Rainstorm tragedy hits Lagos, Ilorin•Pregnant woman, 5 others electrocuted as cable falls on houses

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62120

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Nigeria, third on world poverty index We don't have mandate to — WORLD BANK

58

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restructure Nigeria — YADUDU

Rainstorm tragedy hits Lagos, Ilorin

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, BOSE ADELAJA, MOSUR OLOWOOPEJO & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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•Pregnant woman, 5 others electrocuted as cable falls on houses •2 brothers, bus driver washed away by flood in Ilorin; 8 homes affected

AGOS—TRAGEDY struck in Lagos and Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday, as six persons including a pregnant woman and her three children were electrocuted as rainstorm swept away three others Continues on page 5

FG files fresh 9-count charge against Abacha 8

COLUMNIST: Donu Kogbara

Re: When will it happen here?

•P.17

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RAINSTORM—Above left: An official of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) tries to cut the power cable that fell from a pole killing six persons including a pregnant woman at Oworonshoki area of Lagos. ABOVE RIGHT: A car burnt at the Lagos incident. BELOW: Vehicles damaged by rainstorm on Ajase Ipo Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday. Photos: AFP, NAN & Lamidi Bamidele

FG blasts Mugabe over comments 8 on corruption •Condemns hostility of South Africans C M Y K

Mr & Mrs

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POCKET CARTOON

UNVEILING—Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen unveiling the plaque to flag-off the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Ilorin-Kabba-Obajana Road yesterday. He is flanked by Obaro of Kabba land, Oba Michael Olabayo on the left; Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State and Senator Smart Adeyemi on the right.

Rainstorm tragedy hits Lagos, Ilorin Continues from page 1 in Ilorin.

The Lagos tragedy occurred at Oworonshoki area of the state, during a heavy downpour. According to an eyewitness, the tragedy struck at Nos 6 and 8 Onabanjo Street, Oworonsoki around 2.00 am when the 11KVA high tension line

suddenly snapped during the early heavy downpour accompanied by rainstorm with electricity still on the cable.

Confirming the incident, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi OkeOsanyintolu, said, a cable belonging to Power Holding Company of Ni-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Psychology fact: A person generally hates you for 3 reasons. 1: They want to be you. 2: They hate themselves. 3: They see you as a threat; love them anyway.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness and the state of joy is ever lasting when it comes from within— Take Heart Quotes

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NHAPPINESS lies in that gap between what we have now and what we think we need. But the truth is, we don’t need to acquire anything more to be content with what we already have. We don’t need anyone else’s permission to be happy. Your life is magnificent not because someone says it is, or because you have acquired something new, but because you choose to see it as such. Don’t let your happiness be held hostage. It is always yours to choose, to live and experience.

And from the experts of wisdom notes, Mack and Angel Hack comes this beautiful saying. “As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your own unhappiness, and you will instantly gain the ability to be happier. Stop seeking in vain to arrange conditions that will make you happy.” Simply choose to appreciate the greatness that is yours in this moment, and the right conditions will start to line up around the contentment you seek.

geria, PHCN, during the heavy rainfall, sparked when power was suddenly restored at about 2.20 am. He said the cable snapped and landed on a vehicle with 50 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, which immediately exploded into a ball of fire.

He said the incident caused panic among residents of the area and in an attempt to run into safety, they unknowingly stepped on the live cable and were electrocuted.

Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that six people died while the Police and other security agencies arrived the scene later to restore normalcy.

Also confirming the report, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe explained that the high tension cable fell on a car loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, resulting in fire outbreak which eventually claimed six lives, adding that the prompt intervention of men of the Fire Service prevented nearby buildings from being gutted by fire.

Eyewitnesses’ account However, an eyewitness, Mr. Kabiawu

Babajide, who is the General Secretary, Council of Oworonshoki Youth Forum said when the high tension wire snapped, it fell in a drainage and caught fire when it came in contact with wood, saying that two vehicles close to the wood were burnt by the resultant fire. He said people started screaming to alert others.

He said: “Not knowing what was happening, some people in their houses ran out and in a bid to escape, they stepped on the naked wire and were immediately electrocuted, while those injured were rushed to the hospital.

“People ran away from their houses in different directions and stepped on the high tension wire and they were immediately electrocuted. It was about 30 minutes later before PHCN, cut off power supply after they had been informed of the incident.

“Six people died in the tragedy, which included a woman with three children and another pregnant woman with a child.”

Another eye witness, Ladi Joshua who claimed to be few metres away from the scene where the high tension wire snapped said the incident occurred around 2.

00am. According to him, “the wire fell on a wooden material and caught fire immediately.

I shouted fire and immediately called the fire service to the scene but before they came, the damage had been done.

“In the process, six people were electrocuted, with those injured taken to the hospital, efforts to rescue the deceased proved abortive.”

It was also gathered that the man who was said to have lost his wife and three children, upon hearing the news was reported to have broken down, lamenting that he had lost all hope and reportedly attempted suicide before he was rushed to an hospital in the area.

Joshua gave the names of those who died as one Iya Fatima, who died with her child and one Iya Jonathan, who was pregnant and died with her children, adding that another boy, called Basit was also electrocuted.

According to him, the deceased were taken to the mortuary of a hospital in Yaba as they were rejected at the Gbagada General Hospital.

Two brothers, driver killed as rain wreaks havoc in Ilorin In Ilorin, no fewer than three people were feared dead in a downpour that destroyed property worth millions of naira and rendered hundreds of people homeless overnight.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that two brothers identified as Basil and Gafal, aged four and three and half respectively, lost their lives while an Abuja-bound bus driver also died in the flood.

NAN correspondent who visited the scene of the flood along Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin, reports that over 30 vehicles were

damaged due to the heavy flood caused by blocked canal.

A resident of the area, Alhaji Ganiyu Suleiman of Alawari Motors, said that the bus driver, having arrived in Ilorin late, decided to sleep in his vehicle, and was washed away together with the bus.

Not less than eight houses around a hotel along the road were affected as many occupants of the buildings were seen salvaging their belongings from the debris.

Clothes, kitchen utensils and other household items were being retrieved from the collapsed buildings by despondent residents.

Many of the damaged vehicles were washed away by the force of the flood while many also somersaulted.

According to Suleiman, about 10 refrigerators packed in front of an electronics and fridge shop were also washed away by the flood.

Also, many water tanks and PVC pipes belonging to a building materials dealer were washed away or damaged by the flood.

The flood also uprooted banana trees, carried them some kilometres away and deposited them in front of houses and on the main road.

Many of the residents who spoke with NAN said the flood was caused by the blocked canal.

Suleiman appealed to the state government to expand the canal to allow for free flow of water whenever there was rainfall.

Meanwhile, the Kwara Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Morah, who visited the scene, sympathised with the victims of the flood disaster.

Morah said that the state government would find a lasting solution to flooding in the area.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Gbaramatu crisis: Court grants remanded men bail

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ARRI — JUSTICE Asinafu of Delta State High Court 3, Warri, Whas granted Chief Micheal Johnny, Chief Mosco Johnny and six others in detention bail over alleged conspiracy, threat to life and breach of peace.

Spokesman of Nigerian Projects for Goodluck Jonathan 2015, NPGJ, Mr. Musa Yakubu, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja commended the court for granting the accused bail.

Yakubu said: "We are aware of moves by Ijaw leaders in Delta State to reunite Tompolo and Chief Johnny and others in detention; such moves must be pursued to achieve desired result.

"We at NPGJ sincerely commend the court for granting the bail of our founder and national coordinator, Chief Michael Johnny and others. We implore Tompolo and Chief Johnny and others to use this opportunity to reconcile for the interest of Gbaramatu kingdom."

2 docked for cutting off boy’s private part

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

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AGOS — THE police, yesterday, arraigned one Olalekan Adelaja and Obinwanne Onokwo suspected to have cut off a little boy’s private part at 16, Lamide Ariyo Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

According to police report, the suspects committed the act around 8pm on March 23 when the boy (name withheld)was sleeping in the room alongside his two siblings while their father was away to work.

According to the prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, "the accused conspired to commit felony to wit: attempted murder and grievous harm by cutting off the boys penis with sharp object.”

The offence is punishable under sections 2428, 243 and 409 of the state’s criminal law.

Defending the second accused, Onukwo, his counsel, Mr Alli Abba, said: “It is rather unfortunate to say he was one of the persons who committed the crime, he knows nothing about this. He was on his way from the market when he was arrested.”

Illegal refineries being destroyed by Naval officers in Warri, yesterday. (INSET): Locally refined diesel in Oteghele forest, Warri, yesterday. PHOTOS: NAN.

AKUTE BABY FACTORY: Two babies named after Gov Amosun ...as Ogun moves to reconcile victims with families

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Government, yesterday, initiated moves to reconcile victims of the Akute baby-making factory with their families, just as two babies delivered after their mothers were rescued have been named after Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is interfacing with Abia, Imo and Akwa Ibom state governments on how the victims could be re-united with their families.

Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi, while speaking with news men at the Stella Obasanjo Children Home, Ibara, Abeokuta said her office had been exchanging correspondences with the Ministries of Women Affairs in the states where the victims hailed from, noting that one of them had actually signified readiness to receive its indigenes among them.

She said: "We have sent correspondences to their respective state governments and some of them have responded and they are now willing to have them and ready for repatriation."

The commissioner disclosed that all the nine victims were actually hale and hearty, re-

vealing that already, two of them had been delivered of babies named King David Etimbuk Omotoyosi Amosun and Queen Elizabeth Morayoninuoluwa Onyinyechukwu Amosun.

Sonubi enjoined the young ladies not to despair or be demoralised about living, but

should rather see their present situation as the beginning of a new life. She advised them to cultivate good morals that would distinguish them among their peers.

She said: "Our mandate is to see to the survival and protection of the children and that is what we are do-

ing currently. We are very caring in Ogun State. We are not taking you as criminals, but rather, as victims of circumstance.

"So I want you all to see your present situation as the beginning of a new life. Plan your next step of action by returning to school or endeavour to learn a skill so that you would be useful to yourself, people and your state in the nearest future."

Abia police parade 11 suspected robbers, 3 human traffickers

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA— ABIA State Po lice command, yesterday, paraded 14 suspected robbers and three human traffickers arrested at various points across the state.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu, said the suspects were still undergoing investigation after which they would be charged to court.

According to Adamu, five of the suspected robbers were members of a syndicate and had been operating since 2012 and had been under the trail of the police since 2014 but were arrested last month.

He gave the names of the suspected robbers to include, Ndubisi Ogwo, 32; Onyekachi Ogele, 20; Onyedikachi Orji, 23; Chukwuemeka Nwaogwugwu, 21; Daniel Kalu, 20; Nnanna

Kalu, 28 and Godswill Uche, 24.

Adamu said that they had confessed to the crimes which include car snatching and kidnapping in various parts of the state especially in Aba. Recovered from the suspects, according to the Police Commissioner, was a tricycle in which the police recovered N1.478 million, a locally made double barrel gun, two live cartridges and seven Nokia phones with SIM cards of different networks.

Adamu also disclosed that his men on patrol arrested two other robbery suspects, Dike Akobundu, 19 and Joel Sunday, 21 along Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene road with various items suspected to have been stolen.

He said: “On interrogation, the suspects could not give a satisfactory account of the prop-

erty, but confessed to have broken into some hostels of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, while the students were in their classes."

According to him, items recovered from the suspects include five laptops, two generating sets, one digital camera, one Sony radio, one Raliegh bicycle, one gold wrist watch, six loud speakers, two phones, six plastic stools, laptop cables, one umbrella and three laptop bags.

Other robbery suspects paraded by the police include Ozioma Okehi, 18 who was arrested with a double barrel gun which he allegedly snatched from one James Nwachukwu, a security man at 33, Degema Street, which he allegedly used to rob one Pastor Eke Michael.

Others include Emeka Okorie 23; Onyema Obioha, 24; Christian Nwankwo, 21 and Madu Monday Chukwumerije, 20.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 7

67 yr-old man on death row for 18 yrs freed

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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ADUNA — GOVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State has granted amnesty to Mr Lasisi Yusuf, a 67-year-old convict, who has been on death row in Kaduna prison for nearly 18 years.

This followed intensive advocacy efforts by Avocats Sans Frontieres France, ASF, France.

Lasisi, a Kogi State indigene, was arrested over charges of culpable homicide and sentenced to death in 1996 by a Kogi State High Court. He was transferred to Kaduna Prison in 1997 and has been on death row since then.

Lasisi's case was taken up by ASF France through the medium of its Saving Lives, SALI, project, which is targeted at promoting international standards on human rights in Nigeria generally and, the restrictive pronouncement of capital punishment and abolition of death penalty specifically.

Other detainees who were released from incarceration owing to the legal intervention of ASF France include Zuwaira Tukur, Fatima Haruna and Mohammed Isyaku, all of whom were also charged for capital offences in Kaduna State.

Statistics collated for 2013 alone show that over 140 death sentences were handed down in Nigeria bringing the total figure of those on death row so far to approximately 1,200.

A total of 140 detainees on death row in Nigeria are currently benefitting from the free

legal services being offered by ASF France on the platform of the SALI Project.

Speaking on the objective of the SALI Project, ASF France Head of Office, Angela Uwandu, said: "What we are aiming for is the protection

of the rights of humans whether they are inmates in prison or citizens on the street. The governor must be commended for making a decision that might very well be a sterling example for others who have such pow-

ers to emulate.

"ASF France is determined to continue its objective of contributing to the legislative and legal changes towards a restrictive application of capital punishment in Nigeria."

Members of All Progressives Congress (APC), protesting during their congress at Ward E in Badagry, Lagos yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Police nab 3 Enugu sanitation officials over murder of 17-yr-old boy

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU— THE Enugu State Po lice command has arrested three staff of the Enugu State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA ,who allegedly murdered a

17-year-old student, Chidiebere Ede for using unapproved waste bag to dispose refuse at Trans-Ekulu area of Enugu, Monday.

The state Police spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who dis-

Concerned Nigerian women at a rally in support of Petroleum Minister, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

closed this, yesterday, identified the suspects as Ferdinand Nwoye, Leader of the ESWAMA team that operated on April 8, 2014 at the affected dump site, Chuka Egbosimba and the driver of the bus used by the team, Afam Agu. He said the three persons were being quizzed by the operatives of the Homicide Section of the State Criminal and Investigations Department of the command with a view to ascertaining their level of involvement in murder of the student.

He said: "Two other members of the team are still at large and manhunt for them has been intensified. The arrested persons are now helping the operatives in their investigations."

Meanwhile, the International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative, a non-governmental organisation based in Enugu, has condemned the murder, demanding thorough investigation of the incident as well as prosecution of those behind the act.

Man jailed 27 years over attempt to kidnap two septuagenarian women

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BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE — AN Akure High Court has sentenced a 32year-old man, Glad Nwafe, to 20 years imprisonment for an attempt to kidnap two septuagenarian women in Irele area of Ondo State two years ago.

One of the women, Mrs Elizabeth Albert, is the mother of a House of Representatives mem-

ber representing Irele/Okitipupa federal Constituency, Hon Akintoye Albert.

Delivering judgment, presiding Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, held that the prosecution had proved the two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted kidnap against the accused person beyond reasonable doubt as provided for in the law.

Justice Odusola convicted the accused and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment on the first count of conspiracy and 20 years for attempted kidnap.

He, however, declared that the jail terms are to run concurrently.

During the trial, it was only Nwafe that stood for trial as other suspects escaped from the Olokuta Prison during the jailbreak in

Akure last June.

The prosecutor, who is the Permanent Secretary in the Justice Ministry, Akin Ogunleye, called four witnesses who gave account of how the convicted person and others at large attempted to kidnap the two women, Mrs Mary Loyimi and Elizabeth Albert.

28-yr-old remanded for stabbing man in neck

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BEOKUTA — A 28-year-old man, Olalekan Ejalonibu, accused of stabbing a man, was yesterday, remanded in prison by an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused allegedly stabbed one Taiwo Gbogbolohun in the neck with scissors, thereby causing him serious hurt.

The prosecutor, ASP Banji Sangotokun, told the court that the offence was committed at about 1.20 p.m. on April 6 at 72, Asiwaju Compound, Ijaye, Abeokuta.

Sangotokun said that the accused stabbed Gbogbolohun in a fight which ensued between them following an argument over a bottle of drink.

He told the court that the victim of the assault had been in the hospital since the incident, adding that the offence contravened section 355 of the Criminal Law of Ogun, 2006.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Anthony Araba, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison pending the recovery of the victim at the hospital.

He adjourned the case till April 28.

Travel agent arraigned over N2.4m visa fraud

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A 46-year-old travel agent, Alhaji Lukmon Tijani of Almonsour Travel Agency, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Surulere, for allegedly defrauding three persons of N2,448,000, under the pretext that he was going to help them procure visas to travel to Saudi Arabia.

The defendant who is standing trial before Magistrate A. F. Adeeyo, is facing a six-count charge bordering on fraud.

The Police prosecutor, Sergeant Simon James, told the court that the defendant defrauded one Ibrahim Shonaike, of N1.16 million, Bulilahminu Idreez Omoniyi of N816,000 and Majekodunmi Modupeola of N1616, 000.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

hostile and unfriendly, we hope that this does not reflect a long-standing aversion for Nigerians.”

The permanent secretary, who gave the assurance that Nigeria would not change its Afrocentric policy, stressed that the country would continue to work for the good of all mankind and indeed the black race.

He said: “We have the utmost respect for Zimbabweans. You are welcome to our country but we are not happy and we are most unhappy indeed at this utterance.”

Slams South Africa

INAUGURATION: From left— Senator Philip Aduda, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power; President Goodluck Jonathan; Senator Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister, and Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, FCT Minister of State, at the inauguration of Phases 3 and 4 Lower Usuman Dam Water Treatment Plants in Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Nigeria blasts Mugabe over corruption comments, condemns S'Africans' hostility

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA— BARELY a month after President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe made derogatory remarks about Nigeria and its citizens, the Federal Government, yesterday, reacted, describing Mugabe’s statement as “unstatesmanlike and dishonourable.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhoimoibhi, made the condemnation while addressing a two man delegation from Zimbabwe.

Mugabe had, during his recent 90th birthday luncheon hosted by the Service Chiefs and the Public Commission, described Nigeria and its citizens as corrupt.

Mugabe, while addressing the delegates at the occasion, said Zimbabweans were now almost behaving like Nigerians who, according to him, have to be corruptly paid for every service.

Reacting to President Mugabe’s derogatory remarks, the Permanent Secretary said the Federal Government was deeply concerned that a sitting President whose country Nigeria had assisted immensely during its liberation struggle and had enjoyed cordial relations with, could take “considerable time to vituperate about Nigeria, reflecting what we considered to be a strong aversion for our country.”

Uhoimoibhi said it was disheartening that not only did the utterance not reflect the reality in the country but that it came from a sitting president of a brotherly country.

He said: “We considered the remarks denigrating and unstateman like on Nigeria and Nigerians in general.

We want to present the strongest protest on that statement. We thought it was most unkind and very dishonourable.

“So we take the strongest exception to it and we protest it for its partial inaccuracy, and also for the unfriendly attitude that it conveyed from the President towards Nigeria and Nigerians.

‘We ‘re proud Africans’

“Nigerians are Afrocentric people. We are very proud of the role we have played throughout our history to uphold the dignitary of the black race and the black man wherever he exists.

“We are immensely proud of our history in the liberation struggle. Nigeria, even though it was geographically different, distant from Southern Africa, was regarded as a frontline state.

“This was not a struggle that we fought half heartedly. We fought that struggle with all our heart, with our mind and every Nigerian citizen paid the prize for that struggle.

“Your pain was our pain; your struggle was our struggle. We believe your freedom is our freedom. But for the number one citizen of that country to regard Nigeria in a term in which the statement of the president was reported to have represented Nigeria with what was most unkind,

Ambassador Uhoimoibhi, who also reacted to the racist attack on Nigerians by South Africans, called on the South African government to checkmate such act.

He also enjoined South Africa to ensure that in line with “all appropriate actions consistent with commitment of South African government to international standard of behaviour and the cordial relations that exist between our two countries, those matters are dealt with in appropriate way.

“We condemn in the strongest terms any act of racism, xenophobia and discrimination perpetrated by whomsoever, and we are appalled that this incident occurred from a country we hold in a high esteem and which is a brother country to Nigeria.”

Receiving the memoir and the note from Uhoimoibhi for onward delivery to the Zimbabwean government, the Head of Chancery, Mr. Kunjeku, promised to deliver the message.

.. as FG files 9 fresh charges against Abacha

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA— THE Federal Government, yesterday, entered fresh nine-count criminal charge against the eldest son of the late military dictator, Mohammed Abacha, following allegation that he unlawfully hid about N446.3 billion allegedly stolen from the national treasury between 1995 and 1998.

Mohammed was accused of receiving the stolen money from his late father, General Sani Abacha, and concealed same.

Specifically, the Federal Government alleged that Mohammed “dishonestly received stolen property and voluntarily assisted in

concealing money.”

The charge, according to government, replaced an earlier 121 criminal counts in which Mohammed was sued alongside one of his alleged accomplice, Atiku Bagudu.

The government excluded Bagudu in the fresh charge, even as Vanguard investigations yesterday revealed that FG intend to use him as a witness against Mohammed.

According to the new charge marked CR.21 24/2008, the stolen money allegedly received by Mohammed, included 141,100,000 Pound Sterling and 384,353,000 US dollars, made up of cash and travellers cheques.

A private prosecutor, Mr. Daniel Enwelum, has been hired by the government to prosecute the case to its logical conclusion.

Meanwhile, attempt to

arraign Mohammed before Justice Mamman Kolo of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory yesterday proved abortive owing to his absence.

Enwelum told the court that even when Mohammed had been served with the charge, with evidence to that effect contained in a sworn affidavit by the court’s bailiff, the accused person refused to present himself for arraignment.

He said the new charge against Mohammed was filed pursuant to Section 181 of the Criminal Procedure Code, CPC. Enwelum urged the court to accept the fresh charge and deem the receipt of the charge by the defence lawyer on behalf of the accused person, as proper service.

He said Mohammed’s lawyer, Abdulllahi Haruna

had received the charge on his behalf.

However, Haruna told the court that Mohammed was absent owing to the fact that he was yet to receive a copy of the fresh charge.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case to a further date to enable his client to appear for arraignment.

Meantime, counsel to Bagudu, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), urged the court to grant an order discharging his client from the charge in view of the prosecution’s decision to exclude him from the new charge.

The government did not oppose the application, even as Justice Kolo accordingly discharged the 2nd accused person, Bagudu.

Subsequently, the court, yesterday, fixed April 29 to take Mohammed Abacha's plea.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 9

CORRUPTION: IMF won't partner Nigeria if...

BY OMOH GABRIEL, in Washington

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ANAGING Director, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Mrs Christine Lagarde, yesterday, said that if there are proven cases of corruption against any country not just Nigeria, it will not enter into any monitoring programme with it.

She said that there were instances when the Fund insisted on documentary evidence relating to contracts

before entering into programme discussion with such countries.

Answering reporters’ question at a briefing on the situation in Nigeria where government is alleged to be victimising whistleblowers, Lagarde said: “It is a very important question.

“I can assure you that there are cases when countries, and I would not single out African countries, come for negotiations for a monitoring programme, whether with or

without funding, where we have that dialogue with the authorities about the authenticity, the evidence relating to contracts, to licenses, the ways in which business has been conducted.

“There has been instances under my watch where we have said, sorry, but unless and until we have documented information about the circumstances under which such contract, such mining rights were granted, unfortunately we cannot work together.

“I can assure you that it is efficient. And I applaud any instances when authorities, in Africa or elsewhere, actually have the courage to step up and identify when there are shaky, if not shady, circumstances under which those rights are granted.

Calls for spending reforms

Meanwhile, IMF has said member countries must embark on government spending reforms, stating that

BUDGET BRIEFING: From left— Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Victor Ogene; Chairman of the Committee, Zakari Mohammed and Lanre Odubote, at a briefing on the passage of 2014 budget by House of Representatives at the National Assembly, Abuja. PHOTO: Gbemiga Olamikan.

‘There's concerted effort to decimate North’

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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ECOND Republic Minister of Steel, Dr. Paul Unongo, has alleged that there is a tremendous and concerted effort to decimate the North and stifle its growth and assertiveness.

Unongo, who is the spokesman for the Northern Elders’ Forum, said in aneleven-page document released to Vanguard yesterday that the recent escalation of conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and other groups in the North was part of the premeditated plans by those he called enemies of the north to actualise their evil plot.

Unongo also accused Professor Ben Nwabueze of being part of the campaign to decimate the north by claiming that there was no monolithic north since the area is made up of many tribes and languages.

The former minister, who said that those trying to rewrite the history of the north to suit their whims and caprices were doing so for selfish reasons, warned of the dire consequences of trying to cause dissension in the area.

According to Unongo, the Fulani-Tiv conflict was deliberately masterminded by the enemies of the north to find justification for its destruction by security forces.

He said: “The Tiv and Fulani of Northern Nigeria, having lived together for over 200 years as brothers, friends, and playmates, are now sold a dummy, that they are ‘enemies’ and must slaughter themselves to defend against forceful conversion to the religion of the foreign enemy.

“This has laid bare the true intentions of the tremendous effort being made to disunite the peoples of the North.

“Can a discerning true leadership from the North

arise and see the true reasons why the current dispensation is encouraging all forces working tirelessly to weaken the concept of a unified Northern Nigeria? ”Is it not the fear of the

tremendous clout a united Northern Nigeria will wield in the life of this terribly mismanaged Nigeria that interested parties are fanning the ambers of disunity and violence across the North?”

in many countries, public finances remain on edge as economies struggle to return to pre-crisis levels of economic growth.

At the ongoing Spring Meeting it highlighted the need for governments to embark on growth supporting fiscal reforms that will bring socio-economic benefits to their citizenry.

It said that ensuring the sustainability of public finances requires difficult choices on both the taxation and spending sides of the budget.

The Fund said: “While tax reform can help boost potential growth through the removal of distortions, spending reforms help strengthen public service delivery.

“Coupled with the projected increase in age-related expenditures resulting from an aging population, pressures on government spending in the future will only increase.”

The fiscal monitor sets out the main elements needed for meaningful spending reform: ensuring the sustainability of social spending and public sector wages, noting that health care systems in many countries have room to improve efficiency without drastically cutting services.

It said that for public pension systems, raising the retirement age and adjusting contributions and benefits are the key options.

It further said that containing the growth of the public sector wage bill in a lasting way would require replacing the across-the-board wage and hiring freezes with deeper, efficiency-enhancing structural reforms supported by social dialogue.

It added that fiscal reforms by governments require achieving efficiency gains, while aiming to reduce inequality and that large gains can be made in some countries by improving the efficiency of spending on education.

Editors hold lab hackdays

BY ABIODUN ALADE

I

N preparation for its twoday final Hackathon at its summit in Barcelona, Spain, Global Editors Network, GEN, will hold Nigeria’s edition of the Editors Lab hack days on April 29 to 30 in Lagos.

The event, sponsored by Google, will gather around 10 teams representing a variety of media platforms (print, digital, broadcast), to develop digital tools for journalists with the theme New ways to cover elections online and through social

media.

According to GEN, each team will include a journalist, a developer and a designer, who will strive to build a working prototype of a news application or digital service during the event.

It said: “The three-person team would include a journalist, a developer, and a designer. Together, they will strive to build a working prototype of a news app or digital service during the event.”

According to the organiser, no previous work or preparation is needed for

participating in the event to be hosted by Vanguard Media Ltd. The Editors' Lab is a worldwide series of hackdays hosted by some of the world’s leading newsrooms, which concludes in an international two-day final Hackathon at the GEN Summit, on 11 to 13 June in Barcelona, Spain.

It aims at directly addressing the need for more collaborative innovation in newsrooms, facilitating the generation of new ideas while providing best practice mentoring from industry leaders.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Presidential system wasteful —ANYAOKU

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

B E O K U T A — FORMER Secretary – General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, yesterday described the presidential system being operated in Nigeria as wasteful and called for a return to regional system of government where the country would be ran along six geo - political zones.

Chief Anyaoku who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, at the fourth edition of Emeka Anyaoku Lecture series on “Good Governance” argued that the presidential system would not allow for genuine growth, healthy competition, development and peace of the constituent parts.

According to him, “I am worried and continued to be worried about Nigeria especially with the election coming in 2015. I agree with people urging our young ones to go out, register and vote to bring about the change we need but I must confess that the present structure of governance in this country is not one that will make for peace and stability of this country.

“It will not produce any improvement. We should look at the structure of this country.

We were a lot better when we had a federation of four regions.

We live at a time of serious national crisis. I believe our country is in a very serious crisis

and I hope so that the current national conference will provide us with golden possibly unrepeated opportunity to discuss and arrive at a national consensus on how to get our country back to the right path.”

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Abike Dabiri – Erewa, said only true federalism would save the country from her sundry challenges particularly corruption.

Dabiri, who was the guest speaker at the event, blamed the current nation’s woes on “leadership failure at the federal level,” and urged Nigerians particularly the youths to be part of the change being sought in the country.

She said: “We must practice federalism, there is no debate about it is the major challenge in Nigeria and you know what we think a certain section of the country does not want it. If you go to state like Zamfara, if you

see what they have in terms of mineral resources, if they control their own resources, they would have been the richest state in Nigeria today.

“We have to practice real federalism which we are not doing. Our problem really is not about structure or no structure, it is about implementing what we have, is about political will and I think the major thing we must tackle now is corruption. If we don’t deal with the issue of corruption, we are going

SUMMIT: From left: Mr. Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, Regional Coordinator, DFID Nigeria, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, deputy governor of Lagos State, Mr. Pedro Verona Pires, former president of Cape Verde, and Guest Speaker, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former governor of Lagos State; Mrs. Morin Desalu, MD, Risk Watch Insurance Brokers, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, France Ambassador and Mr. Ben Akabueze, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, and Co-Chairman, Lagos Ehingbeti summit group, during the closing ceremony of 7th Lagos Economic Summit, Ehingbeti 2014 with the theme: Powering the Lagos Economy; Real Opportunities, Endless Possibilities, held at Eko hotel, Lagos yesteday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Epileptic power: Fashola appeals for understanding

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday appealed to the public to exercise patience in their bid to enjoy dividends of power sector reforms.

Fashola made the appeal in Lagos at the closing ceremony of the 7th Lagos Economic Summit, tagged: “Ehingbeti,’’ According to him, the privatisation of the power sector will not be successful without the cooperation of investors and consumers.

He urged the public to develop energy conservation culture and manage existing power infrastructure adequately.

“We should desist from illegal connections of electricity and ensure that our bills are paid appropriately. Electricity poles should not be used as speed breakers by reckless drivers; we should all protect the infrastructure from being damaged,’’ he said.

He assured the participants that the recommendations of the summit would be considered and implemented by the state government before 2016.

At the end of the three-day summit, the panelists suggested that improved network quality of electricity

distribution, especially the installation of prepaid meters.

They said this would encourage a vibrant manufacturing industry.

They urged the state

government to monitor power distribution to help reduce leakages and ensure that tariffs were cost effective.

According to them, the state government should serve as

...appoints 3 new perm secs

I

N another development, Governor Babatunde Fashola has approved the appointment of three new Permanent Secretaries in the state Public Service.

A release by the State’s Head of Service, HOS, Mrs.

