be buried in his hometown of Abraka in Delta State on Friday, April 12.

There will be service of songs for the late Esiri on April 9, followed by a commendation mass at St. Jude Catholic Church, Mafoluku,

Lagos, on April 10.

Immediately after the service the body is expected to be flown to Warri in Delta State for the second and final phase of the burial arrangements.

According to the spokesman, the body will then proceed to Abraka where there will be another commendation mass/lying-in-state at the Polo Turf in Abraka on April 12.

The body will, thereafter, be moved to his residence in Abraka for interment and entertainment of guests.

Chief Esiri popularly

known as the Village Headmaster, died on February 19 this year following a complication from diabetes.

Born in 1942, Esiri had his primary and secondary school education in Abraka and Warri, respectively, before proceeding to the Maximillan University and Weners Institute of Engineering in Germany, between 1964 and 1968.

Having worked for some time as a newscaster with the Voice of Nigeria, German Service, he veered into movie, had a stint with the Schiller Theatre in Berlin before returning to Nigeria in 1976.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 —9

PIB not a witch-hunt —Mark A

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

BUJA—SENATE Presi dent, David Mark, has said the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, before the National Assembly is neither aimed at discouraging the multinational oil and gas prospecting corporations nor against any section of the country, but geared towards promoting international best practices in the industry.

Mark, while making the clarification in Abuja, weekend, insisted that the PIB was designed to correct some grey areas in the operations of the oil industry in a manner that would bring peace and yield positive dividends to all stakeholders in the country among which included the operators, the government, the host communities and the entire citizens of Nigeria.

He spoke at an interactive session with the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ronhaar Berend Jan. He said there was nothing to hide or fear about the PIB, just as he assured that dialogue towards a better operation of the oil sector was open and not foreclosed.

He told his guest that Nigeria was also worried about the conspiracy or connivance by illegal oil bunkering and some foreign corporations to continue to steal the nation’s crude oil saying, “you should help us stop oil thieves because if there is no market for

them abroad, they will not continue to steal.”

“Their market is outside Nigeria. Help us discourage them.

If there is no market, there will be no bunkering. The international community helped to stop stealing of Gold in Liberia, they can help us stop oil thieves by refusing to patronize them.”

Senator Mark also requested the oil prospecting companies to respect the local and interna-

tional laws on the operation of the industry pointing out that “a situation where some oil companies flagrantly refuse to clean up oil spill or pay compensation to victims amounts to abuse.”

Earlier, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria expressed grave concern about the ceaseless activities of oil thieves, regretting that Nigeria was losing huge revenue on account of oil theft.

Mr Berend Jan noted that the

unfavorable security situation in the country was discouraging prospective investors while existing ones were contemplating quitting the shores of Nigeria.

He urged the Federal Government to have the political will to address the situation even as he promised Netherlands’ readiness to help Nigeria out of the quagmire.

On the PIB, the envoy pleaded with the Nigerian government to tread with caution so that the law would not inadvertently discourage multinational oil prospectingcorporationsfrominvesting.

ROUNDTABLE: From right: Professor Babatunde Babawale, Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, CBAAC; Mrs. Henrietta Okonkwo and Mrs. Funmilayo Adesegun, at the roundtable discussion for women, organised by CBAAC in collaboration with Vanguard Newspapers, to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day celebration in Lagos.

SERAP moves against corruption at grassroots

BY INNOCENT ANABA AGOS—SOCIO-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has launched a text service “to encourage citizens and local residents who witness corruption at local government level in Lagos State to anonymously alert the organization and we will in turn report any such allegations to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC.” In a statement by SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “The initiative is undertaken as part of our organization’s local government anti-corruption project in Lagos carried out in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA. SERAP hopes that citizens and local residents will be more likely to report incidents of corruption in their communities if they are able to text details and know that their identity will be safeguarded and confidential, rather than openly speaking about this.

“SERAP believes that many lowlevel cases of corruption that should be sent to the ICPC go unreported with citizens and local residents being too scared to blow the whistle. SERAP will closely monitor messages on allegations of corruption and carry out appropriate checks to ensure that the allegations made are in good faith, in the belief that the information is true, and that the disclo-

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sure is in the public interest.

Once these conditions are satisfied, we will send petition on any such allegations to the ICPC for necessary action and follow-up,” the group said.

According to the organization, “The move follows the launch last week of a new Citizens’ Guide to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, to encourage Nigerians to report to the commis-

sion any reports of corruption whether or not these directly affect them. The Guide was written by Professor Oyelowo Oyewo former dean of the faculty of law University of Lagos.”

African nations tasked on gender equality, poverty alleviation

BY YETUNDEAREBI

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AGOS—GOVERN MENTS of African nations have been charged to take gender issues beyond the level of tokenisms and proceed to ensure the mainstreaming of gender into poverty reduction and development programmes.

Professor Babatunde Babawale, Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, CBAAC, made the call, weekend, in Lagos at a Roundtable Discussion for women, organised by the Centre in collaboration with Vanguard Newspapers to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.

Babawale said: “Governments in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular must go beyond tokenisms in gender issues and incorporate gender planning into our development plans as a way of eradicating discrimination against women and allowing full

and equal participation in the affairs of the society where they live.

“The place and importance of women to society and the need to recognise their achievements and contribution to societal growth and development, informed the theme of the discussion “Empowering African Women to make a Difference,” stressing that “there is need to empower African women to meet the demands and challenges of the modern world. ”Out of the 1.3 billion people living in abject poverty around the globe, 70 per cent are women making them the largest number of the world’s poor and hardest casualty in times of crisis. It is equally lamentable that women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours, yet earn only 10 per cent of the world’s income, are limited to jobs with invariably low pay and status and own less than 1 per cent of the world’s property.

“Women are further held down in many societies by laws, reli-

gious barriers and customs that render them disadvantaged, vulnerable and susceptible to all forms of abuses, as one in three females around the world have been physically assaulted or sexually abused, often repeatedly by either a relative or an acquaintance.”

Discussants at the Roundtable included Professor Ajike Osanyin, University of Lagos, Dr. Shade Alli, Consultant Physician and Cardiologist, Lagoon Hospitals, Mrs. Funmilayo Adesegun, wife of the Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Mrs. Shola Oladeinbo, State Woman Leader, PDP, Mrs. Idera Oshinusi-Martins, businesswoman and socialite, Mrs. Janet Mba-Afolabi, Publisher, Scroll Magazine and Mrs Henrietta Okonkwo, Managing Director, Bucheese, an entrepreneur, among others.

Fashola promises to rebuild burnt Ketu plank market

BY MONSUR OLOW-

OOPEJO AGOS—GOVER NOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, promised traders of the burnt Ifelodun Plank Market in Ketu, Kosofe Local Goverbnment Area, gutted by fire last Thursday, that the state would rebuild the market.

He, however, appealed to all market and warehouse operators in the state to insure their businesses not to suffer total loss whenever such unforeseen disasters occured.

It will be recalled that the fire which begun at about 9:00pm last Thursday, razed over 300 shops filled with building materials.

According to Fashola who paid an unscheduled inspection tour to the site, government would assist them to build a more organized, safer market, saying the rebuilding process would be a synergy between the traders and the government.

The governor who was conducted round the market by the Special Duties Commissioner, Dr. Wale Ahmed and leaders of the market, said using insurance companies would also enable those skilled in the wood business to remain in business while also broadening the economy of the state and creating new jobs for the teeming unemployed.

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Senator donates N10m to women

BY OLASUNKANMI

AKONI AGOS—AS part of activities marking the International Women’s Day, Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, weekend, distributed N10 million to over 500 women across the five Local Governments and 11Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, in his district as part of empowerment programmes for women.

Ashafa, addressing the beneficiaries at the ceremony, in Epe and Eredo council areas, explained that the gesture served as another medium to support the women in their trade and to take care of their families.

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10—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

7 jostle for Oluwo of Iwo stool

BY GBENGA OLARI-

NOYE SOGBO—NO fewer than seven princes from three ruling houses in Iwo, Osun State, have signified their intention to occupy the stool of Oluwo of Iwo which became vacant after the demise of Oba Ashiru Olatunboswun Tadese, two weeks ago.

According to Vanguard investigations, the Princes are from Gbase, Ogunmakinde-Ande and Adagunodo ruling houses of the ancient town.

It was gathered that those who have signified their intention through written documents to the head of their ruling houses from the Gbase ruling house includes Princes Adio Adedapo, a retired teacher and Adegbite Ayoade, a former Chairman of Iwo Local Government Area of the state.

The contestants for the stool of Oluwo from the Adagunodo ruling house include Princes Adio Azees Moranroola, an industrialist based in Lagos and Isiaka Azees, an Account Officer with the Local Government Service Commission.

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Olasunkanmi joins Osun guber race

BY GBENGA OLARI-

NOYE S O G B O — FORMER Minister of Youths and Social Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, weekend, formerly declared his intention to contest the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Senator Akinlabi, while briefing newsmen on his ambition, said he took the decision at the end of four weeks of sensitization and mobilization exercise embarked upon by his campaign team, which visited all the 30 local government areas of the state.

Specifically, Senator Akinlabi claimed reports from the field had shown that the people of the state were tired of the Aregbesola’s administration and yearning for a change.

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Makinde faults Sultan on amnesty for Boko Haram Says ‘how can you grant amnesty to a faceless group’

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—PRIMATE of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Bishop Ola Makinde, has described as disappointing a call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, on the Federal Government to grant total amnesty to the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Bishop Mankinde who spoke at the Holy Communion service of the 51st annual synod of the Methodist Church, Ekotedo, Ibadan, weekend, said he was surprised at the comments by the Sultan.

Taking exception to the call, Bishop Makinde said it would be misleading for the Sultan to liken Boko Haram to the Niger Delta militants, saying “how can you grant amnesty to a faceless group or a set of criminals? Traditional and spiritual leaders should be custodians of morality in the land.

What is Boko Haram for? Are they fighting for groundnut or cow resource control?

He enlightened the Islamic leader saying in the case of the Niger Delta militants, they were fighting for attention after their whole land had been totally destroyed as a result of oil spillage.

But, in the case of Boko Haram, he noted it was totally unacceptable and annoying to ask for amnesty for them having killed, maimed and shed blood of innocent people, mostly Christians.

He said: “I am disappointed in the statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto that terrorists should be granted amnesty. I wonder why the Sultan believes they can achieve this when they have killed so many Christians with so many churches destroyed. He wants amnesty for criminals? The Quran will not support granting

amnesty to criminals.

“We must be very careful that we don’t have religious war in this country. You can imagine it is being revealed that 83 per cent of the oil blocs are owned by the northerners. They want political and economic powers combined.”

On corruption, he said: “Unless there is a change of attitude starting from home, corruption will not end. Unless we bring God into our educational system, corruption cannot be stamped out.

Unless we have god-fearing leaders, corruption cannot be stopped.”

THANKSGIVING: From left: Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo; Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his daughter, Pipelayo; his wife, Olukemi; mother of the First Lady, Madam Felicia Adeniyi; Deputy Governor, Alhaji Alli Olanusi and his wife, Alhaja Bejide, at the thanksgiving service in commemoration of Gov. Mimiko’s second term inauguration, at RCCG, Redemption Court, Akure, yesterday.

PDP to review sack of party excos in S-West

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—THERE are indi cations that the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is set to review its decision to dissolve the Executive Council of the party in the South West Zone, headed by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni. Ondo State Chairman of the Party, Alabi, said this in Akure after the end of the meeting of the state chapter of the party.

According to him, the NWC was not properly briefed on the Oni’s led executive, noting that the issue of the South West Zone was on the front burner at the Abuja meeting.

Alabi claimed the PDP NWC had set up a five-man committee under the chairmanship of the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, to review the decision on the action of the party.

Speaking on the party’s petition at the election tribunal, Alabi said: “With the preponderance of the evidence before the Election Petition Tribunal on the October 2012 Gubernatorial Poll in the state, the PDP candidate, Chief Olusola Oke would come out victorious.

“Party had taken appropriate

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action by filing an appeal in the court on the ruling of the tribunal which removed the party from the list of petitioners based on the fact that the party’s petition was signed by its director of publicity.”

PDP candidate, Chief

Olusola Oke, said the rejection of his application to tender the analysis of the voter register would not affect his petition negatively.

Oke alleged that the 2012 voters register contained more than 100,000 names

that were not in the 2011 voters register.

He said INEC was to prove to the court how the 100,000 names got into the register despite the fact that there was no review of the voters register.

Ondo oil communities task NASS on passage of PIB

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BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—OIL rich commu nities in Ondo State, weekend, called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the process of passing into law, the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, currently before the lawmakers.

The communities in the two local councils of Ese-Odo and Ilaje, under the aegis of the state branch of Association of Oil and Gas-Producing Communities, AGPCN, of Nigeria, said the passage of the bill would solve a myriad of problems currently plaguing the country’s petroleum industry, the mainstay of the national economy.

In a statement by its Chair-

man, Chief Adewale Omojuwa, the group said: “The country must explore every available option to solve the socio-economic problems of the Niger Delta region. Several administrations have come up with different innovations to tackle the problems of the oil industry, but we discovered that, despite all these attempts, most of the problems still remained unresolved.

“That is why we must look at the possibility of getting over the problems through the new legislative instrument the PIB. We believe that if this bill is passed into law, most of the problems will be resolved once and for all and

the industry will enjoy buoyancy.”

Omojuwa who expressed dismay at the delay in the passage of the PIB, urged the lawmakers “to look beyond politicking and selfish interests in the passage of the bill because whatever crisis in the oil industry affects the whole of the country as the national economy is tied to it.”

He expressed the readiness and commitment of oil communities in all the oil-producing states of the country to support the implementation of the law if eventually passed “so that the expected success would be recorded in the development of our individual communities.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—11

Peace returns to Delta community

FG to train 200 pilots in aviation industry—Kuku

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PECIAL Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, yesterday, said that the Federal Government will train about 200 aircraft and helicopter pilots in the Presidential Amnesty programme as part of efforts to address the manpower problem bedeviling the aviation industry.

