CHIBOK: I'm afraid of returning to school: Abducted Girl

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62141

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

IG's son, Captain Abubakar survives IRS plane crash 12

How Nigeria can be great again — Anyaoku, Anya

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CHIBOK: I'm afraid of returning to school

BEN AGANDE, HENRY UMORU, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & NDAHI MARAMA

— ABDUCTED GIRL

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•Israel sends anti-terrorism experts •We'll surely find abducted girls soon — Jonathan •FG tackles APC over comments on abduction 12

BUJA—ONE of the girls who escaped from the terrorists' camp has expressed fears of returning to school, describing the kidnapping as “too terrifying for words.”

Science student Sarah Lawan, 19, told The Associated Press that more of the girls could have escaped but that they were frightened by their captors’ threats to shoot them.

Lawan spoke in Hausa

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Should the Naira be devalued?•P.40

American "troops" •P.44

Mr & Mrs

BOKO HARAM—A link bridge connecting Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon, destroyed by suspected Boko Haram insurgents during their attack on Ngala recently in Borno. Inset: Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, during a protest for release of abducted Chibok schoolgirls in Sokoto, yesterday. Photos: NAN.

MAINSTREET: Buyers, shareholders' groups query AMCON 8 timetable

CONFAB: Key issues before Northern delegates •PGS.48&49 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

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POCKET CARTOON

RAZED—What remains of Gamboru Market razed during recent attack by Boko Haram in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.

Photo: NAN.

CHIBOK: Israel sends anti-terrorism experts Continues from page 1 language in a phone interview from Chibok, her home.

She said: “I am pained that my other colleagues could not summon the courage to run away with me. Now I cry each time I come across their parents and see how they weep when they see me.”

Lawan said other girls, who escaped later have told her that the abductors spoke of their plans to marry them. She said the thought of going back to school terrifies her — neither the burnt out ruins of Chibok Government Girls Secondary School nor any other school.

“I am really scared to

go back there; but I have no option if I am asked to go because I need to finish my final year exams which were stopped half way through.”

53 students out of about 276 abducted girls were said to have escaped with the terrorists threatening to sell the students into slavery.

Israel sends anti-terrorism experts Meanwhile, Israel, yesterday, joined other world powers such as USA, France, United Kingdom, China, Spain and Canada to assist Ni-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may even see farther than the giant himself.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

W

E don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us — Marcel Proust It’s said that one day, Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin when he encountered a very old man walking ramrodstraight in the opposite direction.

“Who are you?” Frederick asked his subject.

“I am a king,” replied the old man.

“A king!” laughed Frederick. “Over what kingdom do you reign?”

“Over myself,” was the proud old man’s reply.

Dr. Maxwell, a motivational writer surmises beautifully how to cultivate a higher standard in leading ourselves better, for each of us is “monarch” over our own lives. We are responsible for ruling our actions and decisions. To make consistently good decisions, to take the right action at the right time and to refrain from the wrong actions requires character and self-discipline. To do otherwise is to lose control of ourselves—to do or say things we regret, to miss opportunities we are given, to spend ourselves into debt. When we are foolish, we want to conquer the world. When we are wise, we want to conquer ourselves. This begins when we do what we should, no matter how we feel about it.

geria in the search and rescue operation of the more than 200 female students abducted four weeks ago in Borno State.

President Goodluck Jonathan has also expressed optimism that, with the entire international community deploying military and intelligence-gathering skills in support of Nigeria’s efforts, the abducted schoolgirls will soon be found and rescued.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who made the offer to the Nigerian Government during a telephone conversation with President Jonathan, yesterday, said the security experts would arrive Nigeria soon.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, who disclosed this in a statement quoted the president as saying that “ with the entire international community deploying its considerable military and intelligence-gathering skills and assets in support of Nigeria’s efforts to find and rescue the abducted Chibok girls, success will soon be achieved”.

According to Dr Abati, the Israeli Prime Minister conveyed his country’s sympathy and solidarity with Nigeria.

He said President Jonathan briefed Mr. Netanyahu on actions already being taken by Nigeria’s armed forces and security agencies to locate and rescue the girls, saying that Nigeria would be pleased to have Israel’s globallyacknowledged anti-terrorism expertise deployed to support its ongoing operations.

He said: “Mr. Netanyahu, who ex-

pressed Israel’s total condemnation of the mass abductions, said that the team of experts from his country who will soon arrive in Nigeria, will work in collaboration with teams from the United States and Britain who are already in the country and their Nigerian counterparts to intensify the search for the girls.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s willingness to give the government and people of Nigeria all possible support and assistance to overcome terrorism and insecurity”, Dr Abati said.

Impose sanctions on Boko Haram terrorists, their backers—SERAP urges UN Also, a leading Nigerian rights group, SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday, urged the UN Security Council to go beyond mere expression of concern over the fate of the abducted girls.

In a statement signed by its executive director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said: “It is now time for the Council to act decisively against Boko Haram by imposing targeted sanctions against them and their backers to end persistent attacks against children and other civilians.”

According to SERAP: “The Council should consider a broad range of options for increasing pressure on Boko Haram and their backers if it is to contribute to stemming the persistent abuse of children by the extremist group, and assist Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

“This will certainly increase international action against the impunity with which Boko Haram operates, and may be the turning point to secure the safe return of the missing schoolgirls.

"The suggested action is consistent with the 2012 ‘Resolution 2068’ of the Council.

“This resolution reiterates the primary responsibility of the Council for the maintenance of international peace and security and its commitment to address the widespread impact of armed conflict on children.”

It further said, “The cost of inaction is simply too high to contemplate. Taking strong action would send a strong signal that the resolutions of the Council are not only words on paper, and that vigorous action can be taken when they are not

implemented.

“The future of these missing schoolgirls hang in a balance. The Council should not leave them to fend for themselves. It should send a message that it will not turn away. Any child that the Council saves from the scourge of armed conflict represents hope for a better future."

they have realized the harm their past posture and utterances caused the nation. It has remained our publicly stated belief that playing the blame game, emboldened insurgents to unleash terror on our people. Though this change of attitude is late, we believe that it is better late than never."

We must all be united against Terrorism—PDP

David Cameron joins “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign

Meanwhile, national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged Nigerians to unite against terrorism irrespective of religion, tribe and party affiliation.

In a statement, yesterday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the interest of the nation must be paramount and placed first above personal interest, just as he said that Nigeria is bigger than any person or persons, adding, “our unity as a nation and the welfare of all our people remain non-negotiable.”

Hailing the solidarity of Nigerians for their exceptional support of efforts to ensure the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, Metuh said: “The cry of our people over the past few weeks has inspired a global response that will help to number the days of the terrorists.

“Nigerians have not only demonstrated our oneness but also our boldness and determination to surge forward as a people to rescue our land from those who aim to cow us and impose a reign of terror in our nation. It is clear that once we continue to show such unity and solidarity in all our affairs, our nation will emerge stronger and ultimately take its rightful place among the comity of nations.

“We note with joy, the change of attitude on the part of some opposition leaders whose recent statements indicate that

Also, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron has promised Britain “will do what we can” to help find more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.

He made the comments as he held a sign bearing the “#Bring Back Our Girls” slogan on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.

Mr Cameron is the latest high-profile supporter of the social media campaign after US First Lady Michelle Obama was pictured with a similar poster.

He also told the BBC One programme: “I rang the Nigerian president to offer anything that would be helpful and we agreed to send out a team that includes some counterterrorism and intelligence experts to work alongside the bigger American team that’s going out there. We stand ready to do anything more that the Nigerians would want.”

He said it was unlikely Nigeria would ask for British troops to help but added: “I said to President Jonathan where we can help, please ask, and we will see what we can do.

“This is not just a problem in Nigeria,” he said.

“We’re seeing this really violent extreme Islamism - we see problems in Pakistan, we see problems in other parts of Africa, problems in the Middle East. Also, let’s be frank, here in the UK there is still too much support for extremism that we have to tackle, whether it’s in schools or colleges or universities or wherever.”

6 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

3 abducted Dutch nationals regain freedom in Bayelsa

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ENAGOA — THE three Dutch nationals, who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Letugbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were released Saturday night, the police said yesterday.

Mr Alex Akhogbe, the Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa State confirmed the release of the Dutch nationals in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, in Yenagoa.

He said: “The Commissioner of Police, Mr Hilary Okpara, handed the Dutch nationals over to Mr John Groffen, the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, on Saturday night at the Police Headquarters in Yenagoa.

“They were freed earlier in the Southern Ijaw LGA and were handed over immediately to the ambassador by the Commissioner of Police after a debriefing.

“Afterwards, they were taken to the Government House in Yenagoa."

He said the abducted men were on a fact-finding mission to the Dodo River communities and visited Amatu Cottage Hospital built by Chevron.

6 killed as cult groups clash in Lagos community

BY ESTHER ONYEBULA

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AGOS — AT least six peo ple were reportedly killed during a feud between two cult groups in Magbon, a community in the outskirts of Lagos, along Badagry expressway, weekend.

Trouble, as gathered, started after a member of Aiye confraternity, simply identified as Shola, in charge of collecting revenues from commercial bike riders (Okada) allegedly killed a member of the Black Axe confraternity at Toll gateIyana Ibiye bus stop and collected the deceased’s motorcycle.

Aggrieved members of the Black Axe confraternity, who got wind of the killing, traced the deceased's bike to a man of northern extraction who bought the bike from Shola.

Members of the Black Axe confraternity, after the discovery, allegedly confronted the unnamed man who allegedly confessed to buying the bike from Shola.

Confused about the whole scenario, the buyer ran to Shola to notify him of his encounter with some people over the bike.

According to a commercial cyclist at Magbon Okada park, simply called Abbey, feeling threatened that the whole incident would be traced to him

2 arrested over killing of kidnap suspects

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BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE— TWO persons have been arrested by Police detectives over the killing of suspected kidnappers in Ondo State.

The state police authorities have also warned against jungle justice meted out to suspected kidnappers in the last few weeks across the state.

Timely intervention of policemen saved three persons, including a woman, from being set ablaze by irate youths who mistook them for kidnappers.

Within a week, two persons have been roasted alive by irate mob who accused them of kidnapping.

A woman in Ondo town and a man in Akure were set ablaze by the mob.

The State Police Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke, however, decried the ugly development.

Eke frowned at the rate by which some people attacked and mobbed suspected kidnappers in the recent times in the state.

He said it was wrong for anybody to lynch a suspected criminal, noting that suspected criminals should be handed over to the police instead of members of the public taking laws into their hands.

He said: “We have arrested two people over the lynching that occurred in Akure during the week and we will still arrest more to serve as deterrent to others that are involved in such act.”

Meanwhile, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday, inaugurated a task force on the evacuation of illegal immigrants, destitutes and other social miscreants from the state.

This development is part of the efforts of the government to enhance public safety and sanity in the state, Inaugurating the task force, the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, explained that the task force was put in place to safeguard lives and ensure that no room is given to anyone to perpetrate evil in the state.

Mimiko, who noted that the government had noticed the influx of immigrants and the worrisome behaviour of some citizens in recent times, said government needed to strengthen security for the betterment of all and sundry.

Segun and Tunde killed in the clash. through his customer, Shola allegedly arranged that members of this cult group, the Aiye confraternity should tie up loose ends by eliminating the buyer of the controversial motorbike and another unidentified commercial cyclist, a member of rival cult group, Black Axe

confraternity, who discovered the deceased bike at Magbon.

Vanguard also gathered that the plan was executed around Airfield Road Close while the other bike rider was killed inside a public football viewing centre.

Rattled by the killings, members of the Black Axe

confraternity lead by one Kenneth, planned a reprisal attack which was carried out at the baby naming ceremony of a member of the rival group.

According to reports, the attack was resisted as one of the Aiye members, identified as Joel Ajose, succeeded in apprehending one of rivalry cult member simply identified as Kenneth and handed him over to the Police at Morogbo.

Vanguard gathered that Kenneth was said to have been released by the police for insufficient evidence to prosecute him.

After his release, Kenneth was said to have mobilised his cult members who later killed Segun Osha, Joel Ajose and Tunde Jacob.

Although investigation is still on-going, the Police have arrested Shola while Kenneth is said to be on the run.

Attempts to get the police angle failed as calls to the spokesperson, Ngozi Braide's phone remained unanswered at press time.

Ogun Police nab two suspected kidnappers, three robbers

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command said, yesterday, that it had arrested two suspected kidnappers and three suspected robbers along Lagos-Ibadan expressway and in Agbado in Ifo Local Government Area respectively.

The suspected kidnappers had reportedly attempted to kidnap two children, Damilola Folorunsho, 6 and Olaitan Folorunsho, 5 at Agbado Road, Dalemo Agbado in Ifo Local Government Area.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, who stated this in a statement, said the two suspects were reported by grandfather of the two children and when they were questioned about their mission in the area, they could not give any satisfactory explanation.

Adejobi, however, disclosed that the three suspected robbers were arrested on the popular long bridge along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on Saturday around 2:40pm by Policemen attached to Ibafo Division and the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Ogun State.

He said: “The suspects arrested on the bridge, who have been terrorising commuters and road users in the axis, have confessed to the crime and they include Christopher Abuo, Nwanorim Ukachukwu and Ali Segun. All are adults and have been detained at the SARS office for further investigation.

“As at the time of the arrest, the

Some of the suspects police could get only one locally made pistol, some ammunition and police and military wears (the ones they use for their robbery operations) with them.