Josephine Oluseyi Williams, named the the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries as Dr. Omodele Joyce Osunkiyesi; Mr. Sewedo Oluseyi Whenu and Mr. Ajibola Kunle Ariyibi.

According to the HOS, all

local regulators in terms of the provision of lands, easy access to permits to assist the power investors in rendering efficient service.

They charged the state government to partner with various power distribution companies in the state to build independent powerappointed plants. the newly Permanent Secretaries were substantive Directors who had distinguished themselves in several tours of duty in the state public service.

The appointment takes immediate effect

N979.6m subsidy fraud: Suspect escapes trial

BY WAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS—AN Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo was yesterday told that an oil marketer, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, who is being prosecuted over an alleged N979.6 million subsidy fraud, has fled to Canada.

This was disclosed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through Mr Emmanuel Jackson, who represented the agency in court.

The suspect, Ogunbambo

and another oil marketer, Habila Theck are standing trial alongside their firm Fargo Energy Ltd. The trial judge, Justice Onigbanjo had on February 10,2014 issued a bench warrant against him after he failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial.

His counsel, Mr Raphael Oluyede however, in an application dated February 11,2014, urged the court to stay execution of the bench warrant and also to restrain the EFCC from arresting him.

Oluyede said this was pending the hearing and determination of Ogunbambo’s appeal against the bench warrant which had been filed before the Court of Appeal, Lagos.

According to him, Ogunbambo was absent from court due to an injury he sustained recently when he was attacked by some unknown gunmen.

Opposing the application, Jackson said the EFCC had not been able to execute the bench warrant as ordered by the court.

Lagos protects 12,850 households against malaria

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government has begun an indoor residual spraying, IRS, exercise in six Local Government Areas, LGA, and 13 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, of the State as part of measures to check vector borne diseases such as malaria which the World Health Organisation, WHO, said half of the world population is at risk of.

The programme which began last month has covered 51,800 rooms in 12,850 households.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, said the ongoing IRS exercise was part of the environmental control strategy of the State government’s Malaria Control Programme.

Addressing journalists during a tour of the indoor residual spraying exercise in Kosofe LGA and AgboyiKetu LCDA, he explained that the exercise was also part of the State Government integrated vector management programme aimed at combating malaria.

Bring your expertise to bear, LUTH tasks new surgeons

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

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AGOS—COLLEGE of Medicine, University of Lagos, yesterday called on 113 newly-inducted physicians and dental surgeons to bring their expertise to bear on the nation’s health sector.

The Provost of the College, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, who spoke at the 2014 Medical and Dental Induction of the college in Lagos, advised the inductees to use their acquired knowledge and skills to effect necessary changes in the nation’s health sector, saying “as I look into your faces, I see your eagerness to go out and conquer the world. I also see the relief that you have endured the countless hours of lectures, laboratory classes, tutorials, ward rounds, examinations, no sleep, no internet, no light and at last; you are done.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—11

Osun Assembly directs Aregbesola to report PDP to Presidency

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO – OSUN State House of Assembly, OSHA, yesterday called on Governor Rauf Aregbeshola of the State to petition President Goodluck Jonathan over perceived recklessness and excesses by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwarts in the state, including alleged assault on the first Executive Governor of the State, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke in Osogbo.

This came as Governorship candidate of PDP in the August 9 Governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, called on other aspirants in the party including his main challenger, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, to support his ambition in the interest of the party.

OSHA while condemning the alleged attack at a plenary said the public assault on the First Executive Governor of the state, was unfortunate and an act of irresponsibility.

The Speaker of OSHA, Hon. Nojeem Sallam, on behalf of other members then called on governor Rauf Aregbesola to petition the Presidency over the

perceived recklessness and excesses.

The Speaker described the incident where a former Governor of the state was openly molested as unfortunate and an act of irresponsibility.

He said the ugly incident was an indication that certain elements in the PDP were out to truncate the peaceful

atmosphere which had hitherto been in existence since inception of the present administration in the state.

Omisore who received his certificate of return from the national secretariat of the party said he was sure of winning the election with the support of other aspirants.

In a statement issued in

Osogbo by the Director, Omisore Campaign Organization, Prince Ddiran Odeyemi, he claimed two of the Governorship aspirants; Hon Oluwole Oke and Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi had congratulated him and assured him of their support.

According to him, “Adeleke was the last to join the governorship race in the PDP and he was the first to withdraw.

OPENING CEREMONY: From left—Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu during the opening ceremony of the 1st Ogun State National Women Conference organised by spouses of Ogun State Government functionaries association, SOSGFA at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta...Wednesday

Amosun congratulates APC over Ogun ward congress

A

B E O K U TA — O G U N State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has congratulated the All Progressives Congress APC, for the ward congress held last Saturday, describing the exercise as successful and a beacon of hope for the country.

Speaking yesterday in

Abeokuta, Amosun commended the leadership of the party at the national and state levels for the machinery put in place to ensure a credible congress.

He said the turn-out in Ogun was very impressive, noting that “Even most encouraging was the orderly

Ondo LP disowns Enikuomehin over comments

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE – THE Labour Party, LP, in Ondo State yesterday disowned a former commissioner representing the state on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Benson Enikuomehin, as a member of the party.

According to the party ’ Organising Secretary Rotimi Benjamin in Akure, Enikuomehin alleged outburst on the bye election in Ilaje/Ese Odo was unfortunate.

Benjami'n claimed Enikuomehin's outburst that the LP deserved to lose the bye-election was mischievous, saying “his current outburst was due to the fact that he was not picked

as the party’s standard bearer for the same election. He aspired for the same position because the people do not want him, he is looking for where to vent his anger. That was why immediately after the LP primaries he left the party for the PDP and he worked against LP during the election.

Benjamin alleged that because he was unable to “ get his position activated in PDP decided to come to LP. Now that he aspired to become member of House of Representatives under LP and he did not get it then he decided to go back to PDP.'' It will be recalled that the second term ambition of Enikuomehin in the NDDC was thwarted when his name was substituted with that of Benson Amuwa.

manner of the exercise. This shows that we are always ready to set standards for others. We must congratulate ourselves even as we prepare for the Local Government Congress on Saturday.”

The state’s governor who was addressing a gathering of party chieftains, described as untrue reports in a segment of the media which gave the impression that parallel congresses were held in all the wards in the state.

“How can this be true? We are all witnesses to what happened last Saturday.

Except in a few wards where unavoidable change of venue led to some justifiable complaints, which were immediately redressed by our party leader, Chief Osoba, after which the exercise went on smoothly, where on earth did we witness parallel congresses, as reported in some papers?” the governor asked rhetorically.

Father of triplets begs for financial assistance on March 16, 2014 at the state

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA – A-32year- old-father of triplet, Ovie Umukoro, yesterday pleaded with governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for financial assistance to upset hospital bill of his triplets and feed the new babies.

The father of the triplets who are presently in the incubators, lamented that he had expended about N1 million since three weeks when the three babies were delivered.

Vanguard gathered that the babies were delivered through a caesarian operation

hospital, Ota but were referred to Federal Medical Centre, FMC, IdiAba, Abeokuta because they were delivered prematurely.

Beside the fact that the state hospital was said to have no incubators, the babies were equally discovered to have jaundice.

FMC also referred them to a private hospital, S a c r e d H e a r t hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta where they babies are currently being treated for the complication.

Narrating his predicament, Umukoro who hails from Delta, but based in Ogun State, said though he thanked God for the gifts, but, he never

World Bank earmarks $300m for Nigerian youths empowerment

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO – THE World Bank has earmarked $300 million to support youths empowerment intervention programmes in Nigeria under the bank’s Youth Empowerment Social Support Operation, YESSO, using the template of Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES. The World Bank Task Team Leader for YESSO, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa, disclosed this at the Training the Trainers Programme on Community Based Targeting and Unified Registry of Beneficiaries of the scheme for participants from Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states.

The three states are among the seven pilot states for the scheme, which include Bauchi, Cross River, Kwara and Niger states.

YESSO is a Federal Government’s World Banksupported intervention on poverty reduction targeted at the extremely poor in Nigeria to access increased opportunity for youth employment and social service delivery.

Ezinne Onyeoziri for burial today

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HE remains of Ezinne Maria Luke Njoku Onyeoziri (nee Ikekwem of Okwu Ikeduru), 72, of Ogwuoku Nguru Mbaise LGA, Imo State, who died on Monday, March 24, after a long illness would be laid to rest today in Mbaise.

According to the family’s burial arrangement, the funeral service holds at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, Ogbor Nguru, Mbaise, from 9 am.

She is survived by her husband, Ezinna Luke Njoku Onyeoziri, 32 grandchildren and 10 children, including award winning poet and Jemie Books publisher, Mr. Austyn Njoku,a former Association of Nigerian Authors ANA national treasurer.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

UNIPORT KILLING:

INSPECTION: G o v e r n o r E m m a n u e l Uduaghan of Delta State (holding microphone) interacting with market men and women during his inspection of ongoing clean up at Refinery Road, Warri, yesterday.

Senatorial aspirant's house set ablaze over Edo APC ward congress

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE All Progressives Congress,

APC, ward congresses in Edo State on Tuesday, snowballed into violence as suspected party thugs invaded and razed the

Oshiomhole explains ward congress' cancellation

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHLOASE

B

E N I N — GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, gave reasons why the ward congresses of All Progressives Congress, APC, held in Edo South senatorial district last Tuesday were cancelled by the leadership of the party.

The governor, who briefed newsmen on the issue, said the absence of officials assigned to conduct the exercise in the various wards and logistics led to the cancellation.

It will be recalled that loyalists of the former South-South Vice Chairman of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had called for the cancellation of the exercise on Wednesday after they described the exercise as a sham.

Oshiomhole, who reacted after a meeting with the leadership of the party, said: “There was no doubt that there were no result sheets. Officials did not go there. The election was conducted by volunteers not by the people who were sent there.

“From all we have said there is no way that a party that prides itself as

a party committed to change, one that celebrates progressive values can accept those results.”

country home of the party's senatorial aspirant, Mr. Theophilus Okoh in Ibori, Esan Central Local Government Area.

The thugs, who were said to have stormed the home of the APC chieftain at 2.30a.m. in a white Hilux bus and a Jeep were said to be on a reprisal attack, following their defeat at the congress, just as it was learnt that initial attempts to disrupt the congress was resisted by the people.

An eyewitness and the ward

party leader, Ololo Okoeki, described the party congress in the ward as free, adding that he had earlier received a life-threatening phone call few minutes before the attack.

He claimed that he saw about two vehicles at 2a.m., racing down to the senatorial aspirant’s house and then he got a call that the building had been set on fire.

Okoh said: “Let us see how far those that said they can achieve anything by violence go.”

Workers in 4 states threaten to shut BEDC

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

F

OUR state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states, have threatened to shut down the operations of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, over alleged anti-labour practices, including de-unionisation and causalisation of workers.

Other alleged sins of

BEDC, according to the NLC officials, include refusal to deduct union dues from workers who are members of the National Union Electricity, NUEE, since November 2013, refusal to recall union officials back to work, refusal to pay 2013 staff productivity bonus.

Others are refusal to honour Federal Government agreements on payment of unpaid staff housing/leave allowances and non-remittance of union dues deducted before

Bobor hails Uduaghan, Utuama

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HE former Delta State Commissioner for Housing, Chief Abraham Bobor, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, his deputy, Professor Amos Utuama and the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over projects execution.

Bobor spoke when newsmen paid him a courtesy visit in his country home in Mosogar recently.

He said the Uduaghan/Utuama/PDP team had done well with the implementation of the three-point agenda.

Bobor listed Asaba International Airport, Oghara teaching hospital and other projects executed by the government.

takeover by management.

Leaders of NLC in the affected states had already brought their grievances to the notice of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, whose state hosts the headquarters of BEDC, at a meeting in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday, which had representatives of BEDC in attendance.

While Oshiomhole was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Civil Societies, Didi Adodo, leaders of NLC in the affected states were represented by the Delta State Chairman, Mr. Williams Akporegha.

Mob overwhelmed police — ACCUSED

A

former police sergeant facing murder charge over the killing of four University of Port Harcourt students told a Rivers State High Court, yesterday that the mob overwhelmed a police team sent to rescue the students.

The accused, Lucky Orji, was charged along 11 other persons in connection with the killing in Allu village, Rivers State in October 2012.

Some other suspects are still at large.

Orji told the court that the patrol team, of which he was a member, could not rescue the students because it was overwhelmed by the mob numbering about 3,000.

Ex-militants drag Kuku, Amnesty Office to court over exclusion

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

E N A G O A — SCORES of aggrieved ex-militant youths from Bayelsa and Delta states, yesterday, dragged the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of the Amnesty Implementation Committee, Mr. Kingsley Kuku and the Amnesty Committee before a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, over exclusion from the programme.

They are praying the court to compel Kuku and the others to honour an agreement reached with the Federal Government for their inclusion in the amnesty programme.

They are also claiming N7 million as damages and N1 million as cost of the litigation.

Plaintiffs are Asenekiri Oyinle, Angiama-Owei, John Government, John Sawyer, Trydy Okpeke, Dollar Motor, Slebi Ayowei, Bombra Angese, Richman Oyindoubra.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

S-East PDP rally: Armed men attack Enugu party chairman’s residence ....Tow PDP bus, private vehicle

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU — AHEAD of the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan for the South East zonal rally of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, holding in Enugu today, armed men have stormed the Enugu residence of chairman of the party for Udi Local Government Area, Mr. Uche Ogbodo, removing his private car and a PDP bus in his custody.

Ogbodo, who spoke with Vanguard from his hide-out, yesterday, said he had just returned from the court when armed men numbering about 12 entered his compound in the GRA area of Enugu and were trying to force their way into his house.

Ogbodo, who said he was inside the house, noted that when they could not gain entry because of the iron doors in the house, the invaders took the keys of his private car, a KIA-RIO with Reg. No. AGW 35 AAA, drove it away and used a towing van to tow the PDP bus from his compound.

He was removed from office in the heat of recent party crisis with the party in the state.

The party chairman said he had reported the matter to the police, alleging that two policemen in uniform were among those that attacked his house.

He said he had already gone into hiding and alleged that the attack on him was part of efforts to keep him away from today’s zonal rally of his party.

“They know that I am the authentic PDP chairman in Udi Local Government Area even when

they have refused to obey the orders of the national executive of the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Vice Chairman of the party, South East zone, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), said, yesterday, that the grand rally in Enugu, tagged “Unity Ral-

SUMMIT: From left, Dr. Nkem Okeke, Anambra Deputy Governor; Chief Willie Obiano, Anambra State Governor, and Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police, at the on-going 2-day summit on security, in Awka, yesterday.

Obiano sets security agenda for Anambra

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HE ON-GOING crackdown on criminals in Anambra State took a more urgent tone, yesterday, as the two-day summit on security organised by Willie Obiano’s administration successfully took off to a roaring start with strident calls from the governor on Anambrarians to

play a role in ridding the state of all criminal elements.

Speaking in an emotion-laden tone, Governor Obiano pinned the soaring crime rate in the society on the people’s inability to reclaim the societal values that once made crime an outright taboo among them.

According to him, the fight against criminals in Anambra State can only be successful if the people took ownership of the battle and cooperate with the law enforcement agencies. Chief Obiano asked: “Ndi Anambra when did we begin to give chieftaincy titles to people of questionable riches?

....Stop causing confusion in your domains, IG tells monarch

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — THE Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has warned traditional rulers to stop causing confusion in their domain through

security breaches, saying he would no longer tolerate a situation where some royal fathers instigate trouble in their areas only to accuse the police of bias.

He also urged Gover-

nor Willie Obiano to emulate his predecessor, Peter Obi, in working closely with the police as the relationship between both parties contributed significantly to improved security in Anambra State

APC to release list of Anambra local govt congress today

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA — OFFI CIALS of All Progressives Congress, APC, are expected to release the final list of delegates who will participate in Saturday’s local government congress in Anambra State.

A chieftain of APC in the state, Chief Charles Amilo, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday, said the delegates were expected to emerge from those elected as ward executives during last Tuesday’s ward congresses in 326 wards in the state.

Amilo noted that although the ward congresses were C M Y K

inconclusive in some wards, APC officials in the state were working round the clock to ensure that all the wards where the congresses were inconclusive were concluded today in preparation for the local government congress.

He confirmed that last Tuesday’s ward congresses in the state was peaceful, considering the massive turnout of the voters in all the 326 wards of the state.

He noted that although comprehensive results of the congresses were yet to be released as at yesterday, everything was expected to be rounded off today, to pave way for the release of list of delegates for Satur-

day’s local government congress.

He confirmed that last Tuesday’s ward congresses in the state was peaceful, considering the massive turnout of the voters in all the 326 wards of the state.

during his tenure.

Answering question during the security summit organised by Anambra State government in Awka yesterday, the IG complained specifically about the happening at Oko in Orumba North local Government of Anambra State where, he said, the traditional ruler, Igwe Law Ekwueme, had been working at variance with the police.

The IG’s reaction followed allegation by the monarch that the police had not been addressing his people on the lingering crisis between his community and Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

Mama Olayemi is dead

A

WOMAN leader at Erinmope-Ekiti, in Ekiti State, Mama Ojuolape Olayemi is dead, aged 95.

Wake-keep,according to the family, will hold on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at her No. 4, Oleyo St; Erinmope- Ekiti residence, in Ekiti State, while she will be interred on Friday, April 18 at the same compound.

She is survived by children, grand and great grand children. Late Mama Olayemi

ly,” would be a platform by PDP faithful to consolidate the grip of the party in the zone as part of efforts to reclaim the two states lost to All Progressives Congress, APC, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in 2015 general elections.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—15

Senate summons FCT Minister, Julius Berger over Airport Road contract

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA — THE Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has summoned Minister of the city, Senator Bala Mohammed, and Julius Berger Plc over the alleged poor execution of the N108 billion Airport Road contract, The FCT Minister and Head of the engineering unit of the construction company are expected to appear before the committee in the first week of May to give detailed information on the road project, which cost the committee had earlier described as exorbitant.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, who led other members of the committee on inspection of the project, noted with dismay that the road had witnessed many accidents on daily basis since the company started the project, in spite of the huge contract sum, stressing that the drainages were left open.

The contact was awarded in 2009 and divided into lots 1 and 11 which cost N49billion and N59.2 respectively.

Lot 1 is expected to be deliv-

ered in December 2014, while Lot 11, which is 99.5 per cent completed, would be delivered this April.

Although the drawing for the project was said to have been done in 1991, Senator Adeyemi noted that the quality of work on the road was commendable, nonclosure of the drainages had claimed lives of citizens, adding

that there was no capital city of any country where such could be permitted.

He said the interface between the committee and other stakeholders on the road contract was necessary to correct all defects before the firm would finish and hand it over.

He noted that once the project was handed over, there would be

LAUNCH: From left, Head, North-West Zone of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited, Mr. Abdullahi Mainasara; Director of Personnel Management, Fagge Local Government Area, in Kano State, Alhaji Mohammed Baba Garba, Mr. Mohammed Fagge, an official of the Bank, during launch and hand-over of customised Point of Sales (PoS) machines, developed by FCMB for revenue collection, at Fagge LGA secretariat, in Kano State.

....Imposes 2-yr jail term for HIV/AIDS stigmatisation

.Adjourns for Easter break

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

ABUJA — THE Senate, yesterday, adjourned for the Easter break to reconvene on April 29, but not without passsing the Bill seeking a two-year jail term or a maximum N1 million fine against any institution or organisation that disclosed the status of anyone living with HIV virus.

The Bill sets out to prevent stigmatisation and discrimination against those living with or infected with HIV/AIDS. According to the new law, any person that di-

vulges the status of an infected person which he or she obtained in confidence shall be liable to a fine of N.5m or a year jail term.

Sponsor of the Bill and Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, explained that the bill essentially sought to protect the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV/ AIDS and encourage those infected to declare their HIV status in a more friendly Nigerian community.

Senator Okowa expressed confidence that the risk of transmission would be greatly reduced if the bill was invariably

Mrs Grace Azuka is dead

M

no other avenue to make any further corrections.

Adeyemi said since the contract sum was huge and the company made free use of raw materials, especially the chippings and water without sourcing for them outside, the company should be able to bear any extra cost of closing the drainage as part of its corporate social responsibilities.

RS. GRACE Azuka (Nee Anyabolu) is dead, aged 70.

According to family arrangements, she will be buried on April 23, in her father's compound in Ezioye Ide Alor, Anambra State, after a wake-keep on April 22, 2014.

Outing service holds on April 27, 2014 at St. Paul’s Late Mrs. Azuka Anglican Church, Alor.

signed to law.

The bill made it an offence for any employer, institution, body or individual to require an HIV test as a pre-condition to an offer of employment, access to public/private services or opportunities as well as educational institution, private or public, to demand HIV/ AIDS testing as part of its routine medical testing requirements for admission or accreditation of learners.

It further stipulated that every person living with HIV/AIDS shall be assured of freedom from unlawful termination of his or her employment by reason of his or her status.

Speaking after the passage of the Bill, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, who presided over the plenary, said the issue of HIV / AIDS was not something that people should be ashamed of anymore “because we all know that it existed.”

Meanwhile the Senate, yesterday, adjourned for Easter break, to reconvene on April 29, 2014.

Impersonation:

ICPC nabs 9, smashes Ibadan office

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA — OPERATIVES of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, have arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, nine suspects allegedly parading themselves as officials of the agency.

This followed a raid on the alleged parallel office of the commission located at Abonde Road, opposite Elekuro High School, Akanran Road, Olorunshogo, Ibadan, Oyo State, by the operatives.

The suspects are Ilesanmi T. Okunola, Oladipo Barnabas Abiodun, Ogunsanya Ayinla, Akintunde Oluwasogo, Akanbi Oluwole.

Others include OmoAare Temitope Emmanuel, Odetunde Olamide, Adewuyi Peter and Iyanda Lekan.

A statement by ICPC Media consultant, Mr. Folu Olamiti, in Abuja, said the suspects were currently undergoing interrogation.

16— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 —17

Readers responses to: When will it happen here Yahoo Boys, pirates, assassins, baby factory clients, oil thieves, druggists, exam cheats, thugs, etc. They are dead on arrival leaders, DOALS, who cannot be trusted with destiny yet. Tell me if they would not attend a NC like this with cocaine, battle axes, guns, bombs and even rape fellow members. For them WWW is Wayo Wahala Women. They are the major operators of LG. Soon we shall have ex-convicts, cultists, robbers, etc, as governors, president. Let us understudy our spent elders since we do not have their wisdom and patience.

the trustee are created for the benefit of the people.

P

LEASE find below some of Vanguard readers’ responses to my recent articles about Israel’s laudable willingness to jail corrupt and sexually predatory presidents, prime ministers, mayors, bank chairmen, etc.

By the way, I would like to seize this opportunity to beg some of President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters to grow up and stop sending me silly, abusive, paranoid, ungrammatical emails/texts and remember that I also voted for Jonathan in 2011 and I am not necessarily referring to him personally when I complain about useless VIPs, the PDP, the judiciary or the Federal Government!

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Just take a look at a few of our former heads of state whose stupendous assets and wealth have no relationship with any legitimate income they earned before and at the times they became heads of state; there is glaring coating of outright impunity, arrogance and air of untouchability about them

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+2348028259480 Patrick Uyanwa When will it happen here?

Corruption is a great cancer in Nigeria today. The more corrupt the state, the more laws.

Government is a trust and the officers of the government are trustees and both the trust and C M Y K

+2348023206209 Anonymous Donu, we don’t have men or women of honour here. So, what happened in Israel can’t happen here. Will a thief catch a thief? +2348060307077 Abide The development in Israel is a case study for Nigeria because we are advancing towards the desired point where the rule of law will begin to take its course. A vibrant and fearless government can initiate a process to actualise this. +234802214734 Anonymous Well you answered the question you posed, and your answer is probably very correct.

Just take a look at a few of our former heads of state whose stupendous assets and wealth have no relationship or bearing with any legitimate income they earned before and at the times they became heads of

*Ehud Olmert: Convicted for collecting bribes.

Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC chairman state. There is glaring coating of outright impunity, exhibitionism, arrogance and air of untouchability about them.

This is seen even in the amazing manner some of them prance and strut about on the national stage, poking fingers into the eyes of incumbent Presidents and brazenly fouling the air with their hypocritical denunciation of corruption.

Mr. Ekpo Nta, ICPC Chairman

Dazed and barely managing to eke out a living. Nigerians are reduced to jaded, ringside spectators in the vicious, no holds barred zero sum fight of our public officials and their private sector collaborators to suck the country dry and strip it to its bare bones. +2348188244442 Anonymous

Donu, leave our youths alone! The truth is majority of the present day youths are too preoccupied with crime and quick wealth to settle down to handle knotty issues such as our unity, derivation, rotation, state creation, federal character, etc. After all they are the cultists, herdsmen, Boko Harram, robbers, kidnappers, militants, MASSOB, MEND,

Chinedu Nzeribe, Onitsha Dear Donu, Straight to the point- Will Nigeria take a leaf out of Israel’s book in my lifetime and learn how to purge the corridors of power of rotten apples so this nation can move forward? Honestly , it will happen and when it does, we will cover up the gaps created by our leader’s romance with corruption. For now, there is so much IM: he-is-my-brother or he-is -my-party-member or church-member going on in the country. We have leaders who look at people’s faces before pretending to take decisions. Sooner or later, these things will be history. I pray it happens now.

Thanks.

J.U. OBAKPOLO, BENIN CITY. Dear Donu, I appreciate your high standard of evaluation of Israel’s ex-Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, corruption and the high standard of the Israel’s judicial process in a state where nobody is above the law.

Your doubt about the ability of the Nigerian state to rise to such standard is as good as mine. But hope is not lost, especially if people like you in Nigeria will work to lay a sound foundation for its takeoff in the near future.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 THE Pension Reform Act 2014, which stipulates at least a 10-year jail term on conviction for pension fund administrators or anybody who misappropriates or diverts pension funds, is meant to address the serial stealing of pension funds. In addition, the provision of a fine of an amount thrice the misappropriated or diverted sum should take care of the embarrassing incidents of pension frauds and the weak penalties.

In January 2013, Yakubu John Yusuf, a former director of the Police Pension Fund pleaded guilty to a N39 billion fraud and was convicted for personally stealing N1.3 billion. He paid N750, 000 fine on the spot and gained his freedom to much public outrage. The National Judicial Council on 26 April 2013 suspended Justice Abubakar Talba from office for a year without pay over findings that he did not exercise discretion in sentencing Mr. Yusuf.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is currently prosecuting eight others on an 18-count charge of stealing N46 billion from the Police Pension Fund.

President Should Sign Pension Bill Obviously, the old law never envisaged the greed with which those with access to the fund would descend on it for their own good. Under the new law, Mr. Yusuf would have paid N3.9 billion, the equivalent of three time what he stole, as fine.

The new law covers public and private sector workers. Private sector employers with at least three staff are expected to participate. The Act also stipulates that any pension fund administrator or pension fund custodian or anybody convicted for diversion or misappropriation of pension funds would be compelled to refund the said amount and forfeit property, asset or fund with accrued interest to the Federal Gov-

ernment.

A Pension Fund Administrator, PFA, which does not meet its obligations to pension contributors would pay a fine of N10 million and its directors would pay N5 million each.

If a PFA does not comply with any provision of the Act, the law proposes a penalty of not less than N500, 000 for each day noncompliance continues.

Sundry provisions in the bill target reforms that would strengthen regulation of pension funds administration, which if implemented could end the scandals that are associated with pensions.

However, quick assent of the President to the bill is critical to saving what has not been stolen from pension funds. Amounts mentioned in the police case alone show the depth of malfeasance in management of the funds.

A delay in assenting to the bill could be the final opportunity pension funds thieves need to empty the coffers knowing they would be tried under the old law that punished N1.3 billion theft with N750, 000 fine.

Our laws do not take retroactive effect.

OPINION

BY CLEMENT OMENEOGOR

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T is often said that success on any major scale requires one to accept responsibility. In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take responsibility. Recently the Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Ahamuefula Orji took on another great responsibility following his emergence as the new chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, a position that demands a lot of responsibilities, especially at this crucial moment that 2015 polls are fast approaching.

When he took over as the Governor of Abia State, many who were ignorant of his track record in public service that spanned more three decades underrated him. Some even took his humility as a weakness of strength. Apart from humility, Governor Orji is imbued with a sense of responsibility, circumspection, introspection, diligence, and transparency. He has never been in a hurry, but has always succeeded in every venture.

So proving the few skeptics wrong, he has over the years quietly and systematically dismantled all the barriers to peace, development and unity in the state. He has laid and still laying solid foundation in the state for the first time since its creation through his massive infrastructural developments that cut across the state.

Before his election as the Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, Governor Orji was appointed as the Caucus leader of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South East zone by President Goodluck Jonathan

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2015 polls: The Orji leadership option based on merit, trust and confidence, knowing full well that he is always a dependable ally.

His appointment at the peak of the crisis in the PDP between some of the party governors and the then Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led-leadership of the party, went a long way in stabilizing the party, especially in the South East zone. He rallied round the party members in the zone behind President Jonathan, especially at the peak of the defection and counter-defection in the National Assembly between PDP and APC .

Ahead of 2015 polls, all eyes will be on Governor Orji to see how he will carry on with the numerous challenges that will go with the several responsibilities he is carrying now as governor of the Abia State, South East PDP Caucus leader and Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum.

As a man who never shy away from responsibilities and public service, Governor Orji and the PDP stakeholders in the state should ensure that the state never go back in the dark days of maladministration. Clearly, achieving such will not be difficult taking into cognisance the level of unity, understanding and co-operation among party elders in the state today. Through his politics of inclusiveness, humility, and give and take, Orji has been able to carry everybody along in the state. That is one of the reasons his government is enjoying the

massive support of the majority of the people within and outside the state today.

Again, Orji’s numerous achievements in office which have attracted awards, commendations and praises from people is a good launching pad for his would-be successor in office. Such would-be- successor should be such a person who also shares Orji's philosophy of governance. It is crystal clear that given his popularity and widespread acceptance in the state, there is no opposition to the PDP-led government.

So it is obvious that the PDP winning the state in 2015 is already a done deal. They did it in the 2011 general elections when the party was not as united as now; they are expected to do better in 2015.

On the issue of ongoing entreaties and pressure on Governor Orji by his people to contest the Abia Central senatorial seat in 2015, it should be given a thought, especially as the people have all agreed that it is either him or nobody. Beside, his life has been more of public service and selfless service to humanity. So he cannot quit now or afford to disappoint his people at this crucial time by rejecting their plea. Again, having garnered vast experience in public service over the years, such experience is still vital in piloting the affairs of the nation at the centre.

As a caucus leader of PDP in the zone, Governor Orji should ensure that party

members in the zone remain united and ensure that all the states in the zone remain in mainstream politics and the ruling party.

The grandstanding of the All Progressives Congress, APC, members in the zone led by Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha should not be a source of worry or concern to the overwhelming PDP members in the zone because it is clear that the Igbos cannot go along with APC for any reason. We all know that opposition politics has never paid off for Igbos since Independence. Also with the return of former Imo State governor, Chief Achike Udenwa and others to PDP from APC, Governor Okorocha knows that his days in Government House Owerri will not exceed 2015.

