Rivers under siege - Amaechi

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61924

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

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Rivers under siege — AMAECHI •IGP summons Rivers CP, other officers •Soyinka,Nwabueze, Sagay, others condemn crisis •Jonathan charges politicians to play by the rules •Progressive govs flay role of police in crisis •It's like the Ngige saga in Anambra — Atiku •House factions stick to their guns •NLC, oil workers threaten...

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, JIMITOTA ONOYUME & BEN AGANDE

P

ORTHARCOURT— GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday cried out over recent develop-

BUILDINGS COLLAPSE IN LAGOS & KADUNA

ments in the state, saying that the state and the people were under siege.

Governor Amaechi spoke even as the Police launched a high-level investigation into the role of its officers and men in the crisis, with an invitation to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu Joseph and police officers attached to the Government House alleged to have taken sides in the fracas.

Also yesterday, the Army high command denied withdrawing troops from Government House,

Continues on Page 4

COLUMNIST:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE •P.49

Mr & Mrs

RESCUE MISSION—Scenes of a collapsed building in Ebute Metta, Lagos and another 101-yr-old building in Kaduna (below left), yesterday. Photos: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor; Bunmi Azeez and Olu Ajayi. See more pictures and stories on Pages 9 &16.

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 3

4—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

POCKET CARTOON

BRIEFING—Prof Wole Soyinka (left) addressing a world press conference, yesterday, in Lagos, on the state of the Nation and the crisis in Rivers State House of Assembly. With him is Mr Femi Falana. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Rivers under siege Continues from page 1 affirming that the troops pulled out were not a component of the security infrastructure of the Government House.

President Goodluck Jonathan in his first public reaction since the fracas in the State House of Assembly on Tuesday warned politicians in the state to tread within the bounds of political engagement. The President, presently on a state

visit to China, said he was deeply concerned over the spate of violence and imputations of his involvement on the side of one party.

Receiving the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration investigating the crisis in the state yesterday, Governor Amaechi who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF lamented that the state and its functionaries

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer –Rick Pitino. Do not limit yourself, excel to excellence.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You’ve got this life and while you’ve got it, you’d better kiss like you only have one moment; try to hold someone’s hand like you will never get another chance to, look into people’s eyes like they’re the last you’ll ever see; watch someone sleeping like there’s no time left; jump if you feel like jumping, run if you feel like running, play music in your head when there is none, and eat your favourite food like it’s the only one left in the world! —Joy Bell HAT is it that we all seek so relentlessly and beautifully? Etched in our hearts is the primordial love, a beautiful recall of the divine essence, and when we do find this love, it is a rediscovery of the self; for we are this love that we seek in the eyes of a loved one, in a warm hug of a friend, in the loving smile of a child and the beauty in nature. We long to share beautifully with another and to feel the loving embrace of this awesome energy is a continuous awaking of being in the presence of love.

To live life gracefully, one must be genuinely and forever grateful. Always expect all good things to be yours, and do not take anything for granted. If there may be a key, to a beautiful life, this is the key.

W

C M Y K

were now under siege.

“Yesterday, they were shooting tear gas into Government House.

When we were meeting with the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) today, the Police claimed that it was inadvertent, that they shot tear gas into Government House. So, I asked one question, supposing, it was live bullet and it hit me, they said, ‘Nooo, governor was not outside,’ but I said, I was outside, you can check”, Amaechi said.

Expressing shock at the sudden withdrawal of soldiers and Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC attached to Government House, the governor lamented that commanders of security formations in the state have in the past two months not met with him on account of political pressures.

We are under siege here — Amaechi

“We are under siege here. For two months now, we have not met with security men. Security commanders in the state don’t come to me any longer. They are either scared or they don’t deliberately want to see me. They withdrew soldiers attached to me yesterday (Wednesday) and this morning, they withdrew the APC attached to Government House”,

Amaechi said.

Senator Kabiru Gaya, chairman of the Senate Committee said the committee was mandated by the Senate to find a solution to the problem in the state.

“Your Excellency, yesterday, July 10, 2013, the Senate had a meeting or session where a motion was raised by Senator Magnus Abe on the situation in Rivers State. The motion was discussed.

We had two hours in the closed-door session to discuss how best to sustain our stable democracy, how best we could have the legislators perform their functions without undue interference”, Senator Gaya said.

“I will also say the state was under the situation of violence, and there were disturbances in Rivers State. Therefore, this committee was mandated by the Senate to come and investigate, and also invite other members, including stakeholders. After this courtesy visit, we have to discuss with you (Amaechi) to know what happened from your side.

We also need to talk with the Assembly members on both sides, including the Commissioner of Police, the DSS and the JTF. We have already asked the Commissioner of Police to meet us this evening and DSS,” Senator Gaya said.

IGP inaugurates probe panel, invites Rivers CP

Meanwhile, Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has inaugurated a high powered investigation panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge Operations, DIG Philemon Leha to move to Port Harcourt.

While inaugurating the panel, Abubakar assured that the Police will not spare anyone found to have fallen foul of the law during the fracas, irrespective of placement and status. Already, Vanguard was told that the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mbu and some police officers attached to Governor Rotimi Amaechi have been invited by the panel to answer questions regarding the roles they played in the melee.

The high powered panel is to “scrupulously investigate all the circumstances surrounding the on-going impasse in

the State particularly, as it relates to the actions and omissions of Police personnel that were physically on ground during the unfortunate fracas that occurred at the hallowed Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly”.

A statement signed by CSP Frank Mba, Force spokesman on the development said: “The Police High Command uses this medium and opportunity to remind the citizens of the state, irrespective of their ideological leaning, of the need to play by the rules.

While the Force continues to do everything within its constitutional powers and means to provide a safe, impartial and conducive atmosphere for legitimate social, political and economic activities to thrive in the State, the IG warned that the Police will not tolerate any form of lawlessness or acts amounting to threats to public safety and public order.”

It continued: “The IGP strongly advises citizens to seek civilized and decent means of resolving their differences, devoid of all forms of violence and confrontation.”

“He reminds the good people of Rivers State that the peace of the state is paramount to the well being and development of the state and that the Police Force needs the maximum co-operation and understanding of the people to optimally discharge its statutory responsibilities”.

Reiterating that “the success of our democracy depends on our collective efforts and contributions”, the IG noted that “ we must as a people; manage our differences to the advantage of our growing democracy for the good of all.”

The IG then reassured the good people of Rivers State and the general public of “the readiness

of the Force to at all times ensure the security of the State and implored the citizens not to further heat-up the polity through hateful, inflammatory and unguarded statements/actions but to consciously work towards the enthronement of peace within the State.

“Meanwhile, citizens are advised to continue to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of intimidation from any quarter”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army, yesterday, denied any relationship between the withdrawal of 35 soldiers deployed to Government House in Port Harcourt and the political impasse between Governor Amaechi and a faction of the PDP said to be loyal to Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Nwike.

An Army General told Vanguard that the Army personnel in question are under the command of the Joint Task Force for Niger Delta, codenamed ‘Operation Pulo Shield,’ adding that the JTF routinely carries out rotation of its troops which may have necessitated the recall of the soldiers.

“If that is the case, there should be replacements in the not too distant future, however, it should be noted that the military do not deploy soldiers to guard governors. No governor has troops deployed to guard him. Rather in areas where Joint Task Forces are deployed due to peculiar security challenges, soldiers are deployed to ensure peace and security for the people of that state or environment and not to protect individuals. The only exception to that rule is the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, which is being protected by the elite Brigade of Guards,” Continues on page 5

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—5

The House of crisis

Rivers under siege — Amaechi Continues from page 4 he said.

Contacted on the issue, Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru said he was not aware that the Army headquarters ordered the withdrawal of soldiers guarding the governor as such development was not known to the army.

National interest more important, says Jonathan

In his reaction to the developments in Rivers State, articulated by Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media, the presidency said: “President Jonathan urges members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and all other political gladiators in the state to put the interests of the state and the nation above their personal egos and ambitions that seem to have gotten in the way of their expected commitment to uphold the principles of democracy and good governance.

“The President calls on all those who were remotely or directly involved in heightening political tension in Rivers State to put an immediate end to their actions which are capable of plunging Rivers State into public disorder and strive to settle their po-

litical differences without further recourse to barbaric acts of violence.”

“President Jonathan expects all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, irrespective of their current affiliations or loyalties, to comport themselves with greater restraint while efforts continue to resolve existing differences and restore internal harmony to the state branch of the party.”

Disclaiming presidential involvement in the crisis, the statement continued: ”The Presidency has also noted with regret the continuing attempts

by some individuals and groups to place responsibility for the unpleasant developments in Rivers State on President Jonathan.”

“We are constrained to state once again that there is absolutely no factual basis for suggestions that some of the politicians involved in the current dispute are acting at the behest of the President.

“President Jonathan certainly did not instigate the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly and as President of the nation, he will never support any actions that negate his avowed commitment to

the rule of law. The President will also never violate his oath of office to always defend the Nigerian Constitution.”

House factions stick to their guns

Meanwhile the leaders of the two factions in the State House of Assembly stuck to their positions last night, with Evans Bipi, leader of the fivemember faction insisting he had taken over from Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, leader of the faction of 27 members.

There were no indications that either of the factions would convene a session.

Speaker Amachree

said he would wait on the House of Representatives which on Wednesday voted that the National Assembly take over the legislative duties of the House of Assembly before taking further actions. Amachree who spoke through his media aide, Mr Jim Opiki said since a process had already been launched by the House of Representatives he would wait for the process to run its course before taking further action.

Majority leader of the House, Chidi Lloyd was still hospitalized on account of the fracas last Wednesday and said he was not in a position to talk yesterday.

On his part, Hon Bipi who leads four other members of the house insisted he is the Speaker of the House even as he said the House of Representatives should first look at the cause of the crisis rocking the House of Assembly before talking about taking over the functions of the assembly.

He further appealed to the House of Representatives to convene a joint session of the two chambers of the National Assembly to properly look at the root cause of the crisis rocking the state assembly with a view to resolving them.

On when he would convene a sitting, he said he would get back to Vanguard when he is ready.

“I am the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. I was duly elected. During my acceptance speech I raised some fundamental issues that the House of Representatives should look into. They should look at the cause of the problem.

I also called on the EFFC

How I was attacked — Chinda Meanwhile, Hon Michael Chinda, one of the five legislators opposed to Governor Amaechi who suffered several bruises during the fracas has spoken of his experience.

He said: ”Rivers state House of Assembly elected a new Speaker Hon. Evans Bipi and the old Hon. Daniel Amachree was impeached and everything concerning the enthronement of the new speaker was concluded. As we

were about to leave the place, the governor broke into our chambers.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi led the group.

They came into the chamber and started beating everybody.

"For my case, I have to be very specific. I was about leaving; I never knew that Chidi Lloyd, very close to me in the House. I was misled by closeness with him. I never had any idea that he could be so brutal to

use such a weapon on me.

“My colleagues rushed me to this Saint Patrick Hospital in the pool of blood and I have been here since yesterday.

“If you look at my records from the very day we were inaugurated by the governor of Rivers State, I have never insulted the governor. I hold the office of the Governor of Rivers State in very high esteem and I won’t have gone closer

to the governor. I didn’t even go close to the governor because we respect the governor. Until Chidi Lloyd and the policemen came and did what they did. Only God will judge.

Why will I do that. Why will I insult the governor? I can never do that.

If anybody said I did such a thing the person is not being fair to me.

We formed a quorum, the normal number required to impeach a Speaker.”

to investigate the House.

These things should be done," said.

In a related development, Rivers state local government legislators’ forum has passed a vote of no confidence on the state Police Commissioner, Mr Mbu Joseph, calling for his redeployment from the state. A statement signed by Lawrence Wagbara for the group further condemned the action of five lawmakers of the House on Tuesday who alleged to have impeached the speaker of the house.

Progressive govs condemn crisis TheProgressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, comprising governors in the opposition political parties in the country, has expressed concern over the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly.

PGF in a statement, said: “Events in Rivers State resulting in the shameful occupation of the state Government House by members of the Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 are direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy.

"These developments are not only worrisome but outrightly condemnable as an affront on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“PGF unequivocally condemns the ill-disguised attempt to create a state of emergency in Rivers State by plunging the state into a needless and avoidable crisis.

“All available evidences surrounding the events of Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9 and 10 respectively, indicated that the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu and his men did not act in a professional manner. Before now, the state Police Commissioner has exhibited very clear bias against the governor and other state officials. This is a dangerous development that would only produce anarchy with unpredictable consequences.

“Events of July 9 and 10 in Rivers State represent acts sponsored by anarchists whose interest include subverting our democracy and expose the lives of democratically elected representatives to great danger. As it is today, the orderly conduct of democratic institutions in Rivers State have been impaired and the life of Governor Amaechi and his team are in great danger."

Continues on pages 6&7

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HREE days after the mayhem at the Rivers State House of Assembly, the polity was still awash with condemnation of the action of the lawmakers and feuding stakeholders.

Among those who spoke on the crisis, yesterday, were Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, legal icons, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, Itse Sagay, SAN, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Femi Falana, SAN. Nobel Laurete, Professor Wole Soyinka has condemned the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, saying that democratic grounds were being eroded in the state.

Soyinka also took a swipe at the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan for her alleged over bearing tendencies and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to call her to order.

While he faulted the presidency for trying to absolve the president from the crisis, he said “the perception in the world is

‘

Soyinka, Nwabueze, others condemn Rivers Assembly crisis understand that the perception out there in the world is that he bears a lot of responsibility for what is happening in Rivers state.”

Drawing a parallel, he said “My reference to Thomas Becket was this: the absolute Monarchism that obtained at that time was that King Henry II saw that Thomas Becket was becoming too influential and what he said was that: ‘will no one rid me of this pestilence?’

"What happened after that was that four Knights went and attacked the Archbishop at the Cathedral.

"Historically now, we have five operators carrying out the imaginary will of the absolute monarch, again another p a r a l l e l i s m . ” Continuing, he said “Again, I have been asking myself are we not tilting towards absolute monarch? There are many

I am calling on the President Jonathan, please curb the excesses of your wife. Too much is too much. Is she the first First Lady we have had?

She is now being used to abuse the authority of an elected governor

that he bears a vicarious liability in the crisis.”

Besides, he said the indifference exhibited by the President creates an enabling environment for his followers to act on his behalf.

He said: “What I want to do here is to remind you of a certain historic figure. I am sure most of us here must be familiar with Thomas Becket, who was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 11th Century, who was murdered at the altar by four Knights of King Henry II.” Commenting on the crisis, he said: “Now, I have read on the pages of newspapers and watched on television that the President’s spokesmen have been trying to distance him (President) from what is happening in Rivers State. They are doing their job and I wish them well but they have to understand that the President has to

and take over the state for 11 days. “A queen goes to the archbishop’s domain, stays 11 days and the baron is not even allowed to move; creating an enabling environment for that baron to be dealt with.

He is stopped by a Sheriff and that baron is responsible for security and governance.”

He continued: “I am calling on the President Jonathan please curb the

excesses of his wife. Too much is too much. Is she the first First Lady we have had? She is now being used to abuse the authority of an elected governor.

"The governor’s lodge was tear-gassed. Anybody who said teargas was not thrown into Amaechi’s lodge is either ignorant or lying. Some of Amaechi’s security has been removed. The democratic grounds are being eroded.

With a teargas thrown, the next one may be a smoke gun”.

He chided Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu over his role in the political imbroglio and described him as a political policeman.

Falana laments crisis Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana said it was

regrettable that exactly 10 years after a group of thugs attempted to abduct a sitting governor in Anambra State, another set of thugs attempted to undermine democratic institutions in Rivers State.

Falana said the silence of President Jonathan on the unfortunate development in Rivers State was tantamount to an endorsement of the political crisis.

One of those wounded in the crisis

’

ways of saying: will no one rid me of this pestilence in Rivers State? You don’t have to utter a word directly but from your conduct which can convey very strong signals or better still say I will come after you.”

Stating that he was not casting aspersion on any individual, he said, “I am saying that one can establish certain conducts in the mind of one’s followers, all of which circle around impunity. There are certain ways you can convince your followers, your officials, your cohorts that they can act with impunity. There are many ways, for instance, you can expose a prey and say that prey is available.”

First Lady’s excesses Decrying alleged excesses of the first lady, Soyinka said it was unfortunate that a mere domestic appendage of power could go to a state

Atiku compares crisis with Ngige's in Anambra

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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ORMER VicePresident Atiku Abubakar has decried developments in Rivers State lamenting that the country is yet to learn from a similarly dark period when Governor Chris Ngige and democratic institutions in Anambra State were brutally violated 10 years ago.

In narrations on his twitter handle, Atiku drew surprising similarities between the developments in Rivers State and Anambra State which ironically commenced exactly about the same time 10 years ago, on July 10, 2003.

Atiku said: “I got a lot of tweets about the removal of Gov. Chris Ngige during my time in office.

Today is exactly 10 years,” he said in the first tweet posted on Wednesday.

Following that he also tweeted: "it is an interesting coincidence that the sad events in Rivers are taking place around the 10th anniversary of a similar scenario in Anambra.

“It was July 10, 2003.

The President was away to Uganda on an official visit.

I was holding fort for him as Vice President.”

Giving details of his response, he tweeted: “A telephone call came in from a frantic Gov Ngige.

He had been abducted, beaten and confined to a room.”

“I immediately placed a

call to the IG of Police, Tafa Balogun, with orders to put a stop to the subversion of democracy.

“Exactly 10 years later it seems we have failed to learn any lessons from one of the darkest moments in our recent democratic history".

NBA sues for peace, urges combatants to approach court for adjudication

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IGERIAN Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, called on parties involved in the political crisis in Rivers to channel their grievances to the courts to avoid breakdown of peace.

This advice was contained in statement by the President of the NBA, Mr Okey Wali.

Wali called on the parties to sheath their swords and approach the courts for adjudication.

He said: “The political differences in Rivers State until now have been in the courts, which is the right and proper way to settle disputes in any civilised society.

“This is why the NBA refrained from issuing statements on the matter, as they were subjudice.

“But the latest twist of violence is a dangerous dimension that must be condemned very strongly and quickly.

He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure restoration of peace and tranquility in Rivers.

“The rule of law must prevail, and there must be no sacred cows, as nobody is above the law,” the statement said.

He emphasised the need for security agencies to ensure that the interest and well being of the people of Rivers remained paramount.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—7

No hand in mayhem — Wike As IG summons Rivers CP

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH S the political crisis in Rivers State escalates, one of the key political actors in the state’s chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Nyesom Wike, has denied any involvement in the conflict.

Wike, who is the Minister of State for Education, told Vanguard that the crisis should not be blamed on him, as he was busy doing his assignment in Abuja.

The denial by Wike came in the wake of report that the controversial Rivers Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, had been summoned by the police high command to Abuja to explain his role in the unfolding political crisis in the state.

A source close to the command in Rivers State hinted that Mbu got the summon to report in Abuja on Wednesday, a few hours after some policemen stormed the Rivers Government House and opened canisters of teargas that injured some persons there.

But Mbu has consistently said he is not taking side with the anti-Amaechi forces in Port Harcourt and Abuja in a bid to remove him from power despite the

A

Protesters at the scene of incident while policemen watch

Reps erred in taking over Rivers House, say Sagay, Agbakoba, others

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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M I N E N T Constitutional lawyers have berated the House of Representatives over its take-over of legislative duties in Rivers State.

Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, and Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, opposed the legislators’ move, describing it as a misinterpretation of constitutional provisions outlined by Section 11 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

They spoke yesterday at the public presentation of Nwabueze’s two-volume autobiography in Lagos.

Action premature — Sagay Sagay said: “The action of the Federal legislators is totally uncalled-for and unacceptable. If you look at Section 11 of our constitution, if you read it carefully, you will see that it’s meant to be combined with Section 305, under emergency provision. In order words, it is only when emergency has been declared in a state that you can expressly act under Section 11. That is the spirit of the law, but they broke that spirit, because it wasn’t expressly stated. So their action was premature.”

Arguing that there was more to the Reps’ action, he said: “If you look at this whole issue critically, you

will observe that there was no need for the take-over.

One, there was no evidence that a state of emergency has been declared in Rivers State.

Two, in my view, Section 11 can’t be activated without the exercise of Section 305, which provides for emergency rule. I see this move as an act of inefficiency. This is a National Assembly that has not finished exercising its constitutional functions towards making laws to better the lots of Nigerians.

What does the National Assembly know about the problems in Rivers State or its people?”

On the move by five members of the Rivers Assembly to impeach the Speaker, Dan Amachree, Sagay described it as laughable, noting that “in a House of 32 members, how is it possible for just five clowns to say they have impeached the speaker.

It's dishonourable — Agbakoba Agbakoba described the action of the Federal legislators as dishonourable.

He said: “This shows you what usually happens when people who are charlatans and dishonourable take up leadership positions. What is happening in the Rivers Assembly is a collossal disgrace. It’s unbelievable.

If I must say my mind, the issue in Rivers State is just

a symptom of the larger problems we have in this country. How do the people take away the power these political mediocre have?

What constitutional provision are they using to back their action? Let the House of Representative do their work. In fact, let them leave Rivers Assembly, because all these boils down to struggle for power,

which is unhealthy for our young democracy.”