"The suspects are assisting the police to recover their cache and apprehend other fleeing members of the robbery gang as soon as possible. “ The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikemefuna Okoye, while commending the officers said the command, with the operation order, would constantly raid black spots and patrol major highways and dangerous routes in all nooks and crannies of Ogun State includ-

ing riverine areas to checkmate the excesses of men of the under world.

“The suspects will soon be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta for investigation.

“The command will always appreciate the members of the public who have seen or perceived policing as a collective and/or civic responsibility for their support and commitment in achieving effective policing of the state.

"He, however, assured them of the commands readiness and preparedness to get Ogun State rid of criminals and provide adequate security for lives and property in the Gateway State."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 7

WEF launches $1.7trn devt initiative for Africa

NDIGBO:

From left— Professor Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Power; Princess Stella Oduah, former Minister of Aviation; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary General, and Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, at the 2014 Ndigbo Lagos Meritorious Award grand reception night in Lagos.

BY OMOH GABRIEL

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How Nigeria can be great again— ANYAOKU, ANYA zConfab a monumental failure if...— Anyaoku z Future’s bright —Anya

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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N SPITE of the myriad of socio-economic, political and security challenges the country is currently facing, Nigeria can be great if our leaders and people did the needful, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Professor Anya O. Anya, have said.

According to Anyaoku, elder statesman and former Commonwealth Secretary General, the needful entails restructuring Nigeria into true fiscal federation with powers devolved to the federating units as was practised in the First Republic.

He said: “We are facing serious crises now. Nigeria cannot achieve peace, stability and development without a farreaching change to the existing order.”

To Anya, leader of Ndigbo Lagos and former chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, Nigeria will emerge from the prevailing challenges a better and more prosperous nation with ‘responsible politicking’ by our political class.

They both spoke weekend in Lagos at the meritorious awards and reception organised by Ndigbo Lagos for eight Igbo sons and a daughter, who recently left public service.

Anyaoku, who chaired the event, said to ensure peace and harmony, it is important that every ethnic group appreciates the sensitivity of other ethnic groups.

He noted that the country is facing serious challenges and feared that “our political leaders, especially those at the National Assembly, are living in denial” of what the challenges portend for the country.

Anyaoku linked the raging

violence and insecurity, especially in the North-East, the challenge of fast-tracking development to provide employment for youths and other adverse social vices to “inappropriate governance.”

He said: “Inappropriate governance, since the military intervened in 1966, is the cause of the problems because it ended true federalism under which the country was making faster development in our early years of independence.

“The challenge of the National Conference is to produce a consensus for restructuring the present architecture of the country.

The conference will be a monumental failure if it fails to reach a consensus on restructuring Nigeria into a true federalism.

“Nigeria should ideally be restructured into a federation of six regions based on the six geo-political zones with most of the powers devolved to the zones to enable each region develop at its own pace.”

Anyaoku's allocation formula

He said in considering allocation of revenue, there is need to look at man-made resources and God-given resources like minerals and petroleum.

He said: “For equity, Godgiven resources should be allocated in the following manner: Federal Government, 20-23 percent; mineral-producing areas, 1517 percent, and six regions, 60 percent.

“Under this structure, the states should remain as developing areas in the regions. The benefits of the restructuring include a massive

reduction in recurrent revenue, which is currently 70 percent and more funds will be available for capital development; “The do-or-die political competition for the centre, which fans the embers of religious and ethnic sentiments, will end; there will be faster socio-economic development, greater accountability and reduction of corruption.

“There will be healthier competition and emulation among the regions as obtained in the early days of our independence.”

Anya’s speech

Also speaking, Anya, who hosted the event, in a speech entitled Of contemplation, Circumspection and Reflection, said they gathered “to celebrate excellence, integrity and the dogged human spirit to achieve despite the odds.

“The men and woman we have all come to honour have each left an indelible and measurable mark on some aspects of Nigeria’s life. They have been our true ambassadors as a people.

“If truth be told, the future for Nigeria has never looked as bright as it can be now if more creative leadership were deployed. Despite our failings and failures the world can see what we Nigerians cannot see—an emerging economy and the foundations of a global medium power.

“Why is the global rush by the major players to Nigeria so frenetic despite Boko Haram? The darkest part of the night, they say, is the period before dawn.

“Yet no country in the world

do those regarded as the leadership speak of their country as negatively and disparagingly as Nigerian ‘leaders’ do, especially the political class. Can we have more responsible politicking?

Hardly, with the bunch we have presently.”

Awardees

Those honoured at the event were Mr. Peter Obi, immediate past governor of Anambra State; General Azubuike Ihejirika, former Chief of Army Staff; Admiral Dele Ezeoba, former Chief of Naval Staff; Professor Barth Nnaji, former Minister of Power; Princess Stella Oduah, former Minister of Aviation.

Others are Mr. Reginald Chika Stanley, former Executive Secretary of PPPRA; Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi, former Managing Director/ CEO of Fidelity Bank; Mr. Chima Ibeneche, former NLNG Managing Director, and Mr. Ken Igbokwe, former Price Water House, West Africa Managing Partner.

Roll call

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe; the governors of Abia, Anambra and Delta states, who sent representatives; Chief Funso Kupolokun, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Chief Guy Ikokwu, Admiral Allison Madueke; Dr Kalu Idika Kalu; Professor George Obiozor; Mr. Paschal Dozie; Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Professor Green Nwankwo; Ambassador Jerry Igbokwe and Chief Raymond Obieri, among others.

HE World Economic Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation has set up a joint task force to redesign development financing for Africa and other developing economies.

The decision to set up the task force was reached at the conclusion of proceedings of the forum in Abuja.

According to Development Initiatives, an independent organisation working on poverty elimination, approximately $1.7 trillion in development assistance flows from the developed to the developing world.

The task force will redesign the channeling of these development assistance to key sectors of the economy for maximum benefit.

Meanwhile, panelists at the conclusion of the forum said that Africa is on track to achieve the 5.5 percent economic growth in 2014 predicted by the International Monetary Fund.

The Redesigning Development Finance Initiative is being led by a high-level steering group chaired by Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie of Canada.

Other members include Julie Sunderland, Director, Programme Related Investments, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, DirectorGeneral, Swedish I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development Cooperation Agency; Gavin Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, IFC Asset Management Company; Thomas Speechley, Chief Executive Officer, Abraaj North America; and Dale Mathias, Chairman, Partners Forum for Private Capital Group for Africa, USAID — US Agency for International Development.

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

MAINSTREET: Potential buyers, shareholders groups query AMCON over timetable P

ROSPECTIVE investors and shareholder groups have expressed concern over the one-week deadline set by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, for the submission of Expression of Interest, EOI, for parties interested in the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank Limited.

The investors and shareholders group, in a statement made available to Vanguard, are therefore, calling on the Presidency and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to prevail on AMCON to allow interested buyers more time to prepare EOI. AMCON had, in newspaper advertorials last week, said the EOI should be submitted not

later than Friday, May 16.

The investors and leaders of the shareholders group, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed that the rush by AMCON to push Mainstreet Bank through the divestment process without taking cognisance of the enormous work that needs to be done to ensure fairness and transparency in the eventual bid process, has put a question mark on AMCON’s intention in its divestment from the bank.

Point of agreement

They, however, agreed with AMCON on the need to move ownership of the bridged banks from the

domain of public ownership and government control to the private sector.

They said: “The process should be well streamlined, publicised and allowed enough time to be examined by all interested parties, and should never be rushed, as though there is more to it than meets the eye.

“It is a welcome development that these banks are eventually finding their way into the private sector where they should be in the first place. But we insist that the process should be meticulous and not rushed, as no purpose will be served if the divestment is not transparent, or seen to be so.

“One week is grossly

inadequate for a thorough job to be done and for every participant to be acquainted with the requirements to meet the rigorous process in the evaluation exercise, except they want us to go home with the impression that this is a predetermined exercise.”

The groups, who are insisting that every interested party in the acquisition of Mainstreet Bank be given equal opportunity, cautioned that AMCON, having thus far midwifed the banking transformation process successfully, should not rush into taking decisions or actions that would appear in the eyes of stakeholders to be pursuing “a hidden

agenda, surreptitiously.”

‘Every Nigerian involved’

They maintained that the bridged banks, namely Mainstreet Bank Limited, Enterprise Bank Limited and Keystone Bank Limited, are national assets to which every Nigerian has a claim.

As such, they said, all the processes leading to their sale, or privatisation, at any time must be done in such a manner that no one is excluded either by way of withholding information or restricting access to the sales process by not allowing sufficient time for interested and qualified persons to participate therein.

Adeboye prays for Chibok schoolgirls

BY SONI DANIEL

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S global concern mounts over the abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday, offered special prayers for the return of the girls.

Adeboye, who also predicted an end to Boko Haram terrorism, prayed God to silence Nigeria's enemies to pave the way for peace and progress.

He spoke at a special programme tagged A Day Out with the God of Daddy G.O., at the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conference Centre, Abuja.

He pointed out that poverty could induce suicidal thoughts and lead to fatal consequences in life and prayed God to stabilise his children financially and spiritually.

He, however, asked Nigerians to be obedient and trust in God to enjoy spiritual and financial stability.

A day out with the God of Daddy G.O. is a yearly event celebrated by RCCG.

BRIEFING: From left— Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, National Women Leader; Chief Bisi Akande, interim National Chairman; Tijani Tumsah, National Secretary; Sadiya Farouq, National Treasurer and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Publicity Secretary, all of All Progressives Congress, APC, during a briefing on the state of the nation in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele.

APC offers strategy to stem insurgency

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, unfolded a 10point strategy to stem Boko Haram insurgency, even as it called on President Goodluck Jonathan to earn his epaulet as commanderin-chief and stop passing the buck.

At a world press conference addressed by the top hierarchy of the opposition party in Lagos, APC called on all stakeholders to join forces as wrong decisions taken in the next few weeks could make Nigeria sink deeper into lawlessness.

The party also welcomed the offer of help from other countries, saying it was reflective of its earlier

calls which were scorned by the administration.

The National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, led the national officers that also included the national Woman Leader, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, who challenged First Lady, Patience Jonathan, to act her part as ‘mother of the nation’ by visiting her traumatised children in the North-East.

Other national officers at the briefing were the Deputy National Chairman, Senator Annie Okonkwo; National Secretary, Tijani Tusmah; National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso; Lagos State Woman Leader, Mrs. Kemi Nelson among others.

The party also insisted that it’s national leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), was not turning back on his

vow to drag Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to court on charges of libel following assertions by PDP that Buhari was privy to the spate of violence in the country.

Noting that the challenges facing the country were more important than the pursuit for political office, Akande, who spoke on behalf of the party, said offers of help by the party were scorned by the authorities with the repeated claim ‘ we are on top of the situation’.

“Of course they are not on top of anything. It was an empty rhetoric.”

In its recommendations to stem the insurgency, APC called on the government to develop a counter-terrorism strategy, build a new intelligence gathering

infrastructure to improve intelligence, improve contingency planning to align military with political solutions and pursue a deradicalisation of the members of the Islamist sect.

The party also called on the administration to draw regional responses, build an effective information management structure, develop an economic development plan for the north and involve civil society organisations in its peace building plans.

While welcoming the offer of help by the United States of America, Britain and some other friendly countries, Akande noted that it did not mean a condemnation of the Nigeria military, which he said had given a good account of itself in several international assignments.

Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014— 9

2015: Fashola, Tinubu urge NASS to reverse election order

BYABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—AHEAD of the 2015 election, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu have urged the National Assembly to review the order of upcoming elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had in its timetable released early in the year planned to commence the 2015 election on February 14, 2015, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

This was part of the communiqué issued at the end of the 11th Executive/ Legislative parley held in Lagos over the weekend, themed ‘Public Sector Management re-engineering: The continuing story of Lagos,’ which also had in attendance members of the State House of Assembly and state executive members.

Chairman of the communiqué drafting committee and Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Kolawole Taiwo, while reading the communiqué, said the election should start from local to national.

According to the communiqué “INEC must be impartial and must be seen to have done so; hence, National Assembly should review and reverse the

L

VISIT: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (left), former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (2nd left), his wife, Oluremi (right) and widow of the former Lagos State governor, Lady Doja Otedola during a condolence visit to the Eredo-Epe residence of the Late Sir Michael Otedola over the weekend. order of elections starting from the local to the national; remove the time limit on election petitions; “There is need to fast-track post-election litigations at Election Tribunals in order not to fall victims of the maxim; ‘Justice delayed is justice denied.’

“Credible bodies must be vested with the power to blow the whistle when the parameters of the constitutional covenant are transgressed.”

Tinubu, who was represented

by Vice chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC Lagos State, Cardinal James Odunbaku, jokingly said that he wished the 1999 constitution could be amended to allow the state governor, Babatunde Fashola govern the state for another four years.

Governor Fashola, however urged the National Assembly to rise up and pass laws that will address the security challenges in the country.

Fashola added that passing new laws and amending obsolete laws that would conform to the current trends are what the country needed to proffer solution to the challenges facing it.

“The urgent and compelling challenge that our nation faces now is the one about security and law and order.

And I think these are one of the issues that our national legislators should be looking at, at the moment," Fashola said.

Don't flee to Cameroon, Shettima appeals to Gamboru residents

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ORNO State governor, Kashim Shettima, yesterday, appealed to the people of Gamboru Ngala local government area not to flee the town, as the state government will soon construct new edifices in the market which was destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists last Monday.

Shettima also said adequate security measures will be provid-

ed for them and that those who lost their property will be compensated by the state government.

Residents of the town have vowed to leave the town for neighbouring Cameroun, saying that government has failed to provide adequate security for their lives and property.