Speaking at a pre-departure ceremony in Lagos for the 282 delegates, who are the first batch of delegates to depart for offshore training in 2013, Kuku said: “Of the 282 delegates, 21 are to be trained as aircraft and helicopter pilots at the JetStream Aviation Academy in Athens, Greece, for 15 months, bringing to over 215, the number of delegates so far trained in aviation related fields.

“As at the last count, we

HE crisis rocking Okirighwre Community, Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, has been resolved, with the swearing in of a new executive committee to run the affairs of the community for the next three years.

At the ceremony, attended by top politicians, opinion leaders and the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orue I, a son of the community and a lawyer, Mr A. Odiete administered the oath of office on the new community leaders.

In a brief exhortation, Rev Iboje, of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Sapele Chapter, advised the new executive to put the interest of the community above personal interests.

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

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have offered for training about 215 persons in aviation related fields. We just noticed that there is a gap, particularly in the ground staff and aircraft maintenance engineers, so we are diversifying.

“Even some of them that set

out to be trained as pilots originally, had to switch to other fields due to their inability to cope with the requirements of the training. As you know, there is a growing need for private aircraft ownership all over the country. If you go

to the General Aviation Terminal wing of the Abuja Airport, you will see that there are more private jets than commercial jets, so there is a space to be filled and that is why we are training pilots to fill these spaces.”

NIGERIA POLICE GAMES: Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar (left), and Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, during the closing ceremony of the 10th biennial Nigeria Police Games, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, weekend. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Youths decry failure to appoint Urhobo native as FUPRE VC

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — U R H O B O youths, under the aegis of Coalition of Urhobo Youth Organisations, yesterday, raised alarm over the non-appointment of an Urhobo native as Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta State.

They also noted with dismay that out of the over 350 senior staff of the institution, less than 10 per cent were of Urhobo descent, reiterating that the Urhobo, as the fifth largest ethnic

group in the country, were suffering monumental deprivation and marginalisation despite their immense contributions to the economic and political stability of the country.

Addressing newsmen shortly after presenting a letter of request to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Dr. Uche Chuckwumerije, during his working visit to the university, spokesman of the group, Mr. Stephen Ohwokirerhuo, said the only way to stimulate genuine growth and development in the new university was to have an in-

digenous functionary at its head.

He said: “We, therefore, crave for an Urhobo Vice-Chancellor for the university in view of the fact that it is situated in Urhoboland.

“We are particularly aggrieved over the noninclusion of Urhobo people in the Federal Executive Council despite the role we played in the last general elections.

We have researched and found that there is no federal institution of learning in Nigeria today that has an Urhobo man as Vice-Chancellor or Registrar.”

Lamenting that 75 per

cent of the institution’s courses had not been accredited “due to the nonchalant attitude of the Vice-Chancellors, who are non-natives and who therefore, do not see themselves as stakeholders in the development of the school,” he said that “we feel so slighted and humiliated that with our immense contributions to this country, we have been treated as second class citizens."

Tadaferua passes on @ 85

Tadaferua, Itsekiri youths back establishment JOHNSON of Udueghe, Jesse Clan of Delta State, is of PHC Fund in the statement, said: “Ac- dead, aged 85. A stateBY DANIEL GUMM

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ARRI—ITSEKIRI National Youths Council, INYC, has asked the National Assembly to allow the principles of equity, fairness and peace for the oil producing communities to influence discussions on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. INYC, in a statement in Warri, Delta State, on the controversy trailing the

PIB during debates in the House of Representatives and Senate, expressed shock and reservation over the pattern of sectional verbal altercation and condemnations that had trailed Sections 116 and 117 of the PIB, which recommended “Establishment of Petroleum Host Community Fund (PHC Fund).”

National President of INYC, Mr. David Tonwe,

cess to the fund by host communities is not automatic, and not without serious responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the respective host communities. It appears that those who are expressing reservation over these sections merely deliberately decided to be ignorant of the enormous responsibilities which Section 118 (5) places on communities.”

ment by Ken Tadaferua for the family said, service of songs and burial will hold respectively on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, at his country home, in Otoro, Jesse town.

He is survived by seven children and several grand children, including Mr. Ken Tadaferua, his first son, a journalist and corporate communications expert.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Security beefed up in Delta's waterways

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—JOINT Task Force, JTF, Police and Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, Warri, weekend, reinforced security on the waterways in Delta State, following reported threats by former militants to blow up oil installations in the state over their denial of amnesty slots by government.

Vanguard gathered that the oil companies, including Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron Nigeria Limited, worried about the threat, have increased surveillance on their facilities.

The former militants, who gave the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to address their grievances, had, last Friday, set ablaze a gas pipeline, between Gana in Agbarha Otor, Afiesere and Ekrajebu communities in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

Navy raises alarm over fake recruitment syndicate

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—THE Nigerian Navy has raised alarm over fake recruitment syndicates claiming that they were authorised to recruit personnel for the Navy.

The Navy, meanwhile, has cautioned members of the public to be wary of these fake syndicates which specialise in extorting money from intending recruits who had applied to join the Nigerian Navy.

Director of Navy Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu, who expressed worries over the nature of the scam, weekend, urged the public to desist from patronising any syndicate as the Navy does its recruitment on its own.

He regretted that some fraudulent Nigerians had taken undue advantage of the unemployment situation in the country to defraud innocent applicants.

2015: ‘Abuja opponents scheme to discredit Amaechi'

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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CHEMES to discredit the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Governor Chibuke Amaechi of Rivers State and reduce him to political irrelevance are in the works, it was learnt, yesterday.

Central to the scheme is a minister from the SouthSouth, it was learnt, yesterday.

At the heart of the scheme, Vanguard learnt yesterday, is a plan to put the reputation of the governor in bad light through the circulation of reports of corruption and malfeasances in his administration in the newspapers and internet blog sites.

The aim of the publications, it was learnt, is to attract anticorruption agencies to Rivers State for the purpose of putting the administration in bad light.

The effort against Amaechi is coming in the wake of the recent faceoff between Amaechi and some governors, on the one side, and the presi-

dency and the national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the other, over varying issues pertaining to official stances raised by the NGF. Amaechi has also been repeatedly accused of working with op-

ponents of President Goodluck Jonathan to derail the alleged plans by the president to seek re-election in 2015.

As a source said, yesterday, “The plot will first involve the circulation in the social media

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left) welcoming the Vice President Nnamadi Sambo to the flag-off ceremony of the Distribution of Instructional Materials for Basic Education Schools in Nigeria, in Uyo.

Why we set up Neighbourhood Watch C'ttee —Oshiomhole

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, weekend in Benin, explained the rational behind the setting up of Edo State Neighbourhood Watch Committee, insisting that it was not designed to replace the various law enforcement agencies operating in the state.

“Their role is to discreetly conduct surveillance, gather information and report to the police and other security agencies through the prescribed channels of communi-

cation,” he said at the Peoples Parliament of Nigerian National Conversation Platform.

“Right now, Nigeria is facing the gravest security challenges since independence. When this administration came on board, it observed that the efforts of the Federal Government to stem criminality in the Niger Delta States of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa, created unintended consequences for other states like Edo. “As the Joint Task Force, JTF, smoked out kidnappers and other criminal elements from the region, they sought haven in Edo and other adjoining states. The government therefore, invited and held consultation with the JTF

Commander at that time to seek ways the operations of JTF could be extended to Edo State.

It was revealed that the law and mandate of JTF limited their operations to the core Niger Delta states of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers.

“It became imperative, therefore, for Edo State Government to find other means to protect the lives and property of Edo people. After series of consultations with respective stakeholders, the government decided to establish the Edo State Neighborhood Watch Committee, relying on the Neighborhood Watch Law passed on February 7, 2002, by the Edo State House of Assembly,” he said.

Oil blocs: N-Delta activists vow to declare war against enemies

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—PEEVED by the alleged control of 83 per cent of oil blocs by Northerners, the people of Niger Delta, under the aegis of Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, weekend, vowed to declare war on all perceived enemies of the region, unless the controversial 83 per cent oil blocs were re-allocated.

The group in a statement by its President, Nelly Emma, called on President

and several dubious websites and blogs, of phantom documents of alleged financial infractions and ‘monumental’ corruption in Rivers State by Rivers State Government officials and Governor Amaechi.”

Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke to urgently revoke and re-allocate all the oil blocs.

Saying that the 83 per cent oil blocs allegedly owned by Northerners was unacceptable to them, the group said: “An urgent step must be taken by the President and the Minister of Petroleum to carry out a proper investigation into the matter.

“If the Petroleum Minister fails to act fast, we are going to carry out drastic action in the Niger Delta region and this may cost the Minister her job and we will

not support the President in 2015. “The oil blocs should be revoked and reviewed, while all other oil blocs to be given out from today should be given to people from the Niger Delta region, whose lives are being degraded by oil exploration.

“The owner of the resources must be respected and we may be forced to ask for total control of our resources. We are set to control our God-given resources and nobody will drill any oil in the Niger Delta region if this situation is allowed to continue."

Ex-JTF Commander blames terrorism, kidnapping on bad governance

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—FORMER Commander of Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, Maj-General Charles Omoregie (rtd), has attributed the upsurge in terrorism and kidnapping in the country to lack of good governance.

Gen. Omoregie, weekend, in Benin City, Edo State, in a lecture titled: The security challenges in Nigeria: Role of Neighborhood Watch, expressed concern over the prevailing violence in the northern part of the country.

He stressed the need for political leaders to be sincere to their people and provide the dividends of democracy to check the ugly trend.

Gen. Omoregie, currently chairman of Edo State Neighorhood Watch, stressed the need for government at all levels to encourage the neighborhood watch programme, explaining that “the people committing these havoc are our brothers and we know them. If we are able to arrest the situation at the local level, they cannot grow to terrorise the entire state or country.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—13

AMVCAs:

From left— Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya, Chairman; Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, both of MultiChoice Nigeria; Mr. Olu Jacobs; his wife Joke, and Mrs. Biola Alabi, Managing Director, M-Net Africa, at the nomination dinner for AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCAs. PHOTOS: Biodun Ogunleye.

From left— Mrs. Biola Alabi, Managing Director, M-Net Africa; Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, and his wife.

African films, TV talents shine at inaugural AMVC awards A

FRICAN films and televi sion, TV, talents shone bright at the inaugural AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCAs, ceremony, broadcast live from Lagos to DStv and GOtv audiences in more than 50 countries across the continent on Saturday, March 9.

AMVCAs, held in association with MultiChoice and sponsored

by Amstel Malta, recognised Africa’s best film and TV talents in a glittering three and a half hour ceremony, hosted by Big Brother’s IK Osakioduwa and StarGist’s Vimbai Muntinhiri.

The pre-event red carpet saw the stars dazzle, flaunting the finest continental fashion. Capturing all the glamour of the gala event was a team of on-air personalities, including Big Brother alumni, Uti Nwachukwu and Nic Wang’ondu, alongside Eku Edewor, Dolopo Oni, Sarah Hassan and Helen Paul.

The continent’s glitterati rubbed shoulders at EKO Exhibition Centre, which featured a dramatic multi-layered stage decked with giant LED screens.

Winners

Big individual winners on the night included Nigeria’s Mercy Johnson (Best Actress— comedy), for Dumebi – The Dirty Girl; Ghanaian Jackie Appiah (Best Actress— drama), for Perfect Picture; Nigeria’s Hafiz Oyetoro (Best Actor— comedy) for House a Part and his compatriot O.C. Ukeje (Best Actor— drama) for Two Brides and a Baby.

Category wins for Best Supporting Cast in a drama went to Uganda’s Matthew Nabwiso, for A Good Catholic Girl and Kenya’s Maureen Koech for Lies That Bind.

The prestigious award for Best Director went to Akin Omotoso for Man on Ground.

The announcement of the winners of the hotly-contested Best Movie Overall and Best Television categories produced the biggest ovation of the night, with Otelo Burning and The XYZ Show scooping top honours, respectively.

Best Movie

Otelo Burning, produced and directed by South African Sara

Blecher, tells the story of a group of township kids, who discover the joy of surfing. It’s set in 1989, against a backdrop of brewing conflict between two political groups.

XYZ Show is a Kenyan political satire, created and produced

by Godffrey Mwampembwa and Marie Lora-Mungai. The spoof newscast, featuring latex puppets, tackles current affairs issues in Kenya with a bitingly humorous twist.

Judges

A panel of judges with expertise and a wealth of continental and international experience, led by AMVCA Head Judge, Femi Odugbemi, were responsible for selecting the winners in non-viewer voted categories.

The panel included: Antonio Katakwe, Charles Asiba, Desiree Markgraaff, Joyce Fissoo, Kole Omotoso, Linus Abrahams, Simon Ratcliffe, Steph Ogundele and Zik Zulu Okafor.

Results in each category were verified by auditors from Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo, who were on hand on the night to hand over the top-secret envelopes.

A night dedicated to honouring the continent’s finest filmmakers was graced by a host of home-grown musical superstars too, as Femi Kuti, Sauti Sol, Tiwa Savage, Banky W and Chidinma, alongside Ghana’s Efya, rocked the stage and the continent.

And rounding off an unforgettable night, accomplished veteran Nigerian actor, Olu Jacobs, was named the recipient of the Industry Merit Award, while Ivie Okujaye was named the TrailBlazer of the Year.

Sponsors’ comments

Commenting on an outstanding night of celebration, M-Net Africa MD Biola Alabi said: “It has been a wonderful night.

Fantastic performers, glittering fashion, deserving winners; it has been a night of huge excitement and emotion.

“Most importantly, it’s been a true celebration of African film

and television, a fitting platform for the stars of our continent, both in front and behind the cameras.

“This is what we at AfricaMagic have long dreamt of, and to see it become a reality tonight is a very special moment for us. Congratulations to all our worthy winners.