Unconstitutional — Nwabueze In the same vein, Prof.

Nwabueze chided the Representatives saying, “their action is unconstitutional and a mere heightening of the issues in Rivers State.”

show of shame in which five out of the 32 lawmakers in the House of Assembly were reportedly aided and abetted by policemen to unleash mayhem on the pro-Amaechi supporters on Tuesday.

Wike said the eruption of crisis in the state was an indication that those at the helm of affairs had lost control and that he should not be accused of any offence.

“The minister said, “I don’t know what is happening in the state and those at the helm of affairs should be asked why things have degenerated to where they are.”

Reminded that he had been mentioned as one of those responsible for the crisis in his bid to unseat Amaechi so as to pave the way for his emergence as the next governor of Rivers State, Wike said he did not need to pull down the state before becoming a governor.

He argued that he did not need to resort to the level of violence that is currently rocking the state House of Assembly all in a bid to become governor.

“Do I need to pull down the state to become a governor?” If I become governor in a broken state does it make any sense”.

NLC, oil workers threaten as CPC accuses Presidency of complicity

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG, DEMOLA AKINYEMI & GABRIEL EWUPA

T

RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, described the fracas in Rivers House as unparliamentary.

The congress, in a statement by President, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama and General Secretary, Musa Lawal, said while Nigerians were yet to recover from the shock occasioned by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, crisis, another one was coming from Rivers’ lawmakers.

The statement said, "it was sad that the world watched agape as two factions in the assembly openly engaged in fisticuffs and used dangerous weapons.

"The spectacle of honourable legislators turned pugilists can best be

described as very dishonourable and a show of shame. They are proving that politics in Nigeria is seen more as a most lucrative business than a call to service.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, called on political actors in the Rivers crisis to “look at the bigger picture, which is the future of Nigeria’s democracy.”

In a statement by its Vice President, Issa Aremu, said: President Jonathan should avoid a degeneration to the dark discredited era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo during which some states were under siege; a Governor was kidnapped (Anambra) and two governors of Bayelsa and Plateau states serially removed at gun-points.”

National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, said it was

concerned and alarmed about the worsening political crisis in Rivers State and described as avoidable and unnecessary Tuesday’s violence in the State House of Assembly.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, said in view of the mayhem in the Rivers State House of Assembly and the state of fears pervading Rivers state, it would be forced to withdraw its members from the state, if the security situation did not improve.

PENGASSAN President, Babatunde Ogun, said the violence showed that political leaders in the country lacked elementary democratic decorum and respect for the constitution..

The Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Razak Atunwa, described the crisis as gross democratic degeneration, which he

said could lead to chaos and anarchy.

Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, accused the presidency of being the brain behind the fracas among the members of the House, and called for the impeachment of President Jonathan.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, CPC said that the presidency had in recent time engaged the Governor of the state in a political battle, which led to the eruption of undemocratic expression of emotions on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

Describing the crisis as shameless and executive recklessness, Fashakin called on the National Assembly to investigate the role allegedly played by the President, and if found culpable he should be impeached.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Boy, 10, in NSCDC custody over alleged N500,000 theft

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UTSE – A 10-year-old boy (name withheld) has been arrested by the Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, over alleged theft of N500,000.

NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, told News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse, yesterday, that the suspect was arrested, Wednesday, in Kiyawa Local Government Area of the state.

Gidado said the money was stolen from the suspect’s mother residing in Jahun Local Government, adding that it was a contribution by some of the residents, which was kept in the woman’s custody.

He said the boy was arrested following reports by members of the community on how the suspect was spending money extravagantly.

The commandant stated that a new sports bicycle worth N45,000 and N250,000 were recovered from him.

Six pipeline vandals arrested in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE — THE Nigeria Se curity and Civil Defence Corps, Ondo State Command have arrested six suspected oil pipeline vandals.

The suspects were arrested at Caravan, Ago Odigbo village after tollgate in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, Wednesday.

Two trucks with number plates XB 208 SGD EDO and XA 341 MAK Niger, one pumping machine, hose used for siphoning fuel from the vandalised NNPC pipeline and two motorcycles were recovered from them.

This was contained in a statement made available to Vanguard in Akure by the Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr Kayode Balogun.

The suspects, according to him, are Ashile Salami, Moruf Oluodunni, Usman Seidu, Raphael Ayanmonina, Abraham Nwadike and Joseph Enabulele.

Balogun said the anti-vandal unit of the command on a routine surveillance patrol of the NNPC pipeline at Ago Odigbo area caught the suspects in the act at 12:45 a.m.

Army parades policeman, 18 other suspected kidnappers, robbers Some of us indulge in robberies on the roads —Arrested cop Brig-Gen.Pat Akem, with a view to crush economic saboteurs and ENIN CITY— OFFICERS other criminal elements operatand men of the 4th Brigade, ing in the Niger Delta.

Nigerian Army Benin City, yesAccording to her, “in our efterday, paraded 19 suspected oil fort to check the excesses of thieves and robbers including a the oil thieves, our men interPolice Inspector, Nanagha cepted a tipper truck loaded Aduomeni, attached to A Depart- with 15 drums of substance susment of the Police Division, pected to be illegally refined Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

AGO at Aladja, Delta State.

Among the suspects were five "The operation led to the arrest kidnappers who collected N1.5 of five persons. They confessed million from their victim in Warri, and took the monitoring team to Delta State, before they were ar- the habour market and Tanker rested by the army while trying Garage in Warri metropolis where to sell a Nissan Primera Saloon a total of 1,500 drums of substance car with number plate LAGOS PJ suspected to be illegally refined 339 AAA, which was used for kid- AGO were discovered and connapping. sequently destroyed.”

Parading the suspects, at the 4 On the gang of robbers which Brigade, Benin City, Captain included the Police inspector, Roselyn Managbe, Army Public she said “he and members of Relations Officer, said it was part his gang were caught blockof the operation code named ing the road with woods while PULO SHIELD, put together by other members of his gang the Commander of the Brigade, who were armed took cover in

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

the thick forest along the road. ficer. Some of us indulge in such When they sighted the army, act on the roads”.

I n s p e c t o r Nanagha tried to withdraw into the bush, but was caught while other members of the gang escaped into the creeks.”

Inspector Nanagha who spoke to journalists, confessed to the crime, disclosing that “in Bayelsa most police officers indulge in robbery.

I have two children and a wife I am very sorry for them. I had to remove my uniform to go for the operation. I was called upon to go by a colPolice Inspector Nanagha Aduomeni, league police of- the suspect

300 illegal immigrants rounded up in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY — THE Ni geria Immigration Services in Edo State in collaboration with the state government, has apprehended more than 300 illegal immigrants in the state during operation conducted in the three senatorial districts of the state.

Controller of Immigration, Edo Command, Mr David Akwo, said, yesterday, that 120 of those arrested would be deported, while the Malians among them would be handed over to authorities of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, in line with UN resolution.

Parading the illegal immigrants at the command headquarters, Akwo cautioned citizens of West African countries not to misconstrue the ECOWAS Protocol on movement of citizens of member

states across the region.

He said: “You are all aware that recently, foreigners have been arrested for crimes in the state.

So with the assistance of the governor, we decided to raid and apprehend illegal immigrants.

"In the course of that, we arrested about 400 persons, but during our screening we found out that some of them are Nigerians, so we left those ones.

And of course some of these immigrants who have legal documents that qualify them to stay, we had to release them too.

“That left us with 120 illegal immigrants who do not possess valid travelling documents, so they are liable to be sent back to their countries.

On ECOWAS protocool of free movement, he said there was a proviso, that is to say for ECOWAS citizens to move freely and gain entry into ECOWAS member states, they

Some of the illegal immigrants apprehended in Edo, yesterday.

have to possess valid travel documents.

“Secondly, they have to come in through authorized route, that is where you have immigration clearance, either through the airport or of course the sea port, where your passport will be stamped and may be given 90 days to stay. Now, some of them present National ID cards but you and I know that these are not travelling documents, they are just to identify you as citizen of your country. So all these persons here majority are Nigerien, we have a few Ghananians, we have some from Guinea, we have Malians and or two Chadians.

“So because they don’t have any valid documents, we have to send them back to their countries."

House help docked for stealing N10m

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS— A 20-year-old house help, Christiana Jonah, who was alleged to have stolen valuables worth N10 million, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.

Jonah, who is facing a twocount charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing, levelled against her by the police, was docked before Magistrate A. O. Akinde.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the offence was committed at Plot 1862, Abraimoh Kuku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He said the defendant stole coral beads and wrist watches valued N10 million, perfume and scarfs worth N15,000 and N27,000 cash.

The prosecutor said that the stolen items were property of Mrs Adeola Yusuf. According to him, the offence committed contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read.

Magistrate Akinde granted her bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter to August 5, 2013.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—9

BY EVELYN USMAN, BOSE ADELAJA, MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO & UJU MBANUSI

101-yr-old 3-storey building collapses in Kaduna

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AGOS — A THREE-STO REY building at 29, Oloto Street, Ebutte Metta, Yaba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos, yesterday collapsed killing no fewer than seven persons with 14 others injured.

A one-year-old baby, a couple, identified as Bukky and Lanre, and a pregnant woman, a nursing mother, Iya AbdulBarki and her son were all pulled out of the debris dead.

Also, an 80-year-old Alhaji Ganiu Salami lost his life and has since been buried according to Islamic rites, while his daughter-in-law sustained injury.

Vanguard gathered that the 14 persons who sustained injuries when the building caved in at about 2:00 am, have all been admitted at the General Hospital, Lagos Island.

It was also learnt that the owner of the building identified as Alhaji Dimeji, who also owns two other distressed buildings is on the run.

Mr. Ufuoma Ekpere, a resident who alerted other residents about the imminent collapse said: “I came back from work at about 11:00 pm. But on getting home, my wife was asleep. So I had to go to the kitchen myself to prepare what I wanted to eat.

On getting to the kitchen, I discovered that some rubbles from the building had fallen off. But I didn’t take it serious. So I went to bed.

“At about 2:05 am, I woke up and discovered the entire building was cracking. While trying to alert the landlord, I discovered that the crack was getting wider. Then, I alerted other tenants and rescued my family. Immediately we came out, the building caved in.”

Community rescue team Mr. Hakeen Adeyemi, a resident who also helped in the rescue operation, said: “A large per cent of the recovered bodies were women.

“The baby was recovered in the company of his two siblings who, however, survived and have been admitted in the general hospital. Those rescued were rushed to the hospital while some died before help could come their way.”

Another resident involved in the rescue operation, Mr. Sikiru Azeez, said: “If the equipment had come early, the number of casualities would have reduced. I know this because I was involved in the rescue operation since 2:10 am. I had to use my rechargeable lantern to search for the victims. And I assisted in recovering three bodies and rescued two persons.”

Families of the deceased Sulaimon Shiaba, a brother to

7 of 50 occupants rescued so far

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K National Population Commission, NPC, Federal Commissioner for Anambra, Prof. Chika Moore (2nd left) and state Director, Mr Joachim Ulasi leading the road show against teenage pregnancy in Awka, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

7 die, 14 injured in Lagos building collapse Octogenarian, couple, baby, pregnant woman die RRS boss orders NEMA spokesman’s arrest Bukky, who died in the collapse, said his sister was in her early 30s and traded in local and foreign fabrics.

“Bukky was sleeping in the house with her husband, Lanre and Juwon, my brother. She rented the apartment four years ago. And when she rented the place, I was her guarantor and there wasn’t any crack on the building but all we could remove from the building were her cloths and jewellery.”

I thought rapture had taken place Another occupant who simply gave his name as Oluwaremilekun said: “I had just finished watching a movie and was trying to doze off when I heard some cracks followed by a loud noise. At that point, I thought rapture had taken place and I started praying for mercy.

"Before I knew it, I discovered that the floor was sinking and thought I was going to hell. I started shouting 'have mercy Lord!' Before I knew it, people started crying and shouting. I can’t tell how I managed to come out before I realised it was the building that collapsed. I am grateful to God for sparing my life because I am not better that those that died.”

A 28-year-old man identified as Olayinka Mogaji who resided in the ill-fated building said he was on their third floor apartment with his mother, his sister and a friend when they heard a loud noise, but before they could ascertain what was happening, the building came crumbling down on them.

"The walls fell on my mother

before she could run out. It took the intervention of neighbours to save her. I thank God everyone in our apartment survived. Three of our neighbours on the second floor were not that lucky, as they all died.”

NEMA confirms Confirming the incident, the information officer of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye said: “We received the alert about the collapsed building at about 2:35 am and we arrived at the scene 10 minutes later. Immediately we arrived, seven bodies were recovered.

“Among the seven bodies were one-year-old child, three women and five men were rescued from the debris.

“Affected were those who lived on the first and ground floors. It would have reduced if it wasn’t at night. But despite that we responded swiftly. Uptil 5:00 am, none of the agency had tuned up. If there are more people trapped in the building, we will know.”

NEMA spokesman arrested A mild drama unfolded at the scene of the collapsed building after spokesperson for NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, was manhandled and arrested by policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS. His arrest, as gathered, was on the order of a senior officer of RRS, following Farinloye’s attempt to prevent the policemen from chasing away some residents who were involved in rescue operation before the

arrival of rescue agents.

Men of the RRS arrived the scene at noon while NEMA and other rescue operators were still rescuing trapped victims from the debris. The policemen went into action by first sending away residents who were helping out. Journalists at the scene were also sent out.

At that point, Farinloye was said to have stopped the policemen from sending the youths away, explaining that they had been helping out in the rescue operation even before their arrival.

An unconfirmed report, however, quoted Farinloye as saying the senior RRS officer who gave the directive for the residents to leave the scene was stupid. Apparently angry at the utterance, the officer reportedly ordered Farinloye’s arrest.

Attempt to prevail on the officer failed as Farinloye was bundled out of the scene.

His arrest temporarily marred the rescue operation, as NEMA officials protested the arrest of their boss and thereafter, abandoned the scene.

Farinloye, as gathered, was taken to Denton police station where efforts to effect his release at about 4pm failed, as report had it that the Commander of the RRS, Mr Akeem Odumosu, insisted that Farinloye would be charged to court today.

Not even entreaties by the chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Oladele Olakanye to Odumosu could change his mind on Farinloye’s release.

However, Vanguard learnt that Farinloye was realsed at about 5.50 pm.

ADUNA— A THREESTOREY building, said to have been built over 101 years ago, yesterday, collapsed in Kaduna metropolis, trapping all the tenants that were inside at the time of the incident.

No fewer than 50 people were in the building as the time of the incident and only five children, a woman and one other man had been rescued at press time as there were no equipment to carry out the operation.

This was even as some of the victims continued to hit the walls of the collapsed building, screaming for help.

A middle-aged woman and occupants of the building collapsed on seeing the ruins, after shouting “my children, my children!”

She was taken to one of the nearby hospitals by men of the state’s Operation Yaki in a vehicle with number plate KAF 251 AA. Sources said the building, located along Hadeja Road by Ibrahim Taiwo Road, had its three top floors as residential homes, while the ground floor was used for trading.

It was said that the building, which collapsed at 2.32p.m., attracted passers-by and neighbours, which security men found difficult to control.

Gov, deputy seek help

Vanguard learnt that Governor Muktar Yero and his deputy, Nuhu Bajoga, cut short other state functions and participated in the efforts to rescue the victims.

They were said to have called relevant agencies to move down their rescue equipment to the site of the collapsed building.

Bajoga later sent the manager of one of the construction firms in the state, PWD, to ask for bulldozers and other equipment to hasten the rescue operation.

Helpless SEMA

Some officials of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, at the scene of were helpless in the chaotic environment as they had no rescue equipment.

SEMA’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, who was approached for comments by newsmen said: “Please, my

Continues on page 43

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

MY PIKIN’S APPEAL: Court adjourns till July 18

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — THE Court of Appeal, Lagos division, presided over by Justice Shagbaor Ikyegh, yesterday, adjourned till July 18 (next Thursday) on the appeal filed by the convicted producers of ‘My Pikin’ teething mixture.

It will be recalled that the appellants were found guilty in a judgment delivered on May 17, 2013, by Justice Okechukwu Okeke, (now retired) of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The judge found them guilty of conspiracy to sale of dangerous drugs.

The convicts are: Egbele Austin Eromosele and Adeyemo Abiodun, both sentenced to seven years imprisonment and their firm, Barewa Pharmaceuticals Limited, to be wound up and assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

NSCDC smashes illegal baby factory

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU — OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Enugu State, yesterday, raided a clinic where babies from unwanted pregnancies are sold.

The proprietor of the clinic, Dr. Ben Agbo and a nurse working with him, have been arrested while a three-day old baby about being delivered to a buyer was recovered from them.

The illegal baby home identified as ‘Moonlight Maternity Home’ is located at Agbani Road by Abagana Street in Coal Camp area of Enugu capital city.

The 74-year old proprietor of the clinic said he had been operating the clinic since the past nine years, admitting that he had been selling babies to those in need under a humanitarian service of the clinic.

Lagos Govt undecided on death row inmates

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS — LAGOS State Government, yesterday, said it had not decided whether or not to sign death warrants to execute inmates on death row in view of high number of condemned inmates in Lagos prisons.

State Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who spoke on the controversy generated by the recent executions in Edo State, following President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive to the governors to start signing death warrants, said, “the only option is for the country to put up a national committee to determine the necessity or otherwise of retaining death penalty in the nation’s constitution.”

According to him, the committee would examine whether death sentence had served the purpose of deterring others from committing such crimes or not.

He said the state realised recently that majority of prison inmates kept illegally in custody had no case file or any report awaiting legal advice in the Ministry of Justice.

Speaking on death penalty at the monthly briefing on law and order in Lagos, Ipaye said the committee’s report would help Nigerians to take a stand on the issue which “has stood at limbo for some times now.”

Reacting to the hesitation by governors in performing the constitutional duty of signing the execution warrants and the president’s directive, Ipaye said “although death penalty remains part of our laws, gover-

nors still have the right to exercise their discretion in granting amnesty to convicts under the prerogative of mercy as well as by being hesitant to sign the warrant because of the convicts’ right of appeal.”

On prison decongestion, Ipaye said a recent visit to the Kirikiri female, medium and maximum prisons had shown that many of the inmates were on awaiting trial list without records, saying, “on June 13, we visited Kirikiri Female, Medium, and Maximum prisons. In the female prison, we discovered that out of 226 inmates, 171 were ‘awaiting trial’, with only 54 inmates were already convicted.

“At the Maximum Prison, we discovered 121 inmates who were awaiting trial for various offences.

“It is important to note that

majority of these inmates have no file or report awaiting legal advice in the Ministry of Justice.

In those cases, our Office of Public Defender, OPD, and Directorate of Citizens’ Rights, DCR have started filing necessary applications before the courts to ensure that the deserving ones are released or prosecuted without further delay.”

He also used the opportunity to dismiss reports that minors were being kept in prisons across the state on the orders of a Magistrate Court for 390 days.

According to him, investigation into the matter revealed the 162 persons arraigned at the Magistrate Court were above 18 years and that both the Magistrate and the Registrar further took the step of requiring the prosecutor and the defendants to confirm their age individually.

BUDGET PERFORMANCE: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle); Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Oluranti Adebule (right), and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Adetokunbo Abiru, during the Year 2013 Second Quarter/Half-Year Budget Performance Appraisal, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday

Lagos records 83% 2nd quarter budget performance

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the state recorded an 83 per cent in second quarter performance for the state 2013

Budget.

The performance represents an increase of 22 per cent above the first quarter performance which was 61 per cent.

Fashola, after presiding over the Year 2013 Budget Second Quarter/Half-Year

Performance Appraisal at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the second quarter result was consistent with the promise he made to residents at the first quarter budget review meeting that there would be an improved performance in the second quarter.

Lagos police arraign 20 suspected hoodlums for various offences

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AGOS — THE police in Lagos on Thursday arraigned 20 suspected hoodlums before an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly causing violence, resulting into killing, raping and destruction of property.

The accused persons, who reside at Obale and Okekearo Streets, Ijora-Badia, Apapa, Lagos, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful

gathering and a breach of the peace.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Inedu, told the court that the accused had on June 24 and June 25 caused mayhem in the area.

“The accused constituted themselves into nuisance by committing violence that resulted into maiming and killing of innocent people, raping of women and destruction of

property, “ Inedu said.

Inedu said that Sodiq Akano 25, who is the ring leader of the gang, was found in possession of cutlasses and charms used during the operation.

“After the accused had caused the mayhem, they were rounded up by the police and arrested, hence, their arraignment in court, “ the prosecutor said.

According to him: “Our review covers from April to June this year and the result shows an isolated performance of 83 per cent for the second quarter which is consistent with the promise I made at the first quarter, when we announced a 61 per cent result, that we would improve on our performance and work harder.

“So what you have, 61 per cent for the first quarter and 83 per cent for the second quarter, is a cumulative of 72 per cent, slightly behind our result of 75 per cent at this time last year, 2012.”