The party members in the zone should galvanise massive support for President Jonathan’s second term in office (more than they did in 2011), if the President declares interest. As zonal leader of the party, Governor Orji should be able to carry everybody along, negotiate much more better deals for Igbos so that they can continue to get their due rights in the affairs of the country in the area of developmental projects, appointments and elective positions.

As the helmsman of the South East Governors Forum, Governor Orji should work closely and confidently with his colleagues within and outside the zone, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for a better South East and Nigeria in general. *Mr. Omeneogor, a system analyst, wrote from Toronto, Canada.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014— —19

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N Nigeria, we cannot say that we are a bad people or corrupt people because we all greeted the government of Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon in the late 1980s.

Nigerians started queuing up for things and waiting for their turn.

There was respect for the other person’s time and space, but they were toppled in a military coup, and since that time, our slide into corruption has not stopped. We saw an ‘arrangee and settlement system’, to the extent that one of the political leaders at that time said his party slogan was “youchop, I-chop”. Some persons even applied to register the “Chop-IChop” Party. That was in the 1980s, but unfortunately many of our leaders today still operate the principle of ‘You-Chop-I-Chop’, with very few thinking about how to move the nation forward. The “Chop-I-Chop” mentality that has bred so much corruption in the system that many leaders can no longer see the difference between what is good and correct, and what is needed to grow the society. It is the amount of money in their pockets that count, whether the society is grilling, boiling or

disintegrating. Our youths have been pulled into the loop of ChopI-Chop, and it is their quest for their own portion of the ‘chop’, that accounts for the unabating restiveness in the Niger Delta region, the kidnapping in the South East, Boko Haram in the North East, and now the AK47carrying herdsmen in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. Today, children of many well-to-do Nigerians have started arranging their own kidnaps and abductions just to grab their own portion of the ‘chop’.

It is corruption in the system that has made it very difficult for most high profile killings to be resolved.

Only last month, the son of the late Chief Bola Ige announced that their family has left the matter of their father's gruesome murder in the hands of God. God shall surely avenge his father’s untimely death, and that of numerous others.

The challenge of Boko Haram grew because people will not volunteer information to the Police. If any did, they would divulge his details to the suspects, and he becomes a target for elimination. In the early 1980s Nigerians would stop to help accident victims to hospitals, but not these days, because upon arriving the hospital, the helper is required

Today, children of many well-to-do Nigerians have started arranging their own kidnaps and abductions just to grab their own portion of the chop

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to leave his details, and later police will come for him, drill him, harass him, ask for transport money, etc.

The result is that today, Nigerians don’t want to help because of the corruption in the system. Who wants to suffer for helping?

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rite a petition for any wrong action against you to the Police, the suspect is invited or arrested and first given your petition to read and then reply. But this should not be in every case.

The matter should be investigated first, the facts in the petition should be confirmed before the suspect is invited so that he will just nail himself further more with his story.

The rush for quick arrests in order to bargain both ways is corruption and that’s why they don’t travel much these days. If you are not careful, a rich suspect will turn your case against you; the

Time to audit banks' 2009 stress test

BY JOSEPH EHIGIATOR

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ANUSI Lamido Sanusi realised how gullible Nigerians can be and that we love to bay blood. After alerting bank customers that banks are about to collapse and they would lose their monies if nothing is urgently done, he carried out a stress test on banks to determine those that will collapse if nothing is urgently done, and pronounce some bank CEOs guilty of stealing depositors funds.

This came at a time of global financial crisis; our stock market had crashed, and Nigerians were genuinely worried about their deposits in banks. He made himself a cult hero, deal with the banks as he seemingly had planned to, and demonise the system he inherited.

Strangely, respected columnists toed Sanusi's line without asking for evidence.

Excerpted below is a commentary by a regular columnist in one of the nation's leading daily newspapers.

"But towards the end of Soludo's tenure, rot and lethargy had set in, and horrible insider abuses held sway. Owners, directors, managers and operatives of banks started looting depositors' funds unchecked.

"When Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi arrived in June 2009 as the new CBN Governor, he showcased exploits of a twoedged sword. Coming from risk management background, he sacked a number of errant bank executives. He separated some banks from their founders who committed some of the most monumental acts of thievery on record at that time.

"To save the banks from collapse he supported them with public funds and later sold them to new investors. But he also set up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, to arrest the incidence of non-performing loans in our banks. In other words, he was able to provide the cure to the disease that had set into the banking industry under Soludo. But that was where the good deed appeared to end."

So, how did this columnist and his likes

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come to this damaging conclusion? Based on what Sanusi's CBN said? Any statistical or empirical evidence? Which editor or financial journalist can stand up to say he/she saw the comprehensive report of the audit on banks as we did with the 13page report of FRC on CBN's 2012 Accounts? Where in the world (except in Sanusi's CBN) do you do an external audit of a bank or quoted company and there is no audit query to respond to the examiner's findings?

The attention of Nigerians should be drawn to a statement credited to the suspended CBN Governor, Sanusi who, on November 6, 2009, at the Annual Bankers' Dinner stated that there is no crisis in the nation's banks since they were still all performing their obligations to customers.

He further stated that it was the sacked bank CEOs that were in crisis.

So which statement do Nigerians believe now? There was crisis or there was no crisis?

Hard-hitting Renaissance Professionals, the combative group that took on Sanusi had reminded Nigerians that the CBN under Sanusi moved against the eight banks it took over on the basis of a financial stress test which it claimed to have carried out which showed that these banks were in a bad shape and would collapse if the CBN did not take over their management. "The CBN did not make the result of this stress test public. The stress test was carried out by CBN-appointed examiners. No independent review of this stress test was done. What Nigerians know about this stress test and the result is what the CBN has told the public. The public has believed what the CBN says because it is assumed to be true.

"However, the public should also note that the former CBN Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, recently wrote an extensive article and while defending his tenure in office, said that before he left office, he conducted a similar stress test on the banking system and the result showed that 65% of the banks in the system had a 'satisfactory' rating. He said he stood by

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BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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Corruption and Chop-I-Chop in Nigeria

culprit goes free while you are arraigned and subjected to rigors of our court system. The criminals know these, thus, they steal your money, and if you dare to go to the police, they use your money and turn your case against you! The magistrates do not help matters with their urge to commit any to prison, thereby making our courts most unfriendly. You hear many Nigerians boast of not having anything to do with the Police or the courts, and if people are so afraid of going to court, how do they get justice? It is the duty of all to make the courts people friendly.

People are jailed for years for stealing one telephone hand set, a goat and so on, while those who stole millions from our common wealth, sponsor demonstrations and newspaper adverts to subvert investigation and likely prosecution. They kill the matter with their corrupt friends and before you know it, they ask you to vote for them as your next leader!

The result is that today, we have law makers who claim to be university graduates but have no class mates. When corruption legislates against corruption how far can you go!

When buildings collapse, many unsuspecting users are killed and maimed, and we lament. The media will carry admonitions by leaders, while those who approved the building plans and supervised the construction go scot free.

They tell us that our problem is

Where in the world do you do an external audit of a bank or quoted company and there is no audit query to respond to the examiner's findings?

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the result of this initial stress test of the Nigerian banking industry. We leave it to the public to decide who they want to believe, the current or former CBN Governor. Truth, no matter how long it is suppressed eventually pops out." They wrote the above piece in 2011 and they have gone ahead to publish this and their past issues on their website www.renaissance professionalsng.com

I

n fact, on March 30, 2009, then CBN Governor, Professor Charles Soludo gathered all captains of industry, all media owners and editors and bank CEOs, including Sanusi, then First Bank CEO at Eko Hotels, and presented the picture of the nation's banking industry, problem resolution plans, etc, but urged caution and restraint, especially on the part of the media because of the sensitive nature of the industry.

The speech was significant because it was delivered at a time of intense global financial crisis. As the CBN governor at the time of the speech, it was important that he clarified how vulnerable Nigerian banks were to the emerging crisis.

In his speech, Soludo laid bare his evaluation of how exposed Nigerian banks were to the global economic crisis and what the CBN, under him was doing to counter it. First, he emphasized the fact that "Nigeria cannot afford a bank crisis".

His reason was simple: "The non-deficit part of the FGN budget in 2009 is less than banks' capital; hence, the totality of FGN budget cannot recapitalise the banks if the system should collapse. With the drying up

oil theft. They organise seminars, put money in their pockets, talk and make rehearsed television comments and interviews, and that is it. But they know who the oil thieves are. How can oil be stolen when we have all the Navy, Army, SSS, and NSCDC running after the oil thief? How can oil pipe vandalisation continue when there are technologies that detect any violent attack on the pipes via sensors? Why can’t cameras be put in the place to catch the thieves or deter them? What will happen if plain clothes detectives are sent into the region to fish out the oil thieves? Can we in all honesty fight or stop insecurity in our regions, if we cannot catch the simple oil thief?

With all the money sunk and still being sunk into the power sector, the national electric power production continues to plummet, while demand continues to rise.

Electric power has become a luxury in Nigeria to the extent that some state governments now collect tax from generator owners!

Should Nigerians not be paid subsidy for electricity since our governments have failed to give us light?

Let them pay us for using generators, and the hazards of the killer fumes from the machines. Nigerians deserve electricity subsidy. *Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

of global finance and non-bank investing public still nascent, the scope for funding any bank bailout in Nigeria is slim- except by 'printing money'!" This was Soludo's conclusion.

But Soludo did not deny that the Nigerian banking system was under pressure. He, however, listed the different measures that the CBN under him was taking to ensure that the global banking crisis does not affect Nigerian banks.

The Soludo's Power Point presentation "Banking in Nigeria at a Time of Global Financial Crisis" is also available on the Renaissance Professionals website (under Past Issues) so that Nigerians can also read and make their independent judgement.

But just three months down the line, Sanusi came into office and chose to clamp down on his so-called "eight bad Bank CEOs" and gullible Nigerians clapped for him.

In his petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, as published in the media, the former CEO of defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, stated that "till today no report of the examination has been made available to me, the management, or the board of the bank. We had no opportunity to learn how the CBN came to its decision, nor were we given an opportunity to respond to the examination report, as is the usual process." Mr. Akingbola made further allegation concerning how Intercontinental Bank after his removal wrote off a loan, to the tune of N8.115 billion, in a bank that they were meant to be rescuing. In the petition, Akingbola also alleged that the banks CBN, under Sanusi, took over are yet to receive any examination report from the CBN to show areas of deficiency, and therefore requested that the allegations against him and other bank CEOs should be independently investigated because it is curious "to first send off all management staff before accusing them of wrong doing."

In the light of the disputable actions during his tenure; his statements with the "unremitted NNPC's revenues"; and the alleged sleaze in CBN under his tenure, isn't it time to subject his stress test of banks in 2009 to proper scrutiny?

*Mr. Ehigiator, a lawyer, wrote from Abuja.

Ebola, Lassa fever and the bush meat connection

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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TOP eating bush meat!”Anyaa Vohiri, Executive Director of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, warned on the heels of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Hemorrhagic fever in the West African country. In a terse statement, the health official highlighted the connection between the Mano River countries and danger of the bush meat trade to lives of animals and humans in the region. “Obviously, our borders do not stop viruses from crossing, and the killing and cross border trade of our threatened and protected animals has health and ecological side effects,” Vohiri remarked.

This warning, Vanguard Features, VM, gathered, is not unfounded. By a long shot, the last is yet to be heard about the rampaging Ebola epidemic.

Ebola virus is fatal in monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, grass cutters and certain types of antelopes and their ilk. Studies reveal that outbreaks of Ebola in humans tend to be preceded by outbreaks among certain species of local animal popula-

So why would people still partake of a potentially tainted delicacy like bush meat if the risks of doing so are so great? VF findings show that one of the most telling reasons is ignorance. For instance, in Nigeria where there has never been a known case of Ebola, a

outbreak of Ebola had been confirmed in Conakry, the Guinea capital.

The clinical picture of the haemorrhagic disease, which is in the class of Marburg haemorrhagic fever- is nightmarish. In the advanced/severe cases, Ebola causes a

BUSH MEAT: NO LONGER SAFE?

While it is no longer news that Ebola is a vicious cause of death, knowledge that the deadly virus has a long standing link to bush meat a collective terminology for edible wildlife - may be one bit of news that West Africans who relish the exotic delicacies may find rather hard to swallow.

Several recent incidents of the deadly Ebola virus have been linked to consumption of the popular West African

tions (especially the primates). For instance, the

An infected person potentially infects the relatives and members of the immediate family; healthcare workers who attend to those affected also spread the disease to their own family members and co-workers

delicacy. In Nigeria and other countries of the threatened sub-region, poachers of the legendary African bush meat hunt with abandon.

Very often, as a matter of fact, few do not think twice before hunting down, cooking and eating or selling the tainted meat of a grass cutter or other wild animal that could have become infected with the killer virus.

VF findings reveal that

firmed a diagnosis of Lassa fever in a patient admitted to a hospital in Minnesota. The victim, who was returning to the United States from a West African country, exhibited symptoms of fever and confusion and blood samples submitted to CDC tested positive for Lassa fever.

But experts say although the two diseases are native to West Africa, they are not directly related. The Lassa virus is carried by rodents and transmitted to humans through contact with urine or droppings of infected rodents. “Unlike Ebola casual contact is not a risk factor for getting Lassa fever,” according to Barbara Knust, an epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology.

“People will not get this infection just because they were on the same airplane or in the same airport.”

But it is a different story with the dreaded Ebola virus.

VF findings show that even though there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in Nigeria, animals like grass cutter, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees can get the disease and potentially pass it to humans.

Infected persons

Ebola epidemic

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20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

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handling of dead animals by hunters has been linked to nearly all human outbreaks in Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. Experts recommend that future outbreaks of Ebola in humans could be predicted and stopped in the early stages by tracking animal mortality and then sending health teams into villages when increased animal mortality is detected.

school of thought says a lot more awareness and education is required about the menace of diseases that can be contracted from sick wildlife, like anthrax. But another school of thought argues that no amount of education or risk may stop a desperately hungry person from eating a potentially infected animal.

The vicious viral disorder, which kills up to 90 percent of its victims, originally erupted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), hence the alias “Zaire Fever ”. Currently it is in the international spotlight where it is creating anxiety.

Last month, the World Health Organisation, WHO, quoted the Ministries of Health of Guinea and Liberia that reported an outbreak of Ebola in their countries. Earlier,

swollen face and massive bleeding from every bodily orifice (eyes, mouth, nose, ears and genitals). The bleeding is often a predictor of a significantly higher risk of death preceded by shock and vascular collapse. Death often occurs rapidly if proper and urgent medical attention is not administered.

Consumption of meat Findings are also not ruling out the possible source of infection from consumption of meat infected with the Lassa virus which causes Lassa fever, another severe viral disease that produces hemorrhagic symptoms similar to that seen in infected persons.

Just last week, the Centre for Diseases Control, CDC, con-

After coming in contact with blood or secretions from an infected person or animal, a victim will begin showing symptoms after an incubation period lasting from two days to three weeks. Symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, and a sore throat are followed by diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pain.

Worse still, because the early symptoms could be indicative of several other more common and less deadly diseases, Ebola might not be identified right away - particularly in the early stages.

Family, friends and health care workers might become infected while caring for a sick person, causing the disease to spread quickly and claim more lives. Ebola epidemics have penchant to spread through direct contact.

An infected person potentially infects the relatives and members of the immediate family. Healthcare workers who attend to those affected also spread the disease to their own family members and co-workers before succumbing to the disease.

While there is a drug to treat Lassa fever attack, there is, at present, no known cure for Ebola.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 21

Africa’s dependence on fuel import to persist

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From left: MD/CEO, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo; MD, Central Securities Clearing System, Kyari Bukar; Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Dahatu Sarki Tafida and CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema at the Nigerian Capital Market 2014 forum, in London.

FG overspent by N105.47bn in January •As revenue drops by 10.5%

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that the Federal Government overspent by N105.47 billion in January due to decline in its revenue for the month.

This development was however due to decline in federally collected revenue which fell by 6.0 percent to N674.7 billion during the month.

The CBN disclosed this in its

184.95

10.35

2,967.00

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17.28

0.1

106.65

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101.06

+0.85

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

RIYA KRONA SDR

154.74 258.6634 213.2162 174.6501 1.5126 0.3048 237.7983 24.9688 41.2596 28.5524 239.1816

155.24 260.335 213.9052 175.2144 1.5175 0.3148 238.5667 25.05 41.3929 28.6447 239.9545

155.74 260.335 214.5941 175.7788 1.5224 0.3248 239.3351 25.1311 41.5262 28.737 240.7273

CBN Exchange rate as at 10/04/2014

economic report for the month of January published on its website yesterday.

The report stated, “At N262.88 billion, the estimated Federal Government retained revenue for January 2014 was lower than the receipts in the preceding period by 10.5 percent, but exceeded the receipts in the corresponding period of 2013 by 0.4 per cent. Of the total amount, the Federation Account accounted for 84.1 per cent, while SURE-P, FGN Independent Revenue and VAT Pool Accounts, accounted for 6.2, 6.2 and 3.5 per cent, respectively.

“At N368.35 billion, total estimated expenditure for January 2014 was lower than the provisional monthly budget estimate by 23.7 per cent, but was above the level in the preceding period of December 2013 by 10.0 per cent. A breakdown of total expenditure showed that the recurrent expenditure accounted for 71.2 per cent, while the capital expenditure and the transfer components accounted for the balance of 23.5 and 5.3 per cent, respectively. Non-debt-obligations accounted for 76.5 per cent of the total recurrent expenditure, while debt service payments accounted for the balance of 23.5 per cent.

Thus, the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated deficit of N105.47 billion, compared with the provisional 2013

monthly budget deficit estimate of N73.92 billion for 2014.

“Available data showed that estimated federally- collected revenue (gross) in January 2014, at N674.7 billion, was below the receipts in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013 by 6.0 and 12.8 per cent, respectively. The decline relative to receipts in the corresponding period of 2013 was attributed to the decline in gross oil revenue during the review period. At N474.40 billion, oil receipts (gross), which constituted 70.3 per cent of the total revenue, was lower than the receipts in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2013, by 3.3 and 19.8 per cent, respectively. The fall in oil receipts relative to receipts in the preceding month, was attributed to the decline in receipts from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Royalties Non-oil receipts (gross), at N200.27 billion or 29.7 per cent of the total, was 11.7 per cent lower than the receipts in the preceding month. Relative to the corresponding month of 2013, non-oil receipts, however, rose by 10.1 per cent. The decline in nonoil revenue relative to the preceding month reflected, largely, the lower receipts from Corporate Tax and VAT during the review month.”

FRICA’S dependency on fuel imports is likely to grow as its refining projects struggle to get off the ground, a Vitol director, Chris Bake has said.

Dozens of new refining projects have been announced in Africa, but they are unlikely to be built unless they are either gigantic or with guaranteed crude supply in a landlocked location.

“Micro refineries in waterborne locations are not a viable way to get a return on capital. You have to go big, and today big means a 300,000 to 500,000 barrel per day complex refinery and $5-$15 billion of capital,” Bake, director of origination and investments, told Reuters.

“To deploy that is challenging,” he said. Bake added that he expected one large refinery to be built in West Africa but that it could take five to seven years, while new plants in east Africa were less certain given strong competition from the Middle East.

Vitol , the world’s top oil trader with over $300 billion in annual revenues, seeks to meet African demand in competition with other traders such as Glencore and Trafigura and with large Asian refiners.

Vitol estimates that Africa’s fuel demand amounts to 3.71 million barrels per day in 2014, worth about $440 million a day, based on ICE gasoil futures prices.

That is close to a 3 percent increase from the 2013 estimate.

Bake said the most exciting market in Africa was gasoil, with growth expected to be in the high single digits as power demand booms. Demand for liquefied petroleum gas will also rise quickly across North Africa and Nigeria as consumers spend more and move to cities, he added.

A small number of refining projects in landlocked locations could succeed, possibly in Uganda, Chad or South Sudan, Bake added, as they are sheltered from competing supplies of giant Asian refineries.

Vitol is leading a consortium to bid for a $2.5 billion refinery in Uganda. The winner is expected to be announced in July. Vitol will also seek to supply African countries with gas for power production and is already working to develop gas fields offshore Ghana to supply its local market.

“Africa is a power-hungry continent, and we are looking at domestic gas opportunities,” said Chris Joly, director of exploration and production, in the same interview.

He added that the firm, which pumps around 10,000 barrels per day, would look for exploration and production opportunities that complement its existing assets and trading contracts.

Vitol has invested in an African chain of petrol service stations, Vivo Energy, in partnership with Shell and Helios Investments Partners. Vitol also has an oil product storage terminal in Mombasa, Kenya.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Banking st oc ks lose 15% on CRR stoc ocks increase

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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he shares of banks listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, have lost as much as 15 percent since the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, increased the Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, on public and private sector deposits.

The Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, of the CBN had at the end of its meeting on March 26, raised the CRR on private sector funds by 300 basis points to 15 percent from 12 percent, while that of the public sector was retained at From left: Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chairman, Lead Securities & 75 percent.

With the increase, the CBN Investments Ltd, Mr. Abimbola Olashore; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. has quarantined about N2 Oscar Onyema; Chairman, Lead Capital Plc, Mr. Ayo Ajayi and Director, Lead Capital, Mr. Dan Ngerem at the bell ringing ceremony to commemorate trillion from commercial banks, the launch of LeadTrader at the NSE, in Lagos. which was meant for lending.

The Managing Director/ CEO, Financial Derivatives Company, Access Bank followed with share loss as a result of the suspension, FDC, Mr. Bismark Rewane, stated this of 22.40 percent, trailed by United do not help investors’ in his Monthly Economic News and Bank for Africa with loss of 21.35 confidence.

Views for April, 2014 at Lagos Business percent, while Ecobank was the next He added that confidence School’s Executive Breakfast Meeting. in the financial system has with 18.52 percent decline.

He noted that the CRR increase would Others were Skye Bank, Diamond been on the decline. influence possible increase in Non- Bank and GT Bank, which lost 16.59 “Foreign transactions Performing Loans, NPL, ratio of banks. percent, 13.61 percent and 5.63 exceeded domestic in 2013; Specifically, he projected 0.5 to 1.0 percent in that order. these investors are sensitive percent increase in NPL ratio in 2014, Rewane, however, affirmed that bank to a number of factors adding that select banks averaged 3.83 stocks are recovering driven by positive relative risk of the market, percent. international rating agency earnings.

Breakdown of year-to-date share losses On sudden suspension of the opinions; S&P, Moody’s et al of select banks as contained in the report erstwhile CBN governor, the FDC boss and attractiveness of titled, “Succession Settled, Re-election stated that the shock is expected to returns.”

Wide Open”, showed that YTD, Zenith linger awhile in the equities market, U.S. 2011 credit Bank, which share price stood at N20.00 adding that year-to-date return on downgrade to AA+ from AAA per share as at March 31, four days after equities has been disappointing as it has seen all S&P 500 stocks the MPC meeting, lost 27.01 percent; declined by 6.24 percent. declined as a result with First Bank Holding Nigeria Plc, which He further stated that S&P and global equities markets losing traded at N12.60 at the same date, had Moody recent ratings, which left $2.5trillion in value, he said. gone down by 22.70 percent.

Nigerian credit outlook on negative

Acquisitions have positioned us for competition — NB boss

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

N

IGERIAN Breweries said its investments over the years, particularly the recent acquisition and subsequent merger of some acquired companies, coupled with its cost leadership programme, have placed it in the best position to compete.

It also said it has significantly increased its competitive edge and is set to maintain leading role in the brewery industry following its recent acquisitions.

In 2012, NB completed merger with Sona Breweries and Life Breweries Company Limited acquired from Heineken International N.V in October 2011.

Speaking at a parley with journalists, in Lagos, the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, said: “2013 was the first full year of the larger company following the merger process we undertook in 2012. The merger enabled us to successfully play in all segments of the market as well as gave us a wider geographical footprint across the

country, leading to amongst other benefits, lower distribution cost.”

He explained that the company recorded 6.3 percent increase in turnover to N268.614 billion from N252.674 billion reported in the previous year and a profit after tax of N43.080 billion as against N38.043 billion in 2012.

According to him, one of the reasons for the company’s success over the years is innovation, “during the year under review, we again raised the bar with the introduction of the Nation’s no I malt drink, Maltina, in PET bottles, the first of its kind in Nigeria.”

He explained that continuous investment in production facilities as well as its distribution and sales network had constantly kept it on top in making its products available to its customers.

“We did not relent in those areas of our operations during the year under review. It was the same for our brands, our people as well as our system. The expansion project in our

Aba Brewery was completed in the year under review and today, that brewery has become new all over. The automation of our sales force was concluded in 2013 and it has enabled us to be more efficient and effective in our operations,” he stated.

Emphasising the importance the company attached on capacity building, Vervelde said, “Irrespective of the processes, systems and facilities we put in place, our number one asset is our people.

Thus people development will always be part of our DNA. More than 2,000 employees received one form of training or the other, either locally or abroad in the year 2013. Our people have made it possible for us to consistently be on top since we commenced operation in 1946 and they are the ones that will keep us on top in the foreseeable future.”

GTBank moves to drive deposits, as total assets hit N2.10 trn BYPETER EGWUATU

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uaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc has disclosed that it will embark on a strategy that will enhance its deposit base, following the monetary tightening policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order to deliver superior returns to shareholders, even as its total assets hit N2.10 trillion for the financial year ended December 31, 2013.

It will be recalled that the Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN increased the Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, on public and private sector deposits respectively. The MPC had at the end of its meeting on March 26, raised the CRR on public sector funds to 75 per cent from 50 percent, while that of the private sector was increased by 300 basis points from 12 percent to 15 percent. The implication of the increase in CRR means that banks in the country will now be faced by liquidity challenges in carrying out their operations.

The Group Managing Director/CEO, GTBank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos ahead of its 24th Annual General Meeting, AGM, said the bank will continue to consolidate on its gains and also re-strategise to drive more deposit that will help build a proudly African and truly international brand that other institutions in Africa would emulate.

According to him, 2013, despite its challenges was "a successful operating period for our Bank and I am confident that 2014 will be no different because we shall continue to work hard to ensure our long term goals are actualized."

Commenting on the Bank’s financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2013, Agbaje said, “The Board has proposed a final dividend of N1.45 per share and if approved shareholders who have completed the e-dividend mandate forms will receive a direct credit of the dividend into their bank accounts on the date of the AGM, while dividend warrants for shareholders who have not completed the e-dividend mandate form shall be posted on the same day.”

Continuing, he said, “The Bank recorded a cost to income ratio of 43.53 per cent, making us one of the most efficient financial institutions in Nigeria today and Return on average equity of 29.32 per cent. Gross earnings for the year under review grew by 8.8 per cent from the N223.06 billion reported in 2012 to N242.67 billion and we posted a Profit Before Tax of N107.09 billion, representing 3.94 per cent higher than the N103.03 billion reported for the previous year. The total assets rose by 21.2 per cent to N2.10 trillion from N1.73 trillion in the corresponding period of 2012. “ It should be noted that the Bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of 25 kobo per share, thus making a total dividend payout of N1 70 per share, as against N1.55 paid in 2012. “We shall continue to show our stakeholders that we care about them by undertaking high impact social responsibility initiatives, introducing new channels through which they can bank at their convenience and conducting out business in adherence to the values we are known for,” Agbaje noted.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 —23

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Plateau govt partners FG to preserve national monuments

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Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo (middle); Ambassador, Republic of Cuba, Mr Hugo Rene Ramos Milanes (left) and his Deputy, Miriam Morales Palmero (right) with management staff of NTDC when the Cuban Ambassador visited NTDC, in Abuja.

Technology gives us edge over other hotels — Uzuagu In today’s Internet environment, when consumers can be their own booking agent by evaluating reviews and prices of hotels online, hotel owners are battling for competition while investing in state-of-the arttechnology equipment In this interview with Emeka Aginam, the Chief Executive Officer of EU Demordern Hotels & Suits, Ernest Uzuagu, says the success of hotels often depends on how it utilizes key factors like customer service, technology, cost control and product differentiation. Excerpt:

A

FTER one year of operation, has it been?

It has not been easy in the challenging market environment especially where power is the issue but we have been trying. You know in this industry you meet many people but the standard is there and we are maintaining the standard. Our clients have been commending on us on that. We are moving ahead with our 31 rooms.

hope to move to Anambra.

On cost control Managing costs concept is the most critical aspect in the recording success in Hotel management. All over the world, most hotels vary their rates according to high and low seasons.

However, the establishment of a loyalty program enables hotels to lower rates for their loyalty guests while charging different rates for others.

It has not been easy in the challenging market environment especially where power is the issue but we have been trying

,

On his vision My vision to make the hotel the number one in Lagos and Nigeria, making sure people recognize the quality of service being provided, the quality of the equipment used against good quality price ratio.

What I hope for the business in five years is for it to be number one hotel all over the country and even outside the country. It is even our aspiration to have branches nationwide and overseas. After here, we

,

One of the ways hotels plan is through reservations programs that forecast demand beyond 90 days. With this, the manager can advertise directly to the person before arrival by offering packages, upgrades and other incentives.

On product differentiation Hotels thrive and survive by offering guests a unique experience and product differentiation.

This uniqueness may stem from the location. A hotel in the heart of

Lagos may offer African delicacies *Ernest Uzuagu whereas a hotel in rural Nigeria may our own security personnel on not offer. In any case, the ground that guide the hotel 24 differentiation is within the hotel hours. itself. We have products like bush On challenges militating bar that differentiate us from other against the tourism sector Hotels in Lagos.

The major challenge against On the hotel selling point hotel and tourism in Nigeria is The major thing that I know that power. attracts our guests is the The other thing is security. If maintenance culture we have at government agency can come the hotel. There is up to date in to help the industry in these maintenance of the hotel to make areas to make sure that we have sure the rooms are kept clean and constant power supply because your food are okay. And we do at the end of the day, that is that by ensuring that our staff are what causes some hotels to well trained. So when you put all spend so much money on these things in place, it will help diesel. Another issue is to sell the hotel the more. Once security, it is part of the you put these entire things in challenges. place, it makes the hotel unique On doing business in Lagos and people will be attracted by it. in terms of taxation We have the latest technology Generally doing business in in the hotel, we have IP solutions Lagos has not been easy as regards to telephone, TV, because there are lots of taxes internet and these are what to be paid for. We have the guests are looking for, especially LAWMA, LASA, and a whole business travellers . lot of them. I can’t even count In terms of security, we have them. But they are numerous. our CCTV cameras, and from It’s affecting us because we time to time, we have interactive are paying multiple taxation. session with the Police Area Commander and we also have

HE Plateau Government is to partner with the Federal Government to preserve national monuments in the state, Mr Abraham Yiljap, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, has said.

Yiljap said this at an interactive with newsmen shortly after the inspection of four sites declared as historical monuments by the Federal Government as part of activities to mark the country ’s centenary celebration.

“We are working hand in hand with the Federal Government through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and we are very appreciative of the work that has gone into rediscovering these sites.

“What the professionals have done is to bring them out to the larger public; even the communities that are hosting them did not realise the treasures that they had.

“And for the Plateau State Government, we will need to work to preserve these sites; as you have seen here, it is great history that is below the ground here.

“And the whole of this area would need to be secured - that is about 10 square acres - we have to do that together with the Federal Government,“ he said.

The commissioner said that monuments were of great importance to Plateau in particular and Nigeria in general because of their historical and educational values.