It will be recalled that Monday, May 5, some terrorists invaded the market at about 2pm and opened

fire on traders, killing over 350 people and setting ablaze about 300 vehicles including trucks and several shops.

Conducting the governor round the destroyed market during a condolence visit, the Caretaker Chairman of the council, Alhaji Babakura Mustapha said, “The death toll from attack by suspected Boko Haram members on Gamboru is over 300 and among

Ambode is our son, says Epe monarch

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HE rumour surrounding the authenticity of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as an indigene of Epe, a sleepy town in the outskirt of Lagos was laid to rest over the weekend, as the Oluilara of Ilara, Oba Okunola Adesanya, one of the paramount rulers of Epe, described him as a bonafide indigene of Epe land.

Oba Adesanya, who spoke on behalf of the Olu of Epe and other monarchs at the induction of Ambode and other prominent sons of Epe into the Epe Club, and has been on the throne for the past 54 years, said the Ambode family had always been part and

Jungle justice: Lagos vows to deal with perpetrators

parcel of Epe. The Oba said the Epes has always been looking for a Messiah and that indeed Akinwunmi Ambode fit it so perfectly to actualising this age long dream.

In an earlier speech, the Chairman of Epe Club, Mr. Lanre Rasaq, the former Commissioner of Transportation of Lagos State, described Ambode as the jewel of the people of Epe land and as an illustrious son of the land who used his position as the Account general of Lagos state to better the lot of the people of Epe. He charged the people of Epe to rally round Ambode and other

Epe sons who are vying for the position of Governor of Lagos State opining that the most important thing is for Epes to produce the successor to Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola.

In his response, Ambode thanked the people for the confidence reposed in him for inducting him into the prestigious Epe club and pledged his unflinching commitment to the development of Epe land.

In his words: “I am fully committed to the ideal of the club which is to promote peace, unity and stability among the indigenes of Epe."

the dead are 16 Policemen and some Cameroonian traders who were in the market at the time of the attack.

“My people also lost more than 300 vehicles while other property worth millions of naira were destroyed. We have set up a 30 member committee which comprises religious scholars and traditional rulers who are to work assiduously to investigate the rate of damage for possible assistance for the victims, particularly those who lost their beloved ones and the injured. Already, the committee has since swung into action, and as soon as they conclude their investigation, the council will present its finding to the state government for consideration.

We are giving some relief materials to the people while those that sustained injuries are being treated in the hospital.”

Responding, Governor Shettima said government will soon reconstruct the entire structure at the market, as according to him, “the market is the only means of economic activities which attracts not only the people of the state, but foreign traders from Cameroun and Chad Republic.”

AGOS—LAGOS State government has threatened to punish any resident who attempted to carry out jungle justice on suspected criminals in the state.

In a statement by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, made available to Vanguard at the weekend, it noted that in recent times, Lagosians have embarked on the habit meting out instant punishment by lynching, burning or killing suspected criminals.

The Attorney-General warned that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone caught engaging in jungle justice, no matter what the alleged criminal have done.

According to him, nobody has the right to take another person’s life as guaranteed by natural justice and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, except by an order of the court.

...Laments private hospitals' poor data collection

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—IN another development, Lagos State Government has frowned on the inability of private hospitals in the state to furnish the government with accurate data, saying the data challenge is seriously affecting proper planning in the health sector.

Speaking in Lagos weekend, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who declared it unacceptable, said the issue of data collection is a culture that the state government was particularly not happy with.

His words; “Without data, we cannot effectively plan.

The data has to be of good quality and it must be all encompassing. A lot of data that we collect are from the public sector. We do not have adequate data from the private sector and we are addressing that."

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

Ogun INEC to distribute voter cards in August

Don’t persecute your critics, Awujale tells Jonathan, govs

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BY SEGUN OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will commence distribution of permanent voter cards to eligible voters in Ogun on Aug. 22.

Mr. Sam Olumekun, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun, announced this in Abeokuta yesterday, adding that the exercise would last for three days.

“Ogun State falls under phase III of the commission’s plan, which will start distribution of permanent voters’ card on Aug. 22 through to Aug. 24.

“The exercise will take place at the polling units where voters registered from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. daily. Subsequently, it will be followed by continuous voters’ registration from Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 and this will take place at registration area centre for every ward from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.,” he said.

One injured, 3 vehicles burnt on LagosIbadan expressway

BY OLAAJAYI

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BADAN–NO fewer than three vehicles were burnt yesterday when a lorry loaded with diesel emptied its content on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The fire that followed the diesel spill also injured a man seriously.

Some parts of the road were engulfed in fire which caused a serious traffic snarl on the ever-busy road.

For fear of being caught in the fire, some motorists reportedly abandoned their vehicles and ran away.

According to an eyewitness, the tanker was coming from Lagos and while on speed, the tank was detached from the truck.

“Immediately, fire started as a result of the spark of fire from the iron when it touched the tar on the road.

Confirming the incident, the Assistant Commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps in Ibadan South-West, Sanya Adeoye said the only victim was taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

A

BEOKUTA—THE Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona has cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan and governors in the country against gagging critics of their governments.

The traditional ruler also advised that rather than attacking their critics with governments machineries, the substance of their criticism should be examined for the betterment of the country.

Oba Adetona stated this, weekend,

during the grand luncheon party held to mark his 80th birthday at Dipo Dina International stadium, Ijebu-Ode. While commenting on the reactions of the governments to criticism made against them, the octogenarian appealed to them to allow free expression of opinions.

According to him, many times these days, your excellencies, I see people making statements when they point out the ills of the nation, the next thing they will say is that, it is treason, he

must be prosecuted, the Police must interrogate him, that is not how to run a country.

“People should be free to express their opinion the way they see and the best reaction is to see what substance in the statement, what correction, what adjustment can be done in the interest of the nation.

This is the appeal I have for all governments, I am not limiting it to the Federal Government, I include the state governments, I include local governments, I include Obas, we

COCKTAIL RECEPTION: From right — Ali Moshiri, President of Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production; Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director/ CEO, UBA Plc; Ali Azizi, Technical Business Development, Chevron and Latin America Production Company; Rafiq Bengali, General Manager, UBA, New York; Razaq Shittu, Divisional Head, Oil and Gas, UBA Plc at the cocktail reception hosted by Chevron Africa and Latin America during the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas.

should be tolerant. Try to see the substance of any criticism, that is the only way we can advance in this country”, Awujale said .

'Why I call Osoba gentleman in my book' Meanwhile, the monarch has disclosed what endeared him to the former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, saying, despite the fact that he opposed Osoba's governorship ambition in 1999, he did not use his government to humiliate him after he won.

Oba Adetona, while recounting his encounter with Osoba shortly before he became governor of the state, said Osoba was the only personality he referred to as a gentleman in his recently launched book.

According to him, when he was contesting an election, we have had governor from Egba, we have had from Ijebu, so, I said this time, let Yewa (Ogun West) produce a candidate and he came up. I was against him and summoned a meeting with my people, I said this time you must go and pick a candidate from Yewa, but, many of them, I don’t know whether he gave them money or what happened, they betrayed me and supported him.

“So, he emerged as governor of Ogun State. Then, I think the usual thing is to see how he will humiliate me, which I was ready to face, but, rather than do that, he cultivated me and that is the foundation of our friendship till today”, the royal father said.

Fayose tasks Ekiti indigenes in Ondo over polls

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—AHEAD of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Mr Ayodele Fayose, weekend asked the indigenes of the state living in Ondo State to transfer their voters’ cards to their respective local governments to make them eligble to vote.

Fayose also presented his running mate in the election, Dr Ayodele Ojo, to the people of Ekiti living in Ondo State Addressing Ekiti indigenes living in Ondo State, Fayose said the best way for the people to express their love for him is to cast their votes for him after the transfer.

Among personalities that attended the parley include the former deputy governors of the state, Dr. Sikiru Tae Lawal, Mrs Abiodun Olujimi, his campaign Director General, Dipo Anisulowo and the party leaders in Ondo State Immpressed by the crowd, Fayose said “If only the people at the capacity filled hall could transfer their

voters’ cards to Ekiti, he would win the election.

The candidate allayed the fear of rigging the election noting that;

“Since the election is an isolated one, the security on ground on the day of the election would make every vote count."

He assured the people of Ekiti living anywhere in the country of good governance once he is voted into office.

Ogun LP financier defects to PDP

BY SEGUN OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—The Labour Party in Ogun State yesterday suffered a major setback as a financier and chieftain of the party, Segun Adewale, dumped it for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Adewale, who was a senatorial aspirant on the platform of the LP said at a welcome rally organised by the Ogun State chapter of the PDP for him and about 5,000 other defectors at the Empire Grounds in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area that he had to leave his former party for a platform that would afford him the opportunity to realise his good intentions for the people of Ogun West.

He said that his defection to the ruling PDP at the Federal level would enable him to strengthen his political structure for the benefit of the ordinary people of the area.

“Many know me to be a staunch member of Labour Party. To this end, I stand to be corrected when I say that I have been a great instrument in the building of Labour party in

Ogun State. But for your sake and for the sake of the cause, I have chosen today a party that will help me achieve better my good intentions for you, he said."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 11

Boko Haram: Delta CAN commences one week fasting, prayers

IYC apologises to abducted Dutch nationals

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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E N AG OA—IJAW Youth Council, IYC, has apologised to the three kidnapped Dutch nationals who regained their freedom weekend, and the government of The Netherlands for the pains the unfortunate incident caused them.

IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, also commended an Ijaw youth leader and businessman, Mr. Negerese Berry, and Bayelsa State Government for their roles in securing the release of the Dutch citizens kidnapped at Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state last week.

It reiterated its resolve to work with relevant stakeholders in the fight against kidnapping, oil theft and piracy in the Niger-Delta.

The group disclosed that Berry led the rescue efforts "sequel to the twoday ultimatum issued by the President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, May 8, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to the kidnappers."

Police impound vehicle with ammunition in Rivers, nab four

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BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT— THE Police in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have impounded a vehicle carrying ammunition.

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, who confirmed the development to Vanguard, said four persons were arrested in the vehicle.

He said his men insisted on searching the vehicle which had a poster of a dead person on its side, adding that it was during the search that the arms were discovered.

“My men suspected that there was something wrong when they saw the vehicle. During the search some arms were found.

Four persons have so far been arrested.”

BY FESTUS AHON

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SWEARING-IN: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (left) administering the oath of office on newly appointed commissioners in Uyo, weekend.

Security alert in Bayelsa as youths vow to shut down Shell’s facilities

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—MEN of the Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, were, weekend, put on high alert as protesters besieged oil facilities operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, over the company’s divestment plans and proposed sale of its Oil Mining Licenses, OMLs. Stakeholders and indigenes of Nembe-Bassambiri, who are hosts to some of SPDC’s installations in Nembe Local Government Area of the state, were angry at the plan by Shell to sell OML 29 located in their territory without consulting them.

The oil major has reportedly placed its 45 percent stake in four oil wells, including OML 29, for sale as part of its divestment.

The aggrieved indigenes, armed with placards, stormed the company’s facilities on Saturday and asked Shell to stop

production for three days to address their demands.

The protesters, numbering over 100, were made up of women, youths, chiefs, leaders and elders from the community Led by a member of the community’s Oil and Gas Committee, Chief Brigidi, they took over the Nembe-Brass waterways, chanting solidarity songs as they headed to SPDC’s major oil platforms in the area to register their grievances.

They took their protests to Shell’s Santa Barbara Flow Station, Tora Manifold and Odema Flow Station in the mangrove swamp.

The presence of the protesters at the facilities initially created panic among SPDC workers living in houseboats but the tension thawed after security operatives discovered that they were harmless.

Some of their placards read: “The land is ours, the oil is ours, Shell cannot divest without us”; ”No, to Shell OML 29 sale”; “After polluting our land and

water, Shell wants to sell our land”.

They slammed the oil major for its “lukewarm” attitude to their plight and not carrying their community along in the scheme of things.

Indigenes of the community, who stormed the flow station at about 1.30pm in 12 speedboats in what they called a peaceful protest to make known their grievances over the alleged planned sale of Santa Barbara flow station and others warned that unless Shell carried them along in the process t h e y would cause an uprising in the area.

Delta APC members decamp to PDM

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—SCORES of members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State have decamped to Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, over alleged dissatisfaction with the recently concluded congresses in the state.

At present, APC is having two state secretariats in Asaba due to factionalization.

The decampees were led by former APC chieftains, Mr. Marcel Odeidi, from Delta South and Madam Helen Onokiti from Delta Central, to the PDM state secretariat in Asaba, where the state chairman, Chief Frank Igwebuike, received and presented them with new membership cards.

Speaking to Vanguard at PDM state secretariat in Asaba, a former APC chieftain, Mr. Odeidi, said: “We were formerly members of APC and, as a matter of fact, we were a power block in APC. “But having regard to just concluded congresses which were undemocratic and people that were unpopular in the party were imposed on the party, we saw that it is not a platform that can deliver in 2015 and we have to seek for an alternative platform and we have come to PDM, a party that is built on democratic values. We are about one hundred thousand decamping.”

GHELLI—THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ughelli North Local Government Area chapter, Delta State, will commence a week of fasting and prayers today against the Boko Haram insurgency in the northern part of the country.

The association, in a statement by its Chairman, Rt. Rev Diamond Emuobor, said the programme would also feature prayers for the completion of all infrastructural development in Delta State.