Explaining the slight shortfall in cumulative performance, the governor said, “You will also understand that we are working a larger budget this year as against last year’s budget.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 11

Man beats wife to death in Osun

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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VISIT: Oniko of Ikolaje, Oba Adekunle Ojo; President, Yewa Descendant Union, UK/Ireland, Mr. Segun Ebo; Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Olu of Imashai, Oba Gbadebo Oni; Olu of Ilobi, Oba Saliu Ajibade; and Onidofa of Idofa, Oba David Adeyanju, during the courtesy visit by the union to the Governor's Office in Abeokuta, yesterday

UI students' protest paralyses commercial activities

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — STUDENTS of the University of Ibadan, yesterday, paralysed commercial activities in the ancient city when they moved out of campus to protest Federal Government's alleged insensitivity to myriad of problems in education sector.

The angry students went on a peaceful protest to major streets in the city with various placards with inscriptions such as 'Nigeria: Giant or Dwarf of Africa,' 'Education is dead in Nigeria,' 'Adieu to education sector in Nigeria,' among others.

During the protest that lasted for hours, vehicular movements were paralysed as motorists going to places like Mokola, Dugbe, Ilorin and other northern parts of the country could not.

As a result, commuters, transporters and passengers groaned while trekking long distances.

The students called for the resignation of the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai.

The protest was supervised

by Divisional Police Officer of Sango, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akinfenwa, who ensured that hoodlums did not hijack it.

Led by SUG President UI, Babatunde Badmus, the students in a communiqué read during the protest, complained about unnecessary establishment of more tertiary institutions in Nigeria while the available ones suffer neglect.

They also called for modernisation of decayed facilities

and obsolete style of teaching in tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the best interest of the future of the nation and Nigerians.

“While politicians like Chief Obafemi Awolowo spent so much on education our presi-

dent today, is non-chalant to the extent that he takes pride in jetting out while pressing national issues that need his attention arise. Ruqayyatu Rufai should resign if she lacks the clue to the problem in the education sector.

"They take their children out of the country to private universities and cripple public universities in order to deprive the children of the masses right to education. We shall resist this attempt,” the student union leader said.

Ogun police arrest taxi driver, recover 28 bags of Indian hemp

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Ogun State Police Command has said that it has arrested a taxi driver identified as Taofiq Akintoluwa for allegedly conveying weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, stated this while parading the suspect at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, yesterday, adding that 28 bags of Indian hemp were recovered .

Ikemefuna later handed over the suspect and the seized items to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for further interrogation and prosecution.

He explained that 20 bags of Indian hemp were recovered in Makun area of Sagamu and eight others from Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state, during separate operations carried out by men of Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, and Criminal Investigation Department, CID. He, however, said the suspects

that conveyed the weeds in Sagamu escaped from the scene, but, Akintoluwa was unlucky as he was arrested with the eight bags in a taxi with registration number Ogun XB 940 LAR. Also speaking, the state NDLEA Commander, Bala Fagge, expressed satisfaction with the police for cooperating with his agency in the fight against narcotics and other illicit drug.

The NDLEA boss assured that Akintoluwa will be interrogated with a view to apprehending other suspect connected with the incident.

Osun farmers worry as rain prevents drying of cocoa beans

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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WENA-IJESA — Cocoa farmers in Osun have expressed grave concern over their inability to dry their cocoa beans due to incessant rainfall, according to reports.

The downpour in the past two weeks is said to be equally affecting the mood of the farmers as they lament that cannot dry their cocoa beans in the sun.

The farmers are now praying for the sun to shine as their inability to dry the cocoa beans might result in great losses for them.

A visit to Owena and some farm camps such as Nonber,

Ajebandele, Olosan and AbaAko, all in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun revealed similar situations.

The farmers in all these areas with fermented cocoa beans were seen waiting endlessly for sunlight.

Other farmers, who had already put their beans on hard surface in the open for sunlight were also observed looking towards the sky every minute to see if the sun will shine.

Mr. Kamoru Ajagbe, a cocoa farmer at Owena-Ijesa in Osun, was quoted as saying that his harvested cocoa beans had been

fermenting for five days and due for drying.

“The weather is not favourable for drying cocoa now because sunshine is not forthcoming, but we hope that the weather will be brighter in a few days time,” Ajagbe said.

Alhaji Laolu Abidoye, a cocoa merchant and a farmer at AbaAko, said that the rainy season that began early this year was responsible for the early production of cocoa pods.

Abidoye warned farmers not to indulge in artificial drying of cocoa beans such as using traditional ovens or frying pots.

SOGBO — IT was weeping and wailing for the residents of Iroye Street, Ilesa on Tuesday when a young man, simply identified as Wale Agbaje beat his wife to death over a minor disagreement Residents of the area told our correspondent, yesterday, that the couple frequently engaged each other in squabbles.

The source further stated that the husband was said to have hit the wife with concrete block on the forehead which led to the sudden collapse of the wife, who was rushed to a nearby private hospital by the sympathisers.

It was further learnt that the woman died on arrival at the clinic.

Detectives from ‘B’ Division Headquarters, Ilesa have arrested the man and he is currently assisting the police in their investigation into the matter.

The intervention of security operatives saved the suspect from being mobbed by the residents.

Aregbesola empowers 100 widows

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — WIFE of the Osun State Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregebsola has distributed empowerment materials to about 100 needy widows drawn from across the 30 local government areas of the state to assist in alleviating their plights.

Performing the distribution of the empowerment materials in Osogbo under her pet programme; Sheri Care Foundation, SCARF, Alhaja Aregbesola said that the materials to the widows was part of the efforts of the present administration in the state to build a virile social security system that will put smiles back on the faces of widows and reduce the grief of the loss of their spouses.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Stock broker jailed 30yrs for stealing client’s N17m

BY ABDULWAHAB

ABDULAH

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AGOS—A 37-yearold stock broker, Ayoola Coker was yesterday sentenced to a 30 years imprisonment by an Ikeja High court for stealing N17.5 million belonging to his clients.

Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo gave the jail terms after the convict, had pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after his rearraignment.

The judge found Coker guilty of all the 15-count charge of stealing, issuance of dud cheque, forgery and uttering leveled against him by the anti graft agency.

He was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each of the counts, but the court directed that the sentences are to run concurrently starting from December 1, 2011, when he was apprehended.

Though the trial judge noted that the convict made efforts to pay restitution to the victims, Mr Saheed Gbadamosi and his son, Taiwo by transferring the title deed of his landed property at Idimu, Lagos worth N8 million and a car valued N1 million to the victims.

“He was arraigned earlier on June 6, 2011 and pleaded not guilty. The voluntary changing of his plea to a guilty plea has demonstrated sufficient remorse as to warrant the leniency of the charge.”

Transition

M

ADAM Josephine Eze, nee Ezea, 82, is dead. She died on June 29, 2013.

There will a funeral Mass and wake-keep at the palace of late Isiama Ugbene in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, today.

Interment is at the same venue, after a requiem Mass tomorrow.

Late Madam Eze.

N500M FG FLOOD RELIEF FUND: Delta govt dismisses alleged discrimination A

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA— DELTA State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Newworld Safugha, has denied allegations of discrimination in the disbursement of the N500 million flood disaster fund granted the state by the Federal Government for last year’s flooding victims in the state. He said that the 25 local government areas under his supervision were collaborating effectively with the committee charged with the management of the fund.

Some communities in Ndokwa had criticised the way the fund was being managed, saying that they had not been visited to assess the damage done by the flood to their communities, let alone benefited from the N500 million largesse.

Safugha in Asaba, when he took his turn to address newsmen on the ongoing Mid-term report of the ministries in the state, clarified that funds due to the local government areas were not tampered with as was the case in some states. He said: “Here in Delta, the governor is even spending over half a billion naira every month in bailing out the councils in the payment of teachers’ salaries.

“In answer to your question on the N500 million fund, I know that the Committee on Flood and the councils are not relating but if there are issues, my attention has not been drawn to them. Once my

Warri North crisis: Ijaw, Itsekiri urged to embrace peace

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ARRI—A prominent Ijaw youth leader, Mr. Ebis Moni, has advised aggrieved youths of Egbema Ijaw and Itsekiri to embrace peace and adopt dialogue in resolving their differences.

Moni, a member of Delta State Waterway Security Committee, DWSC, noted that it was imperative for parties to toe the path of peace to avoid the re-occurrence of the then Warri crisis, during which many people were killed and several property destroyed.

He expressed confidence that the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udaughan would resolve the matter amicably, adding that the state government had spent so much to achieve the existing peace and security in the state.

He said: “We must not allow the crisis to escalate because victims of the then Warri crisis are still regretting the calamity and loss they suffered.”

attention is formally drawn to them, I will handle it.”

On the Igbodo crisis resulting from the refusal of the Obi of the community to marry an indigene, the Commissioner said “the deputy governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, set up a commit-

tee which I am a member. The committee, headed by him held several meetings including with the Igbodo community, the stakeholders, the traditional ruler and even the council that is Ika North East Local Government Area and representatives of the

Commissioner of Police and Director of Department of State Security, DSS. “As soon as the committee completes its assignment, the deputy governor will direct that for the outcome be made public and I can assure that the crisis is almost resolved.”

FORUM: GMD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Bisi Onasanya (left) and Minister for National Planning and Budget; Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, at the Nigeria Investment Forum which took place in Beijing, China.

Edo PDP accuses govt of plot to sell ‘Edo House’ in Lagos

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN – EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the state government under the leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, had concluded plans to sell the “EDO HOUSE,” on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island Lagos to a Lebanese contractor, who is executing some contracts for the state government.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who addressed newsmen in BeninCity, yesterday, said that the

Lebanese, who has no interest in the property was being used by an unnamed official of the state as a proxy to buy the choice property.

He said: “Information available to us is that a top government official is using a Lebanese contractor as a proxy to purchase the property.

Their intention is to use it as hotel and also engage their Chinese partners to manage the outfit in Lagos. Where is the much talked transparency?

We have not seen any advertisement either on the Televi-

sions or print media that they are putting this property for sale.”

Reacting, Special Adviser to Governor Oshiomhole on Media, Mr. Kassim Afegbua denied the allegation. He said, “Edo House in Lagos has not been sold but if we discover that selling it will be in the best interest of the state, we will do so. The PDP cannot dictate to our government. When they had the opportunity to govern, they plundered the state blind.”

USC reiterates commitment to protect Urhobo interests ganisations on how best to work

L

AGOS—THE Urhobo Social Club, USC, Lagos State, has reiterated its commitment to protect the Urhobo nation’s political interest and encourage her economic empowerment, just as it called for re-orientation of values among the Urhobo people.

Chief Simeon Ohwofa, while being sworn in as President, hailed his predecessor, Senior Evangelist Emmanuel Evue, for his excellent stewardship and for initiating wonderful programmes for the club which, he noted were the primary tools for USC’s new era engagement.

He said “the era of docility and standing on the sideline is over.

USC will engage other Urhobo elite clubs in Lagos, Abuja, home and abroad on issues and actions geared towards protecting and uplifting Urhobo political interest.”

Chief Ohwofa, who noted that the Club, which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year, has entered a new era of internet, social media, digital broadcasting, added that the Club will initiate discussions with the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU; Ukokor’Ivie and other elite or-

Urhobo back into economic reckoning in a comity of ethnic nationalities.

“We remember with nostalgia, the Ibru Organisation, Mosheshe Fisheries to mention a few Urhobo-owned companies that provided wealth, employment and pride for our people.

Can we have modern day industrialists/businessmen and technocrats? This is possible with cooperation and communication,” Owhofa said.

He also informed that the Club would work closely with UPU and the Royal Fathers in strategic planning and executions.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 13

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Anambra poll: No imposition of candidates —Labour Party, APA

BY CHRIS OCHAYI &VINCENT UJUMADU

A

BUJA— THE Labour Par ty, LP, has promised to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket in the November 16, 2013, gubernatorial poll in Anambra State.

This came on a day Anambra State chairman of African Peoples Alliance, APA, Mr. Chukwunonso Anadu, said the party would resist attempt by anybody to impose candidates on it.

National Chairman of LP, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, who

said this in Abuja, assured the aspirants that LP was a democratic party and would, therefore, not impose any candidate on the people. He said the party’s candidate would emerge through a party primary, for which a date will be announced in a due course.

Chief Nwanyanwu, who vowed that the party will clinch the election in Anambra State, said those dropping the name of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the election would be disappointed because the party was ready to make a difference.

The party chairman, who recently received a governorship aspirant for the election, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, and hundreds of his supporters into the party fold in Abuja, said LP will neutralise the influence of godfatherism from the state’s politics.

He said: “We have killed godfatherism in Edo and Ondo states. So for anybody to think he can impose governor again in Anambra State, he is day dreaming. We are going to bury it in Anambra in 2014. Those banking on President Goodluck Jonathan should know that the president won’t vote; he will just provide security for the election, he believes in rule of law."

The meeting also afforded

Chief Ubah the opportunity to interact formally with members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

He described Chief Ubah who recently joined the party, as a philanthropist who had continued to put smiles on the faces of ordinary citizens through his kerosene-direct programme that sold the product at N50 per litre.

How PH based firms dump wastes in Aba—Ikpeazu

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA— ABIA State government, yesterday, alleged that some Port-Harcourtbased companies owned by ex-

patriates were dumping industrial wastes in Aba. Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who made the allegation, said the unidentified companies connived with lorry drivers to lift the wastes and dump illegally in Aba. He said one suspect, a truck conductor, has been arrested and his truck impounded.

Ikpeazu said the suspect allegedly dumped 90 tonnes of suspected toxic wastes generated in Port Harcourt in the commercial city, adding that the industrial wastes would be sent to Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, for laboratory analysis to de-

termine the toxic level.

Noting that the suspect had been handed over to the police for further interrogation, he said: “We are now sure that there are some fifth columnists that generate wastes in their states and dump them in Abia State. We believe that had been the practice and that is why we have been having problems cleaning up Aba.” He said two other trucks had earlier discharged 60 tonnes of wastes on Coca-Cola Bus Stop also in Aba and escaped, stressing that ASEPA became worried when it discovered that its daily projection on the number of trucks needed to evacuate wastes on Port Harcourt Road in Aba was no longer enough.

Ikpeazu attributed this to the sudden emergence of what he called alien wastes, stressing: “To our greatest surprise on Monday morning ,we discovered that 37 trucks would be needed to evacuate the wastes on Port Harcourt Road, hence we started thinking that there must be something fishy.”

How APC ‘ll win Anambra guber election—Okonkwo

A

HEAD of the No vember 16, Anambra governorship election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has vowed to trounce the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and other parties at the polls.

Deputy National Chairman of the party, Senator Annie Okonkwo, told reporters after meeting with stakeholders and Anambra women in Awka that the most important thing in governance was the protection of lives and property, but noted that the present administration in Anambra had failed.

On the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Okonkwo said the party was encumbered by insincerity and confusion.

He said: “I was in PDP but I left because I do not like what they are doing there. The essence of governance is to bring de-

mocracy dividends to the people but today, the PDP has failed to do it.

“People were scared whether the party will be registered, but today the All Progressives Congress has been registered as a political party. APC is a party that will continue to fight injustice. Before we started this journey, we prayed to God and today it has become a successful story. Even with all efforts of our enemies to ensure that it does not work, today, they have been put to shame.”

Speaking on his governorship ambition, the senator said: “I am not a neophyte in politics. I have been in Anambra politics for over 20 years and the people know me too well. I have been able to positively affect lives in the state. None of the aspirants has done half of what I have put on ground.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—15

PIB: Jonathan, Diezani should not award oil blocs—El-Rufai •As NEITI seeks transparency in award of licences

BY EMMA OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—FORMER Feder al Capital Territory ,FCT, Minister, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, yesterday, said the powers of the President and Minister of Petroleum to award oil blocs should be curtailed.

El-Rufai, who spoke at the final public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, organised by the House ad hoc Committee on the PIB, said Nigerians should be given the opportunity to freely bid for available oil blocs, instead of arbitrarily awarding same to select individuals by the President.

He said: “Today, Nigeria has a track record of attracting a billion dollars in fees from frequency spectrum. If we can sell something, which is scarce, like the spectrum for that kind of money, why can’t we bid out oil blocs? I think you should put in the PIB a requirement that every oil bloc in Nigeria, whether onshore or offshore, be publicly advertised, and everywhere in the world, Nigerians and foreigners, be given the

Discos, Gencos get N8.3bn grant

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government has released N8.27 billion for Distribution Companies, DISCOs, and Power Generating Companies, GENCOS. A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the money was released, following approval by President GoodLuck Jonathan.

It said: “N8.27 billion was specifically released to the Federal Ministry of Power for the DISCOs and GENCOs, following approval by President Goodluck Jonathan," adding that the Ministry of Finance had paid N72.7 billion to the Federal Ministry of Power, so far this year, to cover various items in line with the implementation of the power roadmap.

The amount, Nwabuike said, included theN45 billion paid to Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, workers, as part of the power privatisation programme and includes monies released under the Multi Year Tariff Order, MYTO.

opportunity to bid for it, and whoever bids the highest price should win, even if you have some provisions that Nigerians can win, if they bid 10 or 20 percent lower.

But no one, not even the President should have the discretion to allocate oil blocs without rules”.

El-Rufai argued that there should be a government framework that encouraged independence of the regulators in the sector, insisting that the regulators should not be made to report to the Minister of Petroleum.

He said: “I think that as you are doing this legislation, we must have independent regulators. Independent regulators mean that they don’t report to the minister.

They are independent of the minister. The minister focuses on policy, the regulators have freedom to regulate independently without any control of the minister, which means, for instance, that we should not live in a coun-

L-r: Mr. Femi Ajala, Product Manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc; Mrs. Yetunde Adesola, Promotion Coordinator Astymin; Mr. Ola Ijimakin, General Manager, Marketing and Mr. Oladimeji Oduyebo, Corporate Service Manager, at the press briefing on the third edition of children's academic Astymin brilliance reward held at Fidson Healthcare Plc, office in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, photo editor.

try in which the oil bloc can be allocated based on discretion.”

Speaking as a director of the Centre for Africa’s Progress and Prosperity, CAPP, El-Rufai suggested that the joint ventures should be incorporated and put on the stock exchange, so Nigerians could

buy shares in the JVC’s. The former FCT helmsman also advised that more Nigerians be encouraged to participate in the petroleum industry. On oil host communities’ fund (PHCF), he applauded the initiative, saying it was assailable but, however,

Mamudo school attack: Yobe gov lauds FG over response

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

G

OVERNOR Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State, has commended the Federal Government and the Defence Headquarters for the interest shown in the security of the state in promptly sending a highpowered fact finding team after weekend’s terrorist attack on Government Secondary School, Mamudo.

Speaking while receiving the Defence Headquarters fact-finding team in his office in Damaturu, the governor noted that the gesture was the first of its kind in response to a disaster in the state. He also declared that the Joint Task Force deployed in

the state was doing its best in addressing the security challenges but expressed sadness that the incident at Mamudo was an unfortunate and painful disaster.

Governor Gaidam noted that schools in forested places would require extraordinary protection and called for appropriate strategies to tackle the peculiar reality of the security challenges in such localities.

He requested the military authorities to reconsider the issue of disconnection of GSM service in the state, as reconnection would help in passing information to security agencies, especially in the light of

the current realities of the security situation. Geidam said his government realised the importance of peace, saying there was no alternative to peace.

Earlier, the leader of the DHQ team, Major General Obinali Ariahu, informed the governor that the team was in the state to assess the deployment of JTF troops as well as their requirements to carry out the task of forestalling any breach of security in the state.

He conveyed the sympathy and condolences of the Chief of Defence Staff to the government and people of Yobe State on the loss of lives occasioned by the terrorist attacks on the school and other locations.

NSCDC smashes illegal baby factory, arrests doctor, nurse

E

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Enugu State, yesterday, raided a clinic where babies from unwanted pregnancies are sold.

Proprietor of the clinic, Dr Ben Agbo, and a nurse working with him, have been arrested while a three-day old baby about to be delivered to a buyer was recovered from them.

The illegal baby home identified as ‘Moonlight Maternity home’ is located at Agbani Road by Abagana street in Coal Camp area of Enugu capital city. The 74-year old proprietor of the clinic said he had been operating the clinic

since the past nine years admitting that he had been selling babies to those in need under a humanitarian service of the clinic.

The State NSCDC Commander, Nathaniel Ubong, while parading the suspects, said they were arrested following a tedious surveillance mounted by his men around the maternity home after a tip off by a patriotic citizen on the illicit activities going on at the maternity home.

He explained that they were disturbed because the said ‘Moonlight maternity home’ was not on the list of hospitals submitted to his unit by Ministry of Gender Affairs as those

accredited for child fostering in the state. He said his men recovered some vital documents relating to past sales of babies by the clinic under the guise of child fostering which the doctor had no authority to conduct.

Speaking with newsmen, Dr Agbo said though he was not accredited to conduct child fostering, he was using his clinic to render humanitarian services to couples,who were finding it hard to produce their own babies after many years of marriage.

Asked to explain the whereabouts of the mother of the baby found in the home, he said she went away to seek for assistance and was yet to return.

called for a governance framework.

Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said to ensure transparency in the industry, the PIB should provide for an allocation process that was clear and transparent, and openned to the general public.

She maintained that there should be a clear description of the process for transferring or awarding oil licence.