According to him, the state government will mount a strong campaign to enlighten the people on the need to appreciate their culture more.

“You need to teach the people their history because if you don’t teach people their history they tend to forget; sometimes we just walk around thinking that we are people of no great value. And that it is only what others do that is important to us.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 25

I am not mentally ready for marriage — Ice Prince Says “Unity Bank didn’t cancel my endorsement deal” Panshak Zamani, popularly known by fans as Ice Prince is Nigerian hip-hop recording artiste best known for winning the 2009 Hennessy Artistry for his song “Oleku”.

The music crooner hit the limelight with his party banger ‘Oleku’ after which he released several other rave tracks in his debut album, ‘Everybody Loves Ice Prince.’His second album, ‘Fire of Zamania’ which was unveiled in November 2013, has also been applauded by music lovers and critics alike, in the music industry. The singer ran into one of our reporters at an event recently, and an interesting chat ensued. Excerpts:

BY IYABO AINA What are you doing presently ? just dropped my new album ‘Fire of Zamania’, its on the street right now, I am also up to recording a video for the album. I’m about doing my tour of UK and around Africa and I have new artistes I’m trying to promote as well.

How has life been treating you generally?

I just thank God for my life because I don’t see obstacles as challenges the way other people see them, I only see them as stepping stones for me.

Life before fame ?

Actually, I have seen life in different forms because I wasn’t born poor and I wasn’t born rich. I lost my Dad in 1999 and then things became different and my mum also passed away in 2011. So life has not been easy. I could remember back then, I was sent out of school because of school fees but today I thank God for who I am and where I am.

Has music always been your dream ?

Yes, but when I was young I have always wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer and a soldier.

But music for me, started when I went to secondary school in the late 90s. I started performing at social events, at school and I

I

Funke Akindele refutes having new lover C M Y K

would mimic 2Pac and B.I.G songs, and that’s when I fell in love with rap. A few years later, I joined the choir in my church and groomed myself as a musician.

But will you ever go for your dream profession ?

No, I don’t see any need for it, they were mere childhood fantasies. And even if I want to follow the dream, I don’t think I have what it takes to chase those dreams any more. So if you ask me, I think I am a musician, it is my call and it is God who designed me for music.

We learnt you were one of the artistes featured on the Nigerian cipher for the BET Hip-Hop Awards last year. How did you manage that? ?

It just happened one day, I got an email a day before the recording. I actually wasn’t meant to be part of it. It was meant to be Sauce Kid, Naeto C, M.I and Mode 9, but I think Sauce Kid was having problems with his flight from LA to Nigeria a day before filming and

Continues on page 26

Daddy Showkey plans comeback with ‘Showkey Show!’

Is your password really secure?

26— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Synopsis I am not mentally ready for marriage

SINGLE MOM’S CLUB

Continues from page 25 they thought he wasn’t going to make it, so they replaced him with me. But then Sauce Kid made his flight and it was too late to bounce me, so they put all of us together and we went to the studio and recorded. Out of everyone who was on it, I was the youngest. I felt really honoured to be on the BET cipher, it was a good platform to be on and I felt blessed.

What can you say about your record label, Chocolate City , because you’ve been there for a long time ?

Chocolate City is one big family, where we make music and promote music as well.

I think presently, there is one in Kenya with this one in Nigeria.

Chocolate City has been existing since 2007 and I am proud to be signed to the record label.

Why are you still single ?

I don’t think I am planning to get married now because am still young, I’m in my youth and moreover, I am just 27 years old. Maybe later in my late thirties I can start planing to get married or not.

But what are your reasons ?

It’s because I still have a long way to go before thinking of settling down.

I can’t say because of what I have, that I am okay to get married, no. I don’t think I am mentally ready for marriage. I think before one could get married, one needs to attain certain level of understanding and awareness. I don’t think I have those qualities just yet.

But are you in any serious relationship, and any plan of settling down with your baby mama ?

Yeah , but I wouldn’t want to talk about my girlfriend and about the mother of my baby. She is good and we are not talking about getting married because I’m not ready yet.

How did ‘Oleku’ come about and were you surprised about the storm it has created?

‘Oleku’ was one of those songs that came during one of my recording sessions. I came up with the chorus first, later I featured Brymo in it and we did it together. I don’t really have a good singing voice. Jesse Jagz produced that track also. So, we finished the song and then I sent it to my record label and they weren’t really excited about it enough to put it out. They wanted us to touch up the song some more , but I was persistent and wanted to put the song out as soon as possible. They eventually got tired of my stubbornness and they were like, Just put the song out on the Internet and see how it goes. I was really surprised because I didn’t expect it to go this far. Like, I didn’t expect it to reach Tim Westwood.

C M Y K

The movie SINGLE MOM’S CLUB is releasing on Friday, attached is the art work.

Synopsis: When five struggling single moms put aside their differences to form a support group, they find inspiration and laughter in their new sisterhood, and help each other overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK NOAH ABOUT ROBOCOP RENDER TO CAESAR RIDE ALONG

Exhibition Schedule from APRIL, 11 — APRIL, 17 2014 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND The Single Moms Club : 11:15am,4:00pm,6:45pm Noah : 3:40pm,8:20pm Render to Caeser : 2:00pm,6:20pm The Nut Job : 3:00pm About last night : 8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA The Single Moms Club : 11:35pm,3:30pm,8:20pm Noah : 1;20pm,6:40pm,8:40pm Render to Caeser : 6:30pm Ride Along :1:45pm,6:20pm The Nut Job : 2:30pm About last night : 8:55pm Robocop : 4:15pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC The Single Moms Club : 1:30pm,7:20pm Noah : 6:40pm Render to Caesar : 1:20pm,3:40pm,6:00pm,8:20pm Ride Along : 5:20pm About last night : 12:30pm,2:40pm,4:50pm,7:00pm,9:10pm Robocop : 12:50pm,3:20pm,5:40pm,8:00pm

That’s really big and from that one song, I have performed all over the world.

Why do you think they’re taking more notice of artistes like yourself on radio stations like BBC 1Xtra ?

I think it’s my time. Well, that’s what I tell everybody. I think it’s time for Afro-beats and African music to get in.

Like I always say, ‘UK music and American music have been everywhere.’ Jamaican music is big all over the world right now and I think it is time for Afro-beats as well.

We have good music, we have good sound and we have something special to offer the world. I think it’s time for the world to listen.

How true is the rumour that Unity Bank has cancelled your endorsement deal ?

That is not true, they never cancelled the deal, even Unity Bank put out a press statement to that effect and presently they are still working on it.

What you saw online then was mere rumour.

How would you describe a typical day in the life of Ice Prince?

A typical day for Ice Prince would be to wake up, shower and, if I’m not performing that day, I head straight up to the studio. I have a studio in my house. I go to the studio and listen to music that I made the day before and I just try to create new stuff. After that, I reply to my emails, get on Twitter to talk to a few girls and then return to the studio. If I have a visitor, I go and chill with them and then I jump straight back to the studio.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA The Single Moms Club : 9:10pm Noah : 4:00pm Render to Caeser : 2:00pm,6:20pm,8:40pm When dreams fall apart : 12:00pm,4:20pm About last night : 2:10pm,6:30pm Robocop : 11:50am,4:10pm,8:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT The Single Moms Club : 6:45pm Noah : 1:30pm Render to Caesar : 11:40am,2:00pm,4:20pm,6:40pm,9:00pm When dreams fall apart : 12:10pm,2:20pm,4:35pm,6:35pm,8:50pm About last night : 11:45pm,2:00pm,4:10pm,6:30pm,8:45pm Paranoia : 8:50pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI The Single Moms Club : 1:50pm,6:15pm,8:25pm The Nut Job : 11:00am,2:45pm About last night : 6:30pm,8:40pm Robocop : 11:25am,4:00pm Empire State : 2:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Shaadi ke side effects : 12:15pm,6:00pm Render to Caeser : 11:40am,2:05pm,4:25pm,6:45pm When dreams fall apart : 11:30am,4:15pm About last night : 12:05pm,2:25pm,4:40pm,6:55pm Jai Ho : 1:30pm,6:15pm Robocop: 11:35am, 2:00pm,4:20pm,6:40pm Brother ’s Keeper : 3:30pm The Best Man Holiday : 1:20pm,4:00pm,6:35pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS The Single Moms Club : 12:00pm,3:00pm,5:25pm,11:45pm Render to Caesar : 1:20pm,3:50pm,6:20pm,8:50pm Deep Inside : 11:00am,11:20pm Robocop : 10:15am,12:45pm,3:15pm,5:45pm,8:15pm,10:45pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORTHACOURT The Single Moms Club : 11:10am,5:55pm,10:40pm Render to Caeser: 9:50pm,12:05pm,2:20pm,4:35pm,6:50pm,9:00pm The Nut Job : 9:10am About last night : 7:50pm,10:05pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU Render to Caeser : 12:00pm,4:20pm,8:40pm When Dreams fall apart : 10:00am,2:20pm,6:40pm About last night : 10:05am,2:35pm,7:05pm Robocop ; 6:10pm,8:30pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—27

Stories By AYO ONIKOYI

Funke Akindele refutes having new lover N

ollywood top act and Glo ambassador, Funke Akindele has come out to squash the rumour making rounds that she has found a new lover, who has rented a secluded apartment for her in Lekki area of Lagos.

The news was actually broken by City People magazine and it went viral online within minutes of its publication.

The actress who made her stand known through her publicist, Entertainment Media Limited, said she was shocked and surprised when she read the spurious report, saying nothing of such ever happened.

According to her, the Lekki apartment which was purportedly rented by the mysterious lover was actually rented on her bill.

She also put foot to the claims that there is a plan to reconcile her with her ex husband, Kehinde Oloyede who announced their divorce through the social media last year.

NIGERIAN IDOL UPDATE

Beebee Bassey offers Dede some ‘Hot Stuff’ O

ne won’t be wrong to say that the last group of Nigerian Idol Top 30 contestants brought the house down at the last recording.

Performing Donna Summer’s song, “Hot Stuff ” Beebee Bassey from Calabar turned the last recording upside down when she pointed at Dede singing, “ I want to take this wild man home.”

Fellow judges, Darey and Nneka were taken aback at her courageous and very daring performance.

“That was a very nice performance with great drama,” said Darey.

Dede who didn’t respond immediately had this to say after her performance, “That was a wonderful performance, though not your best vocally but the show was on point.”

Daddy Showkey plans a comeback with ‘Showkey Show!’

By Iyabo Aina

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eteran music star and the Galala music messenger, Daddy Showkey has finally made a return to the music scene with a spanking new single titled ‘Showkey Show’.

Seven years after his last hit album ‘Take 5ive’, the Diana hit maker has decided to delight music fans worldwide with another mind-blowing album under the supervision of Cornerstone music and this time, it’s going to be banger all the way.

According to the music crooner, he said: ‘’ By the end of April, I will be dropping a new song and I hope my fans will enjoy it ‘’.

While you anticipate the full album later on in the year, Showkey Show is the leading single and has in content a blend of the famous Galala and the latest afro hip-hop sound.

...And Usher’s lookalike shows up!

John Dumelo’s

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here was a moment of huge excitement at the last recording of Nigeria Idol Season 4 when one of the contestants who showed up bore an uncanny resemblance to the American pop singer, Usher Raymond.

Antwon by name, the contestant did his act and he caught the attention of the judges, crew members and the audience, not only by his looks, which kept people wandering if Usher himself hadn’t come to play a huge trick but also by his act which according to many was top draw.

In addition to Antwon’s great looks, he also has a great voice and awesome dance moves to complement it. With his last performance of ‘Breakeven’ by The Script, Antwon wowed the judges with his enjoyable and simple performance as described by Darey and Nneka.

•Antwon

Tricycle ride in Lagos A

-list Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo, is an alien in Nigeria, but a legal alien who has been in the country far too often, to know his way around. This fact, the actor demonstrated last week when he was spotted in Lagos inside a tricycle commonly referred to as Maruwa.

John was seen alone at the back of the local commercial vehicle in Randle area of Surulere, Lagos, obviously in a hurry to get somewhere as his instagram post later revealed “ After waiting a long time for the driver, got to make do with what is available” John Dumelo who has featured in over 60 movies both in Ghollywood and Nollywood and he was recently verified on Facebook as the first Ghanaian actor to have over a million likes on his Facebook page, confirming his super star status.

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28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Story By JULIET EBIRIM

Celebrity romances that hit the rocks

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e have seen many romances come and go in the entertainment world.

While some have endured and seen the end to the altar, many ended even before they could get off the start line. But one thing remains: these celebrities have a knack for going for each, either for love, for fun or just an image gag, to score some recognition points. Here are some who hit the rocks for one reason or the other:

Tonto Dike and Don Jazzy

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he gist of her romance with Don Jazzy was widely spread as she even acknowledged him in some of the interviews she granted, referring to him as her boyfriend. The romance was widely celebrated before it hit the rocks.

Shortly after her breakup with Don Jazzy, she was alleged to have dated the movie producer, Tchidi Chikere and that may explain why she does get lead roles in most of his movies.

Yvonne Nelson and Iyanya

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he much talked about romance between Kukere master, Iyanya and Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, has hit the rocks. The pair began dating in July 2012 and were spotted together at several functions. In his second hit single, ‘Your waist’, the maiden winner of Project Fame West Africa, repeatedly sang how much he adored the actress’ body. According to the actress, the reason why the relationship ended, was because Iyanya, was allegedly seeing another actress, Nollywood star, Tonto Dikeh.

N

ollywood star actress, Geneveive Nnaji has been rumoured to be in a sizzling relationship with popular hiphop star, Dapo Oyebanjo a.k.a D’banj and everyone thought it was altar-bound, until the devil reared its ugly head and the whole affair collapsed like a pack of badly arranged cards.

D’Banj and Genevieve had dated on and off from 2009 to 2011 before Genevieve called off the relationship because of D’banj’s commitment issues.

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opular yoruba actress, Taiwo Aromokun and top actor, Odunlade Adekola’s romance ended few years ago. Taiwo allegedly decided to end the relationship when it became obvious that Odun was not ready to take a second wife, since he was married with two sons.

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ollywood actress, Ebube Nwagbo’s romance with Kingsley of KC Presh was pronounced before it hit the rocks and Kingsley got married to another lover. The Limpopo crooner and Ebube ‘s romance enjoyed an undeniable buzz in the media until another lady, Ijeoma, which Kcee married later burst the bubble. But the romance still reverberates with some latest stories that the lovebirds may still be seeing each other.

D’Banj and Geneveive Nnaji

Odunlade Adekola and Taiwo Aromokun

KCee and Ebube Nwagbo

Jim Iyke and Keturah Hamilton

Kate Henshaw and Sammie Okposo

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heir romance was strong, and Jim had spoken severally of plans to walk down the aisle with her. Put simply, Keturah Hamilton – the Jamaican born actress, model and business woman was the partner tailor-made for Jim Iyke.

Keturah was known all over the Nollywood firmament as Jim Iyke’s main girlfriend – a wife in waiting. They had travelled the world together, and she had stood by him through most of the scandals that has continued to dog his professional and private life.

But he was said to have ended their six year old affair by simply walking away “ without even a phone call”.

lthough gospel music award winner Sammy Okposo and star actress Kate Henshaw’s love affair ended several years ago,many in the showbiz industry still make reference to the affair and still wonder why it never led to the duo marrying each other.

About four years ago in an interview he granted a leading softsell magazine,Sammy had stated that he and Kate Henshaw didn’t get married because he was not physically and psychologically ready at the time, which led to Kate quitting the relationship to marry her Briton husband, Mr.Nuttal.

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36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Reduce property rate in Abia State ROPERTY rate is a compulsory payment made yearly by house owners in Abia state. It is a kind of special tax on their buildings. The amount paid depends, among other things on the nature of the property. For instance, a residential building attracts a lower rate than a commercial or industrial building. Presumably, the amount paid on a particular building is based on certain percentage In Aba, property owners used to pay their rate at the local government and obtain receipt .but since the collection of the rate was contracted out to private outfits, it has become a different ball game. The amount has been astronomically increased by above 1000 percent. This abrupt increase has put many house owners into untold hardship as some of them, especially those living in private buildings that are not fully developed, cannot afford the amounts charged.

Property rate is synonymous with tax on property and as such should not be a burden to the payer. One of the canons of taxation is that the amount charged should be affordable to the payer. More importantly, Aba residents have been saddled with multiplicity of payments of various taxes and levies, including infrastructural levy that was introduced by the past government to rehabilitate some of the dilapidated roads in the state, especially in Aba. Unfortunately, the impact has not be-

Property rate is synonymous with tax on property and as such should not be a burden to the payer

,

of her responsibilities facing it but it should not be the reason why the inhabitants should be impoverished. If nothing is done to reduce the property rate, it will have a multiplier effect on the residents as monthly rent would definitely be increased.

Against this backdrop, I earnestly appeal to our able Governor, Dr T A Orji to intervene in this crucial matter by impressing on the contractors to reduce the rate to a reasonable level that would be affordable to the affected poor masses.

Nkemakolam Gabriel Port Harcourt 08072257360

Accept new Ayede-Ekiti monarch as God’s will Dear Sir, I WOULD be grateful if you allow me to use your widely read newspaper to appeal to the aggrieved contenders to the throne of Attah of Ayede-Ekiti to accept the verdict of the majority of Ayede Ekiti indigenes as the will of Almighty God. It is only those who were in Ayede when the newly crowned Oba Adebayo Orisagbemi visited the St Peter’s Anglican Church that can describe the degree of joy and sigh of relief expressed by indigenes of the community who had gone through a lot of misfortunes as a result of the absence of a sitting monarch in the town.

Ayede-Ekiti people have been yearning for a new Oba since the demise of Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi. Their desire to have their own monarch stemmed from numerous tribulations in the hands of neigbhouring towns.

Those who derive pleasure in going to court to challenge the legality of the Oba’s installation are people who are far from Ayede and who hardly know the goings-on in the town. They are insensitive to the feelings of Ayede indigenes.

This legal tussle which appears to be

part of their lives affected the progress of the town during the late Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi’s reign. This should have been enough lesson to everybody. We should cooperate with the new Oba Adebayo Orisagbemi to restore the glory of our fatherland.

James Osho Adeyemi, Oke-Odo, Via Abule-Egba, Lagos.

PPMC and fuel scarcity

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T is unfortunate that PPMC man agement does not appreciate the sensitive nature of fuel (PMS) in this country. It is a product that can bring down any government. What was the Managing Director of PPMC doing in US when Nigerians were passing through hell to buy fuel?

Is he (MD) aware that he is embarrasing the President in this election year? I hope he is not an APC agent in government, because he is from an APC state. The President should take drastic action to send PPMC management packing for their inefficiency Dedemo Sent from BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Abuja jailbreak and Boko Haram insurgency

THIS sect is a threat to Nigeria!

Nigerians want to know their sponsors. What are they agitating for?

Who are their foreign collaborators?

Are they Nigerians or foreigners from neighbouring countries? The Federal Government should stop these senseless killing and enter into dialogue with them immediately. We pray for peace, no artificial problems without solutions.

Pst.Vincent Daudu 2348137518785

Boko Haram insurgency and killing of innocent souls

The rate of innocent killing in the north eastern part of the country has become so rampant and needs urgent drastical attention. You don’t dialogue with your enemy, since they refused to come out and explain their

Sanusi’s suspension

The drama between Sanusi Lamido and President Jonathan is beyond what we see on the pages of the newspapers. Sanusi has been a part of Jonathan’s government for over four years and he found nothing wrong until recently. The man deserves to be suspended.

Vincent 08137518785

Governor Okorocha’s alleged advice to APC

The Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, reportedly advised the All People Congress(APC) against imposition of candidates for elective positions. This is one of the best candid and honest advice a political party member has given to his party/ fellow members.

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ing felt in the city. Up to this moment, Aba residents do not know how a good road looks like. Similarly, there are no functional industries in Aba. Presently almost all the industries in Aba are moribund and there appears to be no hope of revival in the near future.

I know the state government is in dire need of money to cater for the myriad

,

Dear Editor,

The drama between Sanusi Lamido and President Jonathan is beyond what we see on the pages of the newspapers. Sanusi has been a part of Jonathan’s government for over four years and he found nothing wrong until recently

action, which indicates’ that they have a hidden mission.

Prince Monday Okorodudu .08077273741

Defection of PDP members to APC

The same thing applies to PDP; they said that APC is not good but whenever party members defect from APC to PDP, it is with fanfare that they receive them. A case in point, is when Mr. President personally received defecting members from APC in Kwara state.

Chris Thompson 08033229725

Sanusi and NNPC’s missing funds

NNPC as a corporation has failed to clear the air on the allegation of corruption and failure to remit the alleged missing money. Despite its claims and excuses , Nigerians are not convinced the corporation has done fantastically well, especially with the claims that the official price of kerosene is N50, whereas consumers buy the product as high as N200. I strongly agree with the position that NNPC is indeed a sleaze machine.

Anonymous writes in from Abuja, FCT

,

Imposition of candidates in the past has done more harm than good to party discipline, cohesion and smooth organizational function. It is anti-democratic, reprehensible and repugnant to all that is good in a democratic system. Most often, it throws up the bad, worse and second rate to the society, to the detriment of the good and bright. It’s in the light of the above that I congratulate Gov. Okorocha for this wise counsel to APC. I beckon and implore other parties to imbibe and hearken to the call and candid advice of Gov. Okorocha (Owelle).

Chukwuma Dioka. Owerri, Imo State.+2348070685881

Still on NNPC’s missing funds

It is unfortunate that the proceeds made from our NNPC which are supposed to be used for development of this country at large end up in pockets of some greedy and corrupt individuals. I hope the President or his aides have read this story and act accordingly.

Mercy writes in via email

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103,

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 37 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Is your password really STORIES BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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ites all over the world try to convince you that your password is safe with them. With high tech software protecting your privacy, you haven’t had much reason to doubt this. But what happens when software developed to protect passwords becomes compromised?

Recent reports show that a product used to safeguard data could be compromised to allow eavesdropping with the newly discovered ‘heartbleed bug’. OpenSSL is a popular cryptographic library used to digitally scramble sensitive data as it passes to and from computer servers so that only the service provider and the intended recipients can make sense of it. If an organisation employs OpenSSL, users see a padlock icon in their web browser - although this can also be triggered by rival products.

Google Security and Codenomicon - a Finnish security company revealed on Monday that a flaw had existed in OpenSSL for more than two years that could be used to expose the secret keys that identify service providers employing the code.

They said that if attackers made copies of these keys they could steal the names and passwords of people using the services, as well as

secure?

take copies of their data and set up spoof sites that would appear legitimate because they used the stolen credentials. You aren’t likely to stop using the internet because of this development, so the next best thing is to choose your passwords wisely and change them often.

Prof. Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey in the United States, suggested that the following rules be observed

introduction of the new devices to the West African market has been scheduled to hold at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. A special Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH) warranty cover on the Galaxy S5 will also be announced by Samsung at the launch.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 goes on sale in Nigeria toda odayy A

fter weeks of expectation, the much anticipated Samsung Galaxy S5, officially goes on sale in Nigeria today, Friday, April 11, along with the rest of the world. The Galaxy S5 will be available through all authorized Samsung partner stores

nationwide as well as participating telecom operators from 11.00am today.

The newest members of the company’s wearable device line, the Gear 2 and Gear Fit, will be available from Monday.

Samsung’s Director of Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, said that a formal

h e

Samsung Galaxy S5 i s powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core processor and boasts a 5.1-inch super AMOLED display. It features an upgraded 16-megapixel camera, new fitness tracking features, a heart rate scanner, an ultra - power saving mode and is dust and water (IP67) resistant. The highlight of the smartphone is a new fingerprint scanner, which is integrated with the device’s home button and provides consumers with a safe, biometric screen-locking feature. As a special promo, Samsung is providing customers who redeem their pre-order of the Galaxy S5 smartphone with a free S-View cover.

when picking a new password: Don’t choose one obviously associated with you Hackers can find out a lot about you from social media so if they are targeting you specifically and you choose, say, your pet’s name you’re in trouble.

Choose words that don’t appear in a dictionary Hackers can pre-calculate the encrypted forms of whole dictionaries and easily reverse engineer your password.

Use a mixture of unusual characters You can use a word or phrase that you can easily remember but where characters are substituted, eg, Myd0gha2B1g3ars!

Have different passwords for different sites and systems If hackers compromise one system you do not want them having the key to unlock all your other accounts.

Keep them safely With multiple passwords it is tempting to write them down and carry them around with you. Better to use some form of secure password vault on your phone.

Why people want ‘Blind watch’ when they aren’t blind

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t is amazing that over 1000 people have preordered the not yet released, Bradley Timepiece designed for blind people, but what is even more shocking is that only about 2 per cent of those people are blind.

The watch, named after Bradley Snyder, a Paralympian gold medallist who lost his sight in Afghanistan, is already proving to be a tech design trail blazer not for the visually impaired but for the rest of the world. The watch has a stark, circular titanium face. There are no hands. There are no numbers. Around a groove in the centre a ball-bearing rotates to mark the minutes. Around the edge of the watch, another ball bearing rotates to tell the hours. The watch is now among the favourites in the 76 nominations for the Designs of the Year contest at London’s Design Museum.

Designer Hyungsoo Kim, was in a class at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2011, when his visually impaired classmate asked about the time. The student had a watch that could tell the time, but only by pressing a button that would make it speak out loud. Doing so in a classroom could be disruptive, so instead, Kim became his wristwatch.

This was where he got the inspiration to build a wristwatch for the blind that can be used by fashion oriented, non-braille literate, visually impaired people to tell the time without any difficulty. He obviously did a good job of it, because even those not in the target market love it!

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

The American International School in Lagos ‘Trains the Trainers’ •We are trying to improve the status of teachers — Mrs. Sewanu Amosu •Relate your teaching to the environment — Mrs. Agnes Ajinwo MORE than 500 delegates from more than a hundred Nigerian schools converged on the American International School of Lagos’ venue of this year ’s Nigerian International Schools Conference. Welcoming delegates, representatives of the school’s administration announced the school would be celebrating the 50th year of operations in Nigeria.

Bemoaning the exclusion of public schools at the conference the Director of Private Education in Lagos State Mrs. Sewanu Ayodele Amosu was however full of praise for the organizers of the conference, referring to it as a great opportunity for teachers to be exposed .

Representing the state’s Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Mrs. Amosu describes Lagos State as being “accommodating”, having over 13,000 private schools in Lagos as against the almost 2000 public schools. Furthermore in sharing the State’s current policy for teacher training and professional development, she stressed that the state has an open door policy but also want to have a structure where we are going to be on the same page regardless of the fact that a child is in the public or private school.

She describes the state’s new policy as a kind of frame work for teachers to know exactly why they are going into teaching. “It shouldn’t be because you don’t have any other option or as a stepping stone to that other job. It is going to be you want to go into teaching because you have a passion for it, you have something to pass to the children and not because you have nothing else to do.

Status of teachers This is why we are trying to improve the status of teachers so you don’t think teachers are just there. We also want to have our own profession like the lawyers and doctors who are also proud of their own profession. We are hoping that by the time a child passes through a particular class in Lagos, he will have something tangible coming forth. I think it is going to cascade into our universities and teachers training institutions so that by the time they come out, they know what is expected of them”.

It’s all about innovation, says Agnes Ajinwo, the conference facilitator, who has been active in organizing the conference for the last five years.

Fielding questions from journalists while giving a tour to the government’s team, she revealed that the American school has good administration which understands what it takes to develop the third world.

“This is our way of giving back; nit’s

* Mrs Agnes Ajinwo

* Mrs Sewanu Amosu

This is our way of giving back; nit’s all about sharing. We want to bridge the gap between the classes. Every child has a right to good education all about sharing. We want to bridge the gap between the classes. Every child has a right to good education”.

Tasked on the role of superior teaching aids in the school’s ability to teach better, she stressed that though a lot of research has been done, teaching aids about everywhere.

“Even in Jankara market you can get

a lot of teaching aids. Even (these) bottle covers are useful. You can buy beans and corn for counting and addition/ subtraction but you have to relate what you are teaching to the environment. If you say A is for Apple, the child may not understand. Maybe in the urban areas apples are now common but there are children who have never seen an

apple before so A for Apple means nothing to him.

It was that kind of innovation in action with Susan Oguojemite, who teaches middle school art in American international school, Lagos and whose workshop is about creating literacy using visual art to teach in the class room while using art to help the children get the best in the class room. Training delegates on learning how to visualize poems and how to illustrate the words in each stanza, she explains that children can remember for much longer when words are accompanies by physical demonstrations and illustrations.

Also teaching with art is Mrs Anaka who is not an art teacher but student support staff and also teaches English language learners .

“I teach kids who are not English speakers. This is an international school where we have children who do not even have English. We have children here speaking Hebrew, Mandarin and all kinds of languages I found out in my years of experience that kids can talk even through pictures. I teach kids how to read, write and express themselves by using pictures”.

Delegates at the Nigerian International Schools Conference hailed from various parts of the country including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Oyo states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 —

39

STATISTICS ‘GDP Rebasing’ Excludes the Value of Domestic Work T he word ‘rebasing’ has been added to the already colourful Nigerian vocabulary, after a team of world class economists reassessed the Nigerian economy and updated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures to include new sectors of the economy including the telecommunications value chain , the film industry (Nollywood) amongst others, with the conclusion that Nigeria has now Africa’s largest economy.

Conspicuously absent in the rebasing is the valuation of unpaid women’s work in the home and within the community, particularly rural ones. The economic team has failed to provide us information on the value of women’s work and its contributions- real or potential- to the $510b GDP at the presented, and the projected $600b in 2016.

The unpaid work that women perform for their households and families is absolutely necessary for the functioning of the rest of society.

Indeed our monetary economy is dependant on women’s reproductive and care-giving work for the health, well-being and indeed the very existence of the paid work force. The economy also relies heavily on women to pick up the slack which the paid economy ignores - nursing elderly people, tutoring and child care. Unpaid work is as much a part of the monetary economy as paid work. Yet precisely because it is unpaid, unpaid work has long been overlooked and undermined in economic equations.

Tracking unpaid work will give economists a better measure of all goods and services in the economy.

More discerning economies have done this, and in fact evaluating unpaid work was also on the agenda at the Beijing United Nations’ World Conference on Women in 1995. Twenty-two countries including India, South Africa, and Sweden have done time use surveys.

38%

Because unpaid work is unpaid, many women must try to fit in paid work around it creating increasingly stressful lives. One Canadian study showed that 38% of working mothers are severely time stressed, averaging 74 hours of paid and unpaid work each week. The situation for single mothers is particularly difficult as they are unable to rely on another partner to bring in an income.

Because most unpaid work takes place in the home, women who do primarily unpaid work can be isolated and at greater risk of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse.

$319b

Women perform 2/3 of unpaid work in Canada worth up to $319

billion to the economy and the equivalent of millions of full-time jobs.

100%

Bangladeshi women work on average 16 hours each day unpaid.

This total unpaid 771.2 million hours of yearly work has an estimated value of US$70 to $91 billion, more than 100% of GDP

6-8 hours

In India a typical woman’s day starts by 5 a.m. and ends after 10 p.m.

In addition to their unpaid tasks, many women spend six to eight hours daily at paid work. Assigning even a very low wage for women’s unpaid tasks yields an annual figure of US$612.8 billion, or 61% of GDP.