The group said: “We will be praying for our brethren in the North and for the government of Delta State, that all the infrastructural developments that are going on should be completed to the glory of God and for the use of humanity and also for God to use the leadership of the government of Delta State to create jobs for our teeming youths.

“We want to ask God to forgive us our sins and intervene in what is happening now and bring us out of the quagmire."

12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

I was victim of wrong perception —Igbinedion

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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EVEN years after leaving office, former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, broke his silence in Abuja, weekend, describing himself as a victim of wrong perception, saying he wanted to resign from office at a point.

He told journalists that he had to take his experience in and out of office in his stride, knowing that a good leader must neither be conscious of praise nor afraid of blame.

their interest and not the arrangement we had.”

According to him, “Edo State had no money to loot. When I assumed office, the state was owing 24 months’ salary arrears.

Pensioners were like skeletons, there was just nothing in the government coffers. I had to source for money to clear all salary arrears, pensions and other allowances being owed by the state government before we assumed office.”

Performance

On performance, the former governor said that he surpassed all his predecessors and that he gave Edo State a new lease of life after 15 years of being dead under military rule.

His words: “This was a state that was unable to pay its civil servants and pensioners. Parastatals were condemned to self-sustenance policy. The College of Education was nowhere. The university was

producing criminals. Everything was completely dead.

People do not look back and say this was a man that paid over 24 months of salary arrears. Institutions that were dead were being revived.

“They tend to forget easily because people are looking for the new day gratification. In my first 100 days in office, there were projects cited in every ward in Edo State. Civil servants were becoming civil again rather than evil."

Perception

On how his perception problem started, he said: “The perception was for those running for office. The perception was for those vying for positions. I had an understanding that there must be power rotation in our state, just as we believe there must be power rotation in the country, just as the power was in the South-West for eight years.

“What happened was that we had the same arrangement in Edo State. We said after eight years of a Benin man being in office, an Esan man should be the governor. I stood firmly on that ground. But some people in government, unknown to me, had different ideas. People started calling some unholy names. Politics is a very dirty game. That is what created the perception. The perception was not about performance; it was about people who were after

AWARD: From left: Director, Channel Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ken Ogujiofor; Regional Distribution Partner, National Winner, Chief Executive Officer, Multinet System Nigeria Limited, Dr. Uzoma Obiyo and Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, at the 5th Etisalat Heroes award, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Jonathan laments oil theft in N-Delta ...flays diversion of cargoes to neighbouring countries

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, weekend, expressed frustration over increased oil theft in the Niger Delta just as he lamented the diversion of cargoes to the Republic of Benin.

Speaking at the groundbreaking of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, President Jonathan called on every Nigerian to join the fight against oil theft saying, “these people are destroying the future of our children.”

He said the government was aware of the fact that a number of goods that were consigned to Nigeria were cleared in Benin Republic due to the stagnation in Nigerian ports.

He also said that excuses by the International Oil Companies, IOCs, had been addressed by the Cabotage and Local Content laws.

He said: “Maritime business is a lucrative business. As a nation, we have signed the Local Content Law and when the law is linked with the

Cabotage law, it is meant to encourage Nigerians in both the maritime and oil and gas businesses.”

He explained that the issue of manpower in the maritime sector is key to the development of the industry stressing that the establishment of the Maritime University would help to bridge the gap in the much needed hu-

man capital.

He disclosed that the Maritime University was the second specialised university his administration was establishing since its inception, adding that a total of 12 federal universities were approved, three in the South and nine in the North.

He said: “To establish this

kind of university requires the presidential endorsement.

Without the President approving you cannot do anything.

“I therefore appreciate the Minister of Transport and his team and management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

IG’s son survived IRS crash —NCAA

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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HE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday, confirmed that Captain Jamil Abubakar, son of the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, survived Saturday night's crash of IRS aircraft at Niger Republic. Captain Abubakar was one of the two crew members onboard the plane.

General Manager Public Affairs of NCAA, Mr. Fan, said that

the Folker 100 aircraft was returning from C check and was heading towards Kano but lost contact with the Radar at Ganla.

According to him, “An IRS aircraft, Folker 100 with Registration No. 5NSIK from DAUG-DNKN 1632 lost contact at Ganla. Later relayed through another aircraft to Kano, but as at 67NM to Kano there was no contact on radar. The two crew members onboard survived the crash. One of them is the

son of the Inspector General of Police. “ IRS airlines is owned by Alhaji Ishiaku Rabiu and the airline has been out of operations because it has only one functional aircraft which the regulatory authority would not allow to operate.

The airline wanted to fix the second plane to commence operation to meet up with NCAA regulation that an airline can only operate with at least two functional aircraft.

Nigeria not on autopilot —FG

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Spe cial Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, has said that contrary to the postulation of the Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Nigeria is not on autopilot as there is a government on ground doing all it can to check the challenges in the country.

Chief Akande was widely quoted in the media as saying that Nigeria was on autopilot and needed the prayers of all Nigerians.

Reacting to Chief Akande’s statement, Dr. Abati said that rather than play politics with the serious problems in the country, especially the abduction of the secondary school girls in Chibok, the APC chairman should join hands with government to find solutions.

He said: “First, we consider it most unfortunate that the Chairman of the APC will use the opportunity of the situation in the country, namely the abduction of the girls of GGSS, Chibok, to engage in partisan blackmail.

“The issue of national security should go beyond partisan politics.

This is a very serious moment requiring seriousness. To reduce all of that to partisan politics is in bad taste.

“One, Nigeria is not on auto pilot. There is a government in place.

There is a President who is also the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is doing his very best to provide quality leadership and to reassure Nigerians that government stands ready always to defend their best interest. “'We are on top of the situation’ that Chief Akande referred to is an English idiom and indeed, the government is on top of the situation.

Government’s primary responsibility is to ensure that when issues come up, it stands firm to do its very best to protect the people.

“This administration has continually showed courage and commitment in the face of whatever challenges that may arise."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 13

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR LATE NKWOCHA

From left, Callister Nnadi; Victor Nkwocha; Imelda Opara; Queen Nkwocha; Kate Akaluso; Flora Nkwocha; Chioma Nkwocha, and Blessing Nkwocha, during the funeral service for late Nze Raphael Nkwocha, weekend, in Imo State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

From left, Mr. Nicholas Nkwocha; Mrs. Mercy Opara, and Mrs. Rosaline Nkwocha (widow)

From left, Mr. Victor Gotevbe, Admin Manager; Mr. Austin Ahon, and Mr. Sunday Oguomere IT Manager, all of Vanguard NewsFrom left, Mr. Jimitota Onoyume, Mr. Ojo Shola, Internal papers.

From left, Mr. Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor; Mr. Victor Omorege, Auditor, and Mr. Akunna Samson, Credit Control ManagCorporate Affairs/Protocol Manager, and Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief/GM, Publications, all of Vanguard Newspapers. er, all of Vanguard Newspapers.

Mr Fred Odueme, AGM, Brands (left), and Mr. Nath Mr. Temisan Amuka-Pemu, Circulation Bunuju, Advert Manager, SouthManager; Dolapo , and Alero Etsemeni, South, both of Vanguard Newspapers. all of Vanguard Newspapers.

Cross section of officiating ministers.

Cross section of Vanguard staff after the funeral service.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

Insecurity: Japan to send forces only if — Makihara

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA — JAPAN’S Parliamentary Vice Minister for Environment, Mr. Hideki Makihara, weekend, assured the Federal Government of his country’s support in the fight against terrorism.

According to him, Japan will send its civil defence forces to Nigeria only if the United Nations is involved in the efforts.

Makihara made this known while briefing the press on the progress of Japan-Nigeria-Africa relations at the just concluded World Economic Forum in Abuja.

He said: “I believe we will be

able to cooperate with the United Nations with its activities, but without the United Nations' decision it is difficult for us to send our civil defence army and we have never sent our police to other countries. ”Police are just for national se-

curity, that is our restriction under the constitution, but maybe it will be possible for us to send the technologies or machines. ”Three weeks ago, I had the chance to discuss this matter with authorities in Nigeria. There are ongoing discussions and they are

going to provide us with the project to commence, which we are going to examine and decide which project we are going to give the most priority.”

Speaking on the epileptic power supply in the country, Makihara urged the Federal Govern-

ment to introduce a waste management system that could general more energy. ”In Africa, waste management system is so far not good, but if you introduce a nice waste management system, you can also get energy from the waste,” he said.

WEFA: Media should attract investors — Okonjo-Iweala

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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S THE the World Economic Forum Africa, WEFA, ended in Abuja, weekend, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance,

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged Nigerian media and their counterparts in Africa to join in the campaign to attract foreign investors into the region and avoid what she described as negativism that could scare foreign capital.

Speaking on the African Growth

Outlook, she observed that international media appeared to be biased against Africa, which made them dwell only on negative news about Africa, pleading that the media in the region must act differently.

The Minister said she was recently at an event in the United Kingdom where she was persuading young Africans to demonstrate faith on the continent and invest back home, but noted that one of them confronted her with headlines from across 10 African countries, which were all negative stories.

According to her, the young man queried on

how he can be convinced to invest in such a region.

Her words: “African media must avoid what the international media are doing which I call ‘race to the bottom.’

"Everything they write about Africa is often negative. Yes, I agree that we need to look at the wrong things, but we should also look at the positive things.

"There are other regions of the world that even have more problems than us, but their media do not dissuade people from going there or investing there."

Nigerian spends $1bn annually on medical tourism

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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BUJA — THE Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji has said that about 30,000 Nigerians spent $1 billion annually on medical tourism.

Orji disclosed this while speaking at a side session of the just concluded World Economic Forum on Africa, organised by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, PWC. He said opportunities abound in the Nigerian healthcare sector for pri-

vate sector participation, if the affluent class had the will and determination to end the capital flight and invest the money back in the local economy.

According to him, 60 per cent of the said amount is spent in four major areas of healthcare, namely: cardiology, orthopaedic, renal dialysis issues and cancer, saying those entrepreneurial opportunities abound in the field only for those who could seize the opportunity by redirecting the cash flow into the comatose local health sector.

Rockefeller launches $100m digital job initiative in Nigeria

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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BUJA — THE Rockefeller Foundation has launched digital job initiative in Nigeria to support a campaign that will raise awareness about online work for Nigerian youths.

The initiative, which is a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology comes under the Foundation’s $100milliom Digital Jobs Africa initiative launched in 2013, aimed at improving one million lives through ICT skills and jobs for high potential but disadvantaged youth.

The Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Africa

initiative is being implemented in six countries in Africa - Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and Morocco.

This partnership is expected to create about 30,000 jobs across all the local governments in Nigeria with multiplier effects from the very beginning.

The Managing Director of the Rockefeller Foundation Africa Regional Office, Mamadou Biteye, said the Foundation's decision to launch the digital job initiative in Nigeria was taken after it observed that the online work sector in Nigeria had experienced phenomenal growth in the past few years and by some estimates will reach $16 billion industry by 2020.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014—15

80TH BIRTHDAY OF THE AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND, OBA SIKIRU ADETONA

From left: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the celebrant, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and Otunba Subomi Balogun, at the 80th birthday party of the Awujale of Ijebuland Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona held at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Saturday. Photos: Shola Oyelese.

From left: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; his wife, Funso and Senator Bola Tinubu, National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, at the ceremony.

From left: Chief Sunny Kuku; Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and his wife, Derinsola.

From left: Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun; his Olori Kemi Adetona, wife of the celebrant (left) wife, Olori Abimbola and Senator Gbenga Kaka. and Oba Sikiru Adetona.

From left: Chief B.O.Benson, Chief Kaoli Adesanya and Chief Adewale Shotobi.

General Muhammed Buhari (rtd), former Head of State.

From left: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and General James Arokofa, Chief of Staff to the President.

From left: Oba Olusegun Abajo, the Olowu Iji Odolowu of Ijebu; Olori Funke Abajo and Olori Olayinka Alakija.

16— Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 IN October 2012, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Cordinating Minister of Economy organised a presidential sports retreat at the State House, Abuja – Team Nigeria to the Olympic Games had returned without a medal. She hired one of the world’s top consultants to probe the performance.

Her speech, at the event, placed her above issues that torpedoed Nigeria’s efforts at the Games. She never mentioned that she released the contingent’s funds only weeks to the Games. The report of her consultancy was not made public.

Late release of funds accounts for poor preparations that result in performances that embarrass Nigeria. Poor funding got minimal attention at the retreat. President Goodluck Jonathan and his Ministers attended. Not one action, to improve sports, has issued from that retreat.

Co-ordinating Sports’ Doom With her cognomen, Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, decides the fate of Nigerians in more ways than many realise. She releases funds as she pleases, usually after top government officials have pleaded with her about the importance of the request. It does not matter if the National Assembly appropriated the funds, or presidential approval had been obtained. Without begging her, the funds would not be released. Her prudence has not stopped budget deficits that increase yearly.

The World Cup in Brazil starts on June 12, only 30 days away. Not a dime of the funds the Eagles

require for preparations has been released. The Minister of Finance is still seeking justifications for the proposed expenditure.

From July 23 to August 3, the Commonwealth Games, a multisports event with 70 countries (6,500 athletes) participating in 17 sports over 11 days, hold in Scotland. Powerhouses, Australia, Canada, England and Jamaica participate in the Games, which offer Team Nigeria mid-ter m assessment of her preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala thinks it is too early to release funds for preparations, and some qualifying competitions that can enhance

Nigeria’s performances in athletics, boxing, wrestling, and other sports. Last week, officials of sports bound for the Games protested the late release of funds. Hotels, where teams are camped, are threatening to eject them over their debts.