I hope that this recognition will inspire them further and motivate others in this industry to strive to give their best every day.”

On behalf of Amstel Malta, Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said: “We are deeply pleased to be at the forefront of this spectacular event that celebrates truly talented individuals, whose valuable contribution to the African film and television landscape is immeasurable.

“We congratulate them on their success and noteworthy achievement tonight. Our brand has always believed strongly that everyone has what it takes to be the best and this group of winners symbolise that.”

From left— Segun Arinze, Kareen Ugo, Jackie Appiah and Majid Michel.

Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister for Industry (left) and Mr. Nico Meyer, President, MultiChoice Africa.

Eulogies

Joining Alabi and Drenthin in saluting the winners was MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer, who said: “Congratulations to all the winners. The AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards have provided a wonderful opportunity for our film and television stars to showcase their work.

“To be acknowledged for such merit will catapult their careers to another level and their work will certainly set a standard for quality programming and excellence in the industry. We look forward to watching their progress very closely on our television screens— we expect to see great things from them.”

AMVCAs was screened live on AfricaMagic, AfricaMagic World, AfricaMagic Entertainment, AfricaMagic Movies and AfricaMagic Movies 1.

OLD 'n NEW: Mr. Tunde Kelani (right) and Mr. Kunle Afolayan, cinematographers.

Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa, GM, GOtv (left) and Kappa Kahumba, General Manager, Operations, MultiChoice Nigeria.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Re-instatement: Salami knows fate today

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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Igwe Herbert Ukuta, Agbarakata 111, (in traditional regalia) flanked (left) by Mr. Cornelius Onwubuya, Executive Chairman of Umulokpain Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State; Chief Maximus Ukuta, top PDP leader in the area and former Commissioner in old Anambra State (in white Agbada); elders and leaders of community, during the presentation of the Igwe (their new traditional ruler), to Iggah Community and the local government authority, at the headquarters of Umulokpain Uzo-Uwani LGA, Enugu State.

Killing of 7 foreign workers: FOCI tasks FG

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

W

ORRIED BY the kidnapping and killing of seven Setraco and other construction workers in the country, the Federation of Construction Industry, FOCI, weekend urged the Federal Government to take drastic measures to tackle the menace before the sub sector was ground to a halt.

The group also observed that the ugly trend was posing serious threat to the execution of development projects in the country, warning that unless the situation was arrested, the country would lose its attraction to foreign investors who rate security of life and property as the first factor to be considered when investing.

The group, in a statement issued by its president, Solomon Ogunbusola, in Abuja, affirmed that construction companies were finding it difficult to move workers from one part of the country to the other.

It noted that in the last one year, 11 expatriates employed by Setraco Nigeria Limited were kidnapped in the South, while seven expatriates were currently being held in the north with little or no information about their fate.

According to the group, “Nigerians will still recall that an Expatriate, employee of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited was kidnapped last year and was never released.

C M Y K

BUJA — A Federal High Court in Abuja, will today, determine whether the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, should forthwith resume the duties of his office despite the refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to okay his reinstatement by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The Council had on August 18, 2011, ordered Salami to proceed on an indefinite suspension after he was found guilty of judicial misconduct.

He was specifically accused of lying on

Pass PIB now, Rep begs colleagues

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—DEPUTY Chairman, House Commitee on Privatisation and Cpmmercialisation, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, has pleaded with his fellow lawmakers to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Abonta, who spoke weekend, pleaded: “My colleagues should bury the hatchet and pass the PIB as this development will ease governance for President Goodluck Jonathan. ”I sincerely make this plea because all the six geopolitical zones in our country stand the chance of benefitting from it because

states that do not have crude oil today may one day become oil producing states.“ ”Such states will also benefit from the 10 per cent proposed derivative being canvassed in the bill.“ ”The bill is not in any way designed for any zone or rather it is designed for the entire Nigerian state."

On the recent discovery that 83 per cent of allocated oil blocs are owned by northerners, Abonta said that should not be the main concern of lawmakers, stressing that what they should concentrate on at the moment was passage of the PIB. “We shoud jettison sentiments and ensure the bill sails through both legislative houses now as

Nigerians are all watching us,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Green chamber had set up an adhoc committee, headed by the Chief Whip, Isiaka Bawa, to look at ways and means to ensure the easy passage of the bill.

The committee was, however, not inaugurated last week as earlier announced by House leadership, and no reason was given by the House leadership for this.

Also, last week the PIB scaled second reading, despite stiff opposition from northern senators in the Red Chamber.

Stop propaganda against polio vaccination —Minister

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA — MINISTER of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide, said yesterday that the FCT administration would not hesitate to deal with those sponsoring evil propaganda against polio vaccination.

She stated this while flagging-off a four-day polio immunisation at the Family Health Clinic, Abuja.

She said it was unfortunate that after being polio free for two years, the territory recorded about three cases of polio in the last three months. ”We are overhauling every process to see that every child receives immunisation. We want to warn those spreading propaganda against polio vaccination to stop or the FCTA will be forced to take an action against them,” she said.

Akinjide regretted that after two years of being polio free, the FCT had had three cases of Wild Polio Virus in the last three months.

According to her, Nigeria is the only country in Africa that harbours the virus.

“Living in and keeping a clean environment, good

environmental sanitation and hand washing practice is very important in the fight against polio disease.”

She urged parents to avail their children and wards the opportunity to be immunised in the ongoing programme.

oath against a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloysius KatsinaAlu. Salami had in the wake of an uncanny feud that ensued between him and the ex-CJN who was his classmate at the law school, alleged via an affidavit he deposed before the federal high court, that Katsina-Alu, pressurised him to pervert justice in a gubernatorial election appeal dispute involving Sokoto State.

However, the NJC, after a stormy session it held on August 18, cleared the former CJN, even as it axed Salami for violating the code of conduct for judicial officers in the country.

Nevertheless, the Council had since then okayed him to return to office, a move that was vehemently opposed by President Jonathan who insisted that re-instating Salami within the pendency of legal actions revolving around his suspension would amount to sub-judice.

Consequently, in defiance to a resolution that was reached by the NJC on May 10, 2012, President Jonathan, through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello, on May 22, 2012, maintained that Salami should not resume office until all the court cases are disposed of.

Jonathan caged by cabals—PDP Chieftain

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA — A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and founding member of the South-South Peoples Assembly, SSPA, Dr. Ambrose Akpanika, has said Nigerians should not expect much from President Goodluck Jonathan as he had been caged by a cabal within the Presidency and National Assembly.

Akpanika, who stated this in an

interview with Vanguard, yesterday, said though President Jonathan had the interest of the country at heart and had been making concerted efforts to execute it, the cabal would not allow him to implement his administration’s Transformation Agenda.

According to him, the same cabal frustrated the efforts of fuel subsidy where huge sums of money are being

paid to them with nothing done.

He added that the only solution to move the country forward would not only be the convocation of national conference and restructuring of the country, but also the dismantling of the present political structure.

Akpanika said: “There is a concerted effort for a change but the effort is drowned because of unbridled corruption in the country.

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 — 15

Jonathan’s visit to Borno, Yobe: PDP, CPC in war of words

.It was showmanship – CPC .PDP hails president for courage

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

T

HE PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC have exchanged sharp words on the outcome of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the northeast hotbed of the Boko Haram insurgency.

While the PDP lauded the president for the visit and his determination not to withdraw the Joint Task Force, JTF from the region, the CPC on its part, flayed the

president for allegedly flying over the heads of the people and coming out of the visit with no concrete achievements.

The two parties spoke in response to last week’s visit of President Jonathan to Yobe and Borno states which are at the core of the insurgency being waged by the Islamist Boko Haram group.

In the course of the visit, Dr. Jonathan vowed that he would not withdraw the JTF from Borno State despite the plea of elders from the state, an assertion that

Organised labour meets FG over PHCN's controversial N384bn terminal benefits

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

A

S ORGANISED labour and the Federal Government meet today ahead of the March 15, ultimatum given to government to, among others, withdraw the N384billion announced for the payment of the terminal benefits of workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, labour has said not less than N700billion is required to settle workers’ benefits.

Already the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has begun massive mobilisation of members across the country for a showdown with government should it fail to address the 10point grievances including the controversial N384billion which the union said was not only fictitious, but far below the mark.

NUEE said besides the fact that only 34,000 out of the 50,000 workers were captured by government, many staff grades were reduced by two steps as well as allocating to all of the workers 117 life span to reduce their total pay.

NUEE also claimed over 4,000 casual workers of PHCN who were ought to have been converted to full

employees, were not included in the government calculation.

Leaders of NUEE had on March 1, after their National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja, handed down a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address 10-point grievances, failing which members would withdraw the services nationwide.

was yesterday lauded by the PDP. The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said the position of the President clearly shows his forthrightness and great concern for the safety of Nigerians including those living in Borno and other troubled spots in the country.

The CPC on its part in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Rotimi Fashekin flayed the president for what it described as a flying visit forced on him earlier in the week by governors belonging to the legacy parties forming the All Progressive Congress, APC. “Though the spin doctors at the nation’s power corridor have, in their usual inimitable deceptive style, told the nation that the guided tour had been in the plans for a long time, it is difficult to believe that the real reason was not a very infantile desire to match up the progressive governors’ tumultuous visit to Borno State in the preceding week.”

Health workers' unions insist on minister's sack

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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BUJA — WORKERS in the health sector have petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him to relieve Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, of his appointment before May 1, 2013, claiming the continued stay of the minister could cause unprecedented crisis in the health sector.

Under the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, the workers said they had lined up series of industrial actions between now and May 1, to force President Jonathan to sack the minister if he failed to resign.

JOHESU, made up of five unions in health

sector: the Medical and Health Workers Unions of Nigeria, MHWUN; the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM; the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutions and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAI; the Nigeria Union of P h a r m a c i s t s , Technologists and Professions Allied to Medicine, NUPMTAM and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, said they had gone to court to prove their case that the Health Minister had continued “to breed discontent, capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order ” in the sector.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan recently paid a belated visit to Borno and Yobe States; parts terrorists have seized for more than two years. These States have been their bases from which they farm out terror.

Why did the President visit? What did he intend to achieve? Was there a plan to achieve it?

These concerns are pertinent in the light of the handling of the visit. It was not supposed to be show time. It was no time for photo opportunities and pumping of fists, as if something had been achieved.

Maiduguri and Damaturu that had been under security strictures for years were put under further watch. The people could not line the streets to see their President; the image was one of the terrorists being so strong that they could strike during the visit.

Beyond these, why did the President choose to discuss security in a town hall meeting?

Was he manoeuvred into exposing himself to the ridicule that the supporters of the evil in the North East had planned? Why did he not invite the leaders of the North East to a

Terrorism– Do More, Talk Less private meeting where the issues could have been discussed? When did security become a matter for open fora?

President Jonathan got angry and addressed his audience accordingly. Did he not anticipate his hosts could deliberately annoy him during the visit? Did he under estimate the anger in the North East, whatever the reasons?

The President’s visit would perhaps open grounds for discussing insecurity and the challenges it has further inflicted in the North East, and the larger North. The challenges are spreading to other parts of

Nigeria, and the global implications are obvious.

However, the President’s marching orders to the North East leaders given privately could have been more productive, with the larger public unaware of the infuriated tone of the delivery; and the President’s frustration concealed.

There is no easy way to deal with terrorists.

The populace, who can provide valuable information in the fight against terrorism, must be protected. People must trust the security agencies enough. The people must see what they are losing because their areas are unsafe because of the activities of terrorists.

Can peace be achieved without the blame game all parties are playing? It can.

However, beneficiaries of the chaos, not necessarily, terrorists, would not want peace to return.

Jonathan, as President, swore to the Constitution to provide peace and security.

Few are interested in how he does it, as much as in seeing him do it. The talking is taking too long while the situation is drearier.

OPINION

BY JOE ANATUNE

A

NATIONAL Quality Policy, NQP, is composite, capable of touching all areas of national life positively and lastingly. The economics are holistic and far-reaching. The NQP is the fabled cure-all without which the medicine man suffers ridicules because everyday a new affliction rears its head to show that something fundamental is yet untouched.

Speaking in a ThisDay interview entitled "Lack of National Quality Policy Has Caused Nigeria a Lot", and published February 10, 2013, the Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Ikemefuna Odumodu, said that despite the determined efforts of the agency to curb the menace and which resulted in slashing substandard goods prevalence from 85 percent across board two years ago to below 50 percent currently, the main objective of the agency to help Nigeria-made goods gain some footholds on the global market and make the nation a respectable member of the international trades community has been marred by the absence of a National Quality Policy.

The economics of an NQP devolve around five core sections: Act as catalyst for local productivity and quick adaptation of best global standards and practices towards enthroning quality culture; improve management and process systems and work environments; attain efficiency and products competitiveness, increase gross domestic products and consumption, reduce

The economics of a National Quality Policy importation and increase exports, improve citizens’ living standards and ensure a more stable economic performance and forecasts.

And these parameters at the same time anchor a stronger global authority and dependability – global relevance.

It pays a nation to produce goods and services and sell to another even at a fee below the production costs if in doing so it provides employment to the citizens who would otherwise have been idle and become a threat to national health and security. Of course, the cost to the consumer nation whose workforce is thereby denied primary economic activities in productions, skills development and livelihood are far more – for social costs often exceed the economic.

When a nation lets other nations fend for it through high dependence on foreign goods and services and there is no NQP to act as a checkpoint, then a plague is let loose with the avalanche of substandard and dangerous products. The health of citizens is put at higher risks; the social costs are immense but the stress and ruin on local industries can and often are unbearable.

To start taking the NQP discussions seriously, we need to take cognizance of some delimiting factors; of stakeholders who have genuine fears for their circumstances in a Nigeria under an NQP. In all human endeavours, in group, national and global engagements, politics

takes the front seats and from there sways the interplay and final outcome of issues. In reality, politics is the oil, pepper and salt with which economics, religions and social relations are consummated or consumed!