70%

Men and women spend about the same amount of time working, on average seven hours a day, or 49 hours a week. However females spent two hours a day more than

males on unpaid work, while males spent two hours a day more than females on paid work. While approximately 60 percent of males’ work is paid, almost 70 percent of females’ work is unpaid.

1.9 hours

Around 95 percent of caregiving time involves caring for children, with the majority of this being for children of preschool age. Those who spend the most amount of time caregiving are those in

the peak child-raising ages of 25 to 44, as Figure 5 shows. Responsibility for this task falls largely to women, with those aged 25 to 34 spending 1.9 hours a day on caregiving compared with men’s 0.6 hours. Women aged 35 to 44 averaged 1.6 hours compared with men’s 0.9 hours. In older age groups, time spent on this activity falls quite markedly and there is little difference in the participation of men and women. In these age groups, caregiving often involves looking after older family members.

SWCF battles cancer omen cancer,, HIV among indigent w women

L-R: Erelu Fayemi dancing during the unveiling of SWCF, and The Founder of DOD, Apostle Busola Jegede

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

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NDIGENT women would be enjoying good health care services, following the launch of an initiative known as “Succour for Women’s Care Foundation (SWCF)” in Lagos, which is aimed at providing health care services for women and women groups.

The Foundation will contribute immensely to the current battle raging against the scourge of the dreaded breast and cervical cancer, HIV/AIDS as well as other diseases ravaging women.

SWCF will among other things, sensitie indigent women on living healthy lifestyles, empower them economically by teaching basic skills, enlightenment, seminars, training and providing funding for poverty alleviation; improve the businesses and vocations of women and most

importantly, give them psychological, moral and legal support.

As part of its readiness to provide quality health care for the indigent women, arrangements have been concluded to bring in one of the Matrons of the Foundation who is based in the US, Dr Olujoke Jones, and she would be in Nigeria on the 8th of May, 2014, with a high tech equipment to conduct tests such as Mammogram, pap smear, HIV/ AIDS screening, cervical cancer, etc, on women at the DOD centre in Lagos.

The foundation, an initiative of Daughters of Destiny(DOD) according to the Founder/President of DOD, Apostle Busola Jegede, was set up to meet the health needs of women as well as to help them have a good means of livelihood, stressing that, “Women are

disadvantaged throughout the world as statistics show that women are mostly victims of domestic violence, they are not economically empowered while most educated ones give up their jobs for the sake of caring for the family.”

“Empowering women financially is a pathway for poverty alleviation which ensures that children are well catered for.

The increasing number of women who die daily due to cancers which can be prevented if detected early enough coupled with unnecessary death of women during child birth are worrisome and SWCF has come to lend a hand”, She said.

Preventable diseases The Matron of the Foundation, Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu AdeleyeFayemi during the unveiling, blamed the increasing rate at which women die of cancer and other preventable diseases, on poor health education stressing that women should be educated enough to become proactive about their health.

At a time when many people in the rural areas are comfortable with local herbalists who do not do a thorough job, Erelu Fayemi maintained that the society needs Foundations such as SWCF to properly educate women on health related issues, emphasising the need for women to spend wisely especially on their health.

According to her excellency, “It is unfortunate that Nigeria practices curative instead of preventive health” and this she said, leaves SWCF with a lot of work to do, in the area of educating women on the need to go for checks not only when they feel unwell.

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

TREBLE CHANCE Crystal P. Fulham

v Aston V. v Norwich

Stoke

v Newcastle

Leeds Stevenage Tranmere Plymouth Alloa Queen O'Sth

v Blackpool v Colchester v Shrewsbury v Oxford v Morton v Falkirk

SOCCER TIPS Richards to leave Man City in summer despite new offer MICAH Richards, Manchester City’s longest-serving player,

FOUR HOMES

has reluctantly accepted he needs to leave the club and decided to turn down their offer of a new contract and pay rise.

Richards, with almost 250 appearances for the club since making his debut in October 2005, believes he needs a fresh start elsewhere if he wants to start playing more regularly and rediscover the form that saw him, at 18, take Rio Ferdinand’s record as the youngest defender to win an England cap. His decision will form part of a gradual exodus of English players from the Etihad, with at least three others on their way out in the summer.

City had been trying to dissuade Richards from joining that list, offering a new deal with improved terms, but Pablo Zabaleta has established himself as Manuel Pellegrini’s first-choice right-back over the last two seasons and that has been uppermost in the player’s mind. His talks with Pellegrini have been amicable and there is an understanding within the club that it has been a difficult decision for a player who has been involved with the club since the age of 14. City will want around £7m for the 25-year-old, citing his importance in their titlewinning season before injuries allowed Zabaleta the chance to take over on the right side of defence.

Richards was nominated for their player-of-the-year award that season – described by Gareth Bale as the most difficult opponent he faced in England – but there have been times in the current campaign when he has been fully fit and not even among the substitutes. After losing his place as a regular in England’s squads, the last two years have become increasingly difficult, culminating in him being restricted to only 10 starts at City in Pellegrini’s first season at the club.

The news has been partly expected at City and the club have already started making contingency plans, sounding out Bacary Sagna to determine whether the Arsenal defender is tempted by a move to Manchester. Sagna has been locked in a contract dispute with Arsenal LATE because of the club’s willingness to offer only TIPS one-year extensions to players in their 30s.

Richards, a boyhood Arsenal fan, would be a contender to replace Sagna if the 31-year-old France international leaves London.

Richards has also been linked with Liverpool and Newcastle and should not be short of options. The defender has 13 England caps but has not featured under Roy Hodgson and is determined to resurrect his international career.

His departure could feasibly leave City with only two English players in their senior squad. Jack Rodwell, the £12m signing from Everton, is available after two injury-troubled seasons at City, whereas Joleon Lescott has already confirmed he will leave and Gareth Barry is working on the basis that his time at City is finished. Barry will have plenty of offers after a successful year on loan at Everton, with the strong possibility that he will be tied to a permanent deal at Goodison.

5X6X7X8 FOUR AWAYS PAIR 4 X 11 X 13 X 35 X 16 PERMUTATION 37 1X 2X3X 9 X AVOID 19 X 21 14 TIPS RISKY 31X35X 38 29 CREDIT Southport 2 Salisbury 2 Macclesfield 2 Barnet 3 Queen O'Sth 3 Alloa 3 Plymouth 3 Tranmere 3 C M Y K

EXCELLENT Crystal P. Fulham Stoke Leeds Stevenage Dagenham Bristol R. Milton KD

7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS WEEK 39 Barclays Premier League 1 Crystal P. 2 Fulham 3 Stoke 4 West Brom

.

v Aston V. XX v Norwich XX v Newcastle XX v Tottenham 2

Sky Bet Championship 5 Bolton 6 Burnley 7 Derby 8 Ipswich 9 Leeds 10Millwall 11Reading 12 Yeovil

v Barnsley 1 v Middlesbro 1 v Huddersfield 1 v Doncaster 1 v Blackpool XX v Watford 2 v Leicester 2 v Bournemouth 2

Sky Bet League One 13 Crewe 14 Leyton O. 15 Milton KD 16 Notts Co. 17 Peterboro 18 Rotherham 19 Stevenage 20 Swindon 21 Tranmere 22 Walsall

v Wolves 2 v Gillingham 1 v Crawley 1X v Port Vale 2 v Coventry 1 v Bradford C 1 v Colchester XX v Brentford 2 v ShrewsburyX v Bristol C. 1

Sky Bet League TTw wo 23 Bristol R. 24 Dagenham 25 Exeter 26 Fleetwood 27 Hartlepool 28 Mansfield 29 Newport Co 30 North'pton 31 Plymouth 32 Scunthorpe 33 Southend 34 York

v Torquay 1X v Portsmouth X1 v Cheltenham 2 v Morecambe 1 v Chesterfield 2 v Rochdale 2 v Wycombe 1 v Burton A. 2 v Oxford XX v Bury 1 v AFC Wimbl'dn 1 v Accrington S 1

Scottish Division One 35 Alloa v Morton XX 36 Dundee vCowdenbeath 1 37 Queen O'Sth v Falkirk XX

English Conference League 38 Barnet 39 Cambridge U. 40 Dartford 41 Grimsby 42 Hereford 43 Kid'minster 44 Luton 45 Macclesfield 46 Salisbury 47 Southport 48 Woking 49 Wrexham

v Halifax XX v Hyde 1 v Forest Grn 2 v Chester 1 v Gateshead 2 v Welling 1 v Braintree 1 v Aldershot XX v Lincoln XX v Tamworth XX v Alfreton 2 v Nuneaton 2

3 9 19 46 Revised Pairs 1 x 3, 9 x19 21 x 31,46 x 47

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—41

The best should lead the rest —Ode to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (2)

Africa prepares for economic growth (2) This is the concluding part of this discourse. The first part was published on Wednesday which takes place between April

BY ALIM ABUBAKRE 14 and 17, 2014 in collaboration EEPING up in these fast-paced mod with Oxford University, one of the ern times is no small feat for any orleading educational institutions ganisation, but trying to maintain global in the world; welcomes African standards while depending on the infraleaders to come get the educastructure and business realities of the detion they need to face the road ahead. Parveloping world can sometimes feel like a ticipation allows top management minds real uphill battle. Lately the pressure seems to access a set of proven tools based on to be reaching a breaking point as the inexisting models throughout the internationternational community takes an increasing al community and learn about the best interest in Africa. Developed economies may practices of the most innovative organisabe slowing to a grinding, excruciating halt, tions and governments in the world. but in countries from Nigeria to Ethiopia, Key topics of this course include stratethings are taking off and they are taking off gic management, adaptive leadership, orfast. And with growth comes the scramble ganisational innovation, principled negoto accommodate. tiation, executive innovation, and sustainMany executives foresee a myriad of difability. Attendees will also receive a certifficulties in doing so as they take into acicate from the University of Oxford, Smith count the volatile environment found in School of Enterprise and Environment. many African countries, where poorly-mainPerhaps most importantly, the principles tained roads, unreliable electricity, corrupwill be framed inside the contextual realition, security threats, and fragile institutions ties - social, political, and environmental often slow things down. While it’s true these of doing business in Africa. This comporealities are not uniform across the board, nent is what brings the teachings from when companies and governments want to sound theoretic principles to a set of pracwork together, one country’s problems can tical tools that can be administered in realeasily become a hindrance for everyone. The ity. The course will also serve as a platform coming growth makes these problems more for creating a community of networked exof an emergency than ever before, as they ecutives from every corner of the Earth. sometimes have the ability to slow or even Who should attend? cripple chances for true progress. This is CEOs, directors, and chairmen in top orwhy it is crucial for executives in both the ganisations (oil/gas, manufacturing, teleprivate and public sphere to take extra meacoms, financial services, hospitality, etc.), sures to prepare themselves. frontrunners of NGOs, heads of: religious Coming changes will not wait for Africa’s organisations, government departments, organisations to prepare; therefore, getting and public service e.g. governors, SSGs, top leadership the new skills they need for heads of service, commissioners, accounthese dynamic times requires the fastest tant generals, federal & state legislators, track possible to world class training. An local government chairmen, and ceos of organisation based in the United Kingdom government parastatals and senior military officers, etc.

Key topics of this course include Workshop sessions include: strategic management, adaptive Instructors will introduce key concepts and then present exleadership, organisational innovaamples using case studies, realtion, principled negotiation, executive world scenarios, and simulations based on the realities of doinnovation, and sustainability ing business in Africa. Detailed believes they have the answer and is putdiscussions will follow. ting their money where their mouth is in Overview of programme: According to their unique Africa-tailored course offerings.

Professor Gordon L. Clark, Director, UniWho we are:“These Executive Minds,” versity of Oxford’s Smith School of EnterTEXEM, offers select capacity development prise and the Environment, “Participants programmes, research and consultancy seron this executive education programme vices based on time-tested, world class manwill learn from leading research at the Uniagement concepts executives can take home versity of Oxford. The programme will exand apply immediately. The company’s latplore the critical challenges facing the priest Executive Development Programme, vate and public sectors in partnering for “Creating Sustainable Solutions: Transforsustainable governance.” mations in Governance,” is uniquely taiAlim Abubakre, Chief Executive Officer lored to address the challenges of changof These Executive Minds (TEXEM) being corporate governance in modern-day lieves that this programme will provide Africa. senior executives with the strategic insights Alim Abubakre, the founder and director needed to identify, comprehend and adof TEXEM, notes: “Many senior executives dress emerging problems, thus, enhancalready acknowledge that governance chaling the proficiency that organizations need lenges in emerging economies hamper their to adapt to rapidly changing social, politiability to foster inclusive and sustained cal and environmental realities. growth within organisations and nations.

Faculty Programme: The issue addressed in this programme is •Professor Gordon L Clark DSC (Oxon) how transformations in governance can ofFBA – Director, Smith School of Enterprise fer sustainable solutions to the myriad of and the Environment, University of Oxchallenges that these organisations face. ford, •Dr. Peter Collecott CMG – British The programme will enhance participants’ High Commissioner to Brazil (2004 – 08), expertise and their conceptual foundation •Johanna Bernstein – International Lawwhile challenging assumptions and empowyer (UN, National Government& Private ering them as leaders to shape and strengthsector), • Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder, Lagos en their organisations’ performance, with a Business School, •Mike Wilkins, Managview towards achieving national prosperiing Director, Standard & Poor’s Financial ty. Programme: The four-day workshop, Services LLC

K

N fact, Lagos began the journey to its former glory and started to act as the true centre of commerce it was designed to be. Things were more organized and efficiency returned. Many of the steps the Tinubu administration took are now being copied by the Federal Government and the other state governments. Any leader whose impact extends beyond his immediate surroundings is a success. Tinubu triumphed.

However, Tinubu’s greatest achievement would be finding the best man to succeed him and carry on his blueprint. The ‘usual’ thing would have been for him to find a man of low esteem and competence who would be fed instructions from So, what is next for this vithe Tinubu camp. sionary called Bola Tinubu?

This is what President Olusegun Obasanjo attempted with late President Yar’Adua, which has the charm, brilliance, competurned out to be a disaster from which tence, compassion, loyalty and paNigeria is yet to recover. triotism every president must have Tinubu resisted the attempt to pick to succeed. He is accepted as a a ‘yes-man’ and went for competence friend home and abroad. His netand ability again. He found his man work of accomplices cut across the in Babatunde Fashola and staked his strata of society and regions. He political future on him. That bet paid is a chief in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruoff. Fashola is currently one of the ba lands. He has been awarded finest administrators this nation has titles in Europe and America. ever seen and a pride to the Yoruba Chicago State University, his race and Black people the world over. Alma Mata, consider him a great ambassador and once held a dinner in his honour.

,

,

I

This is the concluding part of this Map of discourse. The Nigeria first part was published on Wednesday

BY ALFRED OMOLEWA

ing the land and pitching his dream to his would-be conspirators. It came at a cost; he lost sleep and much body weight, but the deal was sealed. The news of the registration of the new party came to him while he was recuperating from a long over-due knee surgery. He must have smiled to himself. Not a smile of victory but a knowing smile, content that his vicarious appetite for work would get some satisfaction in the task ahead to save Nigeria from sure doom.

This man’s passion calls for a pause, though. Any man who gives his all for a good cause when he could be enjoying his retirement deserves some attention.

Tinubu’s vision has been his guide. His determination for Nigeria to achieve true federalism is not in doubt. His belief that only Nigerians can save Nigeria is steady and sure. Question is: Did any past Nigerian president have this fire in his belly? Which Nigerian leader carries the credentials, passion and support that Asiwaju does? Shouldn’t Tinubu be given the room to transmit the vision and plans that worked for Lagos to Nigeria?

All the requisite ingredients that make a great leader in Tinubu. He

,

Leadership quality

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu His exploits have been praised from across the Atlantic and he is seen as the major reason investors are coming in droves to invest in Lagos. They know it is a sure bet, just as Tinubu knew Fashola was a sure thing. Tinubu must have the gift of Nostradamus.

So, what is next for this visionary called Bola Tinubu? Recently, he completed the master coup in getting the biggest opposition forces to merge and adopt a singular platform.

He put his body on the line, travers-

Only recently, President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone said this of him: “Governor Tinubu, we should honour people like you; you have what it takes for such leadership. Some of us are fortunate to be associated with you. We will deepen our relationship with Nigeria. For somebody like you, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has demonstrated great leadership quality we are happy to be associated with you.

If we are making any progress here, it is because of the efforts and contributions people like you have made.”

What an endorsement of quality leadership! If a progressive African leader like Koroma attests to the excellence of Asiwaju Tinubu’s leadership, may be Nigerians have found the president they truly can trust. It is time to ask men of true competence to take the plunge. The best of us should lead the rest of us.

Run, Asiwaju, run!

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42— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Kola Animasaun Honoured

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HE former Editorial Board Chairman, Vanguard Newspapers Alhaji Muslim Kola Animasaun was recently turbaned as the Agbesinga Adini (Propagator of Islam) by the Dopemu Muslim Comunity, Lagos. The occasion which also served as fundraising for the development of Dopemu Central Mosque was graced by eminent Muslims including the Chief Imam, Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, Ustaz AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef who delivered the lecture of the day among others.

Career Muslim women and devt I

SLAM neither allow women to be treated merely as sex symbols nor as object of oppression by their male counterparts. Rather, it gives and provides the basis to which every being will reach and realise his or her potentials in politics, or any field of endeavours.

Taking into cognizance their peculiarities and nature, Islam laid down rules to protect them and gave them a key role in the upbringing of families along with their husbands who in turn contribute to the foundation of a healthy society. The most important thing as it also applies to man is to seek for knowledge.

It is mandatory in Islam to acquire education and use same to the benefit of humanity.

We have said earlier in this column that the dearth of Muslim women medical practitioners is a snag to development of Islam in this part of the world. This is one area that Islam and the women group in Islam like FOMWAN should look into. Do we encourage our young girls and daughters to chase their careers to fruition or we lure them into early marriages without a base for their educational development even to the benefit of Islam?

“Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim (male and female).” (AtTirmidhi) This includes knowledge of the Quran and the Hadeeth as well as other types of worldly knowledge that can bring good to people and societies at large.

Truly, within the confines of promoting morality, goodness and condemning evil in all walks of life, Muslim women, therefore, must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their natural talents and interests.

Natural talents A Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one can claim her earnings, including her husband. She has the Godgiven-right to voice her opinion on socio-political issues.

She may participate in Politics in as much as she maintains the rule of behaviour set by the Qur’an and hadiths. She has to be upright, honest and selfless.

They can also offer their advice on issues affecting women and the ummah in general. An example from history is Abdurrahman Ibn Awf who consulted many women before he recommended Uthman Ibn Affan to be the Caliph and leader of the Muslims. It should be noted that they could do all these without renaging in any aspect of their home duties as mothers and wives. Just as the family needs the mother to prepare the children for their future endeavours, the society also needs the women to play their part in order to bring about a decent and well cultured society. While bearing, raising and teaching of children, and providing support to her husband and maintenance of a home are among the foremost duties of a mother and a wife, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so, as long as her family obligations are not neglected.

With the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother, that mothers become educated to impart appropriate morals in their children who in turn would influence the future of healthy societies is very important.

L-R: Chief Imam of Dopemu Central Mosque, Fadilat Sheikh AbdulHameed Olorunkemi; Chief Imam, Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, Ustaz AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef; Oba Takpa Dopemu, Sheik Al-Ameen Yusuf; Baale of Dopemu land, Chief Shuaib Afogunlowo and Alhaji Muhammed Shaiba at the occasion.

Alhaji Muslim Kola Animasaun, Agbesinga Adinni of Dopemu land with other turbaned Muslims during the occasion.

Ex-Commissioner makes case for female child •As Eti-Osa Imams turban eminent Muslims

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

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HE first appointed Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, Alhaja Sekinah Olusola Yusuf has enjoined all Muslim faithful to always remember and give the female child a chance for a better and peaceful society.

Alhaja Yusuf said this at the second turbaning ceremony organised by Eti-Osa Council of Imams and Alfas recently.

She said: ‘’The female child is a gift from God and as such, should be treated like a princess. The female child should not be maltreated in any form, she should be sent to school and not be sent into modern slavery. When we begin to see the female child as important as the male child, we will have a better Nigeria."

Prince Tajudeen Oluwole Olusi, who is the National President of the Zumratul Islammiyyah Society of Nigeria was turbaned at the event as the Jagunmolu Adinni of Eti Osa Muslim Community. Olusi described the turbaning as a call

to service. “ this is another call to serve Almighty Allah and humanity especially in Eti osa in my own humble way even at this old age’’.

Also, Alhaji Abdu-Jeleel Animashaun, Chairman of AlHujaj Travels and Tours who was also turbaned as the Arowosa Adinni of Eti-Osa was full of excitements. ‘’This is Allah’s doing. I feel delighted and grateful to Allah for this grace to be relevant in His work’’.

The Chairman, Council of Imams and Alfas, Eti osa, AbdBarri Yoosuph Afinni, admonished the turbaned Muslims to continue their good deeds to Islam and see the turbaning as a call to service.

“We thank Almighty Allah who had made this day a reality. Islam is a religion of peace and good deeds, I encourage everybody to see this turbaning as a call to service. You have been honored today because you have been living an exemplary life and I beg you not to stop the good work to“.

However, the founder of Markaz dawah organization,

Amir Qamardeen Ajala advised all the turbaned Muslims to see the titles as challenge to do greater work. ‘’Turbaning in Islam is a challenge to do more and not a title or instrument to intimidate others. Every turbaned should live an exemplary life and remain a role model to other Muslims’’.

Others who were also turbaned include Alhaji Prince M.O Amusa Adewale, Bashorun Sikiru Macfoy, Alhaji Prince Tajudeen Adewunmi Fowewe, Alhaji Chief Rilwan Adisa Aleshinloye, Alh. Muideen Abayomi Daramola, Alh. Zemzem Adio A. Maiyegun, Alh. Chief Waheed Agbomabini, Alhaji Chief G.A Lamina Ashagbe, Alhaji Chief Ashimiyu Fadipe, Alh. Chief Abdul Rasaq Adigun Kolaru, Alh. Chief Tajudeen Mogaji, Alh. Prince M.O Amusa Adewale, Otunba Adekanmbi A. Kabir, Alh. Chief Tunde Junaid, Alhaja Ramottallahi Ajoke Adenopo, Alh. Chief Mrs. Nurat Bakare, Alh. Chief Mrs. Muminat Dosunmu, Alh. Chief Mrs. Silifat Shittu.

L-R: Seated from left: Alhaji Muslim Kola Animasaun; former Editorial Board Chairman, Vanguard Newspapers; a family member; Alhaja Modupe Animasaun;(standing from left) Harun Balogun; Alhaji Mustapha; Alhaji AbdulAmeen; Alhaji Dada Adekola, Vanguard Cartoon Editor; Alhaji AbduSalam and Bashir Adefaka at the occasion.

Eti-Osa TTurbaning urbaning

From left: Alhaja Ramotallahi Ajoke Adenopo, Alhaja Chief Mrs Muminat Iyabode Dosunmu and Alhaja Chief Mrs Silifat during the Eti-Osa turbaning and fund raising ceremony held recently.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 —

43

Hajj 2014: Lagos releases names of intending Pilgrims

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Why we engage in religious debates—Adepoju •Nigeria’s problem caused by conspiracy of silence – Father Kukah

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

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HIEF Lecturer, Academy of IslamicPropagation,ACADIP, Alhaji Yusuf Olatunde Adepoju, has explainedhisinterestincomparative religions, adding that it was to clarify the many misconceptions about Prophet Muhammad, (s.a.w) and Islam, by Christian clerics.

He spoke barely a week after the Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rt. Rev. Matthew Kukah, delivered a paper attheUniversityofNigeria,Nsukka’s 43rd lecture blaming the rise of insurgency in Nigeria on what he described as “conspiracy of silence and breakdown of societal surveillance.”

Adepoju, condemned the spate of violence across the country but reiterated that he would not sit and watch the non-Muslims write and circulatejournalsblaspheming“Allah, Prophet Muhammad, (s.a.w), and Islamwithoutdoinganythinginform of the religious comparatives.”

In an interview with Vanguard, in

Ilobu, Osun State, yesterday, the son offormerChairmanOsunStateCivil ServiceCommissionalsoblamedthe Federal Government for not being proactive in nipping the incessant crises in the bud. “They allow crisis to brew and break before taking action, towards stopping it,” he said.

He stated that holistic measure should be made in ensuring that adherents of both Islam and Christianitypreachandcarryouttheir religious duties in private and public places with strict adherence to the dictates of their respective religions.

Adepoju, who observed that blasphemy of Allah had been encouragedinNigeriabyauthorities andmanypeopledonotseeanything bad in it, adding, “it was hypocritical for people to see the agitation of Muslims over blasphemies of Allah, Muhammad, (s.a.w) and Islam as unreasonable.”

“People have written many books blaspheming Allah, Muhammad, peace upon him, and Islam that is

Conquering your enemies

BY HARUN RAZAQ

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LLAH and Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) assures Muslims in Qur’an and Hadith that they will conquer their enemy provided they are Mumeen (believer). These divine promise come to pass on the first Muslims as history, up to the13th century Hijri revealed that Muslims were the sole possessors of honour, dignity, power and grandeur. However, reversed is the case with many of the present Muslims as they suffered a lot from their enemies. The enemy easily and successfully planned, punished and killed them. This is because many of them lack certain qualities that are expected of a Muslim and also involve in un-Islamic acts.

It must be emphasised that the earlier Muslims conquered their enemy with the help of Allah because they possessed sound aqeedah (faith, believe, doctrine), correct Ibadah (act of worship) and exceptional good behaviuor with others creations. And not through un-Islamic acts such as seeking assistances from angel, prophet, jinn, saint, magician etc; or Ibadah that lack support from Qur’an and Sunnah; or harming, fighting and killing people because they are not Muslims. It must be reiterated that Qur’an and Hadith attests to the fact that the help of Allah is for believers and not for unserious Muslims who are not conscious of their duties to Allah.

This fact is supported by many verses of Qur’an among of which

are presented below: Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam).

And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me (Q24:55). So, do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers (Q3:139)…But honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad s.a.w), and to the believers…(Q 63:8).

The aforementioned verses of the Qur’an and many others clearly maintain that the way to gain the assistance of Allah lies only in having iman (being a Mumeen).

In addition, scholars have maintained that the major cause of the challenges facing Muslims is that they have discarded the way of the first righteous Muslims. They further mentioned three instruments for Muslims to conquer theirenemiesasidentifiedbyShaikh Ibn Qayim Ajaosiyyah in his famous bookTibNabawi.Theseinstruments include: faith in Allah and His Prophet, (s.a.w), fear of Allah and total reliance on Allah.

our natural way of life. One of the books is ‘Who is this Allah?’ which leadstomanynon-Muslimspassing erroneousandmisleadingcomments about Allah, our Prophet and Islam.

The problem of the North cannot honestly speaking be totally blamed on illiteracy and poverty due to what they described as failure of the governments in that part of the country. It is basically religious and government should be more proactive about it and stop blaming theMuslimsunnecessarily. Justlike Chief Bode George once said ‘a societywhereinjusticethrives,peace will continue to elude them’.

“Tellme,betweenensuringthatthe actsofintoleranceandhatredcapable ofcausingreligiouscrisisarestopped, and allowing the acts to cause crisis and then begin to expend huge funds, which would have been used for development and welfare of the people, on deployment of soldiers to fight the crisis; which one is better? I thinkitishightimeNigerians choose one.”

He stated that his organisation has chosen the intellectual path of religious debate as a way of responding to the errorneous concepts and blasphemies about Islam.

HE Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has released the names of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2014 hajj exercise.

In a statement signed by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Durojaiye Luqmon and made available to Vanguard Facing the Kaaba, said “intending pilgrims have been advised to visit the State Secretariat Mosque to check their names.”

Durojaiye said the checking of names which commenced from Monday 31st of March,

2014 would end in April 15, 2014.

He sressed that the list was the aftermath of the screening which started on the 17th of March 2014, adding, “payment has already commenced and it is on first come first serve basis.”

On the issue of Mahram, Durojaiye said: “there is no much issue about Mahram as the state goverment complied in the past and will continue to comply. Female pilgrims will be accompanied by male pilgrims.”

IMAF 1 0th Anniv er sar y/T urbaning 10th Anniver ersar sary/T y/Turbaning

•Alhaji Sadallh Bello, Chief Imam of Oluwole, Ogba, (left), Alhaji Abdu-Barri Saba, representative of the Chief Imam of Lagos, (2nd left) Alhaji Abdul Afeez Abidoye, being turbaned as Alakoso adini during the IMAF 10th anniversary/turbaning held at Alaguntan, EtiOsa recently.

Nigeria’s problem caused by conspiracy of silence – Kukah A few days ago in Nsukka, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rt. Rev. Matthew Kukah, had blamed what he described as “conspiracy of silence and breakdown of societal surveillance” for growing case of insurgency in the country.

He said that any society that was not sensitive to social and security threatsinitsenvironmentwasbound to experience manifestations of insurgency such as Boko Haram terrorism in parts of the North.

Kukahsaid,“Thereisneedtotryto understand why things have not worked out for us in Nigeria, why theprojectfornationalintegrationand development have been stalled and whythecumulativeimpactofallthese has created such as fractious, angry and seemingly frustrated society.

“We must seek to explore how we ended up with so many years of retarded development, how we became such a severely fractured country and what can be done to rebuild it again. Boko Haram has tested our wills, but we also have many lessons to learn especially regarding the real history of our country, the levels of injury, grievances and wounds that our communitiescarry.

"We also need to learn the importance of proper and correct diagnosis,” said Kukah.

•From left: Fadeelat Sheikh Moshood Alamori-Eda, Chief Imam of Alaguntan and Founder of IMAF Foundation; Alhaji Muslim Adisa Lasisi and Alhaji Abdul-Yekeen Bakare, Baba Adini of Eti-Osa during the occasion.

•From left: Otun Balogun, Eti-Osa; Alhaji Abdul Yekeen Olawale Bakare, Baba Adini of Eti-Osa and Balogun of Ajiran land and Alhaji Mogaji during the IMAF 10th anniversary/Turbaning held at Alaguntan, Eti-Osa recently.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Edo Police parade 33 suspected cultists, robbers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN— THE Edo State Police Command has paraded 33 suspects, allegedly involved in cultism, armed

Transition

robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, who paraded the suspects, said the command was determined to go after criminal elements to sustain the peace the state had enjoyed in the last few

months.

Two of the suspects, Thompson Oguwzi and Labaran Mohammed, were arrested for allegedly impersonating an Army Lieutenant and Captain, respectively.

They were allegedly seen in Army uniform going from

one hotel to another, claiming to be army officers.

Police investigation was said to have revealed that the two suspects were not serving army officers.

Adebanjo, who described the trend of cultism in the state as “disturbing,” said whoever was using cultists

to kill, whether businessmen or politicians, would not be spared by the police.

He said: “Killing is a very serious offence. We will not condone it. If you kill somebody, we will get you. I am warning those sponsoring the cultists to desist.”

APC chieftain urges Oshiomhole to intervene in congress crisis A

chieftain of All Progressive Congress, APC, in Edo State, Chief Henry Okoror, has urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to intervene in the recent ward congress from which two executives emerged from parallel congresses conducted in some wards.