On March 17, 2013 when she gave her overview of the 2013 budget, the Minister had said, “We all remember our recent celebrations following the sterling performance of the Super Eagles who won the African Cup of Nations after 19 years! Mr. President wants to ensure many such celebrations for Nigerian sports. In this regard, he has now tasked me to work on developing a sustainable model for sports financing in Nigeria.”

Is it possible she is executing a presidential task to ensure sustainable cessation of sports celebrations? Maybe, she is waiting to hire another consultancy if the teams fail.

OPINION

BY JOHN AINOFENOKHAI

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HESE are uncomfortable times for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Recently the terrorist group Boko Haram resurfaced in the vicinity of Abuja, detonating two deadly bombs in Nyanya while also abducting an unclear number of girls from Chibok in Borno State. As the Commanderin-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the ultimate responsibility of securing the life of every Nigerian rests with Jonathan. So it is safe to assume that under the present circumstances he is not having the best of times.

While it is true that the ultimate responsibility of securing every Nigerian life rests with Jonathan, it is not as if the rest of us have no role to play. As citizens, every Nigerian must realise that the nation’s security is a matter that cannot be left in the hands of the government alone. For this reason, the safe return of the Chibok girls must be seen as a collective duty.

To be clear, the role of ordinary citizens in enhancing the security of the country may not be as pronounced as that of Mr. President and the security agencies but it is still an important one.

We all cannot take up arms and march to Borno to confront Boko Haram in their supposed stronghold, the infamous Sambisa Forest.

We all can’t even take part in #Bring Back OurGirls protest marches taking place across the country. But one thing we can do is give moral support to our

Jonathan, Chibok girls and the rest of us military and other security agencies.

It is important to reiterate this point because the misguided notion that the military and security agencies have failed has led some people to make utterances that can, at best, be described as inappropriate and, at worst, treasonable. If any Nigerian ever doubted it, Senate President, David Mark, has made it clear that Nigeria is in a state of war with Boko Haram. And a nation at war cannot be divided when facing the enemy.

According to Mark, “The print and electronic media are daily inundated with criticisms so destructive that, at times, one is left to wonder whether the insurgents are now the heroes while those fighting them are the villains. The times do not warrant this kind of devious and divisive politicking. The impression must not be given that anybody who gives his life fighting insurgency has died in vain.”

As a retired general, Mark knows well the implication of having the populace criticise the security services. If, indeed, the security services have failed, as some unpatriotic elements are so hell-bent on insisting, is it the murderous Boko Haram that would now come and secure our lives?

Moreover, it seems many Nigerians are unaware that national security services like the Nigerian Army are not

permitted by international law to engage Boko Haram as it would the army of an enemy country. As President Jonathan made clear in his recent Media Chat, soldiers are prevented by international law from using certain calibre of arms against insurgents. The dilemma is that terrorists like Boko Haram know this well enough and exploit these constraining rules of engagement to their advantage.

Additionally, it is pertinent to remind ourselves that insurgents like Boko Haram often mingle with the local populace. As such, even when an area has been identified as a hotbed of insurgent activity, as President Jonathan said, “You don’t expect the Nigerian Air Force to go and blast everywhere and wipe out everybody.”

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t a time when Boko Haram is intensifying pressure just to strike fear into the hearts of Nigerians, it is important to support our President the way Americans traditionally support their presidents during wartime. Under President Jonathan’s watch, the simple truth is that the security services have stopped many attacks. But matters of security have always been in the ‘damned-if-you-do’, ‘damned-if-youdon’t,’ category, or what is commonly known as a Catch-22 situation. The security agencies rarely come out to

celebrate their success in preventing terror attacks as such celebrations may compromise their ability to stop future attacks.

This is one point that makes the abduction of the Chibok girls so unfortunate. We have no way of ever knowing how many such abduction attempts may have been foiled by the security agencies. But even if only one Nigerian girl was taken by Boko Haram, let alone over two hundred, it is still a matter that should concern every single Nigerian. And the way to show our concern is not by pouring vituperations on the person of the President and our security forces.

President Jonathan is a parent and would certainly never wish for any daughter of his to be abducted by a sect like Boko Haram. As such, he certainly has an idea how the parents of the Chibok girls are feeling at this time.

That is why he has given clear assurances that the government is doing everything it can to ensure the safe return of the Chibok girls. The very least the rest of us can do in these trying times is to support him and the security services through our prayers and words of encouragement.

*Mr. Ainofenokhai, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Benin City, Edo State.

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N accepting the offer of the United States government to intervene in the Boko Haram insurgency crisis, we, as a nation, have accepted failure. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the government and Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has failed.

The Governors and Chief Executive Officers of Borno, Alhaji Kassim Shettima; Yobe, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam; and Adamawa, Admiral Murtala Nyako, have failed woefully. The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the federal level and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the crisis states, have failed.

The leaders of Northern Nigeria, including their political, religious and community leaders have

American ‘troops' in Nigeria her Western allies, along with China, approach this issue. I want to echo the caution usually displayed on the container of breakable china, ceramics or glassware: Handle With Care. We expect these foreign legions to

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Unless we put paid to this megalomania, we will end up with an insurgency as stubborn as a diabetic sore. The coming of the foreign powers into this fray may force us to behave ourselves for once, I hope. Those who have been using Boko Haram as a political bargaining tool might be forced to think twice

a meeting with governors from the Northern states of Nigeria, said America is committed to helping Nigeria to build capacity to fight terrorism and insurgency, though “the question of safety and security in Nigeria is in the hands of the Government of Nigeria”. It is still very much our personal battle, and we must be ready to bend into it.

America and our foreign allies are likely to keep military personnel only to such a level that the deployment of technology and specialised know-how will assist us in arresting the situation. I expected an accelerated end to the crisis once the girls’ abduction has been sorted out. Prolonged Western involvement will draw Islamic fighters from around the world. They are already mustering from Al Shabbab in Somalia, the Al Qaeda in the Maghreb and the residual elements from the dislodged Jihadists of Mali. They also include the displaced flotsams and bobtails who fought in the Libyan war, and of course, the Darfur and Chadian rebels who have long become mercenary fighters for Boko Haram bolstered with generous funding by some evil-minded northern governors.

Boko is no longer made up of the local boys whose leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed in Maiduguri. Their new leader, “Abukakar Shekau”, has managed to link up with the global Salafist movement committed to creating Islamic caliphates around the world. The

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massively miscarried.

They failed the expectations of the rest of Nigerians because they settled for political pranks while enemy killed, destroyed and bombed innocent Nigerians.

They have now resorted to cheap abduction of defenceless schoolgirls. In the process, a tiny wart we could have removed with a mere pinch has developed into a monstrous carbuncle requiring specialised attention. Boko Haram’s abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls has united, not just the nation but also the entire world, including some of their saner fellow Islamists, against them. The world is about to declare total war on Boko Haram, and, as President Jonathan correctly observed, the end of that nonsensical piece of nonsense is in sight. Or is it?

The answer to this question depends on how America and

empire they now seek in the Saharan African belt is called Sahelistan, with its spiritual headquarters in Maiduguri. It is a fight to revive the defunct Kanem Bornu Empire under Al Qaeda-inspired ideology.

Unless we put paid to this megalomania, we will end up with an insurgency as stubborn as a diabetic sore. The coming of the foreign powers into this fray may force us to behave ourselves for once, I hope. Those who have been using Boko Haram as a

join us in achieving two major objectives: (a) secure the release of the schoolgirls from the clutches of these demented demons with minimal collateral damage, and (b) help in seeing off, permanently, the Boko Haram bogeyman.

I expect the Americans, British, French, Canadians and Chinese to send in technology and specialised knowhow. I don’t expect them to place “boots” on our soil. It is neither in our interest nor theirs to bring “boots” here.

By “boots” I mean troops, in the manner that they went after Saddam Hussein in Iraq, or Sheikh Osama bin Laden and Mullah Mohammed Omar in Afghanistan. It should be more like the scenery against Muammar Gadhafi in Libya. The American Ambassador to Nigeria, the very amiable and enterprising Ambassador James Entwhistle, at

political bargaining tool might be forced to think twice. We have no respect for one another, but we revere foreigners, provided they have white, brown or even yellow skins! Perhaps, their presence will help us to demystify the evil forest called Sambisa, which is actually not much of a forest since vehicles of all sizes drive through it effortlessly. Perhaps the foreign legion will help us to know who the financiers of Boko Haram are.

It might put an end to the catand-mouse game going on between the three flashpoint states and the federal government, which hampers the ability of the military and security forces to do much. If that is the effect the Americans will have, then, let them come.

Patience Jonathan needs protection

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CONSIDER myself an admirer of our first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan because of her boldness and commitment to the welfare of women. She seems to project the forceful quality which we do not see in the man we voted as president. I must admit that President Goodluck Jonathan has begun to “come out” more presidentially in recent months. Who says experience does not matter?

But I think Dame Jonathan is overdoing it. In fact, it is becoming ridiculous the way she goes about sharing power with her husband even though her name was not on the ballot when we went to the polls in April 2011. I like what Mr. Peter Obi told his wife when he became governor. He told her to go to the rural areas and fraternise with her fellow womenfolk if she wanted to keep herself busy. “I told her to stay away from governance because I was the one the people voted for. It is not a joint husband-and-wife ticket”. Mrs. Jonathan is a great asset to her husband no doubt, but she also unwittingly cuts the other way. I doubt if Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State would be in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) today if Auntie Patie had not publicly and roughly tackled him over the Okrika town demolitions.

Why did she have to set up her own committee on the abduction of the Chibok girls when the president had already done the same?

Where did she get the power to summon security and government officials? She is exercising powers which are not known to law, and the sooner she stops this, the better. Besides, Auntie Patie seems to have overawed her advisers and handlers. The carriage and panache that goes with the holder of that office is lacking, and the upshot is that when she makes major outings she becomes the butt of jokes all over the internet. Her THERE IS GOD OOO! sound bite is not only viral on the Net; it has been turned into satirical songs, much like theMY OGA AT THE TOP gaffe by Mr. Shem Obafaiye of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Commission (NSCDC). Our first lady needs protection from herself. Otherwise, she might end up costing her husband precious votes come 2015. Dame Patience Jonathan should pipe low and allow the people we gave our votes to govern us and bear the consequences. Enough of the distraction, abeg!

OPINION

BY MOSHOOD ISAH

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YEBROWS were raised few days ago when there was an official announcement that schools, offices and governmental parastatals would be shut down so that Nigeria can host a peaceful World Economic Forum,WEF. This generated contrasting reactions from pundits. Why ‘shut down’ an entire nation's capital just to accommodate about 1000 delegates from70 or so countries.

While critics believed the nation was not in the right frame of mind to host the world and thus should focus on fighting the insecurity currently plaguing it, optimists thought otherwise. According to economists, this was an opportunity for the nation to improve its economic viability by attracting direct foreign investors and improve the economy.

Being the first West African nation to host the World Economic Forum albeit African edition, it would be a demonstration of the confidence the world has in Nigeria as one of six fastest growing economies in the world. This would also show the relevance of Nigeria in the global economy.

In a similar vein, it is also asserted that the WEF which held here is a proof of global leaders’ increasing confidence in the nation’s economic potential. It is hoped that the Federal Government would have articulated its investment policy thrusts at the forum properly with a view to engendering global investors’ interest. This is also an opportunity for the government to instigate the industrialisation of the economy. This will aid the achievements of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, in terms of productivity and could be linked to the

Maximising dividends of World Economic Forum manufacturing sector for national competitiveness in the global exports market.

The event may not have come at a better time. Just few months ago, the country announced result of the rebasing of its economy, which resulted in Nigeria leapfrogging South Africa to emerge the biggest economy in Africa. It is expected that the economic forum will complement the nation’s efforts to translate its improved Gross Economic Product into an improved standard of living for the citizens.

It is no more news that, the GDP rebasing exercise had become a major macroeconomic performance barometer by which international investors now use to interpret Nigeria’s economic opportunities and its investment possibilities. Thus, there is need for stakeholders to exploit this begging opportunity to explore Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement that will help in bridging the huge infrastructure financing gap.

The WEF which was launched in 1990 has its major aim of development and growth of countries especially Africa via provision of massive employment. The forum which has been hosted by countries like Zimbabwe, Tanzania is billed to serve as succour in developing local industries and aiding direct foreign investment in mostly developing nations. The forum has taken major strides in identifying local industries which are seen as potential trailblazers, shapers and innovators committed to improving the state of the world. The companies believed to be Global Growth Companies (GCC) represent a broad cross-section of

industrial sectors. They also have in common a track record of exceeding industry standards in revenue growth, promotion of innovative business practices and demonstration of leadership in corporate citizenship.

The hosting of the Forum in Nigeria was not a mere formality as six out of the 16 Global Growth Companies are Nigerian companies. It is pertinent to say that, these 16 companies are at the forefront of driving responsible economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurism in Africa. The whole scenario will only remain a hypothesis if the nation doesn’t take all necessary action to ensure the feasibility of the mouth watering opportunity at stake in the WEF, Africa.

The issue of insecurity remains a gnawing pest in the flesh of Nigeria and thus is a threat to any form of development in the country. There is no doubt the government has put virtually everything it has to see to the end of insurgency but there is still much to be done to see that businesses thrive conveniently in the nation.