Alternative medicine practitioners seek recognition

M

EMBERS of Com plementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners have urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to alternative medicine for cheaper and effective medicare.

The practitioners also said they were poised to chart a new course for alternative medicine, which had been relegated to the background for orthodox medicine in the country.

National President of the Association of Physicians of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Magnus Atilade, made the appeal at a meeting attended by top practitioners in Lagos.

Atilade was elected as the leader and spokesman of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners and Stakeholders.

He said the meeting was convened as a gathering of professionals with characteristics of caring for the sick, coupled with nationalistic and patriotic tendencies, which he explained was the reason they chose the profession and field of service.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

HARVEST OF COLLAPSED BUILDINGS PIX: JOE AKINTOLA, PHOTO EDITOR, TOSIN ALADESOKUN, BUNMI AZEEZ AND OLA AJAYI.

Some survivors being taken to the hospital in an ambulance by rescue workers, after a three storey building collapsed, at 29, Oloto Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos, yesterday. Seven occupants of the ill-fated building lost their lives.

Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga (right) and Secretary of state Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ishiaku Makama, at the scene of the collapsed building on Hadejia Road, Kaduna, yesterday. Many people are still trapped under the rubbles.

Sympathisers at the scene of the collapsed building in Kaduna.

Rescue operations by sympathisers who thronged the scene of the collapsed building.

Smypathisers digging through the rubbles.

Residents removing some of their belongings from the rubbles.

Rescue workers at the scene.

A Caterpiller to the rescue.

An injured occupant being helped after he was rescued from the building.

A cross section of sympathisers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 17

I

KEEP asking myself how a once-civilized city like Port Harcourt gradually morphed into the kind of place in which legislators-who are supposed to uphold the law and be shining role models and pillars of polite society - physically attack each other so savagely that some of them wind up being hospitalised.

The internet is awash with horrifying video clips that show computers being smashed, punches being thrown, the mace being used as a weapon and a forlorn wall in the State House of Assembly chamber that is spattered

•Commotion in the Rivers State House of Assembly

Rivers House of chaos antagonists on.

And I hope that the authorities will rigorously and honestly investigate these extremely damaging allegations and sack any officer who failed to do his duty.

Some of the lawmakers should also be punished. It is fine to defend yourself if someone launches an assault on you while you are minding your business. But those

,

I’m willing to bet that he can see, from the Greater Beyond, the chaos and crudity that are being inflicted on our state by people who are shaming all Rivers indigenes with their dangerous antics

with blood.

Tears came to my eyes as I watched these disgraceful visuals on my laptop screen. It was a real horror movie. It’s a miracle that nobody got killed.

Meanwhile, various witnesses say that some of the security personnel who were at the scene of this crime either folded their arms or egged the

who were instigators and those who used unreasonable force should go.

I keep hearing that Evans Bipi, whose determination to impeach the Speaker of the State House of Assembly (Otelemaba Amachree) triggered off this fracas, started the fight on Tuesday because

•The Rivers State House of Assembly C M Y K

,

the First Couple told him to make trouble.

But I’m sure, on reflection, that this rumour is totally false. Twenty six local lawmakers are supporting Amachree.

Only five, including Mr Bipi, are against him. And I think it is safe to say that even if Mr President and Dame Patience Jonathan do indeed regard Amachree as a toxic opponent and want him to be turfed out, they a) are smart enough to know that five cannot out-vote 27!...and b) smart enough to know that their reputations will be irretrievably tarnished if they encourage anyone to resort to illegal and thuggish tactics.

A friend called me a few minutes ago to tell me about a radio report that claimed that tear gas cannisters have been tossed into Governor Amaechi’s residence and that gunshots have been heard in parts of Port Harcourt.

I wasn’t able to reach anyone who could officially verify or deny these claims before the deadline for submission of this column to my Editor. But even if the claims turn out to be exaggerated or mendacious, something has to be done about the anarchy that threaten to consume Rivers State.

Interventions from Elders, the House of Representatives, etc, might ease the tension and even lead to a cessation of hostilities in the shortterm.

However, this political hooliganism was largely caused by the fact that our leaders have formed the habit of elevating the wrong type of individuals to important positions they simply don’t deserve.

And we will probably continue to

suffer outbreaks of hooliganism until selection criteria are radically reviewed.

I once challenged a Governor who kept bestowing influential jobs on guys who were obviously ill-equipped. Since he himself was polished, welleducated and capable of delivering good results and boosting his state’s image, I told him that I couldn’t understand his allergy to quality individuals who were on his level.

The Excellency in question was not accustomed to being confronted so boldly. But, to his credit, he calmly tried to explain his recruitment policy and told me that loyalty was the characteristic he valued most.

And I was SO disappointed because I felt that what he REALLY meant was that he only felt safe with cheap, sychophantic praise singers who would do ANYTHING to please him.

It is time for Nigerian decision-makers to stop putting their egos first and foisting rubbish on us because what we REALLY need are exemplary public servants who can deliver results and conduct themselves appropriately.

Remembering Daddy

M

Y beloved father, integrity, refinement, comIgnatius Suage passion and intellectual Kogbara, was born 85 years development were far more ago. But he passed away in important than money, 2002. And I will never stop power or appearances. missing him and And I’m willing to bet that praying that we will be he can see, from the Greater reunited whenever God Beyond, the chaos and decides to remove me from crudity that are being this mortal sphere. inflicted on our state by Most daughters reserve people who are shaming all special corners of their Rivers indigenes with their hearts for the men who gave dangerous antics. At the risk them life; and my darling of sounding morbid or Daddy was my Hero, my fanciful, let me say that I Friend, my Protector, my won’t be surprised if my Dad Conscience, my Inspiration, is turning in his grave. my Teacher, my Mentor, the Centre of my Universe and the Rock on which my morals, selfesteem and dreams were anchored.

He was a quintessential Old School Rivers Gentleman who had sound values and wholeheartedly believed that *The late Ignatius Suage Kogbara Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only).

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 PEOPLE in Taraba State are making the point about speaking out for their rights.

They are getting succour even if that would not completely change their circumstances.

Almost a year after the floods that devastated some States, the people of Taraba complained that they had not got the promised relief from the Federal Government.

Officials who managed the funds promptly defended the exercise. The money, they said, was used in buying seedlings for affected farmers. The people protested louder. Some said they were given only N200.

Taraba State acting Governor Garba Umar has intervened by sacking five Commissioners, the Secretary to the State Government, Director of the State Emergency Management Agency, and two Special Advisers. They were accused of embezzling N400 million the Federal Government allocated to the State for its flood victims.

Earlier, a report of a committee of the Taraba State House of Assembly indicted the officials in their handling of the funds.

Another committee the Governor set up

Taraba People Stand Up turned in the same verdict. Governor Umar promptly sacked the officials.

The Governor’s action is commendable.

He however needs to complete it. The affected officials should be prosecuted and made to refund the money. These would set higher standards of probity in managing public funds.

Other Nigerians should imitate the tenacity of the people of Taraba. If they had kept quiet nobody would have known how the funds were managed. There are other States in similar situations with the management of the flood funds. Their silence has denied them justice.

A lesson from Taraba is that the people have

a major role to play in their fate. From those they elect and their responses to the activities of governments, Nigerians need to stand up more. Someone could listen and act, as Governor Umar did. Silence when we disagree with actions of governments almost forecloses any chance of redress.

The Federal Government should also lead the charge to compel Nigerians who voluntarily pledged huge sums of money to the Aliko Dangote Committee on the flood disaster of 2012, to pay. The committee had threatened to publish their names by the end of June. We think it should.

Like the “Taraba Eight”, they too deserve to be prosecuted, not only for failing to redeem their pledges, but for fraudulently accessing the incentives meant to encourage the private sector to contribute to the flood funds.

We should maintain a policy of zero tolerance to fraud, no matter the shape or form it takes. It is abhorrent to segment the law such that when the high and mighty run against the law they are given special treatment to shield them from the consequences of their crime.

OPINION

BY PASCHAL ONYIORAH Nobody goes to politics without being smeared. And you stand the risk of making more enemies than friends. The purpose of life is the pursuit of happiness, which is not necessarily accomplished in active politicking - Chief MKO Abiola.

W

ITH the above words of caution uttered by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawole Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, in one of his interviews granted to the Nigerian media in the course of the struggle for de-annulment of that election, one can clearly begin to appreciate the actual but esoteric concern(s) behind the recently reported statement credited to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to the effect that he would be quitting active politics as soon as he bows out of office. No doubt, it will not be far from the truth to submit that Obi's seeming meekness is such that would hardly permit him to bandy words with fellow politicians in the typical Nigerian manner and neither will his strong aversion to conspicuous consumption ever go down well with serial looters of our common wealth. Incidentally, that the latter disposition has invariably projected his predilection for prudence and frugality in the management of state funds to the great admiration of his political friends and detractors alike is something of common knowledge. It is therefore not surprising that Obi has alluded to the avarice of Nigerian politicians and their excessive acquisition of wealth at the expense of the poor masses as factors implicit in his plan to quit politics.

C M Y K

Obi and his political quit notice But much as one really empathizes with Governor Peter Obi on these issues of greed, corruption and what have you, there is no gainsaying that it is too early for him to nurse the idea of politically throwing in the towel, at his age. Obviously, Obi needs to rethink and retreat from pursuing this course of action for some reasons. To begin with, if Herold Laswell's description of politics as "who gets what, when and how" is anything to go by, then it is crystal clear that such proposed course of action by Mazi Peter Obi to recoil into political oblivion is not only untimely and retrogressive but also antithetical to the interest of Anambra people, especially as it relates to national politics which should by now be his next preoccupation. This is basically necessary given his good rapport with President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party. Of course, it may interest Mazi Peter Obi to know that Anambrarians cannot afford to politically lag behind at this point in time in our nation's life. Though this is not to suggest that there is a shortfall of manpower in this regard, yet it is pertinent to note that it matters a great deal in Nigeria today to have ex-political office holders, especially the relatively young ones, to remain in full picture in pulling the string.

More so, this is vital, considering the fact that we live in a country where appointment into certain key positions in government is more often than not dependent on one's political antecedent and/or determined by his/her level of political participation.

Certainly, this is where we are. And not until the country gets restructured to bring about a radical departure from the current fierce struggle for the national cake, it does not seem astute for any young politician of Anambra State origin, especially an expolitical office holder, to contemplate the idea of quitting active politics.

B

esides, it seems extremely odd that at a time most of our old political leaders and elders are fast aging in preparation for the journey of the great beyond, and thereby leaving yawning gaps that need to be filled, Obi appears, perhaps unknowingly, to be passing a very wrong message to the politically minded youths of Anambra State and Igbo land in general that the game of politics, as it is currently played in Nigeria, is not worth it, given what he perceives as the avarice of the average Nigerian politicians and their unbridled accumulation of wealth at the expense of the poor masses. In fact, to say the least, this is really uncalled for. Ideally, it would have been better for Mazi Peter Obi to keep this plan to himself or within the circle of his confidants, friends and associates, as the case may be, than to publicly anchor his rationale for contemplating it on the perennial socio-economic malaise that have been afflicting the polity since our attainment of political independence.

However, it remains a blessing that we still have the likes of Chief Alex Ekwueme, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and Chief

Chukwuemeka Ezeife, among others, whose strategic and active involvements in politics one way or the other, even as they appear set for retirement, have gone a long way in breeding many a young politician and astute successor alike. In fact, let us come to think of it, were it to be that the great Ikemba -the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu - had quit politics or succumbed to the mountainous pressure of numerous challenges he faced in his public life and which are all inherent in our polity, especially coming against the backdrop of the Nigeria-Biafra civil war, would there have been in the first place that political platform that brought about the emergence of Governor Peter Obi? Indeed, It is too chicken for Obi to contemplate the idea of retreating politically just because of his new phobia for the ills of our society. And lest we forget, by dint of his political attainment, Obi has gotten the political leverage and clout as well as the enabling privileges needed to correct these same ills he complains about, and so should not be planning to abandon them for nobody to address.

The late Prof. Chinua Achebe berated President Olusegun Obasanjo while he (the latter) appeared to be collaborating with "renegades" to destroy Anambra State. It is important for Obi to realise that his quitting politics amounts to giving his consent as well as paving the way for the reign of these same "renegades" over us - which is a sort of an answered prayer for them.

*Mr. Onyiorah, a journalist, from Abuja.

wrote

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013— —19

O

NE of the most debilitating diseases of the modern world is called "Comparisonitisis" - The tendency to measure one's worth by comparing oneself to other people.You surely will not find this illness listed in any of the standard medical text books or encyclopedia, nor will you find it in your company's disability or health insurance or worker's compensation programme to reimburse you for it. But make no mistake about this: Comparisonitisis is a scourge as widespread and destructive as any physical or emotional malady known today.

Like most ailments, it cuts across all walks of life. It is not a respecter of persons, colour or status.

Bankers, lecturers, pastors and priests, politicians, soldiers, police, civil servants, cleaners, palm wine tappers and business moguls, all suffer from it.The indication of this illness starts with finding ways to look down on others and to think highly of yourself because you enjoy greater abilities, intelligence,status, or wealth than they? For example, some lecturers believe that they are the ones too qualified for professorship and such things.Professors talking down on others because they feel

they are more endowed than them.Nothing you do will please sufferers of this decease!

It shows up also differently by making you,irrespective of your status,position and wealth, look down on yourself, because you feel you are not as capable, smart,powerful, rich or handsome, beautiful or endowed as others?

The full manifestation of this ailment is in envy and hatred.Hatred is a very powerful emotional force.The most destructive force in man, the force of hatred takes it first root from Comparisonitisis! It is the basis for the beginning of most of the evil in society like racism, religious violence, genocides, ethnic cleansing, wars,robbery, cultism, and kidnapping, and all these are the fruits of this sickness.When we rig elections, it says: "We are more important than the electorate, we are richer, better endowed to rule whether they want us or not". When we fight back, by killing and destruction, pulling down everything because we are not satisfied, or we feel cheated out, it says: "They are better than us, if we leave them, they will be much better, so we reduce them, to our level, and should they resist, kill them, because that is what they deserve".When we steal the peoples commonwealth, or the old people's money from pension funds, it says:

,

"Don't mind those people, if I stay here and don't steal, when I come out they will call me a fool; better steal and risk getting caught, than leave without taking what belongs to them, life is a risk, but I must be better than my friend".

C

omparisonitisis is an ancient disease.It was there in man and society before Christ, and is still ravaging most of the world today, Nigeria inclusive. It is at the base justification for the stratification of society by man.It causes a few to usurp the natural belongings of others through political or economic manipulations, keep same and

Tribute to Sen. Pius Ewherido

BY CLEMENT OFUANI

D

EATH is especially tragic because of its finality. It is also never expected and that is why everyone receives the news of the death of any acquaintance as something of a deep shock. Even for someone who passes on at the age of eighty, the news is still described as shocking.

This shock is therefore often more profound when death visits a younger person in the prime of his or her life. Such is the shattering shock with which I received the news of the death of Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido who had just celebrated his fiftieth birthday a few months ago and whom I ran into and exchanged warm pleasantries with, just about two weeks ago at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport in Abuja as he moved to the lounge en route Benin airport while I went to pick up my boarding pass for my trip to Asaba.

The news of his sudden death immediately took my mindto Fr. Tony, his elder brother as he officiated just two months ago,at the burial of forty two-year old Engineer Henry Oru, a family friend of mine and the image of the Rev. Fr. standing over the casket and praying against the death of such young people in any family loomed large in my mind.

Today, my heart goes out to the Rev. Fr. as he mourns the passing on of his beloved and illustrious younger brother.My heart also goes out to the wife Doye and the young children at this terrible and tragic loss of their dear husband and father in the very prime of his life. In the same way, I condole with my friend Barrister EdeworOmonemu, the Senator ’s senior legislative aide as indeed I mourn with the entire Ewherido family and the entire Delta Central Senatorial District that he gave a vibrant representation in the

Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria this past two years. Oh, what a colossal loss to the Urhobos and to Delta State and Nigeria.

Yes, Nigeriaindeed, for Senator AkporEwherido was a highly cerebral, dedicated and forthright law maker whose contributions to Nigeria’s development will be sorely missed.Senator Ewherido was particularly forthright and his forthrightness could sometimes make people to perceive him as arrogant but I can give some personal testimonies to debunk such impression.

As Commissioner for Economic Planning in Delta State, some of my decisions did not endear me to people who expected me to favour them in the prioritization of the State’s resource allocation. Given the developmental challenges and the limited resources to allocate, there were bound to be sharp disagreements on the prioritization of our spending and I did not always agree with the House of Assembly where the Senator held sway thenas the Deputy Speaker and a highly influential member.

Late Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido

lord it over the people. They usually will call these people their colonised territory; the local leaders in the colonized territory want to be like their Lords, by colonising their various ethnic groups within the territory by exploiting them, using all kinds of arrangements, simply to create inequalities in favour of the leading group. This will then give rise to majority and minority ethnic mentalities and the naturally attendant rivalries, agitations, complaints, and finally violence and if nothing is done, war!

Comparisionitisis is a bad decease.In the church, it converts religion to an opium for the largely uninformed masses, creating a cult aura around the church leader; same in the Mosque. In such a situation, you find so much power and influence arrogated to the Church or Mosque leadership, and an impression is created that their God is better and more special than other peoples' God! The wise ones know that we have only One God, and one Holy Spirit.

In politics, comparisionitisis destroy the sense of shame, character and of knowledge of what is right and wrong in governance and leadership.It breeds political and social crime with impunity, justifying moral failure with, 'what's the big deal, isn't everybody doing the same thing?' Evil schemes against people, moral rot and mischief take the centre stage; merit is thrown out of the window, except for occasional homage. In business, comparisionitisis causes the boss to think that he owns the

,

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

,

Do yyou ou suf om sufffer fr from 'comparisonitisis'?

Comparisonitisis is an ancient disease; it was there in man and society before Christ, and is still ravaging most of the world today, Nigeria inclusive; it is at the base justification for the stratification of society by man

More than anything else, I was touched by his open acknowledgement that our differences in opinions were purely professional and not personal and he was bold and forthright enough to demonstrate it to the House and the watching public.

My respect for him from that day went stratospheric

,

W

hen therefore, Governor James Ibori dissolved his cabinet and renominated me for House screening, I went to the House expecting a hostile reception but to my utmost surprise, an honourable member stood up, upon my introduction and told the House that everyoneof them knew Clement Ofuani as Commissioner for Economic Planning and the good work he did for Deltans. He therefore moved that I be allowed to take a bow and leave.

The Honourable member was Akpor Pius Ewherido. The motion was unanimously adopted and I was asked to take a bow and leave. I was dumbfounded because I least expected such consideration from the House and to have been spearheaded by Rt. Hon.Ewherido!

Let me quickly state that I am not a fan of ‘take a bow’ screening for cabinet or other political appointees as I believe that the screening exercise should be used as an opportunity to determine the fitness and

life and property of the worker for his own exploitation and benefit, targets to drive in sales, or cash deposits (for bankers); are set for workers, including married women and men, making moral wrecks out of their homes! The board of the company looks the other way; all they want is profit, the money and hell. At the family unit level, comparisonitisis will cause a house wife to jettison the discipline of marital life and run away in adultery, justifying her actions deceitfully, that it was to train the children. The man abandons a committed wife with children, runs away with a staff, mostly the secretary, who quickly kills him to acquire or take over his belongings before the real wife knows about things.Comparisonitisis begins subtly in the mind and grows, unknown to the poor soul, it destroys the real him, and takes over.It has torn this earth apart!

Apostle Paul in Roman 12:3,was certainly aware of the deadliness of comparisonitisis and offered a remedial anti-dote. That we see ourselves not as we stack up against others, nor as others evaluate us but as God sees us.Ultimately it is God's estimation of us that matters, and to God, we matter a lot! Do you suffer from comparisonitis? What needs to change in your selfassessment of yourself so that you see yourself as God sees you? How does God see you in Nigeria? These are questions we all have to answer in our nation as we approach 2015. *Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

propriety of the appointee for the high office of state. Therefore, the ‘take a bow’ option should be used with circumspection and only if the fit and proper assessment can be seen to have been otherwise made by the House. This was precisely what the late Senator did in my case. More than anything else, I was touched by his open acknowledgement that our differences in opinions were purely professional and not personal and he was bold and forthright enough to demonstrate it to the House and the watching public. My respect for him from that day went stratospheric.

As a serving Senator, Akpor Pius Ewherido was elected to represent Delta Central Senatorial District and on the platform of a different political party from the PDP that we had shared previously but these did not stop the Senator from attending to me in Abuja and I can confirm recommending people from other parts of our Delta State for his assistance, to whom he duly did his best to assist. He was that great, that he saw his representation at the Senate as transcending his Senatorial District and his political party. Indeed, I was pleasantly surprised the first time I visited him in his Senate office to find that one of his legislative staff was from Delta North Senatorial District.In a manner of speaking therefore, I want to use this opportunity to share this experience of the great man that Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido was and hope that it will provide some sort of soothing balm to the family, that all of Delta State shares in this tragic loss.