Okoror called Oshiomhole to intervene in the brewing crisis to save the party from imminent collapse. He alleged that one group hijacked the men and materials meant for the congress, took them to a place outside the local government area, filled the forms and claimed to have conducted the congress.

Okoror told newsmen that he would remain in APC despite effort to frustrate him and his supporters out of the party.

He was flanked by Mr. Solomon Eichie and Eigbodion leaders of ward

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ADAM Victoria Jimoh, 77, is dead. Service of songs holds today by 7pm.

Burial service is tomorrow at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Kabba, Kogi State by 10am. Interment follows immediately.

Reception is at St. Augustine’s College field, Kabba.

Burial

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RS. Victoria Zeli (nee Biolose) of Obior in Aniocha council of Delta State, aged 100, is dead.

Christian/social wakekeep will hold April 24.

Church service and interment will take place next day at her IdumuOzei residence, Obior.

3; Saturday Okosun ward 1; Gabriel Eromomene, leader ward 8; Mr. Andrew

Egbeakhuele, ward 7; Mrs Felicity Omijie, ward 5 and many others.

U

Delta begins demolition of illegal structures

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Special Environmental Taskforce, yesterday, commenced the demolition of illegal structures and removal of abandoned cars in Udu Local Government Area of the state.

Leading the task force to the area, the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, assured that the task force, which was set up by the state government, will deliver on its mandate.

He added that they were going round the state to ensure that the state was cleared of waste, illegal

structures and abandoned cars.

He said: “Rains are coming and the behavior of some Deltans towards waste management is faulty.

“Everybody just believes that there is no law and they embarrassed the government and the people with indiscriminate dumping of waste.

“Every open space has been turned to a dump site.

Nobody wants to patronise the waste disposal vans that evacuate wastes in the state.

“Waste Itineration Equipment have been provided in Delta North and such equipment are about to be put in Warri and other places.”

Ijaw community lauds Clark over Kiagbodo Varsity

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EMBERS of Ijaw community in Asaba, Delta State, ICA, have commended elder statesman and Ijaw leader,

Chief Edwin Clark for his efforts and contributions towards the establishment of University of Technology in Kiagbodo.

The group, in a statement by its President, Tuwon Anthony, described Clark as a great leader, mentor and man of wisdom.

GHELLI—DELTA Consultative Forum, DCF, a sociopolitical organisation that promotes good governance and grassroots mobilisation, has endorsed Elder Godsday Orubebe as the next governor of Delta State, come 2015.

The forum made its position known in a statement after a solidarity visit to Elder Orubebe in his country home, Ogbobagbene, Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

It said: “The group is saddled with the responsibility of promoting good leadership and governance, hence decided to pay a solidarity visit to congratulate the former minister on his achievement during his tenure as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.”

The statement was signed by its Chairman and the Publicity Secretary, Peres Oloye and Charles Onyibe, respectively.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

DELTA 2015: Forum endorses Orubebe

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

What's your take on state police?

T

HE police is an agent of security and cohesion. The security history and development of Nigeria show we need instruments that shall continue to unify us. We must not copy everything from the United States.— Ms. Chimezie Ezembu, Broadcaster.

W

E do not need state police until we can decide who will pay them, who will provide arms and ammunition for the state police, who will guarantee that the state police would not be used as an agent for oppression.— Mr. Ajiboye Sunday, Music Director.

W

HAT we need is local policing. You do not recruit from Ikeja and get posted to Ajegunle.

No! Everything cannot be under Federal control.

The Federal Police can still be retained for Federal assignment. — Mr. Emmanuel Fayire, Footballer.

S

IX InspectorsGeneral for each zone, an increase in the number of Deputy IGs, 36 Assistant IGs for each state, 774 commissioners of Police, each for the 774 local government areas and a Police Division in each ward, with a DPO in charge.— Mr. Kazeem Aremu, Worker.

W

E are not going to enjoy the results of state police. It is additional corruption.

What we need is job, electricity, education, food, housing and affordable health schemes. What we need are good leaders, not good politicians.— Ms. Judith Ekwu, Student.

S

TATE police will reduce the need for so many Federal officers; they would prefer to work in their states of origin, and they know the local terrain.

They will be better supervised. This is “Appropriate Span of Management Control.”— Ms. Ukogu Chinasa, Vocalist.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 45

MTN, Nova Lumos, GSMA partner on alternative mobile electricity

Group denies tension between Christians, cult devotees in Patani

BY ETOP EKANEM

BY FESTUS AHON

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U

GHELLI — THE Kabowei Cultural Committee, Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, has described as malicious, media reports credited to the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the council that there was threat to lives and property of Christians in Patani town over alleged moves of the committee to force them to observe the period of silence in the Seigbein cultural festival.

It will be recalled that CAN, in a letter by its Chairman, Bishop Edafe Emamezi and two others had appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to intervene in what it described as “brewing tension in Patani town between the Christian community (churches) and the Amateri/ Seigbein religious cult devotees occasioned by a letter of threat which is in total breach of our constitutional rights as Christians, written to us through the palace cultural committee of Kabowei Kingdom on March 27, 2014.”

Reacting to the publications, the cultural committee in a statement by its Chairman, Chief Christopher Porbeni, described Bishop Emamezi as “a liar,” and called for his immediate transfer and removal as CAN Chairman in the council.

He said the synergy between the Christian associations and them had been very cordial for centuries before the arrival of Emamezi as Chairman of CAN in the area, adding “all churches in Kabowei Kingdom have been observing this silence period of eight days and there is nothing fetish about it."

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right); His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse II, Olu of Warri; HRM Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe and others moments after a security meeting in Warri, yesterday. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

IYC flays call on Jonathan to end emergency rule in Borno, Yobe

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—THE Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has described as unpatriotic, the calls by Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe) and Kashim Shettima (Borno) on President Goodluck Jonathan not to extend the state of emergency in Borno and Yobe states, which expires April 19.

The group in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said the call, which was earlier made by a group of elders under the aegis of Borno-Yobe Forum, “is not in the best interest of the people of the North-East, especially the youths, considering the present situation of insecurity in the area.

“It is on record that before the declaration of state of emergency, the terrorists had taken over most parts of those states, which they were using as their camps and it was the military that sent them packing. Also, the comparison between the Niger Delta hostilities and the insurgency in the North-East is unfounded.

“The fact that the activities of the terrorists have not abated despite the existing state of emergency is a justification to extend the state of emergency. If despite the existence of a state of emergency, ter-

rorism has not abated in the NorthEast, it follows that without the declaration of a state of emergency, the security situation in the North Eastern part of Nigeria would have degenerated to what we have in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

Collapsed hospital: Edo PDP branishes report indicting state govt

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN — EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has presented a panel report that indicted the state government in the execution of the collapsed part of the Benin Central Hospital, just as it reiterated its earlier call on the government to bring down the entire structure in the interest of the lives of those who would patronise the hospital.

It will be recalled that Governor Adams Oshiomhole had last week re-awarded contract for the 200ward block and Accident and Emergency Complex of the hospital that partially collapsed dur-

Maritime safety: NIWA promises sustained enlightenment campaign

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BY IFEYINWA OBI

AGOS — THE National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has assured that it will sustain its commitment to the safety of waterways users nationwide.

It also donated safety kits for waterways transportation in Niger State.

The ongoing nationwide safety awareness campaign of the au-

thority is expected to run throughout the pre-rainy season period.

NIWA’s Managing Director, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, led the campaign train to Niger State, where the agency underscored the essence of safety precautions on waterways.

Ciroma counselled the public on the need to adhere to safety rules and regulations to avoid boat mishaps, which were prevalent last year in the riverine communities

“The governors of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and the Borno-Yobe Elders or any group kicking against extension of the state of emergency and the counter terrorism efforts of the Nigeria military in parts of North-East should be regarded as sponsors of terrorism. "

of Nupeko and Malale of the state.

The two riverine communities received donations of life jackets, while boat operators were trained by the NIWA Marine Department on modalities of rescue operations in emergency situations.

Ciroma said: “We realised that it is not enough to just donate these life jackets. We have to explain to the boats owners and operators how to make use of them effectively to help save lives in case of emergency."

ing construction two years ago.

Briefing newsmen, state Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, in Benin, yesterday, while displaying the panel report, insisted the state government “erred by re-awarding a contract worth over N3 billion to a company that has no qualified structural engineer and architect.”

State govt disowns report

But reacting, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said: “What the PDP is brandishing is their own document, it cannot be the document of the Edo State Government, it cannot be the document of a probe panel submitted to the governor; it cannot be the document that is the property of the Edo State Government.

“And the PDP cannot assume the role of an alternate government in the state. If they have gone to get their cocoon to concoct the report and brandish it to the unsuspecting public, good for them. But as a government, it is our responsibility to do that which is right in the best interest of the overwhelming majority of Edo people."

AGOS — FOLLOWING dwindling power supply in the country in recent time, MTN Nigeria, Nova-Lumos and GSMA have partnered to bring affordable alternative mobile electricity to Nigerians.

Speaking at the unveiling of the technology, MTN Mobile Electricity Solution and the signing of agreement with MTN, NovaLumos and GSMA, in Lagos, Mr Henry Okoede, Senior Manager, Business Development, MTN Nigeria, said: “This vision is driven by MTN’s resolve to continually explore improved ways to make our customers lives a whole lot brighter by giving them improved accessibility to essential services they need in their daily lives and the nearness to this service from anywhere, at any time.

“Today, we officially announce a partnership with Nova Lumos and GSMA to deliver mobile electricity to MTN subscribers’ homes that have very limited electricity or live off the national electricity grid. These customers, who largely live in the rural areas can replace kerosene, candles and flashlights with the Lumos electricity solution. It is a electricity platform that can power lights, cellphones, fans, radio and other small electronic devices.

“The MTN vision of a bold new digital world is all about the positive impact of MTN mobile telephony and technology in the daily lives of our customers. It’s about reducing exclusion and social disparities. Our partnership with Lumos and GSMA is in line with our strategy of pursing collaborative models with partners, whose visions are aligned with our goals of fostering social economic development in Nigeria by reducing exclusion and social disparities faced by households in Nigeria."

Gadzama loses wife

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HIEF Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, on Monday in Abuja, lost his wife, Mrs. Janada JoeGadzama. She died at Gariki Hospital Abuja after a brief illness.

Mrs. Gadzama was a devout Christian and community leader. Her burial arrangement will be announced by the family.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

WINNERS: From left— Matthew Willsher, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria; Mrs Nneka Okekearu, Deputy Director, E n t e r p r i s e Development, CentrePan Atlantic University; Mr. Peter Bankole, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, EDC, and Mr. Lucas Dada, Director of Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, at the presentation of cheques to Etisalat Easy Business Million Nairas Hunt winners in PHOTO: Lagos.

AKEEM SALAU.

EHINGBETI: Experts identify solutions to poor power supply A

GAINST the backdrop of drop in daily supply of electricity to Lagos State, experts and stakeholders in the power, gas and related sectors have canvassed significant improvement in the current gas supply across the country as a way out of the present situation.

The stakeholders also tasked government at all levels to increase efforts at eliminating the activities of vandals who burst gas pipelines and other power transmission equipment, saying the unchecked menace of those behind the act was a major stumbling block to the availability of power in the country.

The experts, who spoke on the topic, ‘’How can electricity delivery to Lagos be accelerated?’’, in one of the sessions at the ongoing seventh Lagos Economic Summit, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, included Nigeria’s former Minister of

Transition

Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji; Commissioner, Rates and Market Competition, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr. Eyo Ekpo; and Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. David Ige. Others were Chairman, Falcon

Petroleum Ltd., Mr. Chima Ibeneche; Managing Director, Sahara Power, Mr. Kola Adesina; Chairman, West Power and Gas, Mr. Charles Momoh; and General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB), Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi.

Prof. Nnaji, who was the lead speaker at the session,

said in order to achieve efficient electricity supply in Nigeria, there was need to conduct an audit into the power demand of the entire country, just as Lagos State had done. ‘’We cannot know the amount of power we need unless we do an audit. So, Lagos was right when it said it requires 10,000MW.”

NEMA canvasses preparation for floods

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI— THE National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, wants stakeholders in disaster management to prepare ahead of the heavy flooding expected to occur in the South East geopolitical zone of the country this year.

The South East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr. Onimode Bandele, made the call at a workshop organized for stakeholders in disaster management in Owerri.

Bandele explained that

“following the high level of devastation witnessed in some parts of the country in 2012, as a result of flooding and the prediction by experts that the South East will record heavy rainfall this year, the National Emergency Management Agency decided to embark on sensitization campaign to get the people battle ready”.

He noted that NEMA has established camps for persons that might be displaced in the event of flooding in Imo State and appealed to the South East governors to provide adequate logistics to their

state disaster management agencies to enable them to respond to emergency situations.

“In 2013, all hands were on deck but fortunately, nature did not allow any disaster to happen. We are, however, not expected to go back to sleep,” Bandele said.

The South East NEMA boss equally explained that “the workshop was aimed at strengthening the coping capacity of stakeholders, such that if it does happen, these are people that will eventually work with NEMA to bring the necessary response activities into being.”

Abia cautions traffic officers over extortion

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State government has warned its road traffic cadet officers to desist from extorting motorists or face the wrath of the law.

The warning came against a groundswell of complaints against the cadets by members of the public.

Commissioner for Works, Mr. Emeka Nwachukwu, who gave the warning at a 3-day workshop organised for the cadets, said such act was inimical to the growth and development of the transport sector in the state.

Nwachukwu, who also oversees the transport ministry, said the workshop was to rebrand the outfit and make it more useful to the government.

The commissioner advised the cadets to perform their duty in a dignified manner to project the image of the state positively, and warned that any one who defied the rules would be shown the way out.

He urged them to see themselves as ambassadors of the state and partners of the government in revenue generation.

Burial

Stakeholders make case for autism bill

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ADAM Agnes Ekedo of AmabiaUgwu, Nkpa, Abia State, is dead. Friday, April 18 is christian wake-keep at her residence, Gabriel Ekedo’s compound, Amabia-Ugwu.

Lying in state is at the same venue the next day.

Church service will take place at Christ Church Salvation, Fountain of Faith, while interment follows later.

C M Y K

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

A

S the World marked this year ’s World Autism Day yesterday, stakeholders in the management of people with autism have appealed to the National Assembly to urgently pass the bill on it and other developmental disabilities currently before the House of Representatives.

Making the call in Lagos

on behalf of the autism community, Dr. Okey-Martins appealed that the Bill be passed as part of activities to mark the country’s centennial year.

Martins explained that the Bill, which was introduced by Jerry Alagbaoso, had progressed through certain critical stages but needed to be passed to curb discrimination, segregation and exclusion of persons and families of persons living with autism.

“Children with autism

spectrum disorders in our community can be picked up much earlier and they can benefit from early intervention.

“We demand an immediate development of a screening instrument for autism spectrum disorders and the formal inclusion of autism screening in routine health checks ups for children.

“We further appeal for the establishment of a national autism advisory board or committee.”

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ADAM Angelina Eze (nee Okwukwe) is dead. A Christian wake keep held yesterday at her home, Ekenaene in Udi. Commendation service will hold today at St. Mary Pro-Cathedral Church, Udi town. Internment follows at her country home at Ekenaene village.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 47

SIGNING: From left, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BGL Plc, Mr. Albert Okumagba; Group Deputy Managing Director, BGL Plc, Mr. Chibundu Edozie; Managing Director, Vunani Limited, Mr. Butana Khoza, and Chief Executive Officer, Vunani Limited, Mr. Ethan Dube, during the signing of strategic partnership agreement between BGL Plc and Vunani Limited, at BGL office, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

WEDDING: From left,Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Issa Aremu; the bride's father, former Chairman, SCOA Motors, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, and the groom, Mallam Gamal, during his wedding, in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi

INVESTITURE: The Supreme Knight of the Knights of St. Mulumba, Anthony Onu, presenting a gift to Rev. Fr. Umoh, parish priest, Church of Ascension, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Ikeja, during the 4th Degree Investiture by the Lagos Metropolitan Council, while the Lagos Metropolitan Grand Knight, Charles Mbelede watches in admiration.

VISIT: From left, representative of Cinafidev Cement Company in Allo, Kogi State, Executive Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, and Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, during the Good Governance Tour's visit to the site of the new cement factory.

LAUNCH: From left, Mrs. Kemi Adewale-Ojo, AGM, Front Operation; Mr. Olatunji Kamson, Executive Director, both of Sweet Sensation; Ogochukwu Amaefunah, Head, Electronics , Modern Business, and Mr. Adebayo Osinowo, Regional Director, Lagos, both of Airtel, during launch of partnership between Sweet Sensation and Airtel, at the Sweet Sensation HQ, in Opebi, Lagos.

Photo: Joe Akintola (Photo Editor)

CONFERENCE: Managing Director/ CEO of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma (right), receiving an award from of Best Emerging Airport - Africa Region, Prince Saif Al Suwaidi, DG, GCAA, Gulf Civil Aviation Authority, during the 4th Annual Emerging Airports Conference & Exhibition 2014, at Abu Dhabi.

LAUNCH: From left, Mrs. Fola Laoye, Chairman, Hygeia HMO Limited; Mr. Victor Famuyibo, Executive Director, Nigerian Breweries; Dr. Peju Adenusi, CEO, Hygeia Foundation/Hygeia Community Healthcare; Ramesh Kurup, CEO, Hygeia HMO Limited, and Dr. Mohammed Naseem,COO, Lagoon Hospitals Nigeria, Lagos, during launch of Enhanced Hygeia HMO Health Plans in Lagos, at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau C M Y K

PRESENTATION: From left, Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chairman, Chams Plc, Rev. Ayo Richards, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chams Plc, Mr. Ademola Aladekomo, during the presentation of the Facts Behind The Figures of the company's 2013 financial year result to NSE.

From left, Mr. Antai Effiong, Chairman, Membership Service; Dr. Nat Ofo, Vice President, and Mr. Dele Togunde,Registrar/ CEO, all of Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, during ICSAN 13th induction of members, at Golden Gate Paradise, in Lagos.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Zamfara donates N12m to victims of April 3,attack

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USAU—ZAMFARA Government has donated N12 million cash and foodstuff to families of victims of the April 3 attack on Garin Maitsaba and Birnin Tsaba villages of the state.

A total of 23 people and many animals were killed during the attack by unknown gunmen, which also resulted in the burning down of houses, shops and granaries.

Alhaji Musa Kwatarkwashi, Special Adviser to Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari on Emergency Management, handed out the donation to the beneficiaries at Maitsaba village in Zurmi Local Government.

He said each of the affected families of the deceased would receive N300,000 and six bags of assorted foodstuff, while those whose granaries were burnt would each get N100,000, and shop owners, N50,000 each.

He said also that the government would give N100,000 for each cow killed, N25,000 for every goat, sheep or ram lost, and N30,000 for every room burnt during the attack.

Chartered aircraft: Aviation experts defend Petroleum Minister

By LAWANI MIKAIRU

A

VIATION experts have thrown their weight behind the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deizani AlisonMadueke, saying she needed a chartered aircraft to facilitate her movement considering the nature of the job her ministry is involved in. They further contend that going by regular scheduled flights would slow down the minister’s movement and consequently make her less efficient.

It will be recalled that the House of Representatives has been probing the Petroleum Minister over an allegation that she “has expended over N10 billion on charter and maintenance of a Challenger 850 aircraft.” However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has denied the existence of a chartered aircraft for exclusive use of the Minister . Speaking exclusively with Vanguard, yesterday, an aircraft engineer with the defunct Nigerian Airways and current executive member of Aviation Round Table, Engineer Sheri Kyari, said the nature of the Petroleum Minister's job dictates that she has access

5,000 patients benefit from Ochekpe's free medical treatment

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

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OS— OVER 5,000 indigent citizens of Plateau State who suffer from various ailments but have difficulty getting treatments have so far benefited from a free medical programme sponsored by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe.

The medical outreach programme held at the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, saw over 70 patients undergoing minor surgeries while three severe cases were referred to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH.Other patients who were diagnosed of fibroid, diabetes, high blood pressure, malaria, ty-

phoid and other ailments were also attended to.

Speaking on the occasion, yesterday, President, Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Chapter of the Association of Residents Doctors, Dr Innocent Emmanuel commended the minister’s gesture stressing that some of those who turned up for treatment had been living with their ailments for more than 10 years.

Emmanuel said, “There are lots of persons in the rural areas who do not have access to good health facilities and the minister’s intervention was timely. Many of them have suffered the ailment for over 10 years and you can see the relief on their faces as they get treated of their sicknesses.”

to a chartered aircraft to facilitate her movement. Kyari said, “the difficult terrain where oil companies operate needs to be accessed by an aircraft and being a supervising minister over these companies, the minister needs a stand by aircraft for exigent movement. Her attention could be needed at any time of the day and she has to move immediately. Scheduled flights might not be easily available to meet the minister’s needs” Kyari further contended that as a member of several petroleum organisations like Oganisation of Oil Producing Countries, OPEC, emergency meetings were called at short notices and the minister had to attend. “She will need a readily available aircraft to enable her attend such meetings at short notices”

aircraft as long as the aircraft is for official duties. He said “what the House should be concerned with is if the minister is using the aircraft for personal and private flights with her family members. If it is for official duty and the cost of running the aircraft is within budgetary limits, she has not committed any offence.”The NNPC Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, had in a statement on Monday said that "contrary to the information being peddled is some quarters, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has not chartered any aircraft for her

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the people.

Al-Makura who spoke when members of the Benue Committee on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building paid him a courtesy visit in Lafia, assured that the government would never take any action that could negatively affect existing peace in the state.

He said the call has become imperative to ensure peaceful coexistence and tolerance among Nigerians, especially those in the north, for the overall development

He said “NNPC, however, noted that in consonance with the legal instrument which establishes the Corporation as a commercial entity to engage in the oil and gas sector, the NNPC in course of discharging its statutory and commercial functions engages third parties for the provision of services outside of its core business.”

Also in a telephone interview with Vanguard, an aviation consultant and a retired pilot, Captain Yerima Shittu said there was nothing wrong with the Petroleum Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu receiving the report of 2013 hajj operaMinister having tion from the deputy governor and Amirul hajj, Ahmed Musa Ibeto in governaccess to chartered ment house, Minna

Kwara shops for N23bn from capital market

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN—THE Kwara State government has said that it would soon raise N23 billion bond from the Nigerian capital market for the execution of numerous projects scattered across the state before the expiration of the present administration. The government, however, said this would not affect the refund of N17billion bond raised in 2009 but yet to be fully refunded. The state Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, who made this

known at the end of the monthly State Executive Council, SEC, meeting in Ilorin, explained that the N17billion bond earlier raised would be fully refunded through Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, by the first week of August this year.

Banu stressed that the government had been refunding the bond as and when due without defaulting at any time, stressing that raising the fresh bond had become necessary in view of the drop in the monthly allocations to states from the

Killing of herdsmen: Royal father appeals for calm AFIA —THE Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council, Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Mr Emmanuel Elayo, yesterday, appealed for calm over the recent killing of some herdsmen in the area.

Elayo, the Osana of Keana, made the call in his palace in Keana even as the state governor, Umaru Al-Makura, also said that the state government would not compromise its core mandate of protecting lives and property of

personal use or the use of her family." Ibrahim also insisted that the Corporation was empowered to own or charter airplane to ensure prompt discharge of its activities in line with global best practice

of the country. Elayo said “I am a traditional ruler and as custodian of the people’s culture it is my duty to preach peace and without peace no meaningful development will take place in the society.

There is tension all over this local government area and the state at large over the killing of some Fulani herdsmen by soldiers here last week. I am calling on the people in my domain, the state and Nigeria at

large, to remain calm, law abiding, prayerful and peaceful, irrespective of our ethnic, political and religious differences. It is painful to lose human lives. The security challenges facing the state and other parts of the country have affected the socio-economic development of the country negatively.”

Elayo commended the state government for the measures taken to ensure lasting peace in the area and the state at large.

federation account, which he pointed out had brought serious constraints to the administration in the area of discharging its responsibilities to the people. The Finance Commissioner said the new bond if approved by the state House of Assembly, would be expended on such projects like the International Vocational Centre at Ajase-Ipo, Ilorin Metropolis Water Reticulation, solar powered street lights, building of classrooms in schools across the state as well as completion of on-going road projects including the PategiKpada, Share-Oke-Ode, Arandun-Ipetu and Offa-Ira roads. It would also be used for the commencement of the construction of the 16.8kilometre Kishi-Kaiama federal road among others.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Bode Olayemi, said that the SEC meeting approved the sale of the state legislative quarters to members of the state House of Assembly in line with monetisation policy of government at a cost that would soon be worked out by appropriate authorities.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 49

C M Y K

50—V anguard 50—Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Vanguard CLASSIFIED O K O C H A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss E m m a n u e l l a Chukwufumnanya Okocha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. E m m a n u e l l a Chukwufumnanya Akpofure. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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MUSA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rose Ufedojo Musa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rose Ufedojo Egwu Ekele Gabriel. All former documents remain valid. Kogi State University and the general public please take note.

INOAGHAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Inoaghan Aghogho Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Umujagbe Aghogho Joy. A l l former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EKERE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekere Kelechi Sopuruchukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eze Kelechi Kimberly. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ORJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chika Orji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chika Otokwula. All former documents remain valid. Ikwerre Local Govt. Council, Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Rivers State Primary Health Care Board, Rivers State Ministry of Health and the general public please take note.

ORIH—I, formerly known and addressed as Chizoba Blessing Orih, now wish to be known and addressed as Chizoba Blessing Orji, no longer married.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Chinyere Ukamaka Ezeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinyere Ukamaka Okafor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IFEMEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faith Ebere Ifemeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith Ebere Igweh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBRAHIM—I, formerly known and addressed as Omoikerodah Muhammed Ibrahim, now wish to be known and addressed as Omoikerodah Muhammed Edmund.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AMONIMO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bosede Foluke Amonimo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bosede Catherine Foluke Akinyemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOKOCHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwokocha Nneoma Peace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Samuelson Nneoma Peace. All former documents remain valid. Abia State University Uturu and the general public please take note.

EJIKEME—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejikeme Nneka Emilian, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Udeh Nneka Emilian.

All former documents remain valid. NECO, WAEC and the general public please take note.

ENO—I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. Miss Maureen Asim Eno, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. Mrs. Maureen George Boms. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ODUDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odude Olutoke Omowunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwo Olutoke Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid. ICAN, OAK Audit and the general public please take note.

OPUTA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Boma Blessing Oputa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Boma Blessing Dike. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABDULKARIM—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Jibril Cornelius Abdulkarim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. A g b e a d u m a Cornelius Bossey Jibril. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGIRINYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Ogirinye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary Onah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ISSAC—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abigail Issac Ojochide, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Johnson Abigail Ojochide. All former documents remain valid.

University of Jos and the general public please take note.

BASSEY—I, formerly

public please take note.

EGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ege Caroline Ngozika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ebere Caroline Ngozika. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Ministry of Health, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the general public please take note.

OBIANUJU—I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. (Miss) Ikegwuruka Obianuju Jane, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. (Mrs.) Umejiego Obianuju Jane. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Nigeria Medical Association and the general public please take note.

AFORIJIKU—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Aforijiku Adeshina Alexander Abraham, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Adeshina Alexander Abraham Aforijiku. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IZEDIUNOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Izediunor Monica Nkemdilim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ndumanya Monica Nkemdilim. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public please take note.

UKAEGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Josephine Nnnena Ukaegbu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. J o s e p h i n e Kosisochukwu Kingsley Mbadugha.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A N U F O R O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Beatrice Chinyere Anuforo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Beatrice Chinyere Ibeh . All former documents remain valid. Michael Okpara Federal University, Umudike and the general public please take note.

I, formerly know and addressed as Osuchukwu Benson now wish to be known and addressed as Chibueze Benson. All former documents remain valid. All the Banks and the general public please take note.

O F O D U M — I , formerly known and addressed as Ngozi Philomena Ofodum, now wish to be known and addressed as Ngozi Philomena Okoye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEYEA—I formerly known and addressed as Okeyea Ngozi Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Egwu Jane Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMMANUEL—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Emmanuel Betty Ugochi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnaji Betty Ugochi.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHIKEZIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chikezie Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. N j i n k e o n y e Onyinyechi. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public please take note.

U WA K W E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss.

Uwakwe Sandra Ifeoma Edith, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwandu Sandra Ifeoma Edith. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DIKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Dike Godwin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Dike Godwin Benuchi.

All former documents remain valid. General

known and addressed as Miss Izehi Ogbene, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Izehi Ogboru. All former

documents

remain valid. General

Confirmation of Name

known and addressed as Miss Iquo Ekpenyong Bassey, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.

Iquo

Lovelyn

Ekpenyong Nsa. All former

documents

remain valid. General public please take note.

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 51

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OGBEN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogben Sarah Ereremena, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Ereremena Umukoro. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OJERO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojero O. Ogheneyome Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Edeha–Anthony Ogheneyome Victoria. All former documents remain valid.

UNIBEN, NYSC and the general public please take note.

JAMES—I, formerly known and addressed as Julianah Arike Funmi Ilobah James, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Julianah Arike Jacob.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ALABI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alabi Beatrice Mubo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kuusu Beatrice Mubo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GEMANAM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gemanam Stephanie Doosuur, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebayo Stephanie Doosuur. All former documents remain valid. General public please takes note.

EGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Egbu Uche Richard, now wish to be known and addressed as Michael Richard Garnett. All former documents remain valid.

Nigerian Immigration Service and the general public please take note.

ONYEKWULUJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliana Chinyere Onyekwuluje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliana Chinyere Gabriel-Isaiah. All former documents remain valid. UBEB and the general public please take note.

OLASEHINDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss O l a s e h i n d e Mosadoluwa Maria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyebola Mosadoluwa Maria. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKPOJARO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Loveth Enifome Akpojaro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Loveth Enifome Onoka. All former documents remain valid. Delta State University, Abraka, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the general public please take note.

KARIBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Claris Karibo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Claris Ogiasa. All former documents remain valid. Bayelsa State Independent Electoral Commission and the general public please take note.

FINFADEI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bodisere Marian Finfadei, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Benjamin Bodisere Ruth. All former documents remain valid. University of Port Harcourt and the general public please take note.

ONYINYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyinye Gloria , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onyinye Gloria Uchenna-Mojekwu.

All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank and the general public please take note.

BASSEY—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bassey Esang Edak, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omoike Edak Mmaette. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

USMAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Rhina Usman, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rhina Nnajiofor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UN approves Peace keepers for CAR T

HE UN Security Council has unanimously approved the creation of a UN peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic to try to stop violence between Christians and Muslims that has threatened to spiral into g e n o c i d e .

The force, authorised by the 15-member council on Thursday, will be known as MINUSCA and will be made up of up to 10,000 troops, 1,800 police and 20 corrections officers.

The UN operation will as-

sume authority on September 15 from the African Union’s 5,600-strong MISCA force, which was deployed in December.

The council wants the UN force to include “as many MISCA military and police personnel as possible”, reported the Associated Press news agency.

The resolution also authorises French troops in the landlocked former French colony to use “all necessary means” to support UN peacekeepers.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from London, Amnesty Internationa’s Christian

Mukosa said “ the big issue is how to fit the gap between now and September”.