The government has been lauded considerably on its recent stride in its bid to improve electricity in the country. But, there is need to hasten the current power distribution projects across the country to ensure diversified businesses in the private sector. No doubt, the just concluded WEF is a step in the right direction. *Mr. Isah, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

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They have turned Nigeria into one big joke — Lai Mohammed •Ikimi’s memo embarrassed us

THE unprecedented merger of three political parties into the All Progressives Congress, APC last year revolutionised the political space and gave fillip to the opposition in the country. However, recent congresses to produce officers for the party have opened fault lines within the opposition party. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the party last weekend fielded questions on the mutterings in the party, the state of affairs in the country and the resolve of the party to give good govervance to Nigeria. Excerpts

HOW would you describe the recent congresses across the country?

I believe that they have been largely successful in the sense that there is no way you can build a new party like ours without having permanent structures at the various levels of the party.

For our exercise, we started at the ward level and the idea was to get the administrative structure at that level. To ensure that people at the ward level actually take possession and ownership of the party and at the local government level also, that the people should take ownership of the party. Ditto for state and at the national level.

The idea is that when you have a mass movement like the APC and given the genesis of the APC which is the coming together of several political parties and the collapse of the various structures of those parties, we could not stay for too long without having permanent structures at the various levels. Every officer today, before the congresses were interim and were not elected as it was just an ad-hoc arrangement to be administered.

All our congresses at the ward level were direct congresses and every registered member of the party had the right to cast a vote and choose the candidate of his own and I think largely, it went very well.

Yes, we are not unaware of some misgivings, some people who believed that they were shortchanged. It is to be expected and this was why we also set up appeal committees at every level of the congress to address such grievances and I can tell you that the whole problem stem from the fact that some people believe rightly or wrongly that they should take control of the party

structure in every level in order to show that they relevance. And this I think is the root cause of all the problems. You see, •Mohammed: Yes, we have also had our challenges these are people who have political ambitions and whole thing. But I know that on have shown that we are of course, you cannot rule that a daily basis that the national becoming more and more out because people are in politics chairman, the secretary and the popular by the day. At a point in because they have legitimate exco, they receive complaints and time we had to face what we are political ambitions. But we have petitions and appeal committees facing now. A town would be told everybody that possession or are set up and I am sure all that peaceful until the king dies. hijack of party structures does not the exco is waiting for is for a time Once, the king dies then you necessarily help to advance your when all the congresses would would see all the princes who political fortunes, no. As a matter have been completed and from had been united before wanting of fact, it would eliminate people that point in time they would do to become king and in the against you and create factions the review. But once again, a process, some would even leave newspaper is not the place to town, there could even be within the party. discuss the internal affairs of the breakdown of law and order, but party.

Reports of at the end of the day everybody But this situation has led to the comes back, accept the situation appeals defection of some of your and life goes on.

So, what we are witnessing The party would do everything followers in Edo State including within its powers to resolve all the former national vice- now, which is disagreement in terms of congresses is bound to these issues. Even the reports of chairman, Pastor Ize-Iyamu We are worried naturally happen. I would have been the appeals are even subject to the appeal of the national exco because we do not want any of worried if anybody would say in our members to go. But what we of the party.

That we have become a beggar nation Are you aware of the memo would not do is to make decisions without going into the root cause from Chief Tom Ikimi? where we would need America, UK to I am very much aware, I was of the disaffection in every issue. come and free our own kidnapped copied. Actually, we were all very As I am speaking to you now, children. It is very embarrassing embarrassed that it was leaked many of our leaders are talking to the disaffected members. I to the press.

He claimed that efforts to called the pastor myself and he Edo State, your congress was not running mate.

At no point in time. All you have resolve these grievances are called me back and we are free and fair or that in Borno State concerned that any of our they just wrote names. But there is speculations. If anybody says being ignored. is nobody who can say this that there is an agreement I think it would be very wrong members should leave.

In any political party you only because we insisted on direct between Buhari and Tinubu that of me to start discussing the none of them will run for office, internal workings of the party or want to have more members, you primaries.

What is interesting is that in let him bring it out. our challenges on the pages of don’t want to lose any. It is only So, do you expect any of them the newspaper. But I can tell you when it becomes impossible for many states, they did not that I know that the situation you to retain them that you accept complain about ward congresses, to run?

I expect anybody to run prevailing in states differ from their leaving. Right now, I don’t many of them did not complain one to the other. As a matter of think that it has gone beyond about local government Emmanuel. You are the same congresses, the complain was person who will say that we are fact, while we have concluded remedy.

Enthusiasm that the APC about state congresses. not democratic, you are the same state congresses in some states, The interesting thing is that person who is saying consensus we are still conducting local would be a viable alternative to government congresses in some the PDP is being played down once you accept the outcome of is not good and now you are states. So, when people now talk as it is alleged that there is no the ward congress, it is difficult asking me whether any of them of appeals being heard and difference between the two. Is for you to reject the outcome of would run? Anybody in our party the state or local government can run. We cannot shut down being resolved and meetings there really a difference?

Enthusiasm is building by the congress because it is at the ward the aspiration of anybody. being called, it is because they don’t have holistic picture of the day. I can show you that surveys congress that everything is

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BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

decided. The ward congress is where you really test your popularity because, there, every member of the party has a right to vote.

It is the executives and the delegates who emerge at the ward level that go to vote for the executive at the local government level. But things change at the local government level because some political appointees including commissioners, ministers, governors, legislators are all automatic delegates. So the thing changes completely at the level of the local government.

How can you compare us with PDP? It is one thing for people to disagree and say no, we do not accept the outcome of the election, that does not bother me.

But if you say you do not accept the process, that bothers me. We followed through with our guidelines at the ward level but people who lost out are complaining. It does not mean that their complaints are not genuine but we also have our peace, let’s sort them out.

Some people still have doubts about the chemistry between Asiwaju Tinubu and Gen. Buhari. Are they really working together?

I can tell you confidently that but for the mutual respect and understanding between these two leaders, APC couldn’t have gotten to where it is today. I know that there are daily consultations between our leaders, Buhari, Ogbonnaya Onu, Asiwaju Tinubu and Bisi Akande on diverse issues.

Was there an agreement between Buhari and Tinubu not to vie for the presidency as has been alleged?

There is no agreement. I keep telling people that at no point in time did the party at the highest level ever discuss the issue of its presidential candidate or

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NATIONAL CONFAB:

Key issues before northern delegates Beginning today, we publish the memorandum submitted by northern leaders to the national conference in April 2014

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NTRODUCTION: In con vening the 2014 National Conference, the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is following on the footsteps of his predecessor in office, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo whose earlier exercise was called National Political Reforms Conference, 2005. Unlike the familiar “constitutional” conferences held both under the colonial period and military rule, the motive or purpose for calling these ‘National Conferences’ by Nigeria’s Presidents have never been clear to all Nigerians. On the contrary, they have tended to be gimmicks used by the Presidents to push through certain agenda that they fear cannot possibly pass through the National Assembly. Besides, the Presidents are quick to discard and abandon reports of these conferences once they failed to get what they wanted.

The unmistakable conclusion to be drawn from the history ofthese exercises is that the 2014 National Conference, like its 2005 predecessor, is intended to permit Mr. President to take certain actions and decisions which are not allowed without changing the constitution and which the National Assembly may not otherwise endorse. In other words, the National Conference is a device designed to blackmail the citizenry especially the National Assembly, into a position where they may be powerless to prevent the introduction of certain policies or changes no matter how obnoxious they may be to the majority of the population. Of course, the President won’t tell anyone in advance what the hidden agenda are with respect to the Conference. One is, therefore, left to second guess his motives and to

ularly in the light of the endless agitation by people from that part of the country to confiscate all revenue accruing from oil exploitation for themselves alone.

Whatever his motives might be, it behooves the Delegates to this Conference to ‘shine their eyes’ and use a magnifying glass while looking at all proposals being brought for their consideration. It is our hope that Northern Delegates would find the analysis and data contained in this publication helpful in appreciating some of the issues likely to prove contentious at the conference. We wish to express our appreciation to the Northern Governors, the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for their decision to constitute this Think-Tank and to have found the membership suitable for the task of thinkingthrough the key issues before the Conference. It is hoped that this intervention will help the Northern Delegates assist the Conference move Nigeria forward not backwards.

Derivation and Revenue Sharing Under Nigeria’s Federal arrangement, the central government shares responsibilities and resources in stipulated covenants (established by the colonial masters at the inception and severally affirmed by Nigerians at different conferences and Constitutions) that seeks to achieve equity, justice and fairness to all the units for balanced development of the units and a strong enough centre for national security and ensuring orderliness and managing international relations.

How much the regions have to

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The agitation made by the Niger Delta states for the abrogation of the onshore/ offshore dichotomy are uncalled for and did not appreciate historical facts or meet the tenets of the federal system that we operate

do so by analyzing his pedigree, his speeches and actions as well as those of his supporters and advisers in the five years he has been in office. On this score, the tell-tale signs of his secret ambitions are unmistakable.

President Jonathan’s supporters have missed no opportunity to remind everyone that he is the first democratically elected president of Nigeria who is both from an ethnic minority and from the oil rich Niger Delta. Both facts are pregnant with significance for what he might want to do, partic-

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contribute to the centre from revenues they generate and how much they receive from revenue surpluses accrued to the centre (Federal Government) and what resources should the units and the federal government have control on, remained central issues in defining the Nigerian federation.

Records show that the Northern region contributed 75.18 per cent to the centre but it received only 18.94 per cent in services between 1914 and 1946, while the South that contributed only

24.18 per cent received 81.06 per cent. The North clearly played a key role at significant disadvantage so as to ensure a balanced development of the nation early in its history. In fact, the contributions of the North were used for the development of the oil sector and other regions whose contributions fell short of their needs as at then. Similarly, agriculture in the North still contributes much more to the national economy than is currently appreciated; the sector saves the nation billions in foreign exchange which would otherwise have gone into food and raw materials importation.

The increasing role of petroleum oil in the national economy and a declined cash contribution of the agricultural and other traditional factors (e.g. cattle tax) to the central account have agitated the South, particularly the Niger Delta to demand for new definition in revenue sharing and control of resources.

Control of resources The Federal Government since 1999 has taken steps which negated the principles of justice and equity to the entire federating units, clearly threatening the balanced development of the country for the common good of all.

For example, the revenue received by the six states of the South-South from the Federal allocation from 1999 to date amounted to N17.74 trillion (each of the six states received on average N2.96 trillion), while the 19 states of the North received only N10.53 trillion (an average of only N554 billion per state). On the other hand, the eleven states of the South-West and the South-East combined together received N8.79 trillion (an average of N799 nillion per state) .

It is the position of this paper that the agitation made by the Niger Delta states for the abrogation of the onshore/offshore dichotomy are uncalled for and did

not appreciate historical facts or meet the tenets of the federal system that we operate. The Supreme Court ruling on the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy has settled the case. Moves made by the Federal Government in awarding the contract for the protection of the pipelines and oil producing structures to ex-insurgents (purportedly for greater involvement of citizens of the oil producing areas in the management of oil matters) is ill advised and in the light of subsequent events, a security threatto the whole nation.

Recommendations: The paper, therefore, recommends that the country takes the path of equity and justice and a commitment to a balanced development of every part of Nigeria as expected in a federal system.

Claim to oil resources The North also recommends the rejection of claims to oil resources by oil producing areas that led to the cancellation of the onshore/ offshore oil dichotomy which action gave away a national resource to littoral state, seriously eroding revenue available for distribution to all parts of the country. The North demands a reversal to status quo ante. All mineral resources should remain under the exclusive rights of the Federal Government as provided for by the international law (1982 United Nations Converltion on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS, Article 76) on territorial waters/boundaries which stipulated that 200 nautical miles off the continental shelves belongs to the central government exclusively.

The derivation which is now at 13 per cent should be reduced to at best five per cent, and must be limited only to oil on the onshore.

The North demands a new revenue sharing formula which seeks to empower the strata of government closer to the people than the centre, i.e., the states and the local governments to be able to de-

liver on their governance responsibilities to the people. The formula is also to ensure a strong enough Federal Government for the security of the country, and give the country the stability of direction and focus on human and economic development.

Here, we recommend a vertical revenue sharing formula as follow: Federal Government, 26 per cent; States 39 per cent; Local Government Areas, 35 per cent. Also we recommend a horizontal revenue sharing formula for the states and local government areas as follows: equality 35 per cent; population 30 per cent; population density two per cent; land mass 20 per cent; terrain five per cent; internal revenue generation effort five per cent; and social development factor three per cent.

Frequent assertions on North's population The North rejects the frequent assertions by the South on the population figures of the North and state clearly that the rate of population growth attributed to the North over the years is extremely understated.

The North recommends that all institutions and programmes established for the benefit of a few states be abolished. These include the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Ministry for Niger Delta, and the Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta militants and the component C of the SURE-P programme, the HYPADEC. The responsibility for the security of the nation, including its territorial waters, and national assets should be that of the recognised security outfits (Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police, and Nigerian Air Force) as enshrined in our constitution. The engagement of the ex-insurgents as armed coast guards should be immediately stopped while the Nigerian Navy should be adequately funded to perform their functions. The North recommends a multi-tier local government system that brings the people closer to the government and increases their level of involvement in governance. The revenue allocation formula review as recommended above (FGN 26%, States 39% and LGAs 35%) is to support the realignment of responsibilities of the tiers of government, reducing allocation of the federal government in favour

Continues on page 49

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 49

Key issues before northern delegates Continues from page 48 of the states and the local governments. (For appreciation of the recommended formula, see the detailed report).

Resource control, onshore/offshore dichotomy, PIB Bill: The clamour for resources control has become heightened in recent years, especially due to: the increase in the profile of petroleum oil in contribution to the national income.