Some stakeholders with long established benefits in the old or existing orders now at risk of disappearing in the NQP proposal deserve to be enlightened on the necessity and inevitability of the nation to make a real start on global trades with the NQP.

T

he main advocate of this system change, the SON, must be clear and strict. Some stakeholders would want exemptions and deals here and there but often, there are two options available: trade-offs or no deals. And in the case of a National QualityPolicy, there is nothing to trade. For Nigeria either has a National QualityPolicy or none, therewith continues with the current laissez affairs policy!Without apologies, Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and SON DG, Dr. Odumodu, must bring the issues to national centre stage. The NQP is their baby and they have a responsibility to sell it but they can rest certain on the worth: It will mark the turning point in our national industrialisation agenda and international trade relations; for once Nigeria has something worthwhile to sell, it would be in a position to negotiate. Today,

with nothing other than petroleum which is largely controlled by OPEC, Nigeria has little elbow room for better trade deals elsewhere.

A National Quality Policy is geared to bring sanity to an insane system that is at the same time highly profitable to the actors. And mark well: actors; because outside of their spheres of madness, these actors really want order to prevail! The predominance of substandard goods and services, the massive corruption by which the nation loses billions daily in both the formal and the informal trades, in the public and private sectors, are clear indications that the NQP and therewith sanitization agenda would hit primarily at the economics. But in Nigeria, as in most African nations, there is no business like politics! Therefore, the political class or sponsors in particular, are a potent opponent and this cannot be wished away.

And yet, this class must be able to look up and see what lies ahead; that it is in their best interest to institute NQP now, being the privileged class and if they let laissez affaires to prevail, they would be the greater losers. History bears witness to this fact.

Continues tomorrow on pg 17

*Mr. Anatune, a brand strategist, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—41

government decided it was in the interest of the economy to plug the exmilitants into a post-amnesty rehabilitation programme.

"I want to use this opportunity to say that we have heard in the news that Mr. President will be visiting Maiduguri in a couple of days. We want to use this opportunity to call on the government, especially Mr. President, to see how he can declare total amnesty to all combatants without thinking twice. That will make any other person who picks up arms to be termed a criminal” – Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar III HE acclaimed leader of the Muslim community in Nigeria, Sultan Abubakar, made the above quoted statement at the Tuesday 5th March 2013 meeting of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Kaduna. Then on Thursday, President Goodluck Jonathan made good his planned official visit to Borno and Yobe states. At a town hall in Damaturu, he said his government would not grant amnesty to a faceless group.

According to him, the terrorists must first of all come out, show themselves to the world and table their “demands” before he would consider “negotiating” with them.

I do not support the Sultan or the President. They are wrong. Let me take it one after the other.

Sultan Abubakar wants the Federal Government to declare ‘total amnesty” to terrorists “ without thinking twice”!

Where in the world has this ever happened? I will like someone to give an example of where terrorists have been offered unconditional amnesty? The trend in terror-endemic states such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russian Chechnya, Somalia, Mali and others is to hunt them down and emasculate them.

Even here in Nigeria, that has been the bitter medicine deployed to cure us

T

Why Sultan Abubakar is wrong them out. That is the only sure panacea against terror. Is it because the incumbent president of Nigeria is a Christian that the call for amnesty for Islamic terrorists is employed as a tool of blackmail? Therefore we reject it “without thinking twice”.

Secondly, even when amnesty was granted to the militants of the Niger Delta, it was not “unconditional”. It was

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar III: Wants unconditional amensty for Boko Haram members.

of the periodic upsurges of Islamic terrorism, both when it manifested as Maitatsine and Boko Haram Phase one.

It was Muslim Presidents who wiped

Yes, probe the oil blocs ownership

S

INCE Senator Ita Enang from Akwa Ibom alleged that 83 per cent of the oil blocks in the Niger Delta were owned by northerners, the polity has been abuzz, and the uproar over the internet has been remarkable and interesting.

Adding to this was a rather positive contribution from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which issued a statement signed by its Scribe, Anthony Sani, calling on the National Assembly to institute an inquiry to verify Senator Enang’s claim.

I want it to be an open inquiry, possibly televised. We will like to know, not just the oil blocks allotees but also what qualifies one to be an oil block owner, as well as the obligations and responsibilities of such owners to the state and the oil producing communities.

We will also like to know whether these blocks are won based on equitable and lawful competitive bidding or they are just part of the dark presidential privileges dished out with impunity to civil war mass murderers and criminals (whom some describe as “heroes”) and their bourgeois acolytes from a privileged part of the country.

The mystery of oil block ownership must be unraveled and justice done to those whom it is due – the owners of the territory where the oil comes from.

,

T

Glamourising Boko Haram

It was Muslim Presidents who wiped them out. That is the only sure panacea against terror. Is it because the incumbent president of Nigeria is a Christian that the call for amnesty for Islamic terrorists is employed as a tool of blackmail? Therefore we reject it “without thinking twice”

,

predicated on the grounds that (a) they must cease hostilities and allow the oil resources of the Niger Delta to continue to feed Nigeria (b) they must surrender and publicly hand over their weapons to the security forces (c) they must renounce violence. They fulfilled all these conditions. With full resuscitation of oil production, the federal

hirdly, when you say after amnesty any other person who is still involved in violence should be treated like a criminal, are you inferring that those who are now indiscriminately killing, bombing and destroying are not yet criminals? A section of the northern opinion leadership has always tried to glamourise Boko Haram terrorists as people fighting against ‘injustice”, all in a vain effort to blackmail the federal government into granting them amnesty and channelling state funds for their “rehabilitation”.

Now, coming to the answer the President gave, it gives us the indication that the federal government is ready to negotiate with terrorists, provided they come out of hiding. That is not acceptable. The conditionality the President appears to have tabled lacks substance when compared with the conditions his predecessor, the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua, laid out for the Niger Delta militants. All that Jonathan is saying is that the terrorists should come out and voice their “demands”. In other words, we are preparing a kid’s glove treatment for people who have murdered more than 3,000 Nigerians in three years and rendered the economic and social life in Northern Nigeria comatose. That is not acceptable. That will not be accepted.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Afenifere, traditional rulers from the Niger Delta and have made it abundantly clear that amnesty for the terrorists will be like stirring the hornet’s nest. It will amount to waking up sleeping dogs.

It is unfortunate that the Sultan, who had openly called Boko Haram terrorists “evildoers” and made bold to say they were not fighting the cause of Islam; a Sultan that admitted, correctly, that the “civil war ” in the North (as General Theophilus Danjuma correctly described it) is self-inflicted by the northerners and must be resolved only by them, has suddenly joined those who want to put the moral and financial burden of Al Qaeda’s war on Nigeria at the doorstep of President Jonathan.

It is even more the pity that the President appears ready to carry the burden, rather than stay the course in the task of dealing a death’s blow to a serpent crawling in from the Sahara Desert.

OPINION

BY BEN NANAGHAN Continued from Fridayviewpoints

T

HE ACN is at best a relic of an African traditional cultural association which accords the elderly unquestionable loyalty and followership. And because of this, both Chief Akande and Chief Bola Tinubu have vigorously defended the lack of primary elections in the ACN. Even our highly intellectual Lai Mohammed who for the sake of lucre supports this obnoxiously offensive and anti-democratic system of choosing party and other government officials by party leaders. ACN governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, commissioners, permanent secretaries, Local Government chairman are all hand picked by Chief Tinubu. The ACN leader is like an 18th century Russian despotic monarch who rules in the “best interest” of his subjects without the slightest input from the ruled.

That is over three hundred years ago. Democracy demands participatory citizenship. An engaged and educated electorate who knows that power resides in their own hands and not with the leaders.

Alhaji Tinubu could be a good leader of the Yorubas or even of the Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, but definitely not a fit leader of a political party of the 21st century and definitely not a Progressive.

The other major partner in the APC conundrum is the CPC which is led by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Gen. Buhari’s credentials are the extreme opposite of a

Much ado about APC (2) progressive. Gen. Buhari’s characteristic military and boisterous style made him choose crating Alhaji Umaru Dikko back to Nigeria instead of choosing the diplomatic channel. Buhari’s undemocratic inflexibility and rigidity, his inability to compromise and mend fences with political rivals and colleagues have all conspired to make him very unprogressive and irrelevant in today’s ‘internet” politics.

The APGA hierarchy has abinitio denounced ever being part of the merger. And so Gov. Rochas Okorocha will have to join another party to be a member of APC. APGA’s embattled chairman Chief Victor Umeh has this to say, “APGA is not in any alignment with any party”.

Chief Maxi Okwu the Acting Chairman has this to say, “APGA is not in any political merger ” and Dr. Tim Menakaya, APGA Board of Trustee’s Member, Speaking on behalf of the party categorically denied APGA’s involvement in any party merger which he said is the sole responsibility of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the party’s national convention.

As for the ANPP, it is as unprogressive as the ACN as there is none in the ANPP who fully understands the terms “progressive” and “democracy”.

Nigeria’s uniparty status is one of the greatest embarrassment to our nascent democracy and except something cataclysmic occurs, I do not see any other political party that can unseat the PDP from power, merger

or no merger In 2011, the ACN and CPC formed a united front to battle President Goodluck Jonathan by forming a mega party.

And this mega party edifice collapsed even before it was formed because of the presidential ambition of both parties.

The CPC wanted both the presidential and vice-presidential slot’s even when it was so obvious that ACN had more political structures on the ground. This jostling for the juicy positions of president, vice president, governors, senators, etc, is the same weapon that will kill this over ambitious merger put together by over ambitious and rigidly inflexible politicians.

Serious minded Nigerians should plan for a strong grassroots party with a strong peoples’ oriented vanguard that will challenge the PDP in any election after 2015.

The APC is already carrying the seeds of its own internal destruction just like the aspirin phenacetin and even caffeine properties that led to the demise of the drug –APC. It is my very sad projection that the APC may not be alive to witness the 2015 presidential elections and if it does, the result would be a woeful adventure and a catastrophic futility. APC has a very bad product and not even David Axelrod one of the best of America’s campaign strategists can sell this woobly APC product for political acceptance.

Nigeria is in a dire need of a strong people oriented party that can terminate Ogbulator’s prophecy.

Concluded

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

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

It's now one-man-no vote for Oshiomhole — Dan Orbih FOR Chief Dan Osi Orbih, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State, it has been more than ten years of steadfast opposition to the authorities in Edo State. The election of his onetime childhood friend, Adams Oshiomhole as governor should have translated into a time of cosy comfort in the corridors of power. But not for Orbih. A scion of one of the state’s leading political families, Orbih continues to abide in the trenches in pursuit of the "good governance," he claims has eluded Edo State since 1999 even when his own PDP governed the state. Orbih, however, asserts that he is leading a new PDP which he claims has been purged of its bad elements who according to him, are the strongmen of the Oshiomhole administration. In two interview sessions with Vanguard in Benin-City, Orbih raises issues on the style, structure and sins of the present administration in Edo State, saying that apperance is deceptive. Excerpts:

Y

OU put in much during the last gubernatorial election, but could not win one local government. Are you not disappointed?

Well the election has come and gone, but for us in the party, we have put behind all that transpired during the election. We are looking forward to building a stronger platform for future elections. If you do remember, immediately after the election, I did come out with a statement that every genuine member of our party in the state worked hard enough to secure victory for our party at the election.

But unfortunately, while our party worked and abided by the principle of one man- one vote, our main opponent engaged in intimidation. They obstructed voter’s registration by going to demonstrate in front of the INEC office, climbed a table, and just for that reason, INEC denied eligible voters in Edo state the opportunity to register and to vote at that election. By that action alone in our last record, over 300,000 people were denied the opportunity to be registered to vote in that election.

Voters' registration Just for the simple reason that Adams Oshiomhole was complaining that he was not going to allow voter ’s registration, because he was scared that PDP will have an edge if that exercise was allowed to take place. I am fully aware that those who were denied the right to vote at the election, some of them have taken their cases to court; because the time has come when people should at least challenge some of these issues.

From what I can see today, it has become an idea that is growing, that for any election to be seen as free and fair and credible, all you need to do is C M Y K

to make PDP lose an election, every person will start clapping for you, that you have conducted a free and fair election.

Is that not a reflection of the performance of the PDP administration at the federal level?

Not necessarily so, that is a different ball game.

Are you saying you lost the election because Oshiomhole intimidated INEC to stop voter’s registration?

Well, in a football match, when a team loses a match; sometimes it could be as a result of bad officiating, sometimes a player will be off-side, and the referee, you cannot expect him to see everything, he probably will not see that the player was off-side at the time the ball got in.

Why then did you decide not to contest the result?

Our decision, not to contest the result at the tribunal was taken after wide consultation with the leadership of the party, both in and outside the state.

Does that include the presidency?

In an outside the state, I said leadership consultation. The presidency may be part of the wider spectrum of party leadership.

Did the president tell you not to appeal it?

I did not have any discussion with the president.

,

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, & UJU MBANUSI

Economic indices

•Orbih the result was announced?

Again, you see, I’m not a footballer, neither have I played in a competitive football. You will agree with me, even after a football match, whoever wins will celebrate. If PDP was

,

Is it not the same PDP that you have Uduaghan, our neighbour here who is performing in terms of positive programmes?

What about Chief Anenih?

Did he tell you not to appeal? (cuts in) I said there was wide consultation with the leadership of the party.

Including with Chief Tony Anenih?

At the highest level, we had wide consultations both at the national and state levels.

Some said that even nature welcomed Oshiomhole’s victory given the rainfall that swept through Benin the day

But is it not the same PDP platform that didn’t allow Igbinendion to work? …Cuts in) Which platform? Is it not the same PDP that you have in Akwa Ibom where you have an Akpabio who has done so well for all to see? Is it not the same PDP that you have Uduaghan, our neighbour here who is performing in terms of positive programmes? Is it not the same PDP that you have Liyel Imoke? Or is Amaechi not part of the PDP family? All these are PDP governors? Don’t forget that even the great Shakespeare said the fault is not in our stars but in ourselves. So, those who have failed should know why they failed, they should not blame it on the party.