Perhaps, the most enduring respect and honour that we can give the late Senator is to elevate our politics from crass selfishness to high minded pursuit of the common good of all citizens irrespective of our individual differences even as we pray for the Almighty God to receive him into His bosom and grant Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido eternal rest and his loved ones, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. *Mr. Ofuani, a former commissioner in Delta State, wrote from Asaba.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Rivers Assembly crisis: Residents

rap lawless lawmakers

Orlu-Orlu, also a lawyer said: “Nobody will claim all is well. Nothing is working right now except that lawyers stand to gain from the attendant litigations. If the crisis continues to grow in intensity, many investors may leave the state. Those in the process of raising new investments may be restrained.”

V

I

T is no longer news that the Rivers State Assembly complex has since Tuesday been a theatre of war with parties loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the factions supportive of Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, in the thick of the fray. It all began when five antiAmaechi lawmakers clashed with 27 others, including all principal officers who have sworn to “swim or sink with the Governor till the end of the crisis.” The brawl left the House Leader, Chidi Lloyd and three others nursing various injuries at medical locations in Port Harcourt.

Since the crisis escalated into a life threatening proportion, worried Rivers people have been left counting their losses and expressing disappointment over a war of attrition many of them consider needless and anti-development.

Higher King, a lawyer and rights activist in Port Harcourt said: “It is a surprise, and I am unapologetically disappointed at the assembly members for not preventing the shameful fight in the hallowed chambers.

C M Y K

Everybody saw it coming, judging by the events of the past four months. It would have been wiser if they never attempted sitting in the chambers.”

Higher King is, however, not sympathetic to any party in latest crisis. “Five lawmakers sitting to impeach the Speaker in a house of 32 would seem null and void in the eyes of the law, but the claimed new Speaker has been on air and he can go on in such posturing and force a parallel leadership only a court could stop. And Fidel Castro also noted that in the land of lawlessness, the

,

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, PORT HARCOURT

his business being there?”

Serving councillors in Rivers, however, countered that as the Chief Security Officer in the State, Amaechi was right to have waded into the house brawl to prevent further hostilities.

Key players are stretching an obvious partisan crisis to unsettle an entire state and creating unnecessary tension; everyone is apprehensive

lawful is guilty. This is that perfect context. Both parties are being lawless in their actions over the crisis and that includes the executive. I was watching from the Court of Appeal when Governor Ameachi moved into the assembly complex. What was

,

Following the chaos in the house, the councillors under the Rivers chapter of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria threatened “civil disobedience, including occupying the state assembly, if the five legislators opposed to Governor Chibuike Rotimi

Amaechi continue in the house’s business after claiming to have appointed their own speaker and principal officers.”

Chairman of the forum, Lesor Nwigbaranee, said anarchy is looming in Rivers and “we would mobilise at our peril to prevent that happening”, while urging the people to unite and condemn the rape of democracy.

Saddened by the development, Higher King noted thus: “Key players are stretching an obvious partisan crisis to unsettle an entire state and creating unnecessary tension. Today(Wednesday), the state and federal courts are not sitting. Everyone is apprehensive. I am told other agencies of government are closed to normal business. No party in the bargain should claim innocence. They are all destroying the state. This shouldn’t be.”

ictor Dike, an educationist reacted: “We had the suspension and replacement of Obio/Akpor Local Government cabinet.

The stalemate that has provoked has grounded that council and negatively affected businesses in that locality. Now we have a stalemate in the state assembly. This is not good for the people.”

Charity Emerievwen who trades at the Creek Road Markt, Port Harcourt, noted: “Ex-militants are getting agitated and gearing to get busy in criminality again.

Even from our shops at the market on Tuesday, there was tension when fight broke out at the assembly. We don’t want to experience the betterforgotten past years of recurring bloodletting in Rivers. I am begging these PDP people.”

Stressing the fear factor, Livingstone Wechie of the Rivers State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation, said: “We are already in a state of nature. Make no mistake about it. Those who should maintain law and order are the ones that have created anarchy. There is total denial of social security and good governance. The greater danger is that under the prevailing atmosphere, the relevant government institutions, including security operatives, have been compromised, further eroding the right of the people to hold the leaders accountable. So where does the ordinary man on the street find protection?

On a more critical perspective, Higher King said: “Presently there’s no government in Rivers. That is what the atmosphere suggests. And it still behoves the Governor to call his divided house to order. This is the house he built. It is entirely a self-serving war of supremacy and interest building with the far-reaching implication unsettling the entire state. He has to act fast because I won’t be surprise if a state of emergency is declared in the state if things continue to degenerate in the state.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 —

Angola to produce mbpd of oil by 2015 A

NGOLA, Africa’s biggest oil producer after Nigeria, will produce two million barrels of oil a day next year or in 2015, meeting a target it had planned to reach in 2013, the country’s oil minister said.

“Based on the data we have, the increase in production to two million barrels of oil per day may take place between 2014 and 2015,” Oil Minister, Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos, said in an interview on

the sidelines of a conference in the capital, Luanda.

Production this year has averaged 1.751 million barrels a day while reserves are now estimated at 12.777 billion barrels. In April, state news agency, Angop, put reserves at 12.6 billion barrels, citing the minister.

Companies operating in the country include Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Total SA. (FP) Reserves may increase as the country

starts to explore pre-salt reserves in an area stretching 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) that may hold oil under a 2 kilometer-thick layer of salt, similar to that found off the coast of Brazil.

“Recent exploration in pre-salt formations suggests reserves may be larger than initially estimated,” said Ganesh Thakur, a former president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, at the conference in Luanda.

From left: Project Manager, Digital Communications Konsult Nigeria, Mr Femi Fabunmi; Business Development Manager, Intel West Africa, Mr Stanley Muoneke; state Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Adesegun Raheem and Senior Manager, Data and Portals, Airtel Nigeria, Mr David Umoh during an Intel workshop organised for teachers in Lagos State at Oregun Senior High School, Oregun, Ikeja. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU

UNCTAD urges FG to support private sector

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

T

HE United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, has urged the Federal Government to

121.75

-0.3

2,196.00

+5.00

16.21

-0.13

108.33 +0.52 106.20 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.76 230.7626 198.4952 159.5299 1.5447 0.2843 229.6269 25.2265 41.2627 26.6075 230.3603

155.26 231.5082 199.1365 160.0454 1.5497 0.2943 230.3688 25.3085 41.396 26.6935 231.1045

+2.67 SELLING 155.76 232.2537 199.7778 160.5608 1.5546 0.3043 231.1107 25.3904 41.5294 26.7795 231.8488

CBN Exchange rate as at 11/07/2013

increase support to the private sector while trying to reduce trade barriers between other African countries.

Launching its 2013 report on Economic Development in Africa subtitled “Intra-African Trade: Unleashing Private Sector Dynamism” UNCTAD warned that failure to increase support to private sector would make foreign firms benefit more from the streamlined trading system than indigenous firms.

UNCTAD added: “The report argues that although the elimination of trade barriers is important, it will not have the desired impact if it is not complimented by efforts by governments to increase the variety and sophistication of the goods that their economies produce, the process that economists call expanding productive capacity.”

According to the report, it is important that Federal Government upgrades infrastructure, improve the skills of domestic workforce, encourage and enable entrepreneurship, and increase the size of existing manufacturing firms so that they can satisfy larger markets and produce their goods

with greater economies of scale.

“Having cleared the field for increased regional trade, African nations need to provide the goods to sell to each other. African countries produce and export a narrow range of goods, most of which are primary commodities such as oil, natural gas and metals.

“Over the period from 2007 to 2011, two products accounted for over 80 percent of exports to other African countries from Nigeria, Angola, Mali, Algeria, Niger and Mauritania” it stated.

T

he report further recommended that Federal Government should strengthen private sector by making finance more accessible and less costly, and advised that mechanisms for government consultation with the private sector should be enhanced.

Stressing that the nature of goods produced and exported by African enterprises matters for the growth and expansion of intra-African, the report noted that the country ’s lack of economic diversification and weak manufacturing base inhibit intraregional trade.

21

We want to continue developing human capacity — NIMASA

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

N

IGERIAN Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stressed its commitment to the development of human capacity in the maritime sector, even as it disclosed that it has commenced placement of cadets onboard Cabotage vessels for the necessary experience.

Disclosing this in Port Harcourt, Director General of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, noted that the goal of the agency is to facilitate qualitative employment within the Cabotage Regime.

The NIMASA boss who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director in charge of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Barr.

Callistus Obi at the recently concluded seafarers’ day celebration, appealed to stakeholders in the industry to encourage Nigerian youths to seek careers at sea.

A statement by Isichei Osamgbi stated that Akpobolokemi said the Agency’s investment in the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP, and the facilitation of the establishment of institutes of maritime studies in four Nigerian Universities were a clear testament to the commitment to building capacity for the industry.

In his words “the overwhelming interest showed by Nigerian youths in the seafaring profession calls for support from all industry stakeholders in the maritime sector to assist in capacity development, especially in the area of onboard training.

We at NIMASA have been placing cadets’ onboard cabotage vessels as part of mandatory requirements for obtaining their Competency Certificates” he stated.

The DG described the submission of Nigeria’s instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 to the International Labour Organization exactly a week before the celebrations of this year ’s day of the seafarers as a testament to NIMASA’s commitment to the welfare of seafarers with an assurance that the Agency is committed to its successful implementation.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 201 3

Standard Chartered to boost Africa, India trade by $33bn

By PETER EGWUATU

S

From left: Mr Jai Changrani, MD, Sarsoli Colours Ltd; Sophia Stephan of Germany Consulate General; Mr. Akhigbe Itua of Trade Fair Services Limited and Judith Eigelt, both of Germany Consulate General at the briefing on K 2013 International trade fair on Plastic & Rubber Worldwide in Dusseldorf, Germany.

TANDARD Chartered Bank is set to boost AfricaIndia trade from $57 billion to $90 billion by 2015 as it has concluded arrangement to host 14 Africa Chairmen in Mumbai and Dehli for the bank’s Annual Africa Chairmen’s Conference.

The Chief Executive Officer for Africa, Standard Chartered, Diana Layfield, while commenting on the conference said “India-Africa trade now stands at about USD57billion and is predicted to increase to USD90billion by

NSE plans market-wide rule on price movement

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has revealed plans to introduce a market-wide rule that will simultaneously halt price movement in all the listed equities for at least 30 minutes in event of extra-ordinary market volatility.

The new rule, index circuit breaker, according to a notice posted on the NSE’s website signed by Tinuade Awe, Head, Legal and Regulation Division, would be triggered by over five percent downward movement in the All Share Index, ASI. She observed that the period of the halt would allow the operators the opportunity to assess a serious market decline and express their trading interest with relatively little disruption to the market.

Awe noted that introduction of the market-wide index circuit breaker was necessary following the recent bearish trends in the market and the need to provide for an orderly and efficient market.

She said, “Recently, the market declined by 3.88 percent, which was the largest single day decline since the 5.89 percent decline in 2011.

“The Exchange believes that the rule is relevant, meaningful and effective in today’s high-speed electronic securities markets and given the highly-automated nature of today ’s markets and improvement in connectivity.”

She continued, “In 2008, during the market meltdown, the market declined by over nine percent in one day;

Management is of the view that should the market decline by a further five percent after an initial index circuit breaker trigger of five percent, (for a total of 10 percent) the market should be closed for the day.

“A 10 percent market-wide move is highly unusual in this market, and time should be given for the market to recol-

lect itself before opening the next day.”

Awe explained that the objective of the rule is to promote just and equitable principles of trade, remove impediments to and improve the mechanism of a free and open market in order to protect investors and the public interest. “It is expected that

triggering of the index circuit breakers will be a relatively rare event that will address severe market declines and enable stabilisation in the market. In view of the short duration of their intervention, the circuit breakers should still be able to accomplish their goal,” Awe stated.

ALEX proposes N10.99m dividends

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE Board of Directors of Aluminum Extrusion Industries Plc has proposed payment of N10.998 million dividends to its shareholders st for the year ended 31 December, 2012.

The dividend, which is subject to shareholders’ approval at the yearly general meting scheduled to hold next month, will be distributed to qualified members of the th company on August 5 , 2013.

According to the information gathered by Vanguard, only members whose names appear on register of members at the th close of business on 18 July, 2013 will benefit from the dividend.

A peep at the company’s full year financial statement showed that the dividend would be paid from profit after tax of N45.112 million recorded within the period.

Breakdown of the result indicated a slight decline in all the basic performance indicators.

Profit before tax declined by 3.90 percent to N77.561

million, as against N80.710 million in the corresponding period of 2011, while profit after tax went down by 10.73 percent from N50.54 million in 2011 to N45.11 million in the review period. The gross profit at N215.95 million was 4.7 percent decrease over N226.52 million recorded in 2011.

Revenue also slowed by 0.58 percent to N1.722 billion from N1.732 billion in the previous year. However, the cost of sales closed almost flat at N1.506 billion. The company was able to reduce its administrative expenses to N96.59 million compared to N100.78 million in 2011.

2015. Indian corporates are seeking higher margin returns as their domestic market becomes more competitive – and Africa is one continent which presents such upside opportunity.”

Continuing, he said “India is just as investment-hungry as China, demonstrating interest in Africa’s mining resources, as well as the continent’s burgeoning trade and consumer sectors. Over the last four years, our AfricaIndia business has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 60 percent - taking the lead over other cross-border revenue streams.”

In his own comment, Sunil Kaushal, Standard Chartered’s CEO of India & South Asia said, “The bank’s presence spans 150 years in Africa and India, giving us unique experience and expertise to support this rapidly expanding trade and investment corridor. As one of India’s leading foreign banks, our Africa Chairmen will have the opportunity to initiate strategic business introductions and long-term partnerships with some of India’s leading corporate and industry players. We remain committed to leveraging our network to promote strategic Africa-India partnerships, having already hosted a number of road shows with for investors between Africa and India, as well as participating in forums such as the Confederation of Indian Industry India Africa Conclave.”

It will be recalled that last year, the Chairmen were hosted in China, another of the bank’s well-established growth markets and key trading partners for Africa.

UBA launches exclusive World Mastercard

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced the World MasterCard, which is the most exclusive card in the MasterCard staple. The introduction of the UBA World MasterCard is consistent with the bank’s strategic focus of providing appropriate product to every customer segment, including but not limited to the highly discerning customers who cherish rare and exclusive privileges.

Head, Cards, UBA Plc., Adédèjì Olówè, affirmed that UBA is the only bank offering World MasterCard for its debit product in Nigeria. According to him, the card programme, which is available by invitation only,can be tied to any of Naira, US Dollar, Pounds Sterling and Euro domiciliary account.

He emphasised that the UBA World MasterCard offers a chockfull of benefits such as

travel accident and inconvenience insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, concierge services, and emergency cardholder services. The card, Adédèjì stated, is exclusively made from a rare alloy of Silver Nickel, only a few materials of which exist in the world.

“The heft of the material is its signature.

The recognition of the programme has afforded it the highly coveted MasterCard premium hologram. In addition, there is a great security service protecting our esteemed customers everywhere they shop with Fraud Protection and MasterCard Zero Liability,” he added.

According to Adédèjì, UBA is the only bank offering debit cards in all the major currency range, stressing that the bank also offers a dedicated lounge for its premium cardholders at the Head Office supported by 24/7 private banking customer support.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—23

African govts urged to tap opportunities in soybean

I

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote (left) and Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun during the technical session at the on-going Conference of National Council of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Abeokuta.

Gov Amosun tasks FG on food security … as Adesina speaks on dry season activities

Ibikunle Amosun, has GOVERNOR urged the Federal Government to

continue to evolve policies that will ensure food security in the country.

Speaking in Abeokuta last week at the 40th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development held in the state, the governor observed that the world’s population was growing at geometric progression with uncorrelated overall food production resulting in huge food supply gap.

He urged the Federal Government to

develop policies and programmes to guarantee adequate and quality food supply.

Amosun said the state was willing to partner with the Federal Government and private investors on industrialisation.

Amosun described Ogun as a major industrial hub, adding that the state would maximise the various agricultural value chains from locally sourced raw materials to promote industrial development.

The governor said 20,000 hectares of land had been made available in the state for investors to cultivate crops that have market advantage.

“Ogun State is ready for business, we are ready to partner on the agricultural value chains, we are hungry for development,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed that with the Agriculture Transformation Agenda of the government, nine million metric tonnes of food has been added in first year

,

By JIMOH BABATUNDE with agency reports

Yearly, Nigeria imports over 11 billion U.S. dollars worth of wheat, rice, sugar and fish

,

including rainy season and dry season activities.

The addition, he said, represents 80 per cent above 5 million metric tonne food target in 2012 and 45 per cent of its total target of 20 million MT for 2015.

The Minister said Nigeria can no longer continue to be a sleeping giant. “We have to wake up and turn Nigeria into a global powerhouse in agriculture,” he said.

Adesina said the government is implementing a time-bound aggressive plan to unlock Nigeria’s potential to become an agricultural powerhouse.

“Yearly, Nigeria imports over 11 billion U.S. dollars worth of wheat, rice, sugar and fish. However, Nigeria is importing what it can produce in abundance; this import dependency is hurting Nigerian farmers, displacing local production and creating unemployment.

He explained that the vision of government is to make Nigeria an agricultural and industrialised economy, using a governmentenabled private sector-driven approach,” he said.

Speaking on what the ministry has done on rice; Adesina explained that though rice grows well in all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, the demand for parboiled, polished long grain, stone free and odorless rice by the urban dwellers has fueled the demand for imported rice.

“Total demand for rice in Nigeria is put at about 5.2 million MT a year out of which about 3.3 million MT are produced locally. The drain on foreign exchange has increased the need for self sufficiency in the sub sector.

In the last year, Adesina said the country has produced 690,000 MT in the main season and 1.1 million MT during the dry season, the first time in Nigeria’s history He said the goal of Rice Transformation Agenda is self sufficiency in rice and complete substitution of imported rice by year 2015, adding that with the policy put in place rice production level has increased from current 3.3 million MT to six million MT per year so as to remove the shortfall between demand and supply by year 2015.

Adesina disclosed that in the current year, for first time ever, the ministry launched Dry Season farming of rice to take advantage of irrigation capacity in the North of Nigeria.

“First time ever, Federal Government provided massive support for dry season rice cultivation in 10 states; 267,491 farmers received 50kg seeds, two bags of 15-15 NPK and one bag Urea. This, according to him, has added an additional 1,070,364 MT of food in 2013. This is one-third of total paddy needed to be selfsufficient by 2015.”

NCREASING the use of soybean in diets has a lot of nutritional benefits and will also create the critically needed demand to drive local production and boost farmers’ income.

Researchers and soybean processors at two separate workshops organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); and the National Soybean Research Laboratory (NSRL), University of Illinois, United States, in Abuja and Ibadan said expanding the consumption of the “golden bean” would have a positive impact on the nutrition of women and children in Africa.

“To tackle malnutrition, we need to promote the use and consumption of soybean,” Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development said.

In Africa, malnutrition, particularly protein deficiency is widespread and animal protein is, often times, too expensive for most populations.

According to Dr Dashiell, Africa needed to take advantage of the crop to drive sustainable development and agricultural transformation.

Dr Marilyn Nash, Program Coordinator, National Soybeans Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois, described soybean as a ‘’miracle bean’’ because of its high nutritional value.

Kano seeks national policy on groundnuts

K

ANO State Ministry of Agriculture has called on the Federal Government to produce a national policy on groundnut production as well as fund research on the crop.

The ministry also urged the Federal government to include the production of groundnut among the value chains being promoted under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government.

These were part of the submission of Kano state at the just concluded 40th meeting of the National Council on Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The Kano state team led by the commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Baraka Sani said Groundnut is an important cash crop in Nigeria.

“Groundnut oil is used after refining as cooking oil and in the manufacture of soap and margarine. The residues of the crops after oil extraction (Groundnut seed cake) can be fed to livestock as a concentrate for milk production.”

They added “Although Nigeria’s climatic and soil conditions favor the production of the crop especially in the northern parts making the country among the leading producers in the West African Sub-Region.

Groundnut production is evidently on decline.”

The decline they attributed to various factors as non availability of improved seeds, high cost and adulteration of external production inputs; cultivation of traditional crop varieties by farmers; pests, and diseases and parasitic weeds among others.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

F

OR anybody that knows Obudu cattle ranch in Cross River State before Donald Duke’s administration and the transformation that took place later will not doubt the will power to make a change.

It was the will power of the administration that has made Cross River a reference point in tourism development in Nigeria and a preferred destination. Same will power is playing out in Ekiti state where Kayode Fayemi is turning things around in another tourist attraction in Ikogosi.

Ikogosi warm spring, tucked away in the rustic and serene town of Ikogosi-Ekiti, is one of the tourist attractions that this country could be proud of because of the history and myth behind the attraction. What is mysterious about the Ikogosi Warm Spring is the fact that, flowing side by side the warm spring, is another spring, a cold one.

The warm and cold springs of Ikogosi originate from a close proximity, come to a meeting point, and flow onward together with each spring retaining its thermal identity. The warm spring has a temperature of up to 70oC at the source and 37oC after meeting the cold spring.

The meeting point of the warm and cold springs is a unique attraction to tourists.