“This is why we think the UN must ensure that the African Union forces and the French forces are well equipped and have enough logistical support to protect civilians.” he added, Central African Republic has been in chaos since a March 2013 coup, when mostly Muslim rebels seized power and launched a brutal regime. Christian militiamen attacked rebel strongholds in early December.

As the rebel government

crumbled in January, the Christian militiamen stepped up the violence, forcing tens of thousands of Muslims to flee.

France took the lead in mobilising international support to address the crisis but its ambassador, Gerard Araud, said the security situation remained volatile.

“African Union troops supported by the French troops are doing tremendous work to protect the civilian population but it’s not yet enough,’’ Araud said after the vote. “The resolution we have just adopted is a key turning point.”

Pro-Russian separatists reject amnesty P RO-RUSSIAN separatists, who have besieged a number of government buildings in Ukraine’s eastern districts, have turned down an amnesty offer handed by the government, stocking fear that a 48-hour ultimatum may end with violence.

The government said it would not prosecute proRussian separatists if they surrender their weapons, but the armed men said they would not leave.

Fortifying barricades around the buildings with barbed wire and sandbags overnight, they said the government will have to first accept holding a referendum on self-rule, before they evacuate the buildings.

The government said it would storm one of the buildings in Luhansk unless protesters leave by the end of the day. An armed storming of the buildings could provoke a strong response from Moscow, which has reserved the right to send troops in to protect Russian speakers.

In Donetsk, pro-Russian armed groups have already declared the district a “people’s republic”.

Tensions have risen in the mainly Russian-speaking

east since the overthrow of Ukraine’s Moscow-backed president and the installation of a new pro-European government, which says the

OPE Francis aims to unite conservative and reformist strands of Catholicism with the first canonisation of two popes this month — an impressive masterstroke that has already stirred dissent in some quarters.

pected the situation to be brought under control within 48 hours, with force if necessary.

Hundreds of Pro-Russian protesters in Donesk

Pistorius faces another day of cross-examination

T

HE claims made by Oscar Pistorius about the night he killed Reeva Steenkamp have been described today as “so

Pope Francis confers sainthood on former Popes

P

occupations are part of a Russian-led plan to dismember the country.

The interior minister on Wednesday said he ex-

Conferring sainthood on John XXIII and John Paul II means bringing together two distinct schools of thought on what a pope should be — a humble parish priest figure or a globetrotting, charismatic superstar.

improbable” that no one would ever think they were true.

The athlete faced a third day of brutal cross-examination from prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who repeatedly accused him of lying and attempted to portray him as a reckless egotist, who would blame anybody but himself.

The 27-year-old Paralympian, known as the Blade Runner, faces life imprisonment if convicted of deliberately murdering the 29-year-old model on Valentine’s Day

•Pistorius last year. Steenkamp’s mother, June, has said she does not “care what happens to Oscar”, even if he goes free.

52— Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—53

I N S I D E

ABIA 2015: Who succeeds Orji?

PAGE 54

South East PDP Rally as Jonathan’s Homecoming

PAGE 56

COUNCIL CONGRESSES:

Will APC get it right tomorrow?

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

T

HOUGH the hiccups and controversies that trailed weekend’s ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are yet to abate, the party will tomorrow hold its local council congresses across the country. Leaders of the party have resolved to go by the timetable the party issued for the congresses from the wards to the state level. And going by the timetable, the local council congresses to elect council executive committees will be held tomorrow while the state congresses come up on April 23.

APC had what could pass for a baptism of fire last week during the ward congresses where it recorded mixed fortunes. While a couple of states had peaceful exercises with executives emerging by consensus, the congresses were postponed outright in a host of others due to logistics such as late arrival of

materials, as well as violence, accusations and counteraccusations of manipulations.

Disagreements, petitions and protests trailed the congresses in Lagos and Rivers. States that had peaceful exercises include Oyo, Kano, Yobe and Kwara. In Bauchi, Adamawa and Plateau, the congresses were postponed indefinitely. Some of the affected states held the rescheduled ward congresses between Monday and Wednesday while some are yet to hold the exercise up till now, which indicates that the council congresses will not be held in such states.

Niger was one of the states where confusion trailed the ward congresses despite two consecutive postponements.

Delegates turned out for the rescheduled exercise but after several hours of waiting on Wednesday, there were no signs that the exercise would be held in Minna and its environs.

•Akande: APC Interim National Chairman Aggrieved members demand fresh ward congress in Anambra In Anambra, some aggrieved members of the party have demanded cancellation of the exercise and the conduct of a fresh one. This came as leaders of the state congress committee disagreed over the credibility of the exercise. Chairman of Congress Committee, Chief Ezennia Ogbuehi, said that he adhered to the party guidelines by publishing the venues and candidates lists the previous Monday evening, adding that Option A4 was adopted for the

congress so that everyone would go to the field and prove one’s popularity.

However, the Secretary, Chief Chijioke Owanta, disagreed and listed contraventions of the congress guidelines by the chairman as non-publication of list of candidates and venues at least 48 hours to the congress, which he said was violation of the 72 hours allowed for candidates to complete and return their application forms.

He claimed that the chairman repeatedly gave him excuses, whereas it is his constitutional duty to take possession of the

OSUN GUBER: How Omisore landed elusive ticket

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

F

OLLOWERS of political events in Osun State were not surprised that Senator Iyiola Omisore won the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries in the state. This is because it will be unfair to describe him as unprepared for the race among other contestants, given that he had long indicated interest to govern the state before other aspirants.

Those, who contested alongside the former deputy governor of the state were: former senators Isiaka Adeleke , Olasunkanmi Akinlabi and a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Wole Oke. The build up to the exercise was characterised with a lot of permutations and intrigues among the various political camps. An example of that was the sudden entrance of Adeleke into the race three weeks before the event.

The former governor ’s emergence was believed to be upon the prompting of the presidency and some powerful people in Osun PDP. His supporters banked on the assumption that his candidature, would be very easy to sell to the electorate more than Omisore, who some had labeled as controversial. But what was seen as an attempt to impose Adeleke on the party, was resisted by Omisore’s group, who challenged the party’s national body and the presidency.

Late drafting of Adeleke The presidency, it was gathered tacitly denied having hands in the late drafting of Adeleke into the race. Amid such politically tensed atmosphere, party faithful went to the polls, where Omisore eventually won.

At the primaries which was held at GMT Hotel, Osogbo , Omisore scored of 1, 128 votes

•Omisore: INEC, Police must ensure credible polls out of the 1186 votes cast to defeat other aspirants.

Akinlabi and Oke got 45 and five votes respectively, while 18 votes were voided.

Before the event commenced Adeleke withdrew, citing alleged irregularities during the party’s ward congresses.

Announcing the results, the

Chairman of Osun PDP Governorship Primaries, Alhaji Adamu Alero, said though 1,380 delegates were expected to participate, only 1, 280 showed up for accreditation.

Earlier in his remarks, the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa said whoever emerged would lead PDP to

Supporters of aggrieved PDP aspirants back Fayose PAGE 55

materials. “Ogbuehi never allowed me see any of the congress materials or know where he kept them or the actual quantity supplied for the process in Anambra,” he said.

Some members of the youth wing of the party led by Chuks Obele created a stir at the Awka Secretariat of the congress committee, while demanding for the cancellation of the congress for ‘a more transparent, well organised process.’ The youths said that APC might become extinct in the state if a transparent congress was not conducted in place of the discredited one.

Ahead of tomorrow’s council congresses, the party hierarchy is expected to have learnt from the factors that hampered last week’s exercise and make amend. Having surmounted a high hurdle to emerge as a party from the ashes of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), new PDP and splinter group of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the leaders are expected to smoothen the rough edges and ensure harmonious sharing of offices to pave the way for seamless congresses.

victory in the gubernatorial election. He urged aspirants to accept whatever might be the outcome in good faith.

An elated Omisore in his acceptance speech said: “Today is an epoch making day in the history of our great party. It is so in the sense that a lot of landmines were laid to introduce divisive tendencies into our party in the run up to our primaries.

The aim of the opposition and some disgruntled elements, who made themselves willing tools in the hands of these people stemmed from the fact that they were afraid that come August 9, 2014,the PDP will win the governorship of Osun State.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) started it’s machinations as soon as INEC released it’s guidelines for the 2014 governorship election.” He continued: ‘’In spite of shenanigans by the APC, those who were sent from our National Headquarters in Abuja to superintend the primaries organised a free, fair and transparent exercise. This for me Continues on page 54

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

ABIA 2015:Who succeeds Orji?

•Ohafia elders demand deputy; No, it’s ours —Aro LGA

BY UDUMA KALU

R

ECENTLY, the murky water of Abia politics was stirred by rumours that Governor Theodore Orji had endorsed one of his officials, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu, as the state’s next governor. But the government swiftly denied the allegation before it got out of hand.

The denial became given the horde of aspirants on the prowl.

There are least 20 people from Ukwa/Ngwa ethnic bloc of Abia State interested in ruling the state in 2015. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoned the position to Abia South.

Responding to the rumour that Orji had selected someone to replace him, one of the political heavyweights in the state, Chief Ukpai Agwu, who was the immediate past Transport commissioner and close confidant of Orji, said the governor would not select any candidate for Abia South.

“The governor would not select anybody for the people of Abia South as their candidate.

Whomever they select must be the one Abians would approve.

It is left for Abia South to present

We’ve not been compensated—Ohafia elders

•Nwaogwu

,

Effects of zoning One of the effects of the zoning, Agwu went on, is that, “the transfer of power to Abia South will not only ease the tension and feeling of marginalisation in the state, it will also ensure equity in all spheres of Abia polity.”

Once this is enthroned in the state, Agwu said, it would be easy for every region in Abia to know which part will produce the next governor. “Immediately Abia South completes its tenure”, Agwu said, “it would be the turn for Abia North as everybody would know which zone will be the next.”

Those after the Abia top job Those reportedly gunning for the top job so far are Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubuike, Isiala Ngwa South; Chris Nkwonta Akwete, Ndoki Ukwa East; Barrister Emeka Wogu, Umuogle Aba

• Wogu

South; Alwell Asiforo Okere, Ohuru Ndoki Ukwa East; Barrister A. C. B Agbazuere, Isiala Ngwa South; Sir Mac Wabara Ohambele, Ukwa East; Mr. Okey Emuchay, Ukwa East; Gabriel Onyendilefu, Isiala Ngwa South; Chief Reagan Ufomba, Isiala Ngwa North; Senator Nkechi Justina Nwaogu, Isiala Ngwa South; Senator Enyi Abaribe, Obingwa; Rt. Hon. Eric

The ruling PDP’s zoning of the governorship to Abia South is upturning political settings in the state’s local governments and senatorial districts

a candidate they feel is best for the state. The governor will not influence it. I myself do not know who will be the governor. It is left for Abia South people to produce who they want. Remember, it is not zoned to Ukwa/Ngwa. It is zoned to Abia South, which is made up of both Ukwa and Ngwa people,” he said.

council has always given over 70 percent votes to the winning party in the state.

Agwu, a well known grassroots politician in the state, noted that the governor would fulfill his promises to Ohafia, including the Isiugwu-Ndi Oji Abam road which had been awarded over three years ago but with nothing to show for it.

,

Acho Nwakanma, Obingwa; Comrade Chris Akoma, Obingwa; Barrister F.N Nwosu, Obingwa; Chief Nyerere Anyim, Obingwa; Prince Paul Ikonne, Aba North; Chief Okezie I Orji, Obingwa; Uche Nwankpa, Obingwa; Okezie Ikpeazu, Obingwa and Udo Ahaiwe,

Obingwa.

Zoning formula raises stakes The ruling PDP’s zoning of the governorship to Abia South is upturning political settings in the state’s local governments and senatorial districts. For example, in Abia North which has been allotted the deputy governorship, there is already an agitation over which LGA will produce the next deputy governor. Currently there are many aspirants and communities saying it is their turn to produce one office or the other.

Agwu said that in Abia North, the equity policy is being worked out between the Ohafia, Nkporo, Abiriba on one hand, and Arochukwu, as well as Bende, Isikwuato, Isiochi among others on the other. The positions for zoning range from councillorship, members of the House of Assembly, the federal constituencies, senatorial seat and state deputy governor. This may affect the chances serving

federal lawmakers like Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Arua Arunsi from returning, if different local councils were to produce occupiers of the offices. While Arunsi is on his first lap in the House of Representatives, Chukwumerije has done multiple terms.

Ohafia, Aro bicker over deputy gov slot Elders of Ohafia LGAs are not left out in the political scheming in the state. In a chat with the Vanguard recently, they said it is fair that their people produce the deputy governor.

But Aro Chukwu LGA says it is its turn. One of its sons, Chief Kalu Kalu Diogu, a former president of World Igbo Congress (WIC) from Ihechiowa town of the LGA, is reportedly running with Abaribe as his deputy. Commenting on the centrality of Ohafia in Abia politics, Agwu, a two-time chairman of Ohafia LGA, said his

The Ohafia elders also decried the non-appointment of their people into federal government agencies and parastatals, saying the people gave a big support to the government during the 2011 elections.

The leaders, who spoke to Vanguard included former Abia State PDP Deputy Chairman, and former Chairman, Ohafia LGA, Chief K.K. Owen; immediate past Abia commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kingsley Imaga, and Rev William Onyema Agbai, Abia state Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission.

Rev Agbai explained that the Federal Government did not forget Ohafia people rather, their slots had always been hijacked by one known politician in their area with his Abuja connections.

The people, he said, should be more proactive in asking for what belongs to them. They should have a presence in Abuja to reach out to powers that be in the capital territory so that no one will short change them. On his part, Imaga, blamed the professional elites in the area for the non presence of the people at the federal level, claiming that the political elite had done their duty.

Owen in his remarks said the Ohafia community would want the deputy governor to come from their council as a way to compensate them for their bloc votes.

OSUN POLLS:How Omisore landed his elusive ticket Continues from page 53 is an eloquent testimony to the fact that we are truly democratic in words and actions.

“I,therefore, wish to congratulate our dear party and my fellow contestants for the orderly manner we have comported ourselves before, during and after this primaries despite provocation by the APC. This is an indication that we have survived all divisive tendencies introduced by the APC to sabotage us and make us a laughing stock.”

In addition, he said: ‘’I want to reassure my fellow contestants that this is victory for all. We have all won. All other elective positions are still there for grabs if we all work together. All hands must be on deck to ensure our victory on August 9, 2014 and

other subsequent elections. I want to call on the chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega to listen to the voice of reason and take away Ambassador Rufus Toyin Akeju who has proven overtime to have bias for the APC in order to pave way for free, fair and peaceful election on August 9, 2014.

“I urge the police and other security agencies to be on red alert now that a candidate has emerged for the PDP to ward off incessant attack by the APC. The journey to Abere has started today and there is no going back.

We are poised to rescue our people from the maladministration of the incumbent government led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and never again shall we allow incompetent people to take us for

a ride.”

Factors that aided Omisore: However, the victory did not come on a platter of gold, as there were some factors which played prominent roles in his emergence. Prominent among the reasons for the victory, was Omisore’s ambition to govern the state as far back as 1999 when he and some Afenifere leaders, pulled out of the PDP to form the Alliance for Democracy, AD. Omisore at that time had a formidable political machinery needed to actualise his ambition, until th last minute emergence of Chief Bisi Akande, who was drafted into the race by late Chief Bola Ige. While Omisore was compensated with the post of deputy governor, he later pitched his tent with PDP with the sole aim of actualising his

governorship ambition. But this attempt was also unsuccessful at the last minute following the demise of Ige. Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who then was not nursing any gubernatorial ambition, rode on the back Chief S.M Afolabi into the race, while Omisore was compensated with a senatorial seat. Omisore’s closeness to the national secretariat, also played a role in his victory.

Another factor that landed the lawmaker the priced ticket, was his control of the party machinery in the state. For instance, Omisore is known to have produced the party’s National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo.

This feat was also replicated at the state level, where he was instrumental in the making of most key appointments.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—55

of Rivers State, Mr. Peter Odili on March 22 this year.

The PDP aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants include Senator Gbenga Aluko, Suvr.

Biodun Aluko, Mr. Bisi Omoyeni, Mrs Modupe Ogundipe, Chief Ropo Ogunbolude, Mr. Peter Obafemi, Mr. Deji Ajayi, Dr Bode Olowoporoku and Ambassador Dare Bejide They did not stop at that, when the two Alukos and Mrs Ogundipe were invited for a television programme at EKTV, some of them were so enraged that they threw decency to the winds by using gutter language in describing one of their own.

Tacit agreement

•Fayose

Supporters of aggrieved PDP aspirants back Fayose

R

STORIES BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

ESPITE has come the way of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose, following the intervention of the party's hierarchy in the crisis that trailed the primaries and the support he is now getting from the supporters of his aggrieved coaspirants. Now, nothing much is heard from the remaining 12

aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state.

After the emergence of Fayose as the gubernatorial candidate of the party, some of the aggrieved party men had threatened fire and brimstone to pressure the leadership of the party especially President Goodluck Jonathan to over turn the result of the governorship primaries conducted by a team of PDP leaders led by former Governor

They later addressed the press in Abuja where they threatened to pull out of the party if the national leadership of the party did grant their requests.

Now, all appears to be well with the party following the intervention of the national leadership of the party and more so with the tacit agreement reached between Mr. Fayose and one of the leading aspirants, Prince Dayo Adeyeye Vanguard gathered that supporters of the aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants have being sending emissaries to Fayose on their intention to work for his success at the polls. The supporters were said to have condemned the hard line posture of some of their principals.

Some of them were said to have come personally to pledge their loyalties to the party’s candidate.

With this development, the party may go to the polls as a strong and united entity.

Ajayi emerges as Accord Party candidate

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HE Accord Party yesterday, at its primaries, picked Mr Kole Ajayi as its candidate for the June 21 governorship elections.

Mr Ajayi, who was the sole

Nollywood actors root for Fayemi

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OLLYWOOD artistes no longer want to be left out in politics. In Ekiti, some actors and actresses from the state are throwing their weight behind the second term bid of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

When Fayemi took his campaign to Ogbese Ise Ekiti last Friday, popular Yoruba artistes including Lola Margaret and Kunle Adegbite led others on a show of solidarity for the governor.

aspirant of the party, emerged through voice affirmation.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were present to witness the primaries.

Four executives from each of the 16 local government areas of the state participated in the gubernatorial primaries at the party’s secretariat located at Km 4 Ikere road in Ado Ekiti.

SDP also in the race through Ayeni

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URRENTLY, there are five candidates gunning for the top job in Ekiti. Apart from the flagbearers of the ruling APC, opposition PDP, LP and Accord Party, the fifth contestant is Alhaji Musa Ayeni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The national executives of the party, including the national youth leader, Mallam Muhammed Abdulrahman, national women leader, Hajia Mariam Sali, the National Treasurer, Mr Leramo and the National chairman (South west), Mr Kayode Ojo, conducted the election.

In his remarks, Mr Ajayi vowed not to disappoint the party at the polls. “I want to assure you that I will not disappoint you. There is no going back because with God, all things are possible. We all know the state Ekiti State is, we have to carry out the struggle.

Ekiti people deserve a homebased leader. Ekiti wants good, transparent and purposeful government and that is what is forming the core value of our administration, if voted into power. “

Stop using our youths for violence, monarch warns politicians

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LEADING monarch and first class traditional ruler in Ekiti State, Oba Olu Adeyemi, has made case for youth engagement, calling on politicians to provide adequate jobs for them, rather than engaging them in criminal acts Oba Adeyemi, who is equally the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, noted that politicians are in the habit of making use of the youths as thugs during elections and dumping them shortly after.

The monarch gave the advice in his domain at Aramoko Ekiti while receiving a member of the House of Representatives representing Ijero/Ekiti West /Efon Federal Constituency, Hon Oyetunde Ojo, who was in the palace to drum support for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Responding, the lawmaker said that he had made youth empowerment the kernel of his policy since he was elected in 2011 through ensuring

•Fayemi provision of infrastructural facilities in his constituency, provision of jobs and skills acquisition training for youths. “No responsible leader would expose the youths, who are the future leaders to crimes. The youth unemployment in the country is a time bomb waiting to explode, so all hands must be on the deck to checkmate it", he said.

Averting violence for all

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T is becoming the norm in Nigeria that each time political parties embark on moves to convince the electorate on why they should be the beautiful brides, violence usually occurs.

With the gubernatorial contest gathering momentum, the frontline political parties, APC, PDP and LP have traded accusations and counter accusations over the use of force.

The three parties have pointed accusing fingers at one another over who fired the first salvo but were quick to absolve themselves of casting stones at one another.

Law enforcement agencies are at a loss as to who is to blame over the attacks.

It will be consoling to see the security agencies live up to their task of maintaining law and order in the state before things turn to a free for all.

Bamidele empowers Ekiti indigenes

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VER 70 people went back home with brand new sewing and grinding machines on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital when the Labour Party governorship candidate, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele gave out income generating equipment to men and women from the 13 wards in Ado-Ekiti.

Bamidele said at the empowerment programme that he believes that setting up small businesses for his people would enable them feed their children and families as well as set them on the path to a c c e s s i n g future opportunities.

The obviously elated recipients were full of

•Bamidele encomiums and praises for Bamidele, who they said always keeps his promises.

56—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

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HE statement that Nigeria is a poor country has become an axiom and that majority of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty is no longer news. The fact is that the Nigerian authorities at all levels have resigned themselves to the salient fact and are thus immersed in seeking remedy, howbeit, ineffective to confront the menace. It must be agreed that the Nigerian colourful bird is from the patient specie – waiting without struggle until it is roasted. So are the characteristics of the Nigerian people - they wait until they are pushed to the wall. Having been pushed to the wall, many Nigerians would try and scale the wall as a remedy.

It is obvious that the country`s poverty is a direct consequence of the nation`s inability to seek remedy against the dreaded scourge of poverty. It is either that the remedy against poverty and want is inadequate or the right remedy applied in insufficient doses. Often, wrong medicine (policy) is used for a disease which has been wrongly diagnosed.

Mass unemployment In Nigeria, mass unemployment is widely responsible for urban poverty while under-development of the country`s vast rural areas has bred mass drift to the urban centres and the abandonment of subsistent farming. It is noticed that urban congestion without adequate houses, water and other factors for good living has bred poverty, disease and sadly, insecurity.

The dangerous situation is not new to Nigerian people and the authorities.

The real problem of the country, according to some analysts, is the inability of Nigerian leaders at all times to see the direct link between poverty and insurgency or as some would insist, the direct link between unemployment and urban poverty. There is also the vacuum created by rural depopulation on food production. The consequence is that the

The condition of the nation: Poverty and insecurity oil rich country with enviable arable land could not feed itself and had to resort to importation of food items which could be produced cheaply locally.

The elegant slogans of the past, Green Revolution, BACK TO THE LAND, etc have signified nothing in the face of hunger and the desire to eke a decent living. Agricultural revolution through modern mechanized farming means nothing to the peasant farmers whose wants are limited: prompt weeding of his land, availability of improved seedlings to plant, insecticides to control pests and easy harvesting. The rural farmer is happy to take his product to the village market, sell and collect his money with ease.

The authorities have the obligation of improving the rural areas through improved roads to established village markets where farmers could exchange their products for money. Such marketers would have storage facilities and purchase arrangements to avoid wastages. There should also be easy access to subsidized insecticides for the rural farmers, training in the use of simple farm implements other than hoes and cutlasses. The necessary farm extension services would provide employment to many Agricultural Science

graduates, apart from the prospects of increasing rural crop production.

There is no doubt that if rural life is improved by the provision of modern living conditions like good roads, health centres, schools, post-offices, potable water and consumer shops where farmers could buy their daily needs, the usual drift to urban centres would be greatly minimized. The effective remedy is: Take modern living to the villages. Perhaps, the situation described above has become familiar scenery in the Nigerian social panorama that little attention is paid to finding effective remedy.

As noted, urban congestion without adequate social services has bred squalor, disease and rise in crimes. Mass unemployment has complicated the problems of congested urban centres, leading to various criminal activities by the idle hands whose motive is to get something out of a callous society (whose cruel disposition offends their sense of justice). As it is often argued, poverty in the country is qualified. There is a tiny percentage of Nigerians with extremely high standard of living. There are also, many luxurious estates inhabited by lucky Nigerians who have jobs as company executives, highly paid civil servants and

of course, the political class. Against these exotic creatures are ranged the criminal gangs of armed robbers, kidnappers, ritual killers and political assassins.

The serious problem so far, has been the attitude of the political leadership towards proper understanding of the relationship between the improper distribution of the national income and the determination of certain affected groups to have their “pound of flesh”. The kidnappers have tested, perhaps with impunity, the sinews of the untouchables in the country.

The political official reaction to insurgency is to commit the full force of security agents – army; air-force and police while the police force is believed adequate to handle the lesser menace of armed robbery and kidnapping.

Meanwhile, the political jamborees with their monetary wastages and threats to human lives and properties proceed in their grandeur. Some foreigners and many patriotic Nigerians are doubtful if the country is not sick and its people not afflicted with psychic disorder to the extent that they are thinking of elections only when their country is “at war” with itself.

The country is believed to have elders in many past elected Presidents (Shagari and Obasanjo) and military `presidents` (Buhari, Babangida and Abubakar) who must have been watching daily the gradual dissent into anarchy through the activities of insurgents and the criminal gangs, and the high levity of political responses to the challenge.

Perhaps it may not be too much if the political gladiators are politely advised to come together to face and resolve the twin danger of Poverty and Insecurity and leave the prognosis of 2015 for another day. What is required at this moment is a genuine National Government during this period of political and economic uncertainties. Nigerians at the moment expect nothing short of Peace and Prosperity.

South East PDP rally as Jonathan’s homecoming

BY CHIEDOZIE ALEX OGBONNIA

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HERE is no doubt that for President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, the joy he derives from South East zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP scheduled for Enugu on April 11, 2014 is akin to the joy in President Barack Obama any day he visits Kenya. This is because there was a country with four regions in which the present Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Bayelsa states were known as the Eastern Region with Enugu as the administrative headquarters. Other regions were the Mid-West, the West and the North with their administrative headquarters in Benin, Ibadan and Kaduna respectively.

The Eastern Region House of Assembly had personages like Honourables P G Warmate, I J Fiberesima, Nicholas Apreala, etc. from the present Bayelsa state. They sat in the House with other patriots such as The Rt Hon Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, J. U Nwodo, B C Okwu, Mrs Magareth Ekpo, Denis Chukwu, Dr. S E Imoke, Dr Okoi Arikpo, Dr S E Imoke, Rt Hon Daniel Okereke, etc. In the Regional House of Chiefs also sat eminent sages such as F Princewill Amachree, S I Adoki,

Zumoh Efeke, Gina Iponi, FOJ Allagoa etc from the present Bayelsa state.

In that glorious era, the Mayor of Enugu was a Fulani cattle dealer who had lived in Enugu as a boy, Alhaji Umaru Altine from Sokoto. Alhaji Altine contested election, won and exercised all the powers inherent in the Mayor of the most vital city in then Eastern Nigeria.

Professor Eyo Ita from Akwa Ibom was the Leader of Government Business and the Minister of Natural Resources, Dr S E Imoke from Cross River was the Minister for Education while, the Minister for Information was Hon E P Okoya from the present Bayelsa state.

Cordial relationship

The cordial relationship among the key players was infectious and as such their children crisscrossed others’ languages with ease. During the festivities, various cultural displays such as the Ojuju Calabar, Ekpe, Abiriba and Ijele dancing groups were always on hand for the pleasure of all and sundry. Children courted friendships beyond their ethnic purviews and intermarriages were common. It was a period to relish with nostalgia. Such was the peace,

love and camaraderie that pervaded the East when President Jonathan was born. It was in that spirit that his paternal grandmother named him Azikiwe, after the former president of Nigeria.

The Law of Contagion, propounded by Sir James Frazer, maintains that two or more things, which have interacted or were once a part of a single entity, retain their connection and can exert influence over each other.

Thus, President Jonathan will harvest the Enugu pantheon, its hospitality, universality, spirituality, collective hope and existential reality. His presence re-enacts the Eastern Region brotherhood and common destiny.

President Jonathan has, in spite of the challenges posed by insurgents and terrorists rendered a good account of himself. According to an elder statesman, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, a leader can only achieve to the extent the led cooperate with him. Only an extra-ordinary visionary like Jonathan can navigate his path, formulate and implement his policies in the face of the onslaught by terrorists. Again, which leader could have done better than Jonathan under the uncooperative postures of the opposition, a sheer gang-up to

•Ekweremadu wrest power by all means.

History will be very favourable to President Jonathan for setting the right path for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. This he started by presiding over the globally acclaimed transparent, free and fair 2011 general election. It is in the Jonathan administration that the much-touted full privatisation of power generation and distribution took effect, thereby laying a solid foundation that will hopefully eradicate the uninterrupted power supply in Nigeria. Other sectors such as aviation, railways and roads; education, agriculture, etc. have received a quantum leap.

Nigeria under Jonathan has moved to be the largest economy

by GDP size in Africa and has moved to be the 26th largest

economy in the world. On the international scene, Nigeria has under Jonathan, become a member of the Security Council of the United Nations. Above all, Jonathan administration has restored hope in our women and youths by giving them the desired sense of belonging in government. As a dove of peace, he has constituted a national conference such that the aggrieved will ventilate their anger, the sages will proffer solution, and the pessimists will imbibe optimism for the overall interest of the country.

It is important to emphasise that Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda both for the nation in general and the South East in particular has found a great ally and facilitator in the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Not only did Ekweremadu pilot the maiden constitutional and electoral reform that changed the landscape of election in Nigeria, in his time as the political leader of the South East, being the highest office holder from the zone, Ndigbo now have a functional international airport.

Ekweremadu practically led his compatriots in the National Assembly to spearhead this starting from the days of late president Yar’Adua. *Ogbonnia is Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Public Affairs.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014—57

Inaugural speech debates end, delegates get 20 committees Monday •We don’t have mandate to restructure Nigeria— Yadudu •S/East backs 50% resource control •Yakassai seeks 12 states structure, special courts for graft •Replace NYSC with National Military Service— Alfred Diete Spiff

BY HENRY UMORU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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We support 50% resource control, rotational Presidency— Uwazurike Speaking yesterday, President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, who noted that Nigeria like any other country has some fundamental problems crying for amelioration, advocated for fiscal federalism, rotation of the presidency and governorship at both federal and state level.

Making a case for 50 per cent resource control, Uwazurike, who complained that the South East geo- political zone was the most marginalised in the country with only 2.1 per cent of all federal projects and staff of the Federal Government, called for equality of the zones, adding that there must be devolution of powers and true federalism.

According to him, the unemployment situation and youth restlessness were twin time

•National conference in session bombs which must be addressed adding that cost of governance was too high and that executive lawlessness at all levels must not be tolerated.

We don’t have mandate to restructure Nigeria— Yadudu In his contribution, former Special Adviser to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha on Legal Matters and a delegate representing the North- West Zone, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, expressed pessimism over the capacity of the conference to alter the structure of the country.

Reason: the conference does not have the mandate to restructure Nigeria, and it is at best a dignified presidential advisory committee to President Jonathan.

To ensure that outcome of the conference did not suffer same fate as similar exercises in the past, he suggested: “The Conference must draw up a very clear road map that spells out the necessary legal and institutional frameworks to guide the implementation of its resolutions; a dedicated Committee of the Conference should be established to attend to this from the onset; all conference resolutions requiring legal and constitutional expressions must be carried out in accordance with the 1999 constitution and extant statutory provisions; Conference must propose draft legislations for enactment and implementation by the NASS. Policy proposals and options should go to the Executive arm.”