So, how do you asses four years of Oshiomhole’s government?

I can tell you quite frankly that four years of Oshiomhole have been four years of propaganda.

Four years of noise making with very little to show the good people of Edo State.

declared as the winner of that election, I can assure you there would have been greater celebration than what you saw that day. So it’s like a football match, any team that’s declared the winner of a match will certainly celebrate.

There have been reports of a division between the party leadership and your gubernatorial candidate over his decision to contest the result. How true is that?

The party is an umbrella and an institution. It is expected that every member of the party must submit to the party. There is a difference between working to realize personal interest and party’s interest. The moment you start giving the impression that in driving your personal ambition, you are ready to destroy the party as an institution; the party will certainly call you to order. The party took a position; it is for journalists to find out why the person still went to court despite the party’s position.

You complain about Oshiomhole but we had your PDP before in power and they were not able to do the roads and schools Oshiomhole is putting in place now?

We are having a new phase of PDP with men of character and sincerity of purpose who are focused. No matter how long it will take, we will get there and PDP will be back in power.

I find it extremely difficult why the comparison of Oshiomhole’s four years or so called performance is always with that of Lucky Igbinendion, a man who left office, far, far before Oshiomhole came to office. I will like to see a situation where you comparing four years of Oshiomhole with four years of Akpabio, Uduaghan, Fashola, Amaechi and other governors who are in government at the same time with Oshiomhole.

When you want to compare a government, don’t compare it with an era where the economic indices are not the same. So, let us start looking at Oshiomhole side by side with other governors who are in government at the same time with him. It is not a mark of statesmanship for men to look at those they perceive to have failed, because he is the one who keeps referring to his friend’s time in government as a failure. Why can he not compare himself with those who are succeeding in other states?

It is only when we start doing that that we can actually know whether he is doing well or not.

There are people who will say one thing and do the opposite.

We have seen the complaints from members of ACN and it is not a question of one man one vote, it is now one man, no vote.

What they did was at complete variance with the provisions of the electoral law for the conduct

Continues on page 51

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—43

C M Y K

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

BORNO: A league of Ignorants as professionals T was clear that some fifth columnists were at work, when last week what started like an agenda setting move by a faceless group snowballed into media bashing of former Borno State Governor, senator Ali Modu Sheriff, his godson Governor Kashim Shettima and Governor Kashim’s deputy, Alhaji Zannah Umar Mustapha.

First, it was the call for Governor Shettima to drop Alhaji Umar Mustapha in the build up to the governorship race in 2015. It was alleged that there was a rift between Governor Shettima and his benefactor Ali Modu Sheriff which, according to them, should be the basis for the dropping of Zannah.

Just when concerned people were trying to unravel the puzzle around this clear case of mischief, another news item appeared in many national dailies to the effect that the Governor was contemplating a cabinet reshuffle to weed out some members of the cabinet who were alleged to be too close to Senator Modu Sheriff, in order to boost his own political machinery.

Apparently not satisfied with the dust raised in the first two publications, a so-called league of Borno professionals wrote a public petition to President Goodluck Jonathan calling on him to stop Senator Modu Sheriff from further visiting his home state, citing

It is also needless to attempt to drive a wedge between Governor Shettima and Senator Modu Sheriff, because it will definitely fail

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loyal deputy, Umar Mustapha, may provide a fertile ground for the actualization of that agenda.

A

lthough Governor Shettima has come out to clear the air on all issues without any ambiguity whatsoever, one is still worried that some people may be planning to further plunge Borno into deeper crisis at a time when the government seems to be overcoming the problems associated with the Boko Haram insurgency. It is also coming at a time when the government seems to be making inroads into the political arena, with the tendency to silence any form of opposition in 2015. One can appreciate their apprehensions in the face of Ali Sheriff ’s indomitable political spirit, and Governor Kashim’s

The synthetic of Aso Rock

BY ERIC TENILOA

L

ET’S take a close look at the seat of government in France, Great Britain and United States of America, in comparison to our own- the Presidential Villa which we refer to often as Aso Rock in Abuja.

Downing Street is the seat of the British Government. It was named after Sir George Downing (1623-1684). It is a street in the West End of London- West Minister, in short in central London.

Along the street, the British Foreign Ministry is located, the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister is also located there. It has been so since the time of Sir Robert Walpole (1721-1742).

Tourists go there often. It belongs to the British people. Prime ministers often test their popularity or the acceptability of their policies, through the mood of those who gather often along that street.

The Elysee Palace in Paris has been the official residence of the president of France since 1873. The palace is on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. It was built in 1718 and was once property of Mme de Pampadour. The Landlord of the Palace is France and the first tenant was Louis XVIII brother of King Louis XVI. General Charles De Gaulle (1890-1970) once said that Elysee Palace is the only barometer through which he feels the heat of France. Elysee Palace is a pride to every Frenchman. Pictures of the Palace form part of the architecture of France. If you get to Paris and you want to get to the Palace, just to view the place or photograph it, you will be welcome.

When the United States government moved to the largely unfinished new capital at Washington, DC, in 1800, President John Adams and his wife Abigail entered with some trepidation into the executive mansion.

After the design competition had been won

by Hoban, construction began in1792 and the original structure was built by 1800 at an estimated cost of $400,000.

When President Thomas Jefferson (who

had submitted a lasting design) moved into the White House in 1801, he began energetically planning additions, but these were not finished until after the mansion was partly burnt by the British during the War of 1812. It was painted white for the first time under James Madison, filled with elegant French furniture by James Monroe and graced with indoor plumbing by Andrew Jackson and given the official designation ‘White House’ by Theodore Roosevelt.

The White House contains 54 major rooms, including porticos; measures 168 feet in length by 152 feet in width. It is surrounded by more than 18 acres of landscaped lawns and gardens.

The White House is normally open from 10 a.m. to 12.00 noon Tuesday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in summer. Only the public rooms on the ground floor and state floor may be visited. As everyone knows, it is the residence of the President of the United States.

On August 27, 1985, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB (72) toppled General Muhammadu Buhari (71) and was proclaimed President of Nigeria by the then General Officer Commanding Second Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army based in Ibadan, Major General Sani Abacha.

On December 20, 1986, the then Minister of Defence, Major General Domkat Bali (73) announced that the government had uncovered a plot to overthrow the government of General Babangida.

Major General Ajiya Mamman Vatsa (1940-1986) and others were implicated in the coup attempt and those found guilty, including Major General Vatsa were executed on March 5,1986 following a trial headed by the Delta State born Major General Charles Ndioumu.

Other members of the tribunal were Major Akin Kejawa, Brigadier Yohanna Kure, Commodore Murtala Nyako, Colonel Rufus Kupolati, Group Captain Tony Ikazohbo, Lt. Col. Dansogo Muhammed and Police Commissioner Mamman Nassarawa.

increasing acceptability.

One does not perhaps need any talisman to know that the 2015 contest for the governorship will be between Kashim Shettima and himself. Already a picture of the so-called league of professionals is becoming clear, judging from the antecedents of a similar group during the 2011 elections. It is, however, germaine to correct the wrong impression created about all professionals from Borno State.

Borno is known to be the centre of scholarship and professionalism, and could not have produced the calibre of professionals in the socalled league. The writers of that petition, judging by their display of ignorance, can best be classified as a league of ignorants, who could hardly distinguish between the powers of a President and the rights of a citizen.

Those who do not know the genesis and metamorphosis of the Boko Haram insurgency may be easily misled into believing that what the so-called professionals wrote was a gospel truth. Those who can decipher can, however, see that, not only were the facts stood on their heads, but one can see the hands of Esau but the voice of Jacob in the unfolding drama.

Every professional from Borno State, irrespective of our specialties, but who do not belong to this so-called league ought to be ashamed that some people are hiding behind the noblest of acronyms to concoct political

,

I

security concerns over such visits, as the basis for their call.

The group, which has also remained faceless to date, attempted to chronicle what, in their opinion, was Ali Sheriff ’s roles in mismanaging the Boko Haram insurgency. Contrary to available security reports on the matter, they portrayed the Borno State government under the then Governor as an agent provocateur, that caused events leading to the whole imbroglio, even as the insurgents were merely retaliating certain provocative actions.

All three publications, which appeared within the span of only one week smack of mischief and political vendetta. The latter, which attempted to blame the resurgence of violence in some parts of Maiduguri as a reaction to Senator Sheriff’s visits, was even a more contemptous display of crass ignorance. To my mind, all three publications derive from the same source, and were clear cases of paid hatchet job; in which the petitioners were only acting out written scripts by a seeming desperate power mongers.

I have very strong suspicions that the actual motive was to paint a picture of a degeneration of the crisis, and possibly prevent the holding of elections in Borno State in 2015. They think that driving a wedge between the Governor, his benefactor and strong man of Borno politics, Senator Modu Sheriff and between him and his

,

BY ANJILI KWARI

The tragedy in our presidential system of government is that the people really have no role; once they vote, they are completely ignored until the next four years; it is only the executive and legislature that profit from our democracy

,

On April 20, 1990, another coup attempt was made on General Babangida’s government in Lagos by Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar and others.

After a military trial headed by the then General Officer Commanding the First Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu (72), forty-two of the coup plotters, including Major Orkar, Captains Nimibowei, Harley Empere and Perebo Aboela Dakolo, Lts. Awokoya, Akogun, Cyril Okusor Ozoalor and Nicholas Odey and second Lieutenants Arthur Badenyinte Nmukoro, E.J. Esuku and Emmanuel Alade were executed on July 27, 1990 in Lagos.

I

n a recent television interview, IBB disclosed that but for Captain Bade Omowa from Oka, Akoko area of Ondo State who smuggled him out of Dodan Barracks in an Old Volkswagen car, anything could have happened to him. His then A.D.C., Lt. Col. Usman K. Bello was not that lucky, for he died in the failed coup.

So, to prevent another coup in Lagos and obsessed with insecurity in Lagos, General Babangida on December 12, 1991 moved the presidency from Dodan Barracks to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, ignoring gradual movement, as it is being done in Brazil, as recommended by Dr. AkinolaAguda’s

mischief.

As a league, it connotes the association of many professionals trained in various fields united for a particular goal. Amongst these professionals, are supposed to be doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, journalists, pharmacists, and others. To this end, one would expect at least the lawyers in the so-called league, or at least common sense, will inform their opinions, to the effect that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not empower the President whom they claim to petition, to restrict the movements of any particular citizen, talk less a former governor, and senator of the Federal Republic.

I wish to place it on record that there was never a specific incident in Maiduguri which can be attributed to the visit of the former governor. It will be most uncharitable to associate the man with any insurgency activity. It is also needless to attempt to drive a wedge between Governor Shettima and Senator Modu Sheriff, because it will definitely fail. The bond between the duo is much stronger than any imagined closeness anybody may claim to have with any of them.

I may not be a fan of Senator Sheriff or Kashim Shettima, but I cannot be lured into toeing the line of misguided professionals to trade on deliberate misinformation and mischief, just to satisfy their quest for power. *Mr. Kwari, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Abuja.

committee which was inaugurated on August 5,1975 by the former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed.

By the time IBB landed in the Presidential Villa in Abuja on that sunny day, there was no accommodation for his top aides, including his then deputy, Admiral Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu ( now late). So they slept in hotels.

Between 1991 till he handed over power to his appointed successor, Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (77) on August 26,1993, General Babangida was literally in charge of his personal safety. In short he went to hide in the Presidential Villa in Abuja and not to govern, hence the terrible mistakes he made in the last months of his regime, including the annulment of the presidential election, which is still his affecting his destiny.

He moved to Abuja to hide. He glued himself to the villa, constructing structures in the villa and other parts of Abuja while the rest of the country got poorer.

IBB and his other successors made Abuja an El Dorado while the rest of the country wallowed in poverty and neglect.

You need to see the villa; it was designed purely to cut off the people. It is anti-people.

It occupies one-tenth of the whole Central District of Abuja and it is one of the biggest Presidential Villas in the world with a large undeveloped space. If you enter the villa, it is as if you are in a golden palace.

The tragedy in our presidential system of government is that the people really have no role.Once they vote, they are completely ignored until the next four years.

It is only the executive and legislature that profit from our democracy.

We have a system of government that slights the people and a Presidential Villa that has completely fenced them.

Double punishment Worse still, they are now constructing an express lane from the villa to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, which will make our leaders to be completely invincible to the people. Pity.

*Mr. Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11 , 2013—45

115 Cardinals pray before conclave to select new Pope R

OMAN Catholic Cardinals prayed yesterday for spiritual guidance ahead of a closed-door conclave to choose a new pope to lead the Church at one of the most difficult periods in its history.

Cardinals will hold a final pre-conclave meeting today to discuss the state of their Church, left reeling by the abdication last month of Pope Benedict and struggling to deal with a string of sexual abuse and corruption scandals.

The 115 cardinals who

will take part in the secret ballots, which start tomorrow fanned out around Rome yesterday to hold myriad Masses, either in the quiet of private chapels or in the grandeur of Rome’s great cathedrals and basilicas.

Each cardinal is traditionally assigned to a church in the Italian capital and congregations swelled in parishes visited by those considered the most likely papal contenders — such as Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of

Anxiety mounts over French Family in captivity •UK, Greece, Italy confirms killings The where about of the French family of seven kidnapped in northern Cameroon and moved over the Nigerian border

by Islamic militants, remains unknown as Italian and Greek Foreign Ministries confirmed yesterday that the nationals have been killed in northern Nigeria.

Seven foreign construction workers who were kidnapped last month were killed at the weekend by Islamist group.