Tourists attractions The meeting of the warm and cold water could be a pull to tourist, but to some the myth behind it could be a pull to others as tourists visit attractions for varied reasons.

There are a few legends surrounding the origin and discovery of the Warm Spring and have been passed down generations for centuries. One such myth says that the warm and cold springs were the two wives of a great hunter. One of his wives was said to be temperamental while the other was a quiet woman. One day, the two wives had a fight and after being rebuked by their husband, the temperamental wife changed to the warm spring while the quiet one turned to the cold spring.

Another legend has it that a powerful hunter, while hunting for animals in the forest, first found the warm spring. After the discovery, he went to town with the story and the townspeople on learning about curative powers of the spring, started to worship the spring.

Whatever is the true situation remains to be found out as the story of the Ikogosi Warm Spring is told elsewhere and

Ikogo si war m

spring :

N Naattuu rree’’ss ttoo m maann ggiifftt kkiinndd

formed plan to sort to a can attract A drive

nothing might be compared to taking a trip to this serenity place to see things for oneself. For those townspeople who formed the first domestic tourists to the site it was tortuous for them to reach the attraction and so it has been for modern day domestic and in-

ternational tourists as it was hardly accessible; the roads leading to the warm springs were decrepit.

Today, as part of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s transformation package accessibility is now a thing of the past as the roads leading to the resort have been fixed. The road re-rehabilitation

part of the larger transform the redestination that tourists. into the resort for the zonal meeting of the Nigeria Union of Journalists during the week was an eye opener to the transformation that has taken place in the resort.

The architectural design of the entrance gate against the landscaping of the over 116-hectare resort was a reminder of the scenic beauty of Obudu resort from the base. With the security check done with, a drive into the resort

reveal eye catching newly built chalets and a reception building. The major surprise was the landscaping of the resort matched with beautifully manicured flowers being tended to by gardeners.

Behind the reception is the newly constructed 1000 capacity amphitheatre, arts and crafts centre. As you moved towards the meeting point of the cold and warm water, you cannot but marveled at the ingenuity that has been brought to play with the construction of a walk trail.

In the past, tourists wade through dirty paths and bush to get to the meeting point as well as the tiny source from which the warm and cold water spring forth.

A walk on the trail envelops one with that tranquillity one gets walking a nature trail as all you hear is the chirpings of birds and the coolness of a thick forest through which you walk through. Ikogosi resort could pass for an eco-tourism destination because of the preservation of the flora and fauna there.

Tucked within the forest, as one passes through the former zoo in the resort, is the newly constructed swimming pool with a cozy bar and an eatery for tourists to relax after a visit to the sprin Great efforts had gone into making the star attraction at the resort, the meeting point of the cold and warm water as well as the source of both to remain clean. Workers were seen removing dirt and other particles from the spring. Done with the sightseeing, I raced back through the walk trail for my meeting unknowing that there was another surprise waiting.

The conference hall is an attraction itself as it can seat over 600 people as it can boost of modern conference equipment.

Govt launches first tourism identity, Fascinating Nigeria

T

HE Nigerian Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation launched its new tourism brand Fascinating Nigeria at a starstudded ceremony at the State House in the capital Abuja last week. The new brand is part of the Ministry’s vision

to reposition Nigeria as the preferred tourism destination and cultural capital in Sub-Saharan Africa. The largest country in West Africa covering 923,768 sq km, Nigeria is divided into 36 different states and is home to many different cultures, with 521 different languages

IHG opens first intercontinental hotel in Nigeria

I

NTERCONTINENTAL Hotel Group (IHG) opened its first hotel in west Africa with the 352-room hotel located on Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 23-story hotel siting magnificently close to Lagos Creek offers guests stunning panoramic views of the Gulf of Guinea.

For event planners and business

travellers, the hotel offers state-ofthe-art facilities. Its Grand African Ballroom can seat up to 1,200 people with additional six other meeting rooms, two boardrooms and business facilities available. The hotel also features a luxurious health & fitness centre, which includes a sauna and steam room, and 3 beauty treatment rooms.

being recorded.

In January 2014 Nigeria celebrates its Centenary and, as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is poised to become a leading voice on the African stage.

Since independence in 1960 Nigeria has relied on its natural oil and gas reserves as the economic driver, but now tourism is being identified to develop new income streams.

By 2050 Nigeria will be one of the most populous countries on the planet and we need to develop the opportunities that lie in our history and culture,” says Chief Edem Duke, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

“We are working with local governments to develop the infrastructure for visitors and tourists alike, and to identify the places they will want to see.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 25

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 27

BY AYO ONIKOYI & IYABO AINA

T

he song “Obodo” is still as evergreen as ever but the singer of the song, Ukeje Okechukwu Edward, a.k.a Mr Raw, formerly known as ‘Nigga Raw’ , disappeared from the music scene and only recently reappeared with a new album featuring 2Face Idibia. In this chat with Weekend Groove, role model of upcoming Hip Hop acts in Eastern Nigeria speaks on his absence, his music and why he changed his name from ‘Nigga Raw’ to ‘Mr. Raw’.

I N S I D E:

Tell us about your Record label ?

My Record Label is called Raw Deal Entertainment. I started the Label in 2005 and presently I have three artistes who are signed onto the outfit. There’s nothing much about it.

Why did you decide to own a Record Label ?

It all started when I first released my first album” Right and Wrong” that was the album that contains ‘’Obodo’’, it made a big hit. After that album I decided to own my own Record Label since everything put into the production of the album was done solely by me.

C M Y K

,

So what’s new about Mr Raw ?

A lot of things are new about me because presently I am still recording songs and doing other businesses. And there are a lot of artistes I am actually trying to help push their songs under my label ‘Raw Deal Entertainment’. Presently, I have a new fifteen-track album titled ‘’ The Greatest “ featuring 2Face Idibia and some other acts. And I can say the album is doing credibly well and two videos from the album titled ‘’Asanwa” and ‘’Forget Swagga ‘’ are already on air.

I just have to get something else to do other than music. Though at first it was only music but now it’s no longer music alone, I am now doing other things as well

,

Should we say the Record Label is actually taking your time enough to make you go off the scene for a while?

The Record Label has nothing to do with that, the thing is that I actually got myself involved in many other businesses within and outside the country. I am still very much around, doing my thing but the only difference now is that I don’t do just music alone anymore. I have other interests

Can we know those other things you have got yourself involved in?

What I mean is that I am into importation of goods within and outside Nigeria and I am also into properties like an investmentor. Let’s just say it’s a kind of retirement plan that could come handy when I finally bow out from music. It’s my back-up plan.

Now that you are married, how are you enjoying marital life?

I thank God I am doing great but another thing is that I like keeping my family life private. Though I have heard a lot of people saying that it’s because I got married that’s why I’ve been off the music scene, it’s not true. I just have to get something else to do other than music. Though at first it was only music but now it’s no longer music alone, I am now doing other things as well.

As a married man, how do you treat your female fans ?

Let me be sincere and blunt with you; a female fan actually pushes more of our job than a male fan. Guys will always like to have fun and drink but if a female is passionate about your music Continues on pg 30

I will never accept her child- Paul P-Square speaks on Elshama’s paternity saga Iyanya romances Toolz

Are Smartphones really taking the place of Laptops?

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Continues frompg 27

Synopsis

she can go to any level to promote it even by making the guys love it. So one has to treat the female fans right because they are always there to groove and dance but men are just there too preoccupied with other things. Also, when it comes to comedy shows, it’s the lady that pushes the man to take her out. So, for me I treat them like sisters, friends, fans and supporters. My marriage has nothing to do with the way I treat my female fans though some people do have wrong impression when you treat a lady too nicely. The fact that I am married doesn’t stop me from being close to my female fans.

Any special relaxation spot ?

Actually, I don’t have any special way I relax but you will

Pete and Debbie are approaching a milestone meltdown.

After years of marriage, Pete lives in a house of all females: wife Debbie and their two daughters, 8-year-old Charlotte and 13year-old Sadie. As he struggles …

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK

‘Rapping in Igbo is my unique selling point’ find me at any spot that has a nice pool table because I love playing snooker. I am not a clubbing person. I don’t go out much and I think this has been one of my biggest challenges in the industry.

How did you develop your passion for music?

I picked interest in music when I was still in the secondary school. I started by listening to a lot of rap songs and by miming them I started getting into the rhythm. It was easy back then because many of my friends were into it too.Then, it was basically some foreign artistes like Big Daddy Kane (my favourite), Rakim,Fresh Prince,Naughty By Nature, Heavy D etc.

that announced me was the Benson and Hedges ‘Grab the Mick’ music competition in 2002. People really accepted me when I was rapping in Igbo. I came first then in Enugu and it was even I and Klint that did the competition together. He was singing while I rapped. And finally at the grand finale I won, that was in Abuja. I can never forget that year. That same year, I still went for Star Quest competition. Initially, they didn’t want me to enter for the competition because I just won Benson and Hedges competition. I came second while Kcee emerged winner and I am happy he’s doing great now.

What is the story behind your change of name from Nigga Raw to Mr. Raw ?

Why do you usually Yeah ,the change of Some foreign stations name actually came rap in Igbo language ? about because on-air like MTV Base personalities could Because I feel couldn’t play my comfortable doing it not say my name and I got a lot of driving music until I removed without encouragement from another connotation the word ‘Nigga’ from to it. It was affecting the fans who have information about come to show they my name. I had to do me. Some foreign love it. So it’s just a it. But what actually stations like MTV decision I made and I am glad I did.

Base couldn’t play gave me the push to Sometimes, people my music until I change my name to removed the word get surprised when I ‘Nigga’ from my speak in English Mr. Raw was when name. I had to do it. because most of many people them thought it’s But what actually because I didn’t go gave me the push to complained that they change my name to to school that’s why weren’t able to buy Mr. Raw was when I rap in Igbo.

Moreover, rapping many people my songs online in Igbo is my unique complained that they weren’t able to selling point too. buy my songs How exactly did you online. I had to meet Klint the Drunk beforeoreeaturing search for my name online and I didn’t see him in your song ‘’Obodo ‘’? it in one of the popular websites. But when Actually we were friends back in Enugu, I searched for one of my songs it popped we used to perform in schools. He would up. I saw that they censored ‘Nigga’ and be the MC while I sing and sometimes replaced it with five stars. So if you search he cracked jokes and our other friends for Nigga Raw you wouldn’t find it unless like Mc Lopgh, Smatter Man, Ernest you searched for one of my songs.

Asuzu, the actor, also rapped too. I and Nigerians outside the country buy songs ‘Klint the Drunk’ have been long time online before they get the hard copy. So I friends and I still wish to do something had to change the name. Then again, if with him very soon. Why I featured him you are going to foreign embassies to get in my song is because everything about a visa, the promoter is usually scared of him is music, for example, if you listen telling them at the embassy that a ‘nigga’ to his comedy, what he does most is wants to go to their country. But really, the singing out the jokes.

‘Nigga’ in my name wasn’t like the American Nigger. Mine is actually an What made you so popular ? acronym NIGA which means Nigerian Guy I think it’s my ‘Igbotic’ rap. Like when I Anakpo Raw (Nigerian Guy who is called did the Obodo song people really Raw). But how many people would you be accepted it, that was in 2005 but I wrote explaining this to? the song in late 90. And another thing

,

,

C M Y K

WHITE HOUSE DOWN AFTER EARH FA S T A N D F U R I O U S 6 TEMPTATION STAR TREK

Exhibition Schedule for 12th -18th July, 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND White House Down :11:00, 13:20, 18:30, 21:00 This is 40: 12:20, 16:20, 20:30 After Earth :11:40, 15:50, Fast and Furious :15:50 Temptation: 13:30 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA White House Down :11:15, 13:45, 18:30, 21:00 Cartel :16:55 This is 40: 10:40, 15:55, 21:15 After Earth :19:15.

Fast and Furious : 14:40 Temptation: 16:20 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORTHARCOURT White House Down :12:50, 15:35, 18:10, 20:50.

This is 40: 12:00, 14:40, 17:20, 20:00 Cartel:12:10, 14:10, 16:15, 18:35, 20:40.

After Earth: 16:30, 20:50.

Fast and Furious : 20:20 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA White House Down :11:10, 16:10, 18:40, 21:10 Cartel:16:30, 18:30, 20:30 After Earth :12:10, 14:10, 16:20.

Temptation: 18:20, 20:40.

Letter to my mother: 12:30, 14:30.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS ABUJA White House Down :13:00, 15:30, 18:10, 20:40 This is 40: 12:25, 15:00, 17:40, 20:20.

Cartel:12:20, 16:40.

Star Trek into Darkness :16:20, 20:50 Letter to my Mother : 15:00.

After Earth :12:50, 17:10, 19:10, 21:10.

Fast and Furious 6 : 12:20, 14:50, 17:20, 20:00.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO After Earth :12:20pm,2:35pm,4:40pm,7:00pm Letter to My Mother :12:10pm,2:20pm,4:30pm,6:40pm Host:11:45pm,4:20pm Turning Point :12:15am,2:30pm Temptation: 2:10pm, 6:50pm, Cartel:4:45pm,6:55pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS White House Down :2:15pm,4:45pm,7:35pm Star Trek into Darkness :11:30pm After Earth:12:05pm,2:10pm Fast and Furious :12:15pm Temptation: 9:20pm This is 40: 4:15pm,6:50pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMA LAGOS After earth: 10:20, 15:10, 20:00 White house down: 11:10, 14:00, 16:50, 19:40, 22:30 Cartel: 10:30, 19:30, 23:50 White house down 2D: 19:00.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMA PORT HARCOURT. Cartel: 11:50, 15:50 White house down: 11:30, 14:10, 16:50, 19:30, 22:10.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMA ENUGU. Cartel: 10:05, 14:05, 18:05.

Temptation: 10:00,14:45, 18:55 White house down: 10:00, 12:40, 15:20, 18:00, 20:40.

FILM HOUSE IBADAN Cartel :11:00am Flower Girl :3:20pm,8:00pm After Earth :10:30am,12:30pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 —29

Ebube Nwagbo, Rukky Sanda tour US

I

t has never been a hanging-on-thewall kind of fact that Nollywood beauties, Ebube Nwagbo and Rukky Sanda have anything going for each other, not to talk of the duo taking a vacation together. But the two damsels have been spotted in each other ’s company in the United States of America, painting the Uncle Sam’s country red.

Reports say the two actresses were spotted travelling between California, Texas and Florida, giggling and looked to be having the time of their lives. Their itinerary as a close associate discloses is simply to wake up in the morning, have breakfast in bed and then set out on shopping and touring spree.

Another insider has revealed that the two actresses never planned their travelling details together and said their meeting was only an accidental occurrence as they were never really close to each other before fate brought them together in the United States.

Yet another associate of the actresses said their being together may actually be a prefamilarising arrangement for a movie

•Ebube Nwagbo and Rukky Sanda

shoot set to cast the two of them alongside each other. Ebube has recently featured in ‘Widows Cot’ while Rukky Sanda has been reaping off two movies she launched in December of last year;‘The Search’ starring talented actors and actresses like Van Vicker, Nse Ikpe Etim, Yemi Blaq, Susan Peters etc and ‘Lovelorn’ which featured Tonto Dikeh, Alex Usifo, Ikey Ogbonna, Alex Ekubo and a host of others.

•Desmond car

Desmond Elliot adds to fleet of cars

Iyanya romances Toolz

M

TN Project Fame graduate and top singer, Iyanya, seems to be back on the prowl again after unceremoniously, or ceremoniously dumping Ghanaian movie star, Yvonne Nelson. This time around the target on his radar is on-air-personality, Toolz, whom he romanced with a customised cake on her birthday, a few days ago.

Toolz who is engaged to be married soon recently interviewed Iyanya’s former girlfriend, Yvonne, where the actress poured out her heart on how Iyanya used and dumped her.

Speculations abound that Iyanya may be acting out a script of one of his hit tracks “ All I Want is Your Waist” by going after Toolz who is known to have a big waist just like Yvonne Nelson. But Yvonne has said she only gave out her waist to the sexy singer because she thought she was in love.

D

esmond Elliot is a top Nollywood star who is fast changing from a top act on the big screen to becoming one of the biggest guys behind the scene as a producer and director. Since spurning the strings as a film-maker it appears good fortune has been coasting freely his way.

Recently, the handsome dude put up a picture of a posh Mercedez Benz as Display Picture on his BlackBerry phone with a line “Eshe Oluwa”, meaning ‘thank you God’.

When asked whether he has added another car to his fleet, he simply replied “Thank God” which could very well mean “yes”

•Iyanya’s cake

I will never accept her child— Paul P-Square speaks on Elshama’s paternity saga photo on his DP isn’t that of Elshama and considering no paternity test has so far her son but that of his ‘authentic’ girlfriend, been done on Elshama’s son.

Elshama swore she was a virgin when kay, fans and pundits Anita and their son. Paul said he has never thought the checks have accepted the baby and never will, a she met him at 17 been made, and that Paul of P- statement thought to be too harsh Square has finally accepted the paternity of 19 year old beauty queen, Elshama’s son.

The media didn’t even help matters as it went agog last week when Paul Okoye used a picture allegedly assumed to be that of

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI Elshama caring her new born son as his Blackberry display picture. one are those days when only children of But before you could say Jack the poor dabbled into music. The stage is Robbinson, the news was now more than set as even children of billionaires everywhere that although Paul get entangled in the music net, just like Davido. didn’t come out to say he fathered One of Nigeria’s billionaire businessmen, Femi a child with her, he has however Otedola’s daughter, Florence may have found accepted his son with Elshama by her foot in music afterall, as she just dropped a merely using her and her son as new music video, I Love My Country, directed his DP.

by Mr.Moe Musa Apparently taken aback by how Florence Otedola aka Cuppy is based in the the news of him accepting UK, and guess what? She’s one of the big Elshama’s son had spread, Paul celebrity DJs rocking London at the moment. eventually broke silence. He took Gist has it that she also plays regularly in Dubai to Twitter and tweeted to clear the and Paris.

•Florence air. According to his tweet, the

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

O

Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola’s daughter drops video

•Paul Okoye

THE TEAM BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

AYO ONIKOYI onikoyi68@gmail.com OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI C M Y K

G

30 —Vanguard ,

FRIDAY FRIDAY,, JULY 12, 2013

Belove acce d

BY YEMISI SULEIMAN

T

HERE is never enough space for any woman’s vanity box for all the accessories that we love and need. However, the best way to go is to invest in some classical pieces that were relevant and beautiful last year and are still hot this year and will still be relevant in years to come. That way you still have fun all year round.

*Chain and beads

*Leopard

*Red platform

ssories

*Silver Crystal SWAROVSKI Clutch Bag,

*Chunky Tortoise links Necklace

*Cocktail rings

*CLUTCH BAGS Clutch bags will always be with us, they add to woman’s style and class. Evening bags that compliment a woman’s attire is always a head tur ner. So considering all this, these bags make a great gift option for any woman who loves to be a cynosure. *STATEMENT JEWELLERY Was a strong trend in 2010, and will still be in for 2011. It comes handy for any time you want to make an impression with your jewelry! *WIDE BELTS A most loved accessory. A wide C M Y K

*Lala Akindoju

belt can accentuate your waist, narrow it, disguise the flab and enhance your feature. It will always remain a staple in woman’s wardrobe *PLATFORMS AND HEELS Platforms and heels add dash and class to our total out look as women. They were there in 2010 and are not going anywhere in 2010. *OVERSIZED SUNGLASSES Designers oversized sunglasses can dress up or down an outfit depending on the occasion and most especially prevent your eyes from the hash rays pf the sun.

*Amani Emeson

*COCKTAIL RINGS Cocktail rings have taken over the fashion world, they are re like magnets that attract men and women to you. Good news is they come in different styles and can go from morning to evening, to show off elegant fingers.

*Black satin clutch

*Oversized sunglasses

*Ruby

30 — Vanguard ,

FRIDAY FRIDAY,, JULY 12, 2013

Belove acce d

BY YEMISI SULEIMAN

T

HERE is never enough space for any woman’s vanity box for all the accessories that we love and need. However, the best way to go is to invest in some classical pieces that were relevant and beautiful last year and are still hot this year and will still be relevant in years to come. That way you still have fun all year round.

*Chain and beads

*Leopard

*Red platform

ssories

*Silver Crystal SWAROVSKI Clutch Bag,

*Chunky Tortoise links Necklace

*Cocktail rings

*CLUTCH BAGS Clutch bags will always be with us, they add to woman’s style and class. Evening bags that compliment a woman’s attire is always a head turner. So considering all this, these bags make a great gift option for any woman who loves to be a cynosure. *STATEMENT JEWELLERY Was a strong trend in 2010, and will still be in for 2011. It comes handy for any time you want to make an impression with your jewelry! *WIDE BELTS A most loved accessory. A wide C M Y K

*Lala Akindoju

belt can accentuate your waist, narrow it, disguise the flab and enhance your feature. It will always remain a staple in woman’s wardrobe *PLATFORMS AND HEELS Platforms and heels add dash and class to our total out look as women. They were there in 2010 and are not going anywhere in 2010. *OVERSIZED SUNGLASSES Designers oversized sunglasses can dress up or down an outfit depending on the occasion and most especially prevent your eyes from the hash rays pf the sun.