He continued: ”The President has loudly proclaimed that he has no personal agenda in convening the Conference. I

believe him. However, there appears to be a bold agenda set by acts of commission or omission. It is a fact that this Conference has been designed not in conformity with popular or democratic indices. Contrary to the advice offered by the Okurounmu Committee, it is conceived on a novel and very risky rule of the thumb. Its composition is based on a template of criteria that fly in the face of democratic norms that are universal.

Elelctoral process I admit that many in this August gathering may not offer their varied and rich experience and expertise if they had to submit to the electoral process. Yet, we should not engage in self delusion.

“Given our skewed and undemocratic composition, we cannot claim to remove the lie (we, the people) that has too frequently been pointed out to adorn the preamble to our constitution. Being unelected, this conference lacks the essential brief or mandate to restructure Nigeria with finality. I join all those who have urged us to accept our limited function as just another dignified presidential advisory committee.

“Some have argued that even the NASS lacks sufficient popular mandate or credibility. That it is incapable or less favourably disposed to undertake the demolition or profound reconstruction job which Nigeria critically needs. This is on account of the alleged deep flaws

in our electoral system and processes that its members have benefited from, need one be reminded that the President is himself the product and beneficiary of the same deeply flawed electoral processes. As such, he cannot claim to be ascribed any more legitimacy than the NASS. Yet we recognise his constitutional powers to convene and have responded to his call to participate in the Conference.

Yakassai, seeks 12 states structure, special courts for graft Also contributing, Elder Statesman and former Political Adviser to ex- President Shehu

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BUJA- AFTER 10 days of discussions delegates at the National Conference, yesterday rounded off debates on the inaugural speech of President Goodluck Jonathan with issues like high cost of governance, state creation, returning to 12state structure, corruption, insecurity and federalism dominating discourse.

With the debates on the president’s speech over, the conference is set for the committee stage, which will begin on Monday when the 20 standing committees are expected to be announced.

Vanguard gathered that Conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, his deputy, Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi, the Secretary, Mrs. Valerie Azinge; the assistant Secretary, Conference Proceedings, Dr. Akilu Indabawa; Assistant Secretary, Finance and Administration, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, met for several hours between Wednesday night and early hours of yesterday to allocate delegates into the 20 standing committees.

If the contributions of delegates at the plenary yesterday were anything to go by, the committees will have a handful.

is bound to further aggravate the economic imbalance and inequity in the distribution of revenue among the constituent parts of the Federation which is one of the factors that is responsible for the security challenges this country is presently experiencing.”

He said: “The fight against corruption has been largely unsuccessful due to the inability of bodies charged with that responsibility to ensure the judicial sanctioning or punishment of suspected offenders. This had to an extent been due to the case glut in our judicial system thereby protracting corrupt related cases.

It is my view, therefore, that for this country to make meaningful progress in our fight against corruption there is a strong need to establish special courts that will try corrupt and other related offences. This will provide the needed impetus to agencies charged with the responsibility of fighting this evil that had defied efforts geared towards eradicating its menace.

“The cost of governance in Nigeria is also an area that requires special attention. It is unacceptable for any nation that desires to make any meaningful development to devote 70 per cent of its revenue on recurrent expenditure. Measures must be taken to reverse this trend so that the larger percentage of our accrued revenue is channeled towards development. As part of an effort to change the situation for the better, we should reduce the number of states in the country. Although, admittedly this is a very difficult task to undertake, it is my belief that we can revert to the 12 states structure which we successfully operated for about nine years without any adverse effect on the country.”

The Conference must draw up a very clear road map that spells out the necessary legal and institutional frameworks to guide the implementation of its resolutions

Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai yesterday advocated for a reversal to the former 12 states structure, just as he said that the unity of Nigeria rests on how we were able to correct the controversies around the nation’s population figures and revenue allocation.

The coordinator of the new Northern Elders Council, who noted that good governance has also eluded the nation due to lack of political will to curb corruption, said, “the form of derivation now being advocated by some people, for example, 50 per cent of the entire revenue generated from certain states in the country is not in conformity with long established tradition of Nigerians being their brother’s keeper and

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Replace NYSC with National Military Service- Alfred Diete Spiff King Alfred Diete Spiff, who is representing the elder statesmen category, advocated for a change of the present National Youth Service Corps, NYSC to what he called National Military Service where Nigerian youths of 18 years would be engaged and given military training rather than what he termed, the present day, NYSC jamboree.

The traditional ruler, who made case for traditional rulers to be given a place in the constitution, however pleaded with his fellow delegates and other Nigerians to learn to give and take against the backdrop that there be will oil in the coast today, and tomorrow, in the Sahara.

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Chime: 55 garlands for a silent achiever those who inflicted the obvious mortal T did not surprise people damage that left it close to him that there was bleeding profusely. no contemplation of any plan to His primary goal was celebrate his birthday when he to heal the wounds turned 55 years, yesterday. As and wipe away the it has happened these past sev- scars of deprivation en years, friends, well-wishers and devastation. who had desired to move over It is in the same to his official residence were spirit of giving humkept at bay. ble service and not Since he came on the saddle seeking earthly acas the governor of Enugu State, claim that the goverSullivan Iheanacho Chime, has nor has refused to maintained such familiar dis- advertise his solid tance and tradition of keeping and numerous aceverybody busy or embarking complishments that on inspection of projects which, are not tainted by clearly, exposes his reluctance any untoward crave Governor Sullivan Chime to mark his birthday. The ritual for cheap popularity is that his chaplain will conduct and self-glorification. a brief mass “to thank God for His constant refrain has always Maternal Child Healthcare the life of His servant, Sullivan been: “why do you want to dis- which has drastically reduced Chime” and the few close fam- tract yourself by screaming that morbidity and mortality, and has ily members would then say you’ve done what you were continued to attract patients “Happy Birthday Your Excellen- elected to do?” Today, one must from even neighbouring states. cy ” and that will be it! confess that the frustration of Having also outlawed the imTo risk this unsolicited tribute not having all the freedom to position of indiscriminate levis in itself walking a tight rope, sing the praises of your per- ies in order to protect parents prayerful that no eyebrows are forming principal has given and guardians from exploitation raised. way to the acknowledged ap- by public secondary schools, preciation of Governor Chime and with financial support givChosen by the high and the low in the en to the state-owned tertiary solemnity state and far beyond as a quiet institutions, Governor Chime pace setter and noiseless also made the first nine years Thankfully though, there are achiever. of education free for every child some events beyond his control: That is, perhaps, why society in Enugu State. In order to boost his birthday was, yesterday, and needs to identify and celebrate intra-city transportation, a total he could not stop the grateful such silent performers like of 750 brand new cabs have people of Enugu State and oth- Chime. If anything, it will aid been given to hundreds of uners who took newspaper spac- to inspire the upcoming gener- employed beneficiaries as poves, sent text messages or used ation to embrace devotion, hard erty-reduction packages under other platforms to wish him well. work, probity, accountability a subsidized hire purchase arSuch chosen solemnity accords and selflessness in service. rangement in which the govwell with Chime’s self-de- These are enduring virtues and ernment also bears the cost of tached disposition to his well- values we must inculcate in our bank interests. known achievements. The cir- youths for the needed rebirth of cumstances of his birth and pro- our nation.

Songhai gression in life seemed to sugHis birthday is not the ideal initiative gest that his parents, Igwe Elias occasion to highlight the quanAneke Chime, himself a First tum accomplishments of GoverFrom the San Carlos pineapnor Chime. ple project to the Enugu SongOn April 10, 1959, Sullivan was A day will hai Initiative in agriculture, to come the provision of electricity to nuborn and the parents named him surely when we merous communities and the Iheanacho (the treasure we have shall, using extension of power to the few v e r i f i a b l e remaining rural towns this year, been waiting for) facts and fig- the people of the State have Republic parliamentarian and ures, bear witness to the reali- enjoyed a new lease of life. It is one-time Minister of Enugu ties on ground and chronicle the the same success story in waste and his wife, Ezinne (Lolo) journey so far. That will be the management as in human deTheresa Ekpeluchi glimpsed period to tell how the Govern- velopment across the entire the future when they gave him ment under Chime’s charge has State and the alluring beautifia name which conveyed desti- made driving in the State such cation of the capital city. ny. a pleasurable motoring experiA man of few words, Chime The couple had travelled all ence with the network of well- hardly talks about these tangithe way to the Vatican to meet marked urban and rural roads, bles. He is more preoccupied Pope Pius XII way back in 1958. spanning hundreds of kilome- with respecting constitutional They had their first girl-child ters of newly-constructed, reha- dictates and processes that named May after which there bilitated and newly-dualized have now restored the faith and was a seeming “break”. Rath- roads with concrete-paved confidence of our people in gover than give up or seek other walkways. That will be the time ernance. He has conducted a ways, the devout Catholic cou- to talk about the traffic lights record fourth Local Government ple went to Rome to ask the Pope and how the streetlights in- election in a clime where some to pray for them to have more stalled by his regime are pow- of his colleagues continue to children. Pope Pius XII prayed ered by dedicated transformers see and run the third tier as an for them and prophesied the once there is power outage to appendage of the state governbirth of two sons. On April 10, illuminate the city, boost night- ments.

1959, Sullivan was born and the life and aid security. The Coal In turn, the democratic runparents named him Iheanacho City Garden underlines ning of the local governments (the treasure we have been Chime’s signature in the hous- in Enugu has led to unprecewaiting for). After him came Dr. ing sector where the govern- dented development in the ruJide Chime. ment has done more housing ral areas with Local Government Since he came on stage, the estates than any other one be- Councils carrying out capitalpeople of Enugu State have also fore it, and with the Palm Es- intensive projects because the been celebrating the emergence tate situated in Obukpa, Nsuk- Chime government does not of a governor they had fervent- ka being the first and only one tamper with allocations due to ly prayed for. Governor Chime outside the state capital since the third tier. truly inherited a state on crutch- the creation of the State. es but he showed no interest in Ditto for the success of the Free To be concluded

BY CHUKS UGWUOKE

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Nigeria, third on world poverty index—World Bank

By OMOH GABRIEL in Washington

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HE World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, yesterday, at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings restated that Nigeria is one of the top five countries that has the largest number of poor. Nigeria, he said ranked third in the world while India ranked number one with 33 per cent of the world poor. China is ranked second with 13 per cent of the world's poor, followed by Nigeria where seven per cent of the world poor live in. He said that Bangladesh has six per cent share of the world's poor while the Democratic Republic of Congo has five per cent of the world's poor population.

Jim Yong Kim said these five countries are home to 760 million of the world’s poor, adding that another five countries, Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya would encompass almost 80 per cent of the extreme poor.

Noting that a sharp focus on these will be central to ending poverty, the world Bank President said “while economic growth remains vital for reducing poverty, growth has its limits, according to a new World Bank paper released today.

Countries need to complement efforts to enhance growth with policies that allocate more resources to the extreme poor.

These resources can be distributed through the growth process itself, by promoting more inclusive growth, or through government programs, such as conditional and direct cash transfers.

Direct cash transfers "It is imperative not just to lift people out of extreme poverty; it is also important to make sure that, in the long run, they do not get stuck just above the extreme poverty line due to a lack of opportunities that might impede progress toward better livelihoods. Economic growth has been vital for reducing extreme poverty and improving the lives of many poor people.

Yet, even if all countries grow at the same rates as over the past 20 years, and if the income distribution remains unchanged, world poverty will only fall by 10 percent by 2030, from 17.7 percent in 2010. This is simply not enough, and we need a laser like focus on making growth more inclusive and targeting more programmes to assist the poor directly if we’re going to end extreme poverty.”

Kim added: “To end extreme poverty, the vast numbers of the poorest – those earning less than $1.25 a day – will have to decrease by 50 million people each year until 2030. This

means that one million people each week will have to lift themselves out of poverty for the next 16 years. This will be extraordinarily difficult, but I believe we can do it. This can be the generation that ends extreme poverty.

“Growth alone is unlikely to end extreme poverty by 2030 because as extreme poverty declines, growth on its own tends to lift fewer people out of poverty. This is because, by this stage, many of the people still in extreme poverty live in situations where improving their lives is extremely difficult. Even if there is no change in inequality, the “poverty-reducing power” of economic growth is less in countries that are initially more unequal."

Extreme poverty Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at the World Bank, Kaushik Basu, said, “It is a sad commentary on our prosperous world that over one billion people live in extreme poverty. It is a welcome call from the World Bank Group to not just mitigate poverty but bring it to closure and also to strive for a more equitable world. To achieve these ends we will need determination, but also ideas and innovation, for the ways of the economy can be strange.”

He noted that the World Bank’s shared prosperity goal, endorsed by shareholders in 2013, provides a window into understanding inequalities of income and opportunities, stressing that while significant progress has been made in lifting people out of extreme poverty, many people remain poor, often due to lack of opportunity.

Tackling poverty requires understanding where the greatest number of poor live, while at the same time also concentrating on where hardship is most pervasive. This entails concerted efforts in countries where large numbers of the world’s 1.2 billion poor live. The top five countries, in terms of numbers of poor, are India (with 33 percent of the world’s poor), China (13 percent), Nigeria (7 percent), Bangladesh (6 percent) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (5 percent), which together are home to nearly 760 million of the world’s poor. Adding another five countries – Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Kenya – would encompass almost 80 percent of the extreme poor. “Hence, a sharp emphasis on these countries will be central to ending extreme poverty, he said.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 59

C M Y K

60 — V anguard, FRID AY, APRIL 11, 2014 Vanguard, FRIDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER: Mercury has started going on backward motion in your Star sign, therefore you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by others.

Be family minded.

LEO: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

VIRGO: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LIBRA: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

SCORPIO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

By Richard Eromosele

Speak Your Expectation

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HAT is the situ ation with you now? Have you allowed your present situation to consume you? Have you given up on your situation? As you stand now, what is the na-

ture of the words that comes out of your mouth? Are the words coming out of your mouth capable of lifting your spirit?

TERROR MUDA

Are you speaking of your present situation or you are projecting more what you expect to happen to your life?

in “Never say goodbye”

Do not allow what is happening to you now drain you of your hope. No matter what you are going through now, speak your expectation. Even in pain, dwell on paean.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

CAPRICORN: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

AQUARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

PISCES: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today and if you demonstrate this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

ARIES: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

TAURUS: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

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

What does future have for me?

Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Samuel, Ibadan Dear Samuel, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES

CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment. Around your 40th birthday an endless cycle of great success and achievements will start for you.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 61

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08053068728

Should we leave Keshi alone?

•Keshi

•Ideye

If the federation coerces Keshi into recalling them where will their loyalty lie especially if they know how they got on the team?

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coach. he peace Inyama spoke about will be put to test from now to Brazil beginning with the April 22 meeting when Keshi is expected to defend his provisional list for the World Cup. Will Osaze Odewengie and Ike Uche be on the list? If they are not, will the board insist on their invitation as some board members have canvassed? And what about Chigozie Agbim, Brown Ideye and any other player whose quality is in doubt?

This brings me back to the question posed by my friend – do we leave Keshi alone in all these and other matters? My answer is simple. We may not leave Keshi alone in all matters but professionalism demands that we leave him alone on technical matters. The same professionalism also entails that Keshi listens to genuine advice. It does not end there. Professionalism also allows him the final decision as the buck lies on his table. So, as far as Brazil 2014 is concerned, we are stuck with Keshi and Keshi is stuck with us as veteran Bizlaw would put it.

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Okpekpe road race breaks online record •As foreign athletes scramble to register

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WARENESS about the annual Okpekpe 10 kilometres road race slated to hold on May 3 in Edo State rose through the online registration with the total hit per day for the month April tallying 46,000 (approximately 800 visitors).

Indeed, the total hits for April added up to 194,000 (about 3,174 visitors) with the intersting aspect of the awareness being the scramble from foriegn athletes to be part of the road race which enters its second edition this year.

At a world press conference held in lagos on thursday, organisers of the Okpekpe 10 kilometres road race through its C M Y K

director of organiser Zak Amodu stated that: “Online registration surpasses

For me, the situation calls for cooperation, respect and sincerity on all parties.

Osaze had an issue with Keshi and other members of the federation whom he publicly castigated. He had similar problems in his former English club, Westbrom. He has since apologised. Keshi has accepted the apology but it is not yet known if he would invite him. He may and may not. Ike Uche, to the understanding of the entire coaches of the Eagles bluntly refused to play to instructions during the last Nations Cup. It was so bad that his team mates reportedly fumed over his play and asked for his substitution in the final as they claimed that he refused to fall back to help in marking each time Eagles lost the ball. He was said to have acted in same manner in the other matches that he featured. Added to that was his condemnation of the team tactics before some administration officials. He was also said to have always canvassed for the adoption of his club’s tactical approach.

It is largely against this background that Keshi has repeatedly said that he was leaving out Ike Uche because he lacked team spirit. I’m entirely of the opinion that the recall or otherwise of Ike Uche and Osaze should be left for Keshi. f the federation coerces Keshi into recalling them where will their loyalty lie especially if they know how they got on the team? And what happens to the team spirit that Keshi has been clamouring for? It is a sensitive matter. Osaze is known in the national team to easily take offence if he is on the bench or substituted in a game. Has he truly changed? As I said before, Uche should make the move to convince Keshi that he would offer his all to the Eagles if given a chance. It is also interesting to note that the two players were awful in their last matches for Nigeria. They are in the news because of their current form in their clubs. However, that one is playing well for his club does not necessarily mean that he will do so for country. But there were times these players performed well for the national team and if Keshi feels he could have them back the choice is his. But if he does not, nobody should try to impose them on him. The crisis that will follow could destroy our World Cup dreams.

I don’t think that, based on current form, Keshi will take Agbim to the World Cup. And for Brown Ideye, the man has consistently shown that he lacks the quality to play for us in Brazil. Shola Ameobi did well in the two matches he played for Nigeria. Let’s see more of him in the camp and the friendlies. Chinedu Ogbuke appears to be rising again and could be tried too.

I’m sure Keshi must have confidence in some players in that support striking role if he is not recalling Osaze and Uche. Team spirit matters. He is in charge and must enjoy the freedom he deserves on technical matters even if he is not left alone on all matters. But it is also wise to listen to voice of reason. The choice is his. And he takes full responsibility. LET THERE BE PEACE.

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was in a long chat with a friend who was worried about the campaign to “leave Keshi alone.”

My friend recognises the freedom coaches enjoy on technical matters especially with regard to selection of players and team tactics. But he is afraid that the Nigerian factor could make nonsense of the freedom coaches enjoy on technical matters. Nigerians either give in to sentiments or get swayed by inducements.

It is against this background that my friend warns that what works in foreign lands may fail here.

He, therefore, argues that we cannot adopt every western practice. My friend was not in any way suggesting that Stephen Keshi could be influenced by whatever inducements but he does not trust all the staff of the Eagles who could in one way or the other influence his selection. It is better to quote my friend who is a senior colleague.

His words: “Leave Keshi alone, leave Keshi alone; that’s all we read in the media these days. Ordinarily, we should leave Keshi alone. If you, Onochie, trust Keshi, do you trust others working with him? Do you know that somebody can mount pressure on him and make him include a name for personal interests? Can’t somebody make a strong argument in favour of somebody who may not merit being in the team? Keshi can be convinced to include a name on the grounds that such a player will pick up during the tournament or that he plays better when you pair him with so, so and so player. We have heard that in the past but this is the World Cup. So should we leave Keshi alone? World Cup is not Nations Cup. Should we leave Keshi alone when he includes Chigozie Agbim in the World Cup list? Should we leave Keshi alone when he includes Brown Ideye in the World Cup team?

Can we adopt, wholly, what works in western world knowing that circumstances differ? So, should we leave Keshi alone in all matters and swim or sink with him because he is Keshi?”

My friend did not allow me to answer before ending the conversation as he hurried to the airport to catch a flight, saying that he would call me on his return.

Many Nigerians have their opinions on what the sour relationship between the football federation and Keshi is. It started at the Nations Cup in South Africa. And when the federation queried Keshi few days ago for overstaying on his vacation and for not attending a technical committee meeting, the public renewed the “leave Keshi alone” campaign.

Well, Keshi has answered the query, saying that while on leave he attended a course in Brazil and also executed the friendly match against Mexico and that it was normal he extended his leave to cover the said days. He also stated that the date of the meeting was not communicated to him and that he was not aware that President Goodluck Jonathan was to host the CHAN team before he booked his ticket for his leave in the US. NFF board member, Emeka Inyama, in his press conference in Abuja, Tuesday, said the war with Keshi was over and that it was time for absolute cooperation. It may no longer be necessary to delve into the seeming bad blood between Keshi and the Federation although, I must confess that the whole thing has remained a big surprise to me knowing how Aminu Maigari supported and actually approved the engagement of Keshi as Eagles

maiden edition, as foreign elite athletes scramble for last

Governor Adams Oshiomhole (r) in the 2013 editon of Okpekpe road race

minutes invitations, no fewer than 11foreign athletes are willing to pay their way to compete at this year Okpekpe 10km road race, the online registration record an average of 800 hits per day with just three week to the commencement of the race.

Amodu revealed further that: “The total no of hits per day for April alone is about 46,000 (about 800 visitors).

The total hits for April comes to about 194,000 (3,174 visitors). The numbers will get better since the month has not ended.

“No of hits on the PDF form download is about 322 hits. Top hits are coming from. Nigeria : 20,000; USA : 13,342 and Britain : 12,925.

Thanks Mr. M. O.Udeh Mr. M. O. Udeh from Enugu contributed the piece, An open letter to Onochie Anibeze, which I published last week. Printers Devil deleted his name.

The error is regretted. Thanks Mr. Udeh.

Adidas brings Super Eagles jersey to fans

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ITH the 2014 World Cup around the corner, Nigeria soccer fans who are craving for the latest Super Eagles jersey and the official World Cup ball, the Brazuca now have the opportunity to acquire them with ease.

After the recent launch of its retail outlets in Lagos, Abuja and Kano, adidas, the official 2014 Fifa World Cup partner and sponsors of the Super Eagles, has teamed up with its retail strategic partner, Mopheth Sport Nigeria Ltd, to bring Nigerian soccer fans greater accessibility to the latest adidas football products through its two new stores.

Brazuca, the official 2014

Fifa World Cup ball and most tested ball in history will once again be the focus of attention at the World Cup. Many goalkeepers will feel the pressure from this new ball, and perhaps, more goals will be witnessed this year than ever before.

Adidas will be stocking the Brazuca, the new Super Eagles jerseys and extraordinary footwear from adidas branded teams expected to play at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, including the current world champions Spain, Argentina, Germany and Mexico available at the new adidas stores in Kano and Lekki.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Champions League draw:

Atletico Madrid: Team to avoid in semis A

TLETICO Madrid, who reached their first Champions League semifinal since 1974 by ousting Liga rivals Barcelona, are the only unbeaten side in the tournament, have scored 22 goals and conceded the least of any team in the competition (5).

They dominated a group which, while not the hardest, featured European stalwarts Zenit St Petersburg and FC Porto; they easily ousted Milan in the second round and, of course, out-thought and out-played the mighty Barca to earn their place in the last four.

Incredibly difficult to beat, and supremely pumpedup for the big games, their three Liga defeats this season came away to inferior opposition (Espanyol, Almeria and Osasuna), while their only defeats to a big club came home and away in the Copa del Rey to a Real Madrid side they beat in La Liga.

They are on an incredible run of form, unbeaten in 10 matches, and have won their last six in La Liga at a

•Courtois time most thought they would fade. There is an injury doubt over topscorer Diego Costa, but

Solomon Ogba disclosed yesterday that Greene agreed in principle to help the federation’s drive to reposition athletics in Nigeria. He added that the appointment of Greene was with immediate effect and would start preparing the teams for the IAAF World Relays billed for May 24 in Nassau, Bahamas.

There are also the Mt SAC Relays and the Pen Relays.

“We have appointed Greene as our relay coordinator. He is a big catch for the AFN and Nigeria and we have complete confidence in his ability to turn around the fortunes of our athletes.

“He will be guiding our relay teams to all international events. He will also mentor some of our junior athletes like Divine Oduduru, Harry C M Y K

and the favourites, but they have lost a few games in Europe this season, and Atletico are in the best form.

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LYING Eagles coach Manu Garba has said he will be “highly disappointed” were his team not to beat Morocco in Casablanca in a second friendly on Friday.

Both teams played out a 2-2 draw in the first match played in Rabat on Wednesday.

They are both preparing for 2015 African Youth Championship qualifiers early next month.

“I will be highly disappointed if we didn’t win the second match as this will help team confidence,” said Manu.

“This is a team who want to win always and so I expect us to improve on what we did on Wednesday by converting our chances and correct our mistakes.

“We need to improve on our goal scoring and also work on our defence.

“We are also yet to hit peak form because most of these players have not been in action for some time now.”

The Flying Eagles coach added: “Overall it was not a bad match being our first top friendly since we assembled this team.

“Some of the players lacked confidence and at this level we have to dominate.

“What gave me the biggest satisfaction was that we created so many chances and had we buried them, we would have been talking a different story now.

“It was most helpful for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to have organised these matches for us and I believe if we could get another two such games, we would be a lot more stable as a team.”

Courtois faces Chelsea heartache T

HIBAUT Courtois could be denied the opportunity to face his parent club Chelsea in

Greene Continues from BP

without him they still got past Barca.

Bayern Munich remain the best team in the world,

Manu: I will be disappointed not to beat Morocco

Chukwudike and others,” said the AFN boss.

Greene, 39, was a former world record holder in the 100m with a time of 9.79 seconds He also won the world championships five times and has four Olympics gold medals to his belt. Greene known for his antics of intimidating opponents at the starting blocks won three gold medals at the 1999 world championships. His last Olympics was the Athens Games in 2004, where he won a bronze in the 100m and silver in the relay. Greene was also successful indoors, he remains the world record holder in the 60m dash. He is very familiar with Nigerian athletes, most especially Seun Ogunkoya who during his active days frightened Greene and other top sprinters with his awesome strength.

the Champions League semi-final or final because of a prohibitively expensive clause that was inserted into his latest loan agreement at Atlético Madrid.

The Belgium goalkeeper helped his team to a quarter-final victory over Barcelona on Wednesday night and, like everybody connected to Atlético, he will watch

Friday’s semi-final draw with great excitement.

Atlético could meet Chelsea, who advanced after their comeback triumph over Paris SaintGermain, but that would stand to spell heartbreak for Courtois.

The Atlético president, Enrique Cerezo, has confirmed the existence of a clause in Courtois’s deal that would require

Eagles Continues from BP ranked 47th in the last Fifa rankings following their goalless draw with Mexico in last month’s international friendly.

Cote D’Ivoire continue to be the top-ranked African side moving up three places to 21 this month. Egypt also moved up two spots to finish in 24th position in the world and second in Africa.

They are followed by Algeria in 25, Ghana 38, Cape Verde 42, Tunisia 49, Cameroon 50, Guinea51 and Mali 59 to round up the African top ten.

Europe occupies the top three places on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World

Ranking after Portugal climbed third behind leaders Spain and Germany.

They are followed by four South American sides in Colombia, Uruguay and fierce rivals Argentina and Brazil, who share sixth position.

Greece return to the top ten for the first time since October 2012, while Scotland moved up 15 places to the 22nd position in the world.

Nigeria’s World Cup Group F opponents are ranked thus: Argentina 6, Bosnia-Herzegovina 25 and Iran 37.

The next FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking will be published on 8 May.

the club to pay “a big quantity of money” if they wanted the player to face Chelsea, from whom the outstanding 21-year-old is on loan for the third consecutive season.

•Manu

Gunmen Continues from BP Barcelona, Wednesday night when it was attacked.

“The gunmen came in a car and opened fire outside the viewing centre and sped off,” Yobe State police commissioner Sanusi Rufa’i told AFP of the incident in Potiskum, a hotbed of the insurgency.

“One person died on the spot while another died later at the hospital.

Several other people were injured, some critically,” he added.

Residents said the centre was full at the time, with those who could not get a space inside hanging around the windows to watch the second-leg games, which saw Bayern and Atletico reach the last four.

Rufa’i did not directly blame Boko Haram for the attack but the hardline group has been known for preaching against football as part of its agenda to

impose strict Islamic law in northern Nigeria.

In several video clips, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has described football and music as a Western ploy to distract Muslims from their religion.

In April 2012, gunmen killed two men at a viewing centre in Potiskum, days after Boko Haram warned people in leaflets to stay away from such centres and calling for such places to be closed.

Football is Nigeria’s national sport and the country’s national team, the Super Eagles, are the reigning African champions.

English Premier League football is wildly popular, with many Nigerians supporting top clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, whose matches are shown live on television.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

Eagles move up in FIFA ranking

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Maurice Greene to coach Nigeria's relay teams

BY BEN EFE

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S sprint icon, Maurice Greene has been appointed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to handle the

HE Super Eagles moved two places up in the monthly Fifa ranking released on yesterday morning in Zurich, Switzerland.

Nigeria is now the 45th best national team in the world according to the latest ranking by the football governing body.

The Super Eagles were Continues on Page 62

•Yobo

INSIDE SPORTS VANGUARD

Nigeria's relay teams with a view of guiding them to podium performance at international events.

AFN president, Continues on Page 62

Champions League: Gunmen kill two fans in Yobe G

•Maurice Greene

UNMEN suspected to be Boko Haram Islamists stormed a packed viewing centre in Potiskum, a town in Nigeria’s restive northeast and shot dead two people watching Champions League matches, police said

Thursday.

The centre was showing the two quarter-final matches between defending champions Bayern Munich and Manchester United, and Atletico Madrid versus Continues on Page 62

Atletico Madrid: Team to avoid in semis — P.62 QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Pale (6) 5 Firm (6) 8 Warship (8) 9 Righteous (4) 10 Marry (3) 12 Curtain (5) 15 Fixed (3) 17 Self (3) 18 Astern (3) 19 Fellow (3) 20 Sketch (5) 21 Wonder (3) 22 Droop (3) 23 Tree (3) 24 Regret (3) 26 Go in (5) 29 Mine (3) 33 Agitate (4) 34 Break (8) 35 Stupor (6) 36 Character (6)

DOWN 2 Dwelling (5) 3 Exist (4) 4 Dissuade (5) 5 Slumber (5) 6 Border (4) 7 Motored (5) 10 Broader (5) 11 Thick (5) 12 Evade (5) 13 Divided (5) 14 Consumer (5) 15 Impress (5) 16 Handle (5) 25 Speak (5) 27 Din (5) 28 Praise (5) 30 Silly (5) 31 Press (4) 32 Courage (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Leap 4, Bar 6, Sour 8, Invent 9, Allude 19, Had 12, Ailed 14, Adorn 15, Noble 18, Settee 20, Flagon 24, Dated 26, Upper 28, Edict 30, Sea 32, Detach 33, Tremor 34, Used 35, Mum 36, Song.

DOWN: 2, Ennui 3, Present 4, Bath 5, Read 6, Solid 7, Undergo 11, Awl 12, Ass 13, Doe 16, Bed 17, Eft 19, Express 21, Lee 22, Address 23, Net 25, Ace 27, Eland 29, Crown 30, Sham 31, Atom.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

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