Al Qaeda-affiliated group Ansaru said on Saturday that it had killed the hostages seized on February 7 in Bauchi because of attempts by Nigerian and British forces to free them. The group had published photos purporting to show the bodies of a Briton, an Italian, a Greek and four Lebanese workers snatched from the Lebanese firm Setraco.

Ansaru was suspected of being behind the killing of a British and

Italian hostage a year ago in northwest Nigeria during a botched attempt to rescue them by British and Nigerian forces.

Britain has labeled it a terrorist organization.

There is no news on the French family of seven which Ansaru claimed it siezed. The group also claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in December of a French national who is still missing.

Although Nigerian authorities have continued to say they had no evidence, after doubting the veracity of the Ansaru, Greece has however confirmed its citizen was dead, adding the Foreign Ministry had informed his family. Lebanon declined to comment.

Britain said it was “likely” the Briton was killed along with the six others, with Foreign Secretary William Hague saying: “This was an act of cold-blooded murder, which I condemn in the strongest terms.”

Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“We’re all preparing for the conclave because we need to make the right decision to decide who is going to be the new pope,” Scherer told a small Baroque church in the heart of Rome, crammed with well-wishers.

He was later driven away in a minivan with darkened windows, declining to speak to the waiting hoards of reporters — a taste of the pressures to come if he should become the first non-European to be elected pope in some 1,300 years.

Just up the road, another non-European touted as a possible candidate, U.S. Cardinal Sean O’Malley, also received star treatment as he arrived for Mass in ornate vestments.

Kenya election: Uhuru Kenyatta hails ‘democracy triumph’ N

EWLY elected Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed his victory as a “triumph of democracy” and peace.

After being declared winner of last Monday’s poll by the slimmest of margins of 50.07% Mr Kenyatta said voters had upheld “respect for the rule of law”, and promised to work with opponents.

However his main rival, Raila Odinga, vowed to challenge the result in court.

Mr Kenyatta is set to be tried at the International Criminal Court over violence that followed the 2007 polls.

He is accused of fuelling

V

E N E Z U E L A’ S charged election race kicked off yesterday with throngs attending mass at the coffin of deceased leader Hugo Chavez and vowing to back his preferred successor, Nicolas Maduro, over likely opposition contender Henrique Capriles.

The pair have until today to register their

candidacies for the April 14 vote, which will determine whether Chavez’s self-styled nationalist-socialist revolution will live on in the OPEC nation, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer.

the communal violence that saw more than 1,000 people killed and 600,000 forced from their homes.

On Saturday the election commission said Mr Kenyatta had narrowly avoided a runoff by winning 50.07% of votes in a credible and

transparent poll.

It said the turnout, at 86%, was the largest ever in the country.

Observers said it was the closest of races with the tightest of margins.

After the results were announced, Mr Kenyatta told cheering supporters

T

HE Indain High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Mahesh Sachev, weekend disclosed that a large and endowed country like Nigeria should stop employing foreign teachers to prevent another round of no-colonialism.

Sachdev said Nigerians are well educated enough to take charge of all educational aspect of their lives.

He made this disclosure

he would serve all Kenyans “without fear or favour”.

Speaking at the Catholic University in Nairobi, he said Kenyans were celebrating the “triumph of democracy, the triumph of peace, the triumph of nationhood”.

Mandela discharged from hospital

F

ORMER South African president, Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital after routine tests and is well, the government said yesterday.

“The doctors have

completed the tests. He is well and as before, his health remains under the management of the medical team,” the government said in a statement.

The 94-year-old anti-

Stop employing foreign teachers, envoy counsels Nigerians

By DOTUN IBIWOYE

Venezuela’s poll holds April 14

•Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley (R) gives communion under Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s 17th century sculpture “Ecstasy of Saint Teresa”, while leading mass at the Santa Maria Della Vittoria church in Rome yesterday.

at a workshop in Lagos organised Maxmind and Educomp with the theme: “Implementing best-inclass solutions for enhancing schools’ pass rate.

The High Commissioner said that Predident Goodluck Jonathan, Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Governor Babatunde Fashola have were though by Indian teachers in Nigeria sometime in thier lives but the country has now reached the stage where

its citizens should be though mainly by Nigerians.

He added that Nigeria only needs to partner with countries which has should only benefit the people and his country will assist becuase they have several historical and socio political antccdents. According to him: “A large country like Nigeria must not be educated by foreigners but must be educated by Nigerians.”

apartheid leader was admitted to hospital on Saturday for a scheduled medical check-up. He spent the night in hospital in the capital, Pretoria, and had returned to his Johannesburg home, the statement said.

A spokesman for President Jacob Zuma said doctors treated Mandela for a preexisting condition consistent with his age.

He spent nearly three weeks in hospital in December with a lung infection and after surgery to remove gallstones. It was his longest stay in hospital since his release from prison in 1990 after serving 27 years for conspiring to overthrow the government under the apartheid regime.

Since his release from that stay in hospital on December 26 he had been receiving treatment at his Johannesburg home.

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

LEADERS OF TOMORROW:

Persons of character or criminals? (2) •On Confraternities as secret cults This is the second instalment of the paper delivered by Ifowodo at Oleh, Delta State, under the auspices of the Solomon Ogba Peace Group in Collaboration with Flomat Books. The first part was published last Wednesday

T

HEY have been known to be as deadly as their male counterparts in gruelling (perhaps even pleasurable? rumours suggest forced sex with designated men or other girls) initiation rites and dare-devil or reprisal attacks on perceived enemies. But I have chosen, rightly I hope, to highlight the five male cults above because they are the oldest and present us with the clearest contrast between “then” and “now.”

I take them at their own word for the simple reason that who they say they are gives us the perfect context for examining who or what they have become and to answer the attendant questions of their frightful metamorphoses, as well as what is to be done to restore them to their vaunted original glory. In doing so, I am aware that the histories and man-

OGAGA IFOWODO ifestos I have cited are mostly available online, and that taken together with some of the claims and disavowals (denials of voodoo practices, denunciation of involvement in kidnappings or of being secret cults, for instance), one can hardly resist the conclusion that they were written specifically to deflect the widespread outrage against the violent and murderous activities that followed their transmogrification into vicious gangs or cults.

The transmogrification into secret cults: The emergence of secret cults, what I call their trans-

mogrification, has been traced to the factionalisation that began with the break-away of the Buccaneers from the Pyrates. But this view appears unmindful of the fact that the Eiye Confraternity, founded in 1965, predates the Buccaneers by seven years; one reason, perhaps, why the former makes a point of stating that it is “not a splinter group,” does “not have any break-away organizations” and that it is “the only tertiary institution based Confraternity that maintains its unity after over 40 years of existence” (original emphases).

Disenchanted founders At any rate, some members of the Pyrates Confraternity who had allegedly fallen short of its high standards and been expelled founded the Buccaneers. But according to the Buccaneers, the Pyrates Confraternity, then led by “a cadre of supposed super Pyrates,” had betrayed the original ideals and their disenchanted founders three of them, led by Bolaji Carew - had merely left to form a new confraternity that would stay true to its goals. Nevertheless, they took with them many elements of the Pyrates, including similar attire and symbols as well as its highly regimented and hierarchical structure (I will have something to say on this below). In its edition of August 10-16, 2005, The Midweek Telegraph traces “the origin of confraternity violence back to Carew’s 1972 saga and the birth of the Buccaneers.”

In the absence of any specific evidence of violent confrontations between the parent and emergent confraternities, it seems to me that this view mistakes any form of competition or rivalry for the sort of criminal, even blood-curdling, activities that led to the renaming of confraternities as secret cults. In any case, not all of the

Map of Nigeria

confraternities are break-away groups, as the Eiye are at pains to point out, and as the brief history of Black Axe above has shown. Yet, there is no mistaking the striking similarity between all the confraternities that followed the Pyrates, beginning in 1965.

They all espouse nearly similar creeds, have a rigidly hierarchical organizational structure, proclaim supremacy, boast of a highly discriminating (by which I mean, selective) admission process and display a penchant for metaphorical self-naming, but more on the implications or effects of these when I come to the question of how the transmogrification occurred. Suffice it for now to agree with the Buccaneers that the subsequent “growth and spread” of the two confraternities which “coincided with the expansion of other student movements … resulted in squabbles in many campuses.”

State-sponsored violence or the militarisation of campuses: But there is another, more credible, view that traces the violence - mild at first and mostly between and among the confraternities

,

By OGAGA IFOWODO

The Alora Sealords (Bucanneers)

months later to all the coups that followed, whether they be described as violent or “palace coups”- a misnomer, I argue, since ultimately, any non-constitutional change of government is violent, redeemed only if it is by way of a popular revolution the pogrom against the Igbos in Northern Nigeria and the horrendous Civil War of 1967-70 that ensued, to massively rigged elections that lead to the installation of kleptomaniac treasury-looters, the Nigerian polity has been defined by one word: violence.

The thorough militarisation of the civic space, precipitated by the

The emergence of secret cults, what I call their transmogrification, has been traced to the factionalisation that began with the break-away of the Buccaneers from the Pyrates

(perhaps, what the Buccaneers refer to as squabbles), but which grew in intensity and goriness to the point where it became their single defining characteristic and raison d’être - to the equally gradual but increasingly ferocious transformation of Nigeria’s political life. Commentators who hold this view point especially to the extremely negative and destructive role that the military came to play in our politics starting with the bloody first coup of January 15, 1966.

From the counter-coup six

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plain fact that power turns politicians and political appointees into instant millionaires and billionaires, transformed the electoral process into what General Olusegun Obasanjo, former military dictator and President from 19992007 in the so-called return to democracy, famously described as a “do-or-die” affair; in other words, a war. Colonel Ahmadu Ali (retired), chairman of his ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, would underscore the war metaphor with the idea of “garrison” politics while lauding the

“strongman” of Ibadan politics, the late Lamidi Adedibu who unleashed his private army of thugs on any Oyo State governor who as much as hesitated to obey every of his wishes and desires; in particular, the wish that he be given a direct access to the state’s treasury.

The ensuing unbridled violence led to many high profile political assassinations, itself a continuation of the method perfected by the military dictators. The list of their victims is too long to recount here, but we may mention a few: Dele Giwa, Major-General MammanVatsa, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8, Alfred Rewane, M. K. O. Abiola and his wife, Kudirat, Bola Ige (and by necessary implication, his wife, Justice Atinuke Ige), etc. The telling thing about all of these cases is that their murderers have yet to be apprehended, as if the victims all committed suicide. With the increased militarisation of the polity came the deeper deformationof the structure, and vulgarization of the principles, of a federation, such as the idea of relative but inviolable autonomy for the federating units, separation of powers and of state and religion, the result of which is strong perceptions of marginalisation and oppression across the land; hence the rise of ethnic and religious militias.

This view is not original, and I need not dwell on it. I suspect that Continues on page 47

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—47

Persons of character or criminals?(2) Continues from page 46

you share it too, so I will limit myself to an elaboration of it mostly by citing a few of the many social analysts who have argued in this vein. And what better personage to turn to first than Professor Muyiwa Awe, code name Long John Silver, one of the original seven who formed the Pyrates Confraternity in 1952, but who has since turned an evangelist, founded a church - the Fullness of Christ Evangelical Ministry (FOCEM) - and publicly renounced the association partly on rather contentious terms that led to a prompt rebuttal from his erstwhile brother and leader of the group, Wole Soyinka.

In a piece entitled “The Metamorphosis: From Confraternities to Cults” published in his ministry’s newsletter and posted on FOCEM’s website, Awe not only adopts this view but also casts his gaze a little further back to trace the origin of what he calls the “national culture of violence” to the Operation Wetie crisis that

resident in that Region. The massacre was directed particularly at civilians of Igbo origin. This led to the declaration of the Republic of Biafra and its attempted secession from Nigeria. This attempt was eventually crushed after a 30month civil war from July 1967 to January 1970.Even now that we are under a civilian administration, many former military men are in top positions at the national and state levels.

Our president was a military Head of State and a retired general; former military officers are now governors, senators, legislators etc, and they continue to demonstrate that old habits of authoritarianism that are characteristic of the military die hard. Such habits do violence to democracy and the rule of law. In addition, armed robbery, assassinations and ritual murder are now a common occurrence in the country. The culture of violence that has covered the land these many years has percolated into various levels of society, and the confraternities,

,

The culture of violence that has covered the land these many years has percolated into various levels of society, and the confraternities, fraternities etc. have imbibed this culture

swept Western Nigeria in the wake of the rigged 1964 regional election. Because he encapsulates this argument, I will beg your indulgence to quote him at some length:

Political party thugs By 1964, violence had crept into the political system of the country with the introduction of political party thugs operating within the national political landscape.

The situation was most severe in the Western Region where the might of the Federal Government was being used to undermine the regional government. Operation Wetie was introduced, in which property of perceived opposition politicians were set on fire using petrol as fuel and, in extreme cases, politicians themselves were set on fire. In an act of political violence, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in the Western Region and appointed a civilian administrator to rule over the Region. The unrest in the Region finally led to the first military coup on January 15, 1966.

This was followed by the Revenge Coup of July 1966 which was staged by Nigerian soldiers from the Northern Region who perceived the first coup and its aftermath as being directed against the interests of their Region.

Then there was the mindless violence of the pogrom carried out in the Northern Region against civilians of non-northern origin

of our social existence, and prepared the way for military selfperpetuation. ASUU fought mostly for academic freedom, improved conditions of service and reform of a rapidly crumbling university system unable to carry on any teaching or research worthy of its name.

NANS, which defied its ban and every attempt to prohibit local campus unionism, also fought for the same issues with an emphasis on free education at all levels, as articulated in its Charter of Demands, but because these questions had a direct bearing on the character of the government (military dictatorship), the battle line was drawn.

Having failed to emasculate the students and the progressive lecturers active in ASUU, the military government decided, as a matter of deliberate policy, to arm and patronise the confraternities which by now had become more and more anti-social, even if their “squabbles” were limited to interfraternity quarrels, reprisals against “sugar daddies” or any rival for the attentions of their girlfriends, or the intimidation of lecturers to award them passing or higher grades.