*Amani Emeson

*COCKTAIL RINGS Cocktail rings have taken over the fashion world, they are re like magnets that attract men and women to you. Good news is they come in different styles and can go from morning to evening, to show off elegant fingers.

*Black satin clutch

*Oversized sunglasses

*Ruby

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—31 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

EMC to Nigerian businessmen:

Let’s talk more on cloud

C

LOUD has changed meaning. Oh yes! it has. Gone are the days when the mention of cloud takes you looking up to the sky. 21st century tech developments have changed things. Now when cloud is mentioned, those who run businesses look inwards. It has to do with security of data in a growing vulnerable business climate. It measures the strength of a business in aggregating its information and storing them in single platform where they can be reached at will by secured authorisation. Cloud helps to

shrink files and large spendings on data storage which had seen many businesses go under. No wonder many business managers are hiding their policies in the cloud in a global market where strength of competition determines survival.

But from available statistics, this is one area where Nigeria, the giant of Africa, seems to look so small and probably insignificant. However, one of the global leaders in enabling businesses, EMC, has taken the initiative to heighten awareness and knowledge of Cloud computing among Ni-

gerian businessmen.

First, it brings its Global world event, EMC Forum to Nigeria, billed to flag off at Eko Hotel, Lagos, July 17 2013.

Second it deliberately tagged Nigeria’s edition of the show, Lead Your Transformation.

This will provide a platform for several senior IT decisionmakers from all industries across the country to network and share best practices and challenges in their IT transformation journeys while learning about the latest trends in the IT industry.

Vice President and Global Chief Technology Officer

Are Smartphones really taking the place of Laptops?

By WINIFRED IMONLUAMEN

W

ITH the rising penetration of smartphones, there is this belief that laptops and personal computer, PCs, are threatened. This is mainly because the mobile phone, especially the smart phone genre, can be used for virtually everything a laptop can be used for.

A lot of users today have resorted to their smartphones for activities like checking and sending of emails, typing of documents, accessing social sites among others.

However, in our recent reach out to several users of both devices; it seems none may actually push the other out of the system, after all.

If you ask Mr. Oluwasegun Lawani, a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, he will always tell you that he prefers, Laptops to Mobile phones. His reason is that laptops can be used for developing some money fetching apps which cannot be done using mobile phones.

Mr. Adebayo Ojo also prefers laptops. He believes that laptops can do more things than mobile phones. “Laptops have higher memory space and there are some applications or sites that cannot be opened on the mobile phones but on laptops.

“Besides, laptops can work on so many software applications that mobile phones can C M Y K

not b e compatible with. What with a wide variety of downloads with fast internet facility one can get with the help of modems

averred.

on laptops” he

•Cloud Activity (CTO) at EMC, Patricia Florissi with her team are expected to deliver keynote address, that can shed more light on how Cloud transforms IT and enables the adoption of IT-asa-service model; how organizations can unlock the potenBut Miss Cassandra Onyia a student of Ajayi Crowther University, prefers Mobile phones to Laptops. For her, the mobile phone is light and easy to carry about. It can also be used anywhere for those purposes one can use laptop for, without much need for charging.

“With mobile phones, one can make calls on the go, even as he or she can also do online works that laptop can do”.

Miss Onyia is however not alone. Another student, Miss Titilope Oyegoke also prefers mobile phones to laptops. She explained that mobile phones have portability that is; it is easy to carry about without it been noticed. She also said that there are some applica-

Can ZubaBox give rural geeks freedom?

D

ELL announced last week, the launch of its first solar powered lab known as the ZubaBox mobile classroom in Africa. It said the box was capable of providing increased opportunities for learning to students with little or no access to technology or the Internet.

The solar powered lab, has already arrived on-site at a Senior School in Lagos, Nigeria.

But Dell is keeping low profile on the school till further notice.

The ZubaBox removes the need to connect to any electrical infrastructure and provides

The ZubaBox Lab.

an affordable education solution for the local community.

Equipped with an innovativeshared computing solution from Dell Wyse, the Dell ZubaBox opens up new teaching possibilities and the personal development of students through enhanced training and education.

The technology was pioneered by UK based charity Computer Aid International to harness the power from the sun and to provide internet connectivity for students in communities.

ZubaBox classrooms also help raise awareness of the outside world among students and enhance their learning powers.

Dell says that with ZubaBox now in place, it has started working with charity partner Camara to engage with teachers and provide them with the training they will need to make best use of the technology available to them. This training extends from the use of Windows multipoint Server and Zero client technology to the establishment of a curriculum that will maximise the benefits of shared computing system.

Working in close partnership with Computer Aid on the project, Dell installed a Dell Wyse shared computing system in the ZubaBox consisting of one powerful PC networked to ten ‘zero client’ workstations.

This not only gives the teacher full visibility of what the students are working on across each of the ten monitors but offers centralised control of the class to keep everyone focussed

tial of their data through timely insights and how security solutions are a foundation to the adoption of cloud computing and Big Data analytics.

tions that can be stored in a mobile phone that cannot be stored in a laptop.

Mobile phone uses a sim card while laptops don’t. She claims that both devices can be used accessing the internet’s and can also be used to take photographs and can also be used for video chatting. Both devices can be used for banking transaction for example mobile banking.

Mr. Damilare Oyeyebi prefers laptops to mobile phones because in relation to his work, he uses his laptop to carry out researches and analysis date which cannot be done on any mobile phone.

He claims that his laptop is like his robot.

on the current task.

With solar panels mounted on the roof, the ZubaBox can be placed virtually anywhere, eliminating the need for fixed electrical infrastructure to power the PCs. The ZubaBox is also highly efficient to run as only the primary PC. In addition, the panels charge a battery bank during the day which allows the classroom to be used after dark if required.

Many people in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas, have limited access to electricity and the Internet. The ZubaBox concept, which comprises a standard shipping container that is converted into a mobile classroom, could provide respite but everything in Nigeria enjoys more attention in major cities and this may not be different.

After all, Lagos already has it.

Many rural schools that need the technology most, can wait?

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

TREBLE CHANCE South Coast W. v Manly U Moreton v Brisbane S Avondale v Moreland C Sydenham v E. Altona Sorrento v Perth Swan Utd v Morley V. AD Hills v Olympic SA Modbury v Salisbury Northern D v Seaford Sturt v W. Toros

SOCCER TIPS

Man U may not get Thiago

... Guardiola wants him at Bayern MANCHESTER UNITED have suffered a major blow in their bid to sign Barcelona ace Thiago Alcantara with Pep Guardiola declaring: “I want him at Bayern.”

The 22-year-old midfielder had been on the verge of moving to Old Trafford.

But he now has another option with his old Barca gaffer keen to bring him to Germany.

Guardiola said: “I want Thiago Alcantara. I have asked Bayern to get him but I don’t know what will happen.

“Thiago is the only player I want, that’s what I told them.

“It’ll be him or no one. We have many players but we the need the special extra quality that Thiago Alcantara brings.

“I know Thiago very well. I talked to Rummenigge and Sammer about him, we will wait . and then see.

“I don’t think adding another midfielder will be a problem for us. I spoke to club about my concept and told them why I want Thiago Alcantara.

“I give my opinion, but I listen to the board. If they say no, that’s ok.”

FOUR HOMES LATE TIPS

1 X 10 X PAIR 11X17 28 FOUR AWAYS X 13 X 29 X 30 32 X 33 PERMUTATION AVOID 2X 5 X 12 X 18 16X 40 X 41 RISKY 36 TIPS 43 X 46 X 49 CREDIT

EXCELLENT

Palm Beach 2 S'Coast W. Ballarat . 2 Moreton Melbourne U 2 Avondale Adelaide R 3 Sydenham White City 3 Sorrento Kingboro 3 Swan Utd Sturt 3 AD Hills Northern D 3 Modbury C M Y K

7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5

Minister inaugurates Committee on Eagles bonus row

THE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi yesterday inaugurated the committee set up to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the bonus row that exploded in Namibia, last month.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister referred to the protest over match bonuses by Super Eagles players in Namibia as unfortunate, saying, “the unfortunate incident in Namibia brought to the fore the larger issues in the administration of football in Nigeria as rows in our football have been perennial.” The Minister hoped the committee which is headed by the former Spokesman of late President Yar’Ardua, Segun Adeniyi who incidentally served as a member of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Super Eagles 2010 World Cup campaign will dig deep and find a lasting solution to the recurrent issue of match bonuses.

Earlier, the Director General of the NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye expressed shock at the Namibia incident , calling it “a national embarrassment” and wondered why other African countries that do not pay their players as much bonuses as Nigeria were not having such problems The terms of reference are to determine the immediate and remote causes of the match bonus row in Namibia, develop a code of conduct for players on national assignments and any other recommendation that may be deemed necessary for the good governance of football

in the country.

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS .WEEK 52 NSW Premier

1 Bonnyrigg 2 South Coast W. 3 Sutherland

v Rockdale v Manly U. v Blackt C.

1 XX 1X

Queensland Premier League

4 CQFC 5 Moreton 6 Palm Beach 7 Western P.

v FNOFC 1X v Brisbane S XX v Northern F. 1X v Brisbane C. X2

8 Brisbane F..

9 Peninsula P.

v Capalaba. 2X v Rochedalet X1

Brisbane Premier

Victoria Division one

10 Eastern L. 11 Moreland Z.

v N. Geelong v Fawkner

1 1

Vict oria Division TTw wo Victoria

12 Avondale 13 Ballarat 14 Fitzroy C. 15 Keilor PK. 16 Sydenham

v Moreland C. XX v Whittlesea R. 2X v Brunswick C. X2 v LA Trobe 1 v E. Altona XX

17 Clifton H. 18 Dandenong C. 19 Langwarrin 20 Malvern C. 21Mornington 22 S.Springvale

v Noble PK 1 v Morwell 1 v Doveton X1 v Diamond V. 1X v Springvale W.2X v Kingston C. 1

Victoria Division Three

Victoria Division Four

23 Melbourne U. 24 Moreland U. 25 SP. Whittle

v Banyule v Cairnlea v Yarraville

X2 1X X1

West Australia Premier

26 Balcatta 27 Bayswater 28 Sorrento

v Bunbury 1 v Joondalup 1 v Perth XX

West Australia Division One

29 Ashfield 30 Gosnells 31 Mandurah 32 Swan Utd 33 Uwa Nedlands

v Dianella 2 v Wanneroo 2 v Rockingham1 v Morley XX v Western K. 2

34 Adelaide R. 35 Metro S. 36 Para Hills 37 Western S. 38 White City 39 WT Birkalla

vBlueEaglesX2 v CampbellT 1 v Enfield 1 v AD Cobras X1 v Cumberl'd X2 v Croydon 1

South Australia Premier

2 5 12 41

South Austra lia StateLeague

40 AD Hills 41 Modbury 42 Noarlunga 43 Northern D 44 Pirates 45 S Adelaide.

46 Sturt 47 W. Adelaide.

v Olympic SA v Salisbury v Playford v Seaford v COVE v Eastern U v W. Toros v Gawler

XX XX 1X XX 1 1X XX 1

Revised Pairs

Tasmania South League 48 Devonport 49 Kingboro

v Tillford Z. v Olympia

1X XX

2 x 5 , 12 x 28 32 x 41, 46 x 49

Vanguard Vanguard,,

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

— 33

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 QUARIUS Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

PISCES: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course.

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

ARIES: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life.

TAURUS: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

GEMINI: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

O

NE of the major characteristics of achievers is that they never overlook things. In their scheme of things, everything matters.

Nothing is ever left to chance; some people call it paying attention to details.

Everything matters The thing that doesn’t appear to matter on face value ends up being our undoing. How do you know the thing that doesn’t matter? Who told you it doesn’t

matter? Anytime you are in doubt, remember these: If it appears not to be important; if you are tempted to forgo it; if you have the urge not to do something

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

about it; if you have the hunch that it matters; if you have the hunch that it matters not; if it looks too good to be true, then have a second look because it could really be the heart of the matter.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work.

LEO: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today.

VIRGO: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

LIBRA: Better than yesterday. And the more co-operative you are today the better for you. Those of you travelling for love are in for an exciting day.

SCORPIO: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

SAGITTARIUS: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others.

Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts.

Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious.

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

Which day was I born?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth.

Mohamed, Kaduna.

Dear Mohamed, Under-here are the planetary positions as requested by you.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day of Birth = Sunday Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs hosted five planets each.

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% PLANET AT HOME = NONE ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA You are both an intelligent and emotional person.

And as there was planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise.

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born.

VIRGINIA

Home and Abroad Akapa

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence

34—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

One yyear ear af aftter er,, no clue on Gawat ...Investigation is on-going — PPRO

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Every part of the body must fast HERE is no other time to purify your soul than now. Almighty Allah has offered us another opportunity to be alive to witness another glorious month, Ramadan.

Alhamdullilah.

Not all those who prayed for it got it. Within the last twelve months, innumerable souls have gone to the great beyond, so many who had wished and prepared for the month even hours ago did not have the grace to witness it. Some though not dead but in critical conditions without the consciousness of observing the first Ramadan.

We, of course are not better than them, we are rather specially blessed by Allah (SWT). Allahuma, Laka lihamdu-Shukran.

At this point, the purification of one’s soul is very essential in achieving the best of this month. It is better we plan and work in such a way that our personality and whole lives will be better for it at the end of the month. The beauty is that if we are able to achieve it, it will ultimately help to regulate what we do for the rest of the year.

Yes! We want to abstain from food and drink for 30 days as Allah commanded, but the inner dimension of the fast is necessary so as to reap fully the benefits of the blessed month.

Some of the ways to keep it away from contamination is to forgive those who have wronged you, be good to others. Seek forgiveness from Allah, show kindness and compassion to others, shun bad acts and free your soul from the grip of Shaytan, cleanse the soul of iniquities, evil thoughts, malice, backbiting, hatred and other bad acts.

Naturally, the two forces that usually inhibit us from doing good, are Shaytan and our nafs. (our inner self) The Prophet (s.a.w) said that Shaytan is chained during the month of Ramadan; that leaves us with the duty of purifying our own souls.

Therefore, we need to work on purifying our souls so that we will get the total rewards of the month.

Evaluate your nafs, or inner self, discover those things you have done wrong and repent never to do them again. This is important because, fasting without the

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Qur ’an says “Truly, he succeeds that purifies it, (soul) and he fails he that corrupts his own self” (91:9-10).

Prayer: Allahumma ati nafsi taqwaha wa zakkiha anta khayru man zakkiha

Naturally, the two forces that usually inhibit us from doing good, are Shaytan and our nafs (our inner self). The Prophet (S.A.W) said that Shaytan is chained during the month of Ramadan; that leaves us with the duty of purifying our own souls

,

NE year after Alhaji Razak Gawat, ace Television presenter and anchor of the sahoor (early morning) programme on NTA during Ramadan (fasting period), was declared missing, no one has any useful hint about his whereabouts.

Since Tuesday, July 10, 2012, the family, friends and relatives have been psycholigically traumatised as a result of their missing breadwinner, not sure whether he is dead or alive.

Speaking on the development, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide, told Vanguard in a telephone chat Wednesday that investigation is still on-going on the whereabouts of the television presenter. On whether there have been useful clues on the matter; Braide said: "On a matter like this we don't have to disclose the information we have gathered so as not to jeopadise on-going investigation. All I can tell

Anwar-ul-Islam holds Ramadan lecture

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purification of the inner soul will not produce the fully reward. Every part of our body must fast. our eyes, mouths, toungues, hands etc. This is to ensure that we imbibe the consciousness of Allah, the piety and righteousness expected of us during the month. This will also afford us to maintain good traits even after Ramadan.

Let us for once remind ourselves that there is more to life than physical and material joy; there is a deeper fulfillment in fasting for Allah than eating, sleeping, and drinking.

There is the need to take away focus from the worldly things we have been doing since the last 11 months, let us turn a new leaf, let us see one another as brothers, let us share from what we have and build better spiritual life. You must have a pure life, pure personality and a pure relationship with Allah and human beings. You must not only purify your ways of thinking and feeling, but must also purify your living.

We know it is not an easy task combating one’s soul on what is bad, but the opportunity is here now.

Begin the month on a good note. It cannot be as usual, you’ve got to be a changed person this Ramadan. The

anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha “O Allah grant my soul its piety and purify it, you are the best to purify it, you are its guardian and master.”

Ramadan Kereem!

•Gawat you is that investigation is still on-goin."

Gawat's black Toyota SUV with number plate RE 77 AAA with no visual sign of being hit by another vehicle was discovered on Eko Bridge inward Apongbon around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday night,10th of July, 2012 by LASTMA officials led by the zonal head, Mr. Akinpelu Ayuba few hours after he was said to have attended a meeting in Ikeja.

s part of Ramadan activities, the Anwar-ulIslam Movement of Nigeria will hold its national Ramadan Lecture on Sunday, July 14, at the main auditorium of Anwarul-Islam Model College, Agege, Lagos.

According to a release sent to Vanguard, the guest lecturer is Dr. Kabir Paramole of the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts, Lagos

State University, LASU, Ojo. Theme of the lecture is “Leaders and Islam - Matters arising.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos will be the eminent guest, while Chief Abdul Waheed Adeyinka Adeola, Director Sterling Bank Plc and Alhaja Hamdallat Amusan will be chairman and chairperson respectively. The event starts by 10am.

Solicitor-General and Permanent secretary, Ministry of Justice & Chairman, Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN (3rd left); Chief Missioner, Ansar-UdDeen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdu-Rahman Ahmad (3rd right); FirstVice Chairman, LSSM, Dr Tajudeen Afolabi (2nd left), Imam Abdul-Akeem Kosoko (middle); Directors, DANA Air, Prof. Sulaiman Talabi (1st right); Chief Francis Ogboro, (2nd right) and Media Manager, Dana Air, Mr Sam Ogbogoro during a special prayer for victims of DANA Air crash at the Secretariat Mosque.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 —35

RAMAD AN BRIEFS: RAMADAN

F

OR every action in the Shari’ah, there is a purpose or wisdom.

Even in the major acts of worship, we find that Allah has explained the wisdom behind the various obligations on us and their performances.

In the verse related to wudu, we read: “Allah does not wish to place you in difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete His favour upon you, [so] that you may be grateful.” (Al Ma’idah verse 6) As regards the purpose of salah, we read: “Verily salah restrains [one] from shameful and unjust deeds.” (Al Ankabut v 45). In the verse relating to zakah, we read: “Of their goods, take alms, [so] that you might purify and sanctify them.” (At Tawbah verse 103) In the context of hajj, we read the verse: “That

The purpose of fasting they may witness the benefits provided for them.” (Al Hajj verse 28) In similar vein, the obligation of fasting has a purpose and wisdom behind it. Allah the

,

BY OSHIN SAHEED Abu Azmia (Hikmatul Khilafa )

Fayemi w arns trader warns traderss against price increase

(God consciousness). The great Tabi’i Talq Ibn Habib defined taqwa as ‘acting in obedience to Allah, hoping for His mercy, and taqwa is leaving acts of disobedience to Allah, out

Thus the purpose of fasting is to attain taqwa (god consciousness)

Exalted says: “O you who believe fasting has been prescribed upon you as it had been prescribed upon those before you so that you may become pious.” (Al Baqarah verse 183) Thus the purpose of fasting is to attain taqwa

G

OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has warned traders in the state against increasing prices of foodstuff during the Ramadan period.

According to the governor in a statement through his chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, he said such

,

the Almighty Allah.

The governor noted that Ramadan offered an opportunity for Muslims to move closer to Allah and deepen their relationship with him in submission to his will.

He also urged the faithful to use the period to pray for peace to reign in all the troubled spots in the country.

Estu Nupe urges Muslims to pray for Nigeria

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of fear for Him.’ This means to develop the quality of performing every action that Allah loves and refraining from those actions that He detests.

acts negate the spirit of the season.

He described Ramadan as “the glory of all months in the Islamic calendar.”

He said that the Ramadan fast was one of the five pillars of Islam that Muslims must strictly adhere to in line with the injunctions of

HE Estu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, recently called on Muslims in the country to use the period of the Ramadan to pray for the peace and progress of Nigeria.

Abubakar, who made the call in Bida in an interview with newsmen, stressed the importance of prayers, especially against the backdrop of the current security challenges facing the nation.

“Fasting is not only abstaining from

drinking, eating or abstinence from committing sins.

“It is also a time to emulate the good deeds of Prophet Muhammad during his life time on earth and how he related with others,’’ he said.

The monarch also urged Muslim faithful to show love and concern for the less-privileged in the society by offering them assistance to cushion their hardship during the period.

Abubakar said that both Islam and

Christianity, the two major religions in the country, preached peace, love and unity among Nigerians.

He therefore urged Nigerians to imbibe the teachings of the two religions in the interest of the nation’s development.

The monarch urged religious clerics in the country to refrain from using provocative utterances during the Ramadan fast lectures to forestall any issue that could lead of crisis.

Etiquette of Ramadan fasting

BY HARUN RAZAQ

A

NY Muslim that wants his or her fasting in the month of Ramadan to be accepted

by Allah must fast according to the instruction of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) because one of the conditions for acceptance of deeds in Islam is that it must conform with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

Some of these instructions are obligatory while others are recommended.