In addition, agitation for resource control was affected by the growing sense of ethnic chauvinism and waning attachment to the Nigerian federation in the real patriotic sense, and, an overwhelming feeling that the oil producing areas are unduly contributing more to the national coffers in relation to, particularly the North. The fallacious assumption that oil is the major contributor to the national income.

National income While these assertions and assumptions have taken colossal proportions, the fact is, agriculture is the main stay of the economy, providing over 60 per cent of jobs and contribution to GDP. A simple exercise in per capita distribution of amounts received from the monthly allocation of revenue from the centre in the average by a northern state comes to a mere N600 per month per head. Kano State, for example, with a population of about 15 million received the sum of N6,812~887,206.72 in federally allocated revenue in February 2014. This amount distributed per head among the population will give only N462 per person for the

gions and the centre was 50:50, but limited to revenue derived from activities that involved human effort. All mineral resources had belonged to the centre, and this new adventure on resource control is totally new concept, and alien to the practice in Nigeria..The abrogation of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy was at best done to bend to undue, unjustifiable pressure and criminal militancy in the region led to the eventual abrogation of the onshore/offshore dichotomy, the justification rested mainly on moral justification rather than soundness of the arguments for the claims or the law.

Similarly, the international law is very clear on the claim to ownership of resources that lie outside of the continental shelf and or low water marks of the littoral states.

International law also gives us a guide as to really who a littoral state is. Clearly, the coastal states of Nigeria where oil minerals are extracted are not “States”; rather, they are part of the Nigerian State who is the littoral state by the definition in international law. Therefore, in addition to the constitutional provision that all mineral resources in the country belong to the Federal Government; the coastal states where oil mineral is currently being extracted should not claim the resource as their own. International laws (decided cases in the US, and Canada) include: Article 27 of the International Convention on United States vs. California, United states vs. Texas, Canada vs. the Province of British Colombia By international conventions governing territorial waters and boundaries, all territorial waters within 300 nautical miles off continental shelves, and resources

,

The funding of the NDDC should revert to the Niger Delta states taking 100 per cent control of their resources

month. This is hardly enough to feed anybody for a day. It is evident that other sources provide the bulk of the revenue for sustenance than the revenue received from the centre.

Therefore, this fervent increase in agitation for total resources control that overemphasised revenue from oil mineral producing states (the Niger Delta) is a complete over hyping of the contribution of to keeping the nation together. This is needless to say that the agitation is a complete negation of the tenets of a brothers' keeper of a federal system of government which Nigeria had decided to practice long time ago.

The demand for resource control is indeed also oblivious of other relevant facts: The Nigerian constitution gave the ownership of all mineral resources found in any part of the country to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The history of revenue sharing between the re-

,

therein belong to the exclusive preserve of the central government (the State) not regions or communities resident by such shores. That is why it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide security and protect the integrity of the country, not just of coastal communities. The adherence by Nigeria to principles, conventions and laws it has signed and ratified cannot be selective, or at the convenience of local interests. If that is the case, then, for example, Nigeria should not have agreed to hand over the Bakassi Peninsula to the Cameroun.

Nigeria is bound by international laws and cannot, therefore, decide at will, on issues decided by international laws and conventions to suit narcissistic purposes. The Federal Government has no liberty to deliberately create social and economic imbalance between regions simply to please an agitated group. The onshore/

off shore case was merely addressed on moral grounds rather than on the legality of the case or on soundness of argument.

Therefore, there must also be a moral argument, which is constitutional and more sacrosanct for engendering equity in development effort, stability and national security for the return to status quo In the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy.

Financing of oil exploration Therefore, unless the Constitution is amended to take away this ownership from the Federal Government, total resource control by any Nigerian state is a breach of the covenant of the federation as enshrined in the Constitution and hence, akin to claim to pullout of the Nigerian Federation. Similarly, all regions of the federation are stakeholders in the Nigerian oil.

In particular with regards to petroleum oil: The North played a key role in the financing of oil exploration in the Niger Delta; And made sacrifices in resources and human life to develop the oil industry, and protect the Niger Delta from total eclipsing by the protagonist of the Biafra contraption; The reasons for the hyped clamour for total resource control are, therefore, untenable. Nevertheless, the country may be better off if all states took 100 per cent ownership of all natural resources buried under their lands. Revenue

derived from activities that have material and direct human effort in their accumulation and or making should be shared in relation to the effort required in their generation.

All royalties and taxes due to the Federal Government on all mineral resources, both oil and non-oil should continue to be paid to the centre for the benefit of all the states.

The funding of the NDDC should revert to the Niger Delta states taking 100 per cent control of their resources. Thus, the NDDC shall totally be the responsibility of the states and not the Federal Government. The Niger Delta States can, however, benefit from Ecological Funds, just as all other states that have environmental challenges. Other institutional support programmes established for the Niger Delta or specifically the oil producing states should also be scrapped including the Ministry for the Niger Delta.

Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy: The basis for the abrogation of the laws that ensured the inclusion or otherwise of oils extracted from offshore wells for the accruing of revenues earned from mineral oil for the calculation of the percentage allocation on derivation (to take care of particular developmental challenges) to oil mineral producing states has been subject of intense debate. Clearly, the Supreme Court has ruled that revenues from oil gotten from deep water seas and offshore wells

should not be part of the sums available for calculation of the derivation percentage to be given to coastal states. We must demand for reversal to the old order (status quo ante) and the states that unduly benefited from the baseless decisions of the recent past should be made to refund such all sums for sharing by the three tiers of government.

Other related issues:.

The Petroleum Industry Bill: It is important for our delegates to be aware of the inherent dangers in the PIB which is now in the National Assembly for ratification as law. Passing the Bill in its current form will perhaps be worse than the results of the abrogation of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy. In particular, three areas that should be of major concern to the North are: •The proposed powers of the Minister of Petroleum, nearly boundless over policy, regulatory and operational issues, •The provision on National Frontier Exploration, which is consigned to an administrative unit in the office of the Minister. This is against what was preserved for all other key industry activities which are to be conducted through specific and autonomous institutions •Provision of a Host Community Fund. This is of course another layer of funding, over and above what is already being given through the NDDC, the Ministry for Niger Delta and the percentage derivation allocation to the Niger Delta states.

To be continued

50 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 51

Vanguard

BOKO HARAM: US ignored Nigeria’s 2013 request —Report

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Lifeline Children Hospital, all embassies and general public please take note.

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By UDUMA KALU with agency report

THE United States of America ignored requests

by Nigeria for intelligence information and aid to help fight the militant Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram last year, reports have revealed..

Two American newspapers, ABC News and the Daily Beast, weekend, accused the Obama administration of failing to reply to requests by lobbying firm Patton Boggs on behalf of the Nigerian government.

Last weekend, US Senator John McCain told CNN, “We should have utilized every asset that we have, satellite, drones, any capabilities that we had to go after them. We didn’t have to wait until a practically non-existent government of Nigeria gave us the goahead before mounting a humanitarian effort to rescue those 276 abducted g i r l s . ” But the ABC and the Daily Beast noted that the “ revelation comes as many in the administration have blamed the Nigerian government for their rationale behind why the United States government was tardy in designating Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization.”

The papers said, “Two months prior to Boko Haram’s FTO designation, the Nigerian government reportedly reached a three million dollar agreement with lobbying firm Patton Boggs. According to U.S. Justice Department documents, the contract was enacted to “provide comprehensive security advice, including the donation of excess military and law enforcement equipment.” Patton Boggs assigned retired Marine Colonel John Garrett to represent Nigeria’s requests.

According to the ABC News report: On behalf of Nigerian National Security Adviser, Muhammadu Sambo Dasuki, Garrett requested information on Boko Haram activities derived from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance overflights of northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state.

Patton Boggs also asked for non-lethal protective hardware to be donated to Nigeria such as mineresistant armored personnel vehicles, night vision goggles and communications equipment from Iraq and Afghanistan stockpiles left over from U.S. withdrawals from those warzones.

Educationist publishes booklets in Yakurr

A

N educationist, Elder Usani Omini Abam, has joined the league of authors with two booklets he wrote in Lokaa, the dominant language spoken in Yakurr Local Government area of Cross River State.

These booklets entitled Yekau obaa Amun lokaawa and Tee Yoji Yowiiya are aimed at laying a foundation of reading, understanding, writing and speaking the Lokaa language for the present generation.

Abam who noted that the lokaa language evolves round four vowel sounds said he was compelled to write the books following the manner that lokaa language was being bastardized.

The booklets which were presented, weekend, provided an opportunity for Abam to advocate the inclusion of the Lokaa language among languages translated from English in the state broadcasting corporation, CRBC Radio and television.

Speaking at the event, the wife of the State Governor, Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke called on Nigerians to respond to the United Nations call to intensify efforts aimed at promoting indigenous languages pointing out that very few linguistic nations have shown pride in their language and culture like the Yakurr people.

Mrs Liyel-Imoke who spoke through her Special Assistant on Media Strategy and Documentation, Mr. Kammonke Abam, observed that the booklets were not just literary works but deep expressions of the author’s love and pride for his roots noting that he demonstrated the impossible by embarking on such challenging project at an age most people would have given up in life.

She remarked that Yakurr people occupy a critical place in the development agenda of the State in view of its fertile human resource base and academic excellence.

52 — V anguard ,MONDAY, MAY 12 , 2014 Vanguard anguard,MONDAY,

CHIBOK: I was in Sambisa forest with bows, arrows — Father of kidnapped girls

H

E ventures into the forest looking for his daughters, armed with bow and arrow in case the terrorists surprise him.

The odds are stacked against him. No one has found the 276 girls abducted from their school last month by the terror group Boko Haram.

But then again, no one’s really been looking, the father says.

That night of horror

The father’s voice shakes as he recalls the night his two daughters were snatched from their dormitory at an all-girls school in Nigeria.

It began with an explosion so loud that it shook buildings in the northern village of Chibok, waking the girls’ family.

That was quickly followed by the sound of gunfire echoing into the dark night.

By the time the man made it to the Government Girls Secondary School, the militants had already opened fire on security guards and set buildings on fire.

Unarmed, there was nothing the father could do but watch ... and wait.

“When I went into the school compound, nobody will ever stand it,” said the father, who is not being identified for fear of reprisals from attackers or the government.

“You will see their dresses cut out all over.

And the hostel and dormitory, everything was bombed into ashes. So this man told us they have gone with our daughters.

We couldn’t believe him.”

Armed members of Boko Haram attacked the school on April 14, overpowering the guards and herding the girls onto waiting trucks, according to accounts of that night.

The trucks disappeared with the girls into the dense forest bordering Cameroon, a stronghold for the terror group whose name translates to “Western education is sin” in the local Hausa language.

That’s where the story gets hazy.

Mixed messages from the government

There are questions about just how many girls were taken, with varying reports putting that number between 230 to 276, depending on who is talking.

In the days after the attack, the military said all the girls had been released or rescued. But after the girls’ families began asking where their daughters were, the military retracted the statement.

This much the father knows for sure: His two daughters are among those still in captivity after almost a month.

Nigerian officials have defended their response and said they are searching.

“We’ve done a lot — but we are not talking about it,” presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe said. “We’re not Americans. We’re not showing people, you know, but it does not mean that we are not doing something.”

But the father scoffed at the government’s response.

“We have never seen any military man there,” he said.

“Had it been military men who went into the bush to rescue our daughters, we would have seen them.”

‘We can’t let this be the new normal’.

Terrorists fill the void

Boko Haram, on the other hand, is entrenched in the region.

The father believes that either supporters or members of Boko Haram live in his village.

They know his family, the father says. They know about his daughters.

The family is so afraid, he says, that they have fled their home and taken to sleeping in the bush.

“Life is very dangerous in Chibok right now. Since on 14th of April, to date, we don’t sleep at home,” the father said.

They’re not alone. The father said that starting around 5 or 6 o’clock in the evening, “people will disappear into the bush because there is no security.”

“We sleep in the bush with all of our little ones,” he said.

A violent force, a mother’s plea.

Boko Haram is a ruthless, powerful force.

The group says its goal is to impose stricter enforcement of Sharia law across Africa’s most populous nation, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south.

Libya threatens EU over immigrants L

IBYA’s interim interior minister has warned that Tripoli could “facilitate” the passage of those people seeking to get to Europe illegally unless the European Union (EU) helps it combat the problem.

“With regards to illegal immigration, I am warning the world, and the European Union in particular, that if they do not shoulder the responsibility with us, the state of Libya will take a position on this matter that could facilitate the quick passage of this

Mazek flood of people through Libya since God has made us a transit point for this flood,” Salah Mazek told a news conference on Saturday.

Mazek said Libya was “suffering” because

thousands of mainly subSaharan Africans were spreading disease, crime and drugs in the North African nation, the AFP news agency reported.

“Libya has paid the price. Now it’s Europe’s turn to pay,” Mazek added.

For years, Libya has been a springboard for hundreds of thousands of Africans seeking a better life in Europe.

Many cram into makeshift boats to attempt the perilous

S/Sudan: Govt, rebels trade blames on ceasefire violation

T

HE army and rebels in South Sudan have accused each other of breaching a ceasefire, only hours after it was meant to come into effect.

The army said rebels attacked government positions in the early hours of Sunday in the town of Bentiu in oilrich Unity State.

The rebels said their positions were targeted by ground attack and artillery in Unity and Upper Nile states.

A deal to end the fivemonth conflict was signed on Friday in Ethiopia.

At the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar met faceto-face for the first time since hostilities broke out and agreed to halt fighting within 24 hours.