Denorsement fraternity

The Bucanneers

,

fraternities etc. have imbibed this culture. Violence was introduced at their initiation ceremonies.

Secrecy became their mode of operation, and occultism - the use of spiritual power belonging to Satan - was also introduced. The metamorphosis is now complete; the confraternities, fraternities and brotherhoods have become secret, evil cults, the Campus Cults.

In the early 1990s, female students started their own cults.

There is only one thing missing from Awe’s perspective on what he rightly calls the national culture of violence: the specific way in which this culture seeped into the campuses and an explanation of how the confraternities fell prey to it so easily.

Consistent opposition As the military consolidated its hold on power, and one regime was replaced by another, especially in the long, dark period of December 31, 1983 to May 29, 1999, the universities emerged as sites of the most consistent opposition to autocracy and the demand for a return to democracy.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU; together with their individual campus affiliates, emerged as the vanguard associations that mounted relentless criticisms of dictatorial policies that shredded our civil liberties, eviscerated the principles and values

Patronage of confraternities Adewale Rotimi, whose essay “Violence in the Citadel” I referred to earlier, is specific on this point of the military regimes’patronage of the confraternities as allies against the resistance the military was unable to crush on the campuses. Basing his view on findings by another scholar, Rotimi rightly points out that confraternities were not violent at all when they emerged in the 1950s. That was until they were “high-jacked” by military governments who were anxious to consolidate their hold on university students who challenged their authority. By the time of the 1988 anti-fuel price hike, whose flashpoint was the University of Jos, it had become clear to General Babangida that virile student unionism posed a potent threat to his power.

Consequently, confraternities, whose activities had become less open the more violent their squabbles became, were employed as a ready and willing reactionary force to “neutralize” student unions and their “anti-government activities.” This fuller picture, drawn from the perspective of active participants or observers of the gradual militarisation and degradation of the university, may be found in two other scholarly articles: Said Adejumobi’s “Structural Adjustment, Student Movement and Popular Struggles in Nigeria, 1986-1996” in Identity Transformation and Identity Politics under Structural

The Shannon Frigate

Adjustment in Nigeria (2003), a book of essays edited by Professor Attahiru Jega, incidentally Iyayi’s successor as president of ASUU and the current chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and Sylvester Odion-Aikhaine’s “The Student Movement in Nigeria: Antinomies and Transformation,” a 2009 essay published in the Review of African Political Economy.

Personal experience I need not tell you, I hope, that I can speak from personal experience, and the experiences of other victims, students and lecturers, with which I am directly familiar. When the Babangida regime and its spokesmen hunted student activists on the pretext that NANS and campus unions were banned, that our activities were, therefore, illegal, or when the regime said it did not recognize NANS (especially when we gave those ultimatums about protests if our demands

were not met), we defied him and his minions with a simple answer: The feeling is mutual! We do not recognise your regime which is illegal, since you assumed power by an act of violence against the constitution and the sovereign will of the people. An illegal government has no legitimacy and cannot ban the citizens’ right to freedom of association and peaceable assembly!

As you know, this was not a bluff, and the many street protests that NANS called in the eighties and nineties, peaking with the great anti-SAP uprising of 1989, testify to the desperation of the military in the light of the failure of the draconian provisions of the Students Union Activities (Control and Regulation) Decree no.

47 of 1989, and so why it had to resort to arming and setting up the confraternities - as well as such newly minted groups as the Peace Movement, Vigilantes and Man O’War - as counterweights to the “radical” students unions and NANS. To be continued

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

The Governor as a trouble shooter

BY YUSUPH OLANIYONU

S

INCE I left my comfortzone, the newsroom, in June 2011 to start operating as a member of the Ogun State Government, I have never been scared or saddened by any development than by the events of March 5, 2013. Despite the fact that the news had been in the air at the weekend that the state House of Assembly might erupt in crisis, I believed that the 24 gentlemen and the two ladies would always manage their differences and be tamed by the facts of our recent history.

When the legislators again gathered as a Committee of the whole on March 4 to screen our new AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu and I watched the news of how the session went unimpeded with the woman getting a handshake from all the legislators, I became more than sure that all was under control. However, when the news came that Tuesday morning, that the House had been divided to two warring camps ready to do battle, I became worried.

I knew that with the House of Assembly in crisis, with members

agriculture, among other life changing policies, were about to be stalled and dwarfed by the events of last Tuesday.

Again, it should be noted that many believe any fight in the House of Assembly is a proxy war between key characters in the executive, the ruling party or the political space as a whole.

Those who have experienced a similar situation in our state under the p r e v i o u s •Amosun administration vowed that if the group opposed to the House establishment did not have some money bags already sponsoring their action before the fight broke, they would have several offers within 24 hours. It is as a result of these considerations that my heart jumped into my mouth as the facts of the fight in the Ogun State

,

Again, it should be noted that many believe any fight in the House of Assembly is a proxy war between key characters in the executive, the ruling party or the political space as a whole damaging their symbol of authority, the mace, and different allegations aimed at drawing attention and currying favour in the public opinion divide, we would be sending danger signals that the state was about to return to the jungle era of 2009 to 2010. Ogun State that has in the last 20 months been making a gradual return to its usual progressive, developmentdriven state would now be seen to be relapsing into the ugly period when we got unsolicited front-page news mention for the wrong reasons.

By extension, the fight in the House has the potential to cause an unpleasant distraction and divert public attention from the various on-going development efforts. The hundreds of kilometers of roads being expanded to create room for six-lane ‘Ogun Standard’ roads, the model schools under construction which will redefine infrastructural provision in public secondary schools, the model hospitals which will soon dot the landscapes of each of our nine federal constituencies, various policies aimed at making our state the preferred investors’ destination and the revolutionary projects and programmes aimed at restoring the state’s comparative advantage in

,

House of Assembly unfolded.

However, I was very relieved that evening when Governor Amosun chose not to attend the meeting of leaders of the new party, Action Progressive Congress (APC) holding in Abuja. He then assured everybody that the crisis will definitely not last.

It was a good test of his popularity and reputation when he invited the legislators to a meeting in his office the following morning and all of them were present. I remember one of the legislators telling me before the meeting commenced that he cried most of the night because he realized the implication of such a bitter fight on peace and progress in the state. Another one said he was sure that with the governor’s intervention, normalcy will be restored because all of them have utmost respect for the governor, whose programmes, policies, bills and nominees have always got the approval of the legislature after all necessary debates.

It is in the light of all these considerations that one should see the timely intervention of Senator Amosun in nipping in the bud an ugly development which could have consumed the state. The governor’s timely intervention ensured that mischief makers did

L-r: Legal Officer, Ms. Oluwayemisi Olumide; Manager, Public Relations, Ms. Chineze Amanfo both from Etisalat Nigeria; founder, Hearts of Gold Children's Hospice, Mrs Laja Adedoyin; Manager, Legal, Mrs. Bola Lawal and Specialist, Public Relations, Ms. Efe Obiomah both also from Etisalat Nigeria at the donation of some gift items to Heart of Gold Children's Hospice under the company's Re-gift Programme

L-r: Mr. Waldi Wepener, Regional Director for East & Central Africa; Mr Roger Enright, Senior Director for Product Management Blackberry and Mr Uzo Eziukwu, Parkway BLackberry during the Launch of New Blackberry Z10 Smart Phones at the Oriental Hotel Lekki in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

not capitalize on the situation. The speedy gubernatorial troubleshooting prevented a situation where combatants embark on ego-trip and get entrenched in their different positions.

By playing the role of a peacemaker in a fight in which one of the groups was already erroneously being touted as having his support while the members of the other were making insinuations against the position of the Governor, Senator Amosun chose to be a statesman rather than a politician. He played the role of the father-figure to the feuding legislators. By putting the interest of our dear state and its good people above political expediency and personal ego, the Governor has shown that he is the father of all.

L-r: Mr John Folajomi, winner of KIA Picanto car, Mr David Okeme, Marketing Mgr, Mrs Oiza Gyang, Category Mr Tea and Mr Anil Gopalan,Vice President Operations All of Unilever at the presentation of prizes fo Lipton switch on and win promo by Unilever Nigeria plc in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Feuding legislators ]More importantly, it was the governor who suggested the popular line on which the reconciliation in the House of Assembly is now based.

He was the one who said the legislators should go and apologise to the good people of the state who elected all of them into office. While leading the way in tendering apology to the people, he also found the right symbolism in the 106th birthday of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which coincidentally was that very day the legislators were reunited. I believe Governor Amosun came out of the situation as the typical cultured, progressive and patriotic ‘omo Ogun’.

While I pray that Ogun State should never return to that era when we were a shame to other truly democratic societies, I know that the state governor needs to continue to enjoy the goodwill of all stakeholders so that he can be able to rally all, at all times, for good causes. *Olaniyonu is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State.

Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State (m) receiving award from the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (r) during a leadership award in Bauchi weekend. With them is the speaker of Bauchi state house of assembly, Mr. Yahya Miya.

Member Award Committee, Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (IoTA) Elizabeth Egoh (left) National Leader, Strategic Union of Professionals for the Advancement of Nigeria, Chief Martin Onovo and National Administrator (IoTA) Prince Godwyn Don-Aki at the presentation of Distinguished Merit Award to Onovo in Lagos

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—49

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50— Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—51

It's now one-man-no vote for Oshiomhole — Dan Orbih

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OWINJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Owinje Sandra Jolomi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adiotomre Sandra Jolomi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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General public please take note.

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

Continues from page 42 of local government elections in Edo State.

There were no primaries conducted by ACN, they just sat down and wrote the names of people who will stand for the election in the various wards and local governments. So, my happiness is that today in Edo State, people actually know who is a godfather, people know those who are the very opposite of what they claim to be and within a very short time, we now know who is the devil and who is the saint.

He is doing worse things now that he is in government. It’s been quite interesting and I believe that few years from now, people will have a completely different view of what they thought he stood for.

But have you not seen the roads, schools and other things done by the government?

You know Governor Uduaghan said that the decision for the Good Governance team to go round was taken at the Council of States but Oshiomhole refused and the reason he refused is because he has nothing to show.

They wanted to come and see whether all the things that they have been reading in the press whether they were true.

That was the day of reckoning. Airport road, it has taken him more than 5 years and he has not completed it and people make noise that he is doing roads. Which road?

It takes a man more than 5

years to complete a 6.7 kilometer road? Look at the Central Hospital in Benin.

This job was left at the mercy of a quantity surveyor and the contractor which made the job to be riddled with poor supervision and the contractor in order to maximise profit erected a very poor foundation.

The resultant effect was the collapse of the building while undergoing construction.

It has since been discovered that the consultant architect, wrote letters to the government complaining and insisting on the need for proper supervision of that project saying that it was a disaster waiting to happen if government was not prepared to take immediate action to ensure that the job was properly supervised by competent people.

However, government did nothing about it and the result was that the building collapsed killing innocent people and today, the government is faced with the option of pulling down the entire structure and in the alternative erecting columns that will support the existing structure.

Either of these options will double the original cost price.

This is one of many examples of what is going on in Edo State. I challenge the government to come out with a white paper on the findings of the committee that was set up to look into the collapse of the building!

Anambra monarch blesses PDP candidate

A

PEOPLES Demo cratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, yesterday, received the blessings of the traditional ruler of Amansea in Anambra North Local Government Area, Igwe Kenneth Okonkwo, when he visited the palace. Dr. Alex Obiogbolu was in the Igwe’s palace as part of his stakeholding tour of the 21 local government areas in the state.

Igwe Okonkwo while pledging the support of the entire Awka North Council Area said the governorship aspirant was capable of turning the fortunes of the state adding: “what we want is a person like Obiogbolu to be our next governor.

Let the money bags go

with their money. I want to say that Abuja will not impose anybody on us this time around, and it’s someone among us, not those that swoop on the state during elections would be allowed to govern us, and if the truth be told, Dr. Obiogbolu is a grass root politician.”

In a meeting he had with stakeholders at Izu Aniocha in Awka North Local Government Area and at Okpuno in Awka South Local Government Area, Dr. Obiogbolu said that if elected, his government would be people oriented and demand driven. He noted that he may not be the best among the citizens but that he has the driving vitality to get the best out of the people who will eventually work for the betterment of the state.

52 —

Vanguard Vanguard,,

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 LIBRA; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?

SCORPIO; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but.

SAGITTARIUS; The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed CAPRICORN; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powers-that-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

N

ot long ago, Nigerians were bemoaning their woes over the relocation of some multinationals from Nigeria to other neighbouring countries, even when these countries are smaller than Nigeria.

Why do you think

Do you need to relocate? these firms are relocating? Call it whatever you like, but the truth is that they are looking for advantage. As it is with firms, so it is with individuals.

Examine your life.

What do you need to do in order to attain success in life? Do you need to relocate from your present location to a more suitable place? If that is the issue, do it, relocate. It is not impossible. You

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

can do it. I have done it and I am not regretting it.

Location is important. If location is not important, God would not have relocated Abraham.

Think about it.

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

PISCES; If what you’re doing today ’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now.

Even things may not go according to your personal plans today. Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now ARIES; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being co-operative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble TAURUS; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other ’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today. It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

GEMINI; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

CANCER; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

LEO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

VIRGO; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble

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

Success for me?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen quickly.

Fayemi Enugu.

Dear Fayemi, There are indications of financial success for you but you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you.

Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world.

Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your inner-self.

Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life which looks not totally balanced.

Basically you are a family minded person. You are equally loving and caring. But sometimes your love of freedom get better off you to the resentment of your closer partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault making love-business very interesting. And unless you are more careful and determined you may marry more than once.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013—53

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

Liverpool comeback stuns Spurs S

TEVEN Gerrard’s late penalty earned Liverpool a thrilling 3-2 win over Tottenham in a topsy-turvy Premier League game at Anfield.