They are as follows: (1) having intention of fasting before fajr. The Prophet (s.a.w) said: Whosoever did not intend his fast during the night (before fajr), no fasting for him.

Intention is the resolution in the heart to do something. Saying it aloud is bid’ah (a reprehensible innovation), and anyone who knows that tomorrow is one of the days of Ramadan and wants to fast has made the intention. (Majmoo’ Fataawa Shaykh alIslam, 25/215).

The intention may be

made at any point during the night, even if it is just a moment before Fajr. (2) Desire to take sahuur (the early morning meal) and delaying it until just before the adhaan of Fajr. (3) Avoid things that vitiate fasting such as eating, drinking, sexual intercourse etc. from fajr till sunset.

Allah said:…then complete your fast till the nightfall… (Q2:187) (4) Keeping away from sin, because the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “When any of you is fasting, let him not commit sin…”

(Bukhaari)..(5) Keeping away from things that can destroy one’s good deeds and bring bad deeds and this include: allowing oneself to be distracted by quizshows, movies and sports, matches, idle gatherings, hanging about in the streets with evil people, driving around for no purpose or sleeping throughout the period of fasting. (6) Not allowing one to be provoked, because the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “If someone fights him or insults him, he should say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’” (Bukhaari) (7) Being generous by

sharing knowledge, material things, using one’s position of authority or physical strength to help others, and having a good attitude.

“The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was the most generous of people [in doing good], and he was most generous of all in Ramadan when Jibreel met with him, and he used to meet him every night in Ramadan and teach him the Qur ’an. (8) Hastening the iftaar (breaking of the fast) because the Prophet (SAW) said: “The people will be fine so long as they do not delay iftaar.”

(Bukhaari).

Breaking one’s fast in the manner described in the hadeeth (9) Not eating too much Sahuur and Iftar, because the Prophet (s.a.w) said: The best sahuur for the believer is dates.”

(Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/ 448), he said in another Hadith that: “The son of Adam fills no worse vessel than his stomach.”

(Tirmidhi, no. 2380; he said this is a hasan saheeh hadith). (10) Combining fasting with feeding the poor is one of the means of reaching Paradise, as the Prophet (s.a.w) said.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (middle); Chief of Staff, Mr. Lanre Babalola (left); Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole (3rd left); his Special Duties and Energy and Mineral Resources counterparts, Dr. Wale Ahmed (3rd right), Engr. Taofiq Tijani (2nd left), Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr.

Ganiyu Johnson (right) and his Housing counterpart, Hon. Jimoh Ajao (2nd right) during a special prayer for the commencement of Ramadan fasting organised by the state Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

From left: Sheik Abdul-Razaq Luqman (al-Mubarak); Alhaji Olajide of Ansarud-Deen; sheikh Seifudeen Olowooribi, Chief Imam, Ikorodu Division; Sheikh Is'haq Fagba; and Shikh Muyideen Ajani Bello during a lecture organised by Hamohullah in Oreta.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Bayelsa begins payment of gratuities backlog

DESOPOGA lauds Uduaghan's mgt of Warri North crisis

W

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State government, yesterday, said it had spent N1 billion on the payment of backlog of pensions and gratuities owed retirees in the state.

The state Head of Service, Sir Frazer Okuoru, who spoke after addressing a group of pensioners in Yenagoa, explained that two batches of the retirees had already been paid with funds released by the state government in tranches.

He appealed to the pensioners to exercise patience as government was committed to clearing the arrears.

Frazer, who is also the Chairman of the state Pensions and Gratuity Committee, which has representation from labour and the pensioners’ union, said about N4 billion was the outstanding of the bill before the commencement of the payment.

Describing the allegation of selective payment leveled against the committee as unfounded, the Head of Service noted that bottom-to-top approach was being adopted as the modus operandi for clearing the backlog.

Akindele for burial

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HE remains of former Union Bank Manager, Mr. Olusegun Akindele, 60, will be interred tomorrow at his residence in Oke Olufi, Ikire, Osun State. He died June 29.

A Christian wake-keep holds today. Lying in state is at his residence in Zone Seven, Celica Area, Ibadan.

He is survived by Mrs. Oluyemi Akindele, widow; four children, father, brothers and sisters.

Late Mr. Akindele.

CONDOLENCE:

From left— Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State; his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Chief Albert Iyorah, Chairman, Al-Brett Group, during Iyorah's condolence visit to Tinubu over the death of his mother in Lagos.

NPC raises alarm over Bayelsa's aging population

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—FEDERAL Commissioner, National Population Commission in Bayelsa State, Engr. Austen Pabor, yesterday, expressed concern over the tagging of Bayelsa State as a state of “aging population.”

Pabor in an interview in Yenagoa during 2013 World Population Day, lamented Bayelsa State’s situation, which currently has the least birth registration figure in the country

compared to other states.

He said: “It is worthy to note that presently, Bayelsa State has the least birth registration figure in the whole of the country.

“The situation is very pathetic when every other state is recording 20 times the figure of Bayelsa State, which is now regarded as an aging population.”

He decried the current situation where the state has only 26 registration centres for its 105 wards, a development he described as grossly inadequate.

Pabor said: “I call on the state

government to collaborate with NPC to establish more registration centres and employ registrars in all the 105 wards as against the current 26 registration centres.

“They are grossly inadequate for 100 per cent coverage in the registration of births and deaths and issuing of attestation certificates.”

He, however, commended Bayelsa State Government on its bid to establish State Population Affairs Committee, SPAC, and urged it to expedite action on same.

NLNG vs NIMASA: More drama as court rules on applications

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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HE stalled amicable resolution of the lingering tax dispute between Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas, NLNG, Limited and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, yesterday, forced lawyers in the matter to argue their respective applications before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The court, will meantime, today, deliver judgment in all the applications.

It will be recalled that NLNG had dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation and a private firm, Global West Vessels Specialists, to court over the alleged blockade of its vessels.

NIMASA was alleged to have carried out the action because of the refusal of NLNG to pay some statutory charges/taxes to the Federal Government.

It was also gathered that even though the matter had been settled through mediation, wherein NLNG was asked to pay the agreed outstanding taxes, it turned around to sue

the Attorney-General of the Federation and Global West Vessels, a NIMASA agent, without joining NIMASA in the suit.

The court had, Monday, declined to renew an earlier exparte order it granted in favour of NLNG, even though it refused the applications by the defendants to vacate same.

At the hearing in the matter yesterday, the defendants argued their preliminary objections, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to adjudicate on the suit as well as the commencement of contempt proceedings against them

by NLNG. Counsel to NIMASA had earlier drawn the attention of the court to the intervention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim in the dispute.

He said: “The MD of NLNG was linked to the meeting via teleconference and after discussion, it was agreed that they (NLNG) should get their lawyer to vacate the interim order and proceed to pay the money they owe.

“I need to know if I’m on the

same page with NLNG’s lawyer on this, otherwise I will proceed with my motions which are ripe for hearing.”

However, NLNG’s lawyer claimed ignorance of the meeting, insisting that the instruction from his client was to the effect that he should proceed with the court case.

The lawyer said: “I must say I’m taken aback by this practice. I don’t have any instruction to vacate the order.

“The instruction I have is to move an application seeking to vary the order and I must say that we only agreed to pay under protest so that our vessels can be released.”

Afterward, counsel to parties argued their respective pending applications, which the court will rule on today.

ARRI—A COALITION of graduates from oil producing communities in Delta State, under the aegis of Delta State Oil Producing Communities’ Graduates Association, DESOPOGA, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State over the management of the recent crisis in Warri North Local Government Area.

According to DESOPOGA, Governor Uduaghan’s intervention and co-ordination of all stakeholders, particularly leaders of Ijaw and Itsekiri extraction, and security agencies to nip the fresh violence in the bud was a testament of his management abilities and in-depth knowledge of the coastal communities.

The graduates spoke in a statement by Mr. Agbefe Sebastine and Mr. Progress Omo-Agege, President and Secretary of DESO-POGA, respectively.

2015: Youth Movement urges Obielum to contest Delta guber

BY KELECHI AZUBUIKE

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ATIONAL Coalition of Itsekiri Youth Movement, NCIYM, has appealed to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and businessman, Chief Godswill Obielum, to contest Delta State’s 2015 governorship election on PDP platform.

The group also appealed to the people of the state to support Obielum, who it said was also a philanthropist, to become the next governor of the state.

Coordinator of the group, Tosan Oritsegbemi, spoke at a meeting of the Itsekiri youths in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State.

NB hosts tree-planting exercise

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IGERIAN Breweries, NB, Plc will hosts the 2013 Lagos State industrial tree-planting campaign flag off ceremony in the company’s premises in Lagos, July 14.

NB is partnering Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, and the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment in the state government’s drive to plant trees in the Lagos metropolis.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 —37

Ewherido: Man dies of shock in Delta U

BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—APPREHENSION has enveloped Ughelli metropolis, Delta State, after a teacher and a cooperative expert, identified as Mr. Aaron Bakpore slumped and died after reading of the death of Senator Pius Ewherido on the pages of a newspaper.

Bakpore, who it was gathered drove to his office at Unify Micro Finance Bank, Ughelli where he is a director on the faithful morning, said: “It is a lie, Ewherido cannot die; not at this early age; not at this time.”

According to a reliable source, the deceased sent his office assistant to buy him a copy of a newspaper, adding that on receiving the copy of the paper, he told the assistant that he needed a rest and does not want to see anybody.

The source who pleaded anonymity, said hours later, one of the directors of the bank, who came looking for him (Bakpore), defied the order and knocked several times without any response.

Speaking further, the source said; “after few minutes, the door was forced opened and

Group flays attacks on Warri villages

BY GODWIN OGHRE

S

APELE—AN Itsekiri sociocultural group, Itsekiri Youths Development Committee, Okogho Community chapter, Delta State, has said that the recent attacks by Ijaw militia, known as Egbema Revolution Group, on Itsekiri villages, during which about 12 persons were killed, was an act of criminality and terrorism against the state and the country in general.

Chairman of the Itsekiri group, Mr Wisdom Keke, who spoke, yesterday, in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, said that the carnage had no political bearing as no amount of agitation for political power or position can lead to such height of disrespect for human life. He added that the killings was an act of genocide orchestrated by blood thirsty hoodlums in the Niger Delta region.

The group urged the federal and State Governments to be united with a view to ensuring the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators, who are currently at large, adding that what the ERG did was wrong, inhuman and unacceptable.

behold; Bakpore was found dead on his chair with a copy of the newspaper on his hand.

“Bakpore, who came to the office full of life that morning

was taken to the mortuary and his ML Mercedez Benz was driven back to his house in Ekiugbo without him,” the source added.

Describing Bakpore as a cooperative guru and a dedicated a

teacher, he said, “his death is a big loss to Universal Multipurpose Cooperative Society, the Unify Micro Finance Bank, his family and the Ughelli community.”

Uduaghan wins Peace Ambassador award

BY EMMAAMAIZE

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BIRTHDAY: Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal (left); Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa (2nd right) and others, during Edo State deputy governor's 56th birthday celebration in Benin. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

Students join calls for removal of Rivers’ police boss

BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT—AS the Rivers State crisis escalates, students in the state have joined in calling for the removal of the state Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu. The student leaders under the interest group, Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation, RIVLEAF, threatened, yester-

day to take laws into their hands over the crisis, if relevant authorities fail redeploy Mbu out of the state.

Spokesman for RIVLEAF, Owhorkire Rhino accused the Police of being partisan in the Rivers saga, demanding his immediate redeployment.

Rhino who spoke after an emergency meeting of the body in Port Harcourt, called on President

Goodluck Jonathan to intervene by directing the Inspector General of Police to redeploy Mbu. “We are peace loving youths, but we may be forced to take the laws into our hands. We don’t want him (Mbu). He is a political Police Commissioner on a mission to ruin Rivers State. The chaos at Rivers State House of Assembly is a shame and an embarrassment to the people of the state especially the youths and Mbu is just fanning the flaming fire.”

Court dismisses forgery suit against ACN stalwart in Edoleged that Odidi, who contested over by Justice A.M.Liman, said

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, struck out the suit against a chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state and former chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, Mr. Stanley Odidi by the member representing Etsako Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Abubakar Momoh.

Momoh had in suit had al-

the ticket of the House of Representatives with him, during the ACN primaries, forged his National Examination Council, NECO, result.

Odidi had earlier gone to court, alleging that Momoh forged his signature to substitute his (Odidi) name, which deprived him of the ticket to contest the House of Representatives election in the 2011 general elections in the state.

Ruling on the suit by Momoh alleging forgery of NECO certificate by Odidi, the court presided

the petitioner has no “locus standi” to sue the defendant, since Odidi had also cried that he was deprived of the House of Representatives ticket by Momoh, who is the current beneficiary.

Justice Liman held that “from the above analysis of the case, the plaintiff has not disclosed any reasonable cause of action nor any locus standi disclosed. Consequently, the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this suit. Accordingly, it is, therefore, struck out.”

A R R I — NIGERDELTA Human Rights Coalition, NDHRC, has concluded plans to confer NigerDelta Ambassador of Peace award on Delta State governor, D r Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The coalition said the conferment was in recognition of his efforts in maintaining peace in the state and beyond.

National coordinator of the group, Alhaji Yusuf Eregbene, cited face off between Ijaw and Itsekiri in 2012 over boat regatta, Emede and Egbude communities in Isokoland which almost led a crisis; chairmanship tussle between Buolo and Ndoro communities in Burutu Local Government Area; Uwvie Kingsship tussle, and many foiled Fulani herdsmen/farmers attacks that were prevented from excallating in the state.

“Others are the brewing Ogbe-ijoh, Warri South -West LGA/ Aladja Udu LGA communal clash; Ethiope East communal crisis, which led to outright ban of commercial motorcycle operations in the area and particularly, the Warri North LGA crisis, during which lives were lost and property destroyed. Without the prompt intervention of the governor, the crisis in Warri North would have escalated.

“Uduaghan is man who has inquisitive insight in crisis management and that distinguished him from previous administrators in the state. Without his urgent intervention, some faceless persons would have made the state ungovernable.”

The group urged other governors in the region “to emulate him to ensure lasting peace in their troubled states.”

Warri North crisis: Itsekiri staff in DESOPADEC pray for peace

BY EMMAARUBI ARRI—DISTURBED by damage a further crisis between the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, would cause the people, the state and the country at large, the Association of Itsekiri Staff in the Delta State Oil Producing Development

W

Commission, DESOPADEC, has called for a seven-day fasting and prayer session for peace, prosperity and brotherly co-existence in the three Warri local government areas.

In a statement at the end of its meeting, the association said the the prayer session which started yesterday, at Eyewuoma Hall,

Warri, would end on July 17.

The group also passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho and the Commissioner representing the Itsekiri nation on the board of the commission, Deacon Michael Diden.

A statement by the association’s Chairman, Mr Agbateyiniro

Oritsetimeyin, maintained that there was need for divine intervention in Iwereland, adding that further crisis would not only wreck collateral damage on the communities but would also affect the revenue allocations to the government and by extension the Commission.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

UNICEF, Imo govt partner on violence against women, children

Anambra 2014: Aspirants welcome polls time-table

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W K A — S O M E gubernatorial aspirants in Anambra State have expressed satisfaction with the Governorship Election timetable released by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, scheduled for November 16.

INEC last Monday released the timetable, which showed that election will commence on August 13.

An aspirant, Mr Emmanuel Nweke, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the timetable was “timely” and an indication that the yearnings of the electorate would be a reality.

Nweke, who is aspiring to contest the poll on the ticket of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said: “I thank God for it because we have been expecting it all the while.

Another aspirant, Chief Patrick Obianwu, also of APGA, said the timetable meant that the political parties could now settle down for the business of politics.

Obianwu said, “It means that our aspirations can now come to fruition; the party can now get down to the issues at stake and nominate candidates that will run on Nov.16.

Why I'm yet to declare for guber — Ngige

F

ORMER governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, has said he was yet to declare for November 16 governorship election in the state.

He, however, said he acknowledged the forthcoming election as a prime item on his agenda, hence his decision to consult widely to arrive at a sound, representative and acceptable decision.

Ngige said in a statement by his aide, Charles Amilo: "The preponderance of views from Anambra citizens is that Ngige should throw his hat in the ring and lead Anambra State to renewed glory. ‘’However, he is taking a broader view of the matter. He does not personally see the governorship race as something he must go for because he has been there before, but is compelled by the need to cap the works and vision that has only been marginally furthered in the last eight years to put it into consideration, alongside other options".

BY CHDI NKWOPARA

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LUNCHEON—From left: Christian Herpin, Gen. Mgr. Air France; Mr Tayo Ogungbenro, partner KPMG (Speaker); Mr Marcel Hochet, President, FNCCI and MD, Schneider Electric; Dr Josh Bamfo, Senior Manager, KPMG; Mr Josef Hoyek, Fin Mgr Air France; Mrs Ize Matebese, Member, FNCCI BOD and Mr Eni D. Eni, Gen.Mgr FNCCI at the FNCCI Business Luncheon at the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Lagos.

UN scribe makes case for girl child education

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

A

S the world marks this year’s World Population Day, married adolescents between 15 and 19 years old account for 71 percent annual births in the country, according to United Nations.

United Nations’ SecretaryGeneral, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, in his message on World Population Day 2013, expressed the need to devote attention and resources to the education, health and well being of adolescent girls for sustainable positive change in society.

Ban Ki-Moon said: “On this

World Population Day, let us pledge to support adolescent girls to realize their potential and contribute to our shared future.

“With the 2013 world population day theme: 'Adolescent Pregnancy', it is important to understand that adolescent pregnancy does not only add to the rate of maternal mortality, it can result in school drop-out, increased incidents of STI infections, and jeopardy of ambitions and potentials of girls".

He said about 16 million girls under age 18 gave birth each year and 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions, while more

than 60 percent of young people in Nigeria partake in unsafe abortions yearly.

He added that: “Adolescent pregnancy has been identified as one of the reasons why young females don’t realise their full potential and experts have called for actions to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health education.”

Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, revealed that complications from pregnancy and child birth were the leading cause of death among girls, aged 15-19 years, in developing countries.

Expert blames low blood donation on misconception

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

B

ARELY seven years to World Health Organisation’s 100 percent voluntary blood donation target by 2020, experts have blamed the inability of Nigeria to meet up with the global target on misconceptions.

Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, LSBTC, Dr. Modupe Olaiya, who spoke during Cadbury Nigeria Employees Voluntary Blood Donation initiative, regretted that Nigeria still ranked low with less than 10 per cent voluntary nonremunerated blood donations.

Olaiya listed some of the misconceptions to include fear of contracting human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, among other infections, fear of developing fever after blood donation, fear of excessive weight loss and sexual failure.

Olaiya, who is also a

Consultant Haematologist, observed that same unconfirmed fears had held down Lagos State to record just seven per

cent of voluntary nonremunerated donations since 1984 when the committee was established.

Somolu General Hospital gets incubator

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

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OTARY Club of Gbagada has donated a brand new incubator to the General Hospital, Shomolu, in Lagos.

The donation, which was received by the Medical Director, Somolu General Hospital, Dr. Oluwatoyin Adelaja, and commissioned by Rotarian Olugbemiga Olowu, Governor, Rotary International District 9110, was the product of a need assessment carriedout on the hospital.

The assessment had, according to Rotarian Tayo Adelaja, President, Rotary Club of Gbagada, revealed that the

hospital had only one incubator to combat infant mortality..

Emphasizing the need to sustain the facility, Adelaja, who had same day donated a borehole to Ojileru Community at Oworonshoki and distributed treated mosquito nets at Ogudu, said: “We have an existing relationship with Gbagada General Hospital where we also once donated an incubator which is still serving.

“So, we have taken it upon ourselves to arrange a training session between those that will be handling this new incubator and those handling the one at Gbagada, to enable Somolu learn from Gbagada how to effectively manage the equipment.”

WERRI—UNITED Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has said it was seeking collaboration with Imo State government to end violence against women and children.

Addressing participants at a three-day sensitization workshop organised by UNICEF in Owerri, a gender and development specialist with UNICEF, Dr. Simbo Odebode, regretted that more than one year after the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Law in the state, the people were still unaware of the legislation.

The Law Number 12 of 2012, according to Vanguard investigations, was enacted to, among others, check female genital mutilation, political violence, forceful eviction of either of the spouses, incest, rape, harmful widowhood and other obnoxious traditional practices.

Odebode regretted that more than one year after the Bill received the accent of Governor Rochas Okorocha, residents of the state were still unaware of the existence of the law.

Engr Sakatu, 70, passes on

T

HE death has occurred of Engr. Johnson Sakatu, 70 years. A steadfast member of God’s Kingdom Society, GKS, and two-term chairman of League of Freedomites.

The late Sakutu worked in Unilever Nigeria PLC and Mandilas Limited before he incorporated Johnson White United Limited, a civil engineering firm that executed many laudable projects, including Badagry Army Barracks.

zLate Engr. Sakatu

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—39

HEALTH WEEK: From left, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, Special Adviser To Lagos State Governor on Public Health; Mrs. Riskat Akiode,Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, representing Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