But in a statement issued on Sunday, rebel

military spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the reported violations showed “that Kiir is either insincere or not in control of his forces.”

For the army, spokesman Philip Aguer said the rebel attacks in Bentiu had been repelled.

There has been no independent verification of either side’s claims.

A previous deal, made in January, collapsed in

days, with each side accusing the other of breaching terms.

Earlier, the UN called on both sides to facilitate deliveries of emergency aid to a population in danger of mass hunger.

The UN estimates that some five million of South Sudan’s citizens are in need. At least 1.5 million have been displaced and thousands of people have been killed.

HINA yesterday signed a deal to build a $3.8 billion rail link between Kenya’s Indian Ocean port of Mombasa and Nairobi, the first stage of a line that will eventually link Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Exim Bank of China will provide 90 percent of the cost to replace the crumbling British colonial-era line with a 609.3 kilometre (379 mile) standardgauge link and Kenya

Ukrainian rebels claim massive turnout in vote

P

RO-RUSSIAN rebels have claimed a massive turnout in a vote for self-rule they held in two regions of eastern Ukraine amid fears it could lead to civil war.

With voting still going on in Donetsk and Lugansk, one separatist leader said yesterday that the region would form its own state bodies and military after the referendum, formalising a split with Kiev that began with the armed takeover of state buildings in a dozen eastern towns last month, Reuters news agency reported.

Assad prepares for presidential election

O

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan and rebel leader Riek Machar signed the deal in Ethiopia on Friday

China signs mega East Africa rail deal

C

Mediterranean crossing to Malta or the Italian island of Lampedusa off Sicily. Hundreds lose their lives each year.

the remaining 10 percent.

Construction is due to start in October and take

three-and-a-half years to complete, with China Communications Construction Co. as the main contractor.

Frontrunner for India’s Premiership urges large poll turn out

I

NDIA’s frontrunner for prime minister Narendra Modi urged voters to turn out in record numbers to throw the scandal-plagued Congress party from power as a bitter, marathon election campaign drew to a close.

Modi, from the oppo-

sition Bharatiya Janata Party, made his final appeal to voters before the last round of voting on Monday in the world’s biggest election expected to catapult the Hindu nationalist hardliner to power.

N billboards and in posters taped to car windows, new portraits of President Bashar Assad filled the streets of Damascus yesterday as Syria officially opened its presidential campaign despite a crippling civil war that has devastated the country and left large chunks of territory outside of government control.

The Syrian opposition and its Western allies have denounced the June 3 election as a sham designed to lend Assad, who is widely expected to win another seven-year term, a veneer of electoral legitimacy. The government, meanwhile, has touted the vote as the political solution to the conflict.

The election comes more than three years into a revolt against Assad’s rule that has killed more than 150,000 people and forced more than 2.5 million to seek refuge abroad.

The war has destroyed entire cities and towns, left the economy in tatters, and set alight sectarian hatreds in a society once known for its tolerance.

Vanguard, MONDAY MAY 12, 2014 — 53

08053068728

Ejide injured!

O

NE of the players in Stephen Keshi’s 30-man list for Brazil, goalkeeper Austin Ejide, suffered an injury in Hapoel Beer Sheva’s match in Israeli league yesterday.

Ejide recently missed one game for Hapoel due to minor problems, but he has played four matches until suffering another injury yesterday. In the 52nd minute of the clash against Hapoel Tel Aviv, Ejide apparently injured his hip while trying to collect the ball and had to be substituted by Shlomi Ben Hamo.

Vincent Enyeama’s understudy in Super Eagles’ team was almost certain to go to Brazil, being widely regarded as Nigeria’s second choice between the posts, but now there’s a question mark over Ejide’s place in the 23man World Cup squad as the extent of his injury is not known yet. Ejide was replaced when his team were 1-0 up in Tel Aviv and Hapoel Beer Sheva eventually won the game 2-1, clinching runners-up spot in Israeli league with 2 games to go. It’s the club’s best season since winning the domestic title in 1976 - a feat Ejide should be largely credited for, having conceded just 27 goals in 33 games.

•IN PAINS: Ejide

USSIA’s Maria Sharapova recovered from a nervous start to beat Romanian fourth seed Simona Halep and win her first Madrid Open title.

The former world number one battled back to win 1-6 6-2 6-3 and extend her unbeaten run on clay to 11 matches.

Eighth seed Sharapova, 27, has only lost three times on clay since 2011 - all three defeats coming against world number one Serena Williams.

Halep was playing in her first final at one of the WTA’s Premier tournaments.

The 22-year-old has

IGERIA’s Flying Eagles got off to a bright start in the 2015 AYC qualifiers after they beat hosts Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam in a second round, first leg clash on Sunday.

The Flying Eagles scored in the 49th minute through Musa Yahaya and killed off the contest in the 82nd minute courtesy of striker Taiwo Awoniyi.

“This win away from home is very, very good for us going into the return leg match in Nigeria,” Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba told reporters after the match watched by a fair crowd at the 60,000-capacity National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

“Tanzania also showed they are a very good side, but they will have to work on their finishing.

“Overall, it was the better team that won even though I was not completely satisfied with the final 15 minutes of the game as we sat back in our defence.”

However, Ngorongoro of Tanzania coach John Simkoko insisted they have not given up hope and said they will battle in the return

Flying Eagles beat Tanzania 2-0 in AYC qualifiers

•Awoniyi match in Nigeria in a fortnight.

“Nigeria were the better team and deserved to win,” he admitted.

“But the battle is not over yet as we will come prepared to Nigeria.”

It was a goalless first half, but Nigeria enjoyed

Man City lift Premier League title M

ANCHESTER City secured their second Premier League title in three seasons after goals from Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany saw them stroll to victory over West Ham. Manuel Pellegrini’s side knew a point would confirm they had regained the crown - but goals either side of the interval from Nasri and

Sharapova wins Madrid open

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enjoyed a remarkable 12 months in which she has risen from outside the world’s top 50 to number five in the rankings, winning seven titles along the way.

She looked capable of capturing the biggest prize of her career after dominating the first set, but Sharapova wrestled the initiative away from the Romanian early in the second.

A brilliant backhand winner from out wide gave Sharapova the decisive break at 3-1 in the decider and she closed out the win with a heavy forehand after one hour and 57 minutes.

Kompany ensured the formalities were completed with barely an anxious moment in front an ecstatic packed house at Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool’s home defeat to Chelsea and the late collapse at Crystal Palace opened the door for City and they took advantage ruthlessly by winning their last five games.

And for 60-year-old Chilean Pellegrini, it marked a triumphant conclusion to his first season in charge after he was brought in to replace sacked Roberto Mancini and entrusted with returning the title to the club.

With 102 league goals and that two-point final margin, no-one can begrudge City a success that is richly merited, for all Liverpool’s efforts this season.

As referee Martin Atkinson sounded the final whistle and confirmation of the title, City’s fans rushed on to the pitch in their thousands and celebrated before retreating to allow captain Kompany to lift the trophy once more.

Jubilant City captain Vincent Kompany lifts coach Pelegrini during the victory dance.

more of the ball possession and created more chances with their biggest opening coming after 24 minutes, when Musa Yahaya blasted wide from inside the six-yard.

Newly drafted striker Saad Kipanga from Mbeya City also had a glorious chance to put his team ahead after just five minutes, but his header from inside the box missed its target.

The home team suffered a major blow when firstchoice goalkeeper and skipper Aishi Manula could not continue after a thigh injury in the first period.

He was therefore replaced by Peter Manyika for the resumption of the second half.

Four minutes after the break, Tanzania’s worst fears came to be as Musa Yahaya slotted past the goalkeeper from the near post after a low cross by skipper Musa Muhammed.

Kelechi Iheanacho, who replaced Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Mu-azam’ for the second half, was denied a goal in the 54th minute by a piece of brilliant goalkeeping by Manyika.

Guardiola soaked by jubilant Bayern players

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AYERN Munich ended their Bundesliga season in style, claiming victory against Stuttgart thanks to a 92nd minute Claudio Pizarro goal before collecting the Bundesliga shield.

Pizarro, a 64th minute substitute for Mario Mandzukic, is out of contract this summer but if he has played his last game for the club he has en-

sured he leaves on a high.

Pep Guardiola named a strong side for the final league game of the season, including Javi Martinez who has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal, and Manchester United target Thomas Muller Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger limped out of the game in

the 37th minute after picking up a knock.

And Guardiola also showed a different side to his personality, soaking his players in champagne before they returned the favour and left the former Barcelona manager drenched as he posed for pictures with his side’s silverware.

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

Amuneke drops four players G

OLDEN Eaglets c o a c h Emmanuel Amuneke wielded the big stick as four players were dropped from the team as part of the building process.

The four players who were shown the exit door of the Golden Eaglets’ CJ Planet International Hotel camp in Abuja are: Kingsley Michael, Okonkwo Orji, Chibuzor Ibekwe and Paul Obasi.

The decision to drop the affected players came after repeated warnings against poor performance and conduct by his fledging players.

Amunike therefore advised the remaining players to pull their weight since no bad conduct would be tolerated both on and off the field of play.

“I really want to thank all of you for what you have done so far but the truth of the matter is that some of you are not doing enough and as a matter of fact, we won’t also condone indiscipline on the part of anybody,” said

Amuneke.

He said he was miffed with the conduct of some of the players following the team’s relative success at the recently concluded WAFU B Tournament in Togo and categorically told the players that no

individual player is bigger than the team or the country.

“Without discipline, we can’t get to anywhere and achieve anything.

As such, we want you to remain focused and disciplined,” he maintained.

Brazil World Cup: Supporters Club cry out over impersonation

A

P PA R E N T LY afraid of the height of impersonations as the World Cup in Brazil draws near, PresidentGeneral of the Nigerian Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo has warned those planning to use the Supporters Club to secure visa fraudulently to stay away to avoid being picked by the police. ‘’We can’t afford to soil the image of this country because of desperate,

dubious people. We’re sounding this warning to prevent people going to jail. We’ve alerted the Brazilian Embassy as well as the Nigerian Police. They are on the look out.

We’ve been to all parts of the world without any scandal from our authentic members. Those who want to use our name for wrong reasons are enemies and should be treated like that’’, a highly angry Ladipo said.

He noted that the club was still sourcing funds for their members going to Brazil. ‘’We are appealing to all Nigerians to come to our aid. Brazil is too expensive. It will take a member N1million to go to Brazil. But we’re subsidizing for them to pay N380,000. The club to plans to go with a strong 1,100 members cut across all countries to support the Super Eagles in the World Cup.

Honeywell explains romance with Ibile Games

By JACOB AJOM

T

HE Executive D i r e c t o r, Marketing of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Benson Evbuomwan was all smiles at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos as scores of student athletes were being presented with Honeywell products during the closing ceremony of the 2014 Ibile Games.

“That is the motivation, for these children to do well on the tracks. When they play or run, they have an eye on winning something.

They all want to be winners so they can be appreciated with our products,” Evbuomwan explained, pointing out that the company uses sports to reach out to its consumers.

Apart from giving the kids what they want, the company executive said his organisation was only

doing the needful, in terms of corporate social responsibility.

“We give a little support to the communities we operate in and assist government’s drive to develop sports and the children, in particular.

“On our own we have gone to schools and got involved in inter house games. The interest is on developing the children and reviving sports,” he said.

In the final medal table, Lagos Island Local Government emerged champions of the 2014 Ibile Games with 151 gold, 108 silver and 107 bronze medals. Surulere Local Government placed a distant second with 36 gold, 32 silver and 41 bronze medals while Ibeju Lekki were third with 29 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014 — 55

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014

Madrid Queen

Champions!

City lift Premier League title

Sharapova lifts her trophy after defeating Simona Halep 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to win the Madrid Open yesterday

Guardiola drenched in victory

Bundesliga Champs

Guardiola proudly displays the Bundesliga shield after being drenched

Shocker: Ejide injured!

Details inside

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Portion (5) 7 Surpassed (6) 9 Meadow (3) 10 Marry (3) 12 Map-book (5) 13 Region (4) 15 Passage (5) 17 Loath (6) 19 Obligation (4) 20 Sensational (5) 22 Tap (3) 24 Erased (7) 27 And not (3) 28 Stadium (5) 31 Petal (4) 33 Money-lender (6) 35 Frequently (5) 37 Need (4) 38 Burning (5) 39 Immerse (3) 41 Antelope (3) 42 Gift (6) 43 Bordered (5)

DOWN 1 Scribble (6) 2 Seem (6) 3 Novel (3) 4 Stop up (4) 5 Detested (5) 6 Response (8) 8 Expensive (4) 11 Scattered (9) 14 Greedy (4) 16 Chair (4) 18 Paradise (4) 21 Undernourished (8) 23 Rip (4) 25 Oaf (4) 26 Sketched (4) 29 Rubber (6) 30 Shrewd (6) 32 Smithy (5) 34 Group (4) 36 Deflect (4) 40 Maul (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Glad 2, Dim 6, Push 9, Ask 10, Consumed 11, Team 14, Ant 16, Tower 19, Inserted 21, Tenor 23, Demanded 24, Later 27, Tin 31, Cosh 33, Imitated 34, Rue 35, Beer 36, Kin 37, Term.

DOWN: 2, Look 3, Dash 4, Demented 5, Made 6, Patio 7, Use 8, Skate 12, Civil 13, Asset 14, Art 15,. Tenet 17, Weedy 18, Ready 20, Dominion 22, Ran 25, Adore 26, Ether 28, Link 29, Part 30, Near 32, Sue.

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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