Jan Vertonghen’s quick-fire brace either side of the interval looked to have won the game for Spurs despite Luis Suarez’s early goal but Stewart Downing capitalised on a defensive error before Gerrard won it from the spot.

Liverpool began the game brightly with Tottenham seemingly affected by their Thursday exertions in beating Inter Milan at White Hart Lane.

And just as Spurs began to take charge of the game they were on the receiving end of a move of real quality from the

home side.

Philippe Coutinho showed great skill to twice put Jose Enrique away down the left before the full-back helped the ball on to Suarez who deftly slipped the ball under Hugo Lloris at the near post.

It had been harshly billed as the battle of the one-man teams between Suarez and Gareth Bale and the Uruguayan seemed determined to stamp his mark on proceedings, testing Lloris again soon after.

But his opponent in white was not to be outdone and after forcing an unconvincing save from Brad Jones early on, Bale played his part in Spurs’ equaliser on the stroke of half time.

The Welshman’s inswinging cross from the right flank found the head of Vertonghen and the centre-back nodded the ball past Jones low into the far corner.

And the two men combined once more in the early stages of the second half to put Spurs ahead when Jamie Carragher was only able to head Bale’s free-kick into Vertonghen’s path.

GOAL BOUND . . . Liverpool’s midfielder Steven Gerrard scores from a penalty during their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield stadium in Liverpool. Photo: AFP

Lagos Int’l Polo: Kano beat Lagos teams to sweep titles

BY JACOB AJOM

K

ANO Ashbert Ti tans yesterday

emerged winners of the Majekodunmi Cup, beating Lagos Ironclad Shorelines 12- 11 as the 2013 Lagos Polo International Tournament ends in an exhilarating way at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi .

The win completes a memorable tournament for teams in the northern state with Kano RTC beating Lagos Caverton in the Low Cup final of the event which has MTN and GTBank as major sponsors.

Toto Gerardo Collardin was the star man of the day helping Titans to hold

on to their one-goal handicap advantage heading to the sixth and final chukka.

With last year ’s winners and finalists Linetrale Delaney and Fifth Chukka fallen by the way side, Shorelines scored the first open goal with Ahmadu Umar connecting Julio Novillo-Estrada’s pass but Toto was on hand to restore his side’s lead to end the first chukka.

A plus-seven handicapper, Toto again broke free from the middle of the field and set himself up

with a with a 60-yard pass before smashing a shot from the goal mouth to widen their lead 3-1. Albert Esiri was the next player to shine for Titans scoring in succession to give his side a 5-1 lead.

Thereafter, Eduado Menendez also scored two quick goals but Toto managed to connect the ball with his mallet after Joaquin Pitaluga’s shot stopped just some few yards in the goal area.

There was still more time for Eduado to score twice as the chukka ended 6-5.

3 British experts in Delta for coaching clinic

T

HREE notable Brit ons who are experts in the game of football are guests of the Delta State Football Association as they conduct a coaching clinic for Coaches and Referees at the Warri City Stadium, beginning from today The trio of Mark Ellis, former Assistant Coach of Arsenal Football Club, Andrew Douglas, Head of Arsenal Football Academy and Jeffrey Winter, a renowned Referee with the English Premier League (EPL) flew into the country yesterday for the one – week training programme.

According to Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, who doubles as the helmsman of the Sports Commission, the training will give the game of football a new face not only in Delta State but also in Nigeria.

“We believe in capacity C M Y K

building in line with the human capital development agenda of the Delta State Government”, Mr. Pinnick enthused .

A total of 300 participants made up of two hundred football coaches and one hundred referees are attending the coaching clinic, bankrolled by Senforce Insurance Brokers and Main-

street Bank respectively.

It would be recalled that last year, Mr. Mark Ellis was in Delta State to conduct a clinic for Coaches.

Due to the quest by stakeholders to be part of the programme, the Delta State FA expanded the scope of this year’s edition to encapsulate the Referees.

Former Hear tland striker, Nweze dies in Europe with the Polish

F

ORMER Heart land and Gabros striker, Richard Nweze has died.

Nweze slumped and died in Nnewi on Saturday.

Nweze was also a former junior international as he starred several times for Nigeria’s Under-20 football team, the Flying Eagles.

He also had a brief stint

club, Polonia Warsaw but was unattached before his demise.

A former teammate of the late Nweze, Ike Thankgod fought back the tears as he recounted the life and times of the fallen star.

“I still recall the times we spent together at Heartland. He was a true professional and a very humble and unassuming person.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 — 55

Eagles call-up excites Ogu J

OHN Ogu was one of the names on the 15-man Europe-based players list released by the Stephen Keshi-led Super Eagles crew this week and the 24 year-old midfielder believes it is all a dream that he does not want to wake up from.

“Every young boy dreams of putting on the green-white-green of the national team,” Ogu told Goal.com. “But to actually have that dream being fulfilled is another step entirely,” he added.

The Academica de Coimbra midfielder is excited and grateful to God for this opportunity that he has been waiting on for so long.

“I feel great, so excited, and I am so grateful to God. “Playing For my country has been my dream for so long and now that it is about to happen, it still looks like a dream, but a very good dream at that.

Goal.com sought to know whether the call up will add to his stature at his club but Ogu said he will remain the same, working hard to advance his career.

“Well I don’t know if this call up will affect my stature in my club and in Portugal, I am just playing and hoping to help my team do well.

“The season is going not really as planned, but we have still got nine games to the end of the season.”

Academica are in 12th position in the 16-team league.

“This season we played In the Europa Cup and finished third in our group behind Athletico Madrid and Viktoria Plzen. We also got to the quarter finals of the Portuguese Cup,” he added.

Ogu has made 16 appearances for Academica this season and is yet to score.

CAF election Continues from BP his bid to fill the position previously occupied by deposed FIFA Exco member, Amos Adamu, who lost his place on the body following bribery allegations.

But in a bizarre twist to the defeat, the Nigerian camp, who were at the venue of the election, were reported to have told Osasu Obayiuwana’s twitter account that Maigari would have won if he had the support of Adamu who is said to still command respect before CAF members.

According to the account, “imagine losing to Moucharafou. This is not WAFU’s division rather Dr Amos Adamu’s factor. People fail to realise that CAF is like a cult”, said one of them.

“It’s a shame they want to blame their failure on Adamu; they knew they l a c k e d c h a r a c t e r, ” a n o t h e r football official said in Lagos.

Also, on the losing side yesterday, South Africa’s Danny Jordaan

lost out on a seat in the CAF exco, to Ahmad of Madagascar, who polled 27 votes as against Jordaan’s 21. 27 was enough because only 50 countries voted.

Also making a return to the Exco, was Seychelles’ Suketu Patel, who polled 33 votes out of a possible 54.

After a FIFA ban, Amadou Diakite returned to the CAF Exco, with 35 votes out of a possible 54. He was amongst those banned alongside Adamu about two years ago. But like a cat with nine lives, the Malian has entered the fray of CAF politics again and he will be hoping to have a clean record this time around.

Cameroonian Issa Hayatou was re-elected unopposed as Confederation of African Football (CAF) president for a final four-year term in office.

The 66-year-old, who was voted into power in 1988, has already said this seventh term will be his final period as head of the organisation.

Messi breaks another record

L

PUNCH......Tavoris Cloud (right) hits Bernard Hopkins during the IBF Light Heavyweight Title fight on March 9 at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photo: Getty Images

Hopkins makes boxing history ble to press the issue

B

ERNARD Hopkins became the oldest boxer to win a major title on Saturday night, scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Tavoris Cloud to claim the IBF light heavyweight championship.

The 48-year-old Hopkins broke the record he set by beating Jean Pascal for the WBC light heavyweight title on May 21, 2011.

Hopkins improved to 53-6-2 in the main event of an eight-fight card at the Barclays Center. It was his 29th title bout.

The 30-year-old Cloud fell to 19-1.

With Hopkins forcing a patient, technical match, Cloud was una-

and Hopkins circled him, landing jabs to his face, eventually opening a cut above his left eye.

Nadal wins on hard court

R

AFAEL Nadal, playing on a hard court for the first time in almost a year, defeated Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in a second-round match at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.

The Spanish star returned to the ATP Tour a month ago and played three tournaments on clay, winning two of those and saying his knee felt better each week.

Ike Uche Continues from BP within the promotion playoff bracket.

The prolific striker, who struggled to find his feet at the recent Africa cup of Nations in South Africa, opened scoring in the 39th minute to put his team ahead before Gijon drew level.

Uche then restored Villarreal’s lead with a stoppage time goal to give the hosts all three p o i n t s .

Villarreal were relegated from the Spanish La Liga and are seeking an instant return to the top flight.

IONEL Messi scored in his 17th successive La Liga game, breaking a world record which has stood since the 1930s, according to his club Barcelona.

The 25-year-old came off the bench to register his 40th league goal of the season for Barca in the 88th minute of their 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

The world player of the year chipped in for his 27th goal in 17 matches.

Barca said Messi had beaten Pole Teodor Pewterek’s 1937-38 record of scoring in 16 straight games for Ruch Chorzow.

“The Argentine player’s tally represents a new record in the history of football, something no other player has achieved before,” the Spanish club said on their website.

There was no immediate confirmation of Barcelona’s claim by world governing body FIFA.

Man United Continues from BP back to earn a replay after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

Manchester United came flying out of the traps as they sought to right the wrongs of their Champions League exit, and it didn’t take long before they found a way past a shaky-looking Chelsea backline.

Michael Carrick’s long lofted pass was met by Javier Hernandez, who took advantage of Petr Cech coming off his line with a fantastic header, looping the ball over him and inside the far post from a tight angle.

Chelsea barely had time to regroup before they found themselves two behind. Wayne Rooney’s free-kick from the left-hand side appeared to be aimed at teammates rushing into the box, but eluded everybody and curled into the bottom far corner with Cech less than impressive once again.

Chelsea’s woes were such that Cech did have a chance to redeem himself afterwards by pulling off a good save... from David Luiz, after the Brazilian almost put it

through his own net.

United appeared to take their foot off the accelerator, and Chelsea grew in confidence towards the end of the half.

Nani then disappeared down the tunnel with a minor injury, being replaced by Antonio Valencia before the half-time whistle sounded.

The second half continued as the end of the last had, with United looking increasingly sloppy in possession and Chelsea growing in confidence. It wasn’t a huge surprise, therefore, to see the visitors claim the next goal, Eden Hazard being brought on and he took advantage of a lack of pressure to smash a brilliant leftfooted shot past David de Gea. Alex Ferguson reacted by introducing Robin van Persie into the fray, but there was no immediate benefit - United were 2-0 behind not long afterwards. Eden Hazard was once again responsible, finding Ramires, who jinked his way past Jonny Evans before beating David de Gea to complete an unlikely comeback.

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

FA Cup: Man U, Chelsea in thrilling draw

M

ANCHESTER United will have to head to Stamford Bridge if they are to progress in the FA Cup after Chelsea fought Continues on Page 55

CAF Elections: Nigeria loses, Hayatou returns

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

•Hazard and Luis celebrate a goal against Man United

Messi breaks another goalscoring record — P.55

N

IGERIA’s bid to enter into the thick of African football politics has suffered a big blow following the defeat of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari in the CAF Executive committee elections. It was the West Zone B election,.

At the polls held in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Maigari was roundly beaten by Republic of Benin’s Moucharafou Anjorin in the run-off ballot into the allpowerful Executive Committee.

According to reports from Morocco, Maigari was able to garner 19 votes as against Anjorin’s 35 votes, a result that marked an end to

Continues on Page 55

RESULTS •Blatter celebrates with Hayatou

Ike Uche fires double I KE Uche, axed by Nigeria for a forthcoming tie against Kenya, scored twice on Sunday to give Villarreal a 2-1 home win over Sporting

Gijon.

Uche has now scored seven goals this season and Villarreal are now fourth on the table with 47 points and very much Continues on Page 55

PUZZLE

2 3

EPL Stoke Tottenham

1 2

Atalanta Cagliari Chievo Juventus Palermo Parma

2 3 2 1 1 4

SERIE A Pescara Sampdoria Napoli Catania Siena Torino

1 1 0 0 2 1

Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

•Uche

Newcastle Liverpool

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Put (5) 7 Stare (4) 8 Merriment (6) 9 Speed (5) 11 Sever (3) 13 Mist (3) 15 Drove (4) 16 Obscure (3) 18 Dance (4) 19 Earnest (7) 20 Mimic (4) 22 Bogus (4) 23 Fetchd (7) 25 Auction (4) 27 Furrow (3) 28 Stud (4) 30 Sheep (3) 31 Born (3) 33 Later (5) 36 Quake (6) 37 Too (4) 38 Eccentric (5)

DOWN 1 Worth (5) 2 Favourite (3) 3 Intend (3) 4 Self (3) 5 Mine (3) 6 Seat (5) 10 Couple (4) 11 Shift (7) 12 Shake (7) 13 Vogue (7) 14 Glance (7) 16 Object (5) 17 Power (5) Power (5) 18 Coach (3) 21 Before (3) 24 Bay (4) 26 Grant (5) 29 Feel (5) 32 Sprite (3) 33 Curve (3) 34 Beverage (3) 35 Beam (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Copse 5, Bucket 8, Prize 11, Stop 14, Tiring 15, Control 18, Cut 19, Sum 21, Shoe 23, Decay 24, Newt 27, Din 29, Ail 31, Dallied 32, Turret 34, Made 35, Launched 38, Swept 39, Except 40, Thong.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Own 3, Sports 4, Eft 5, Bust 6, Chorus 7, Tongue 9, Imposed 12, Tic 13, Pith 16, Ooze 17, Lurid 20, Mamacle 22, Once 24, Native 25, Warm 26, Tirade 28, Sleuth 30, Led 33, Test 36, Apt 37, Can.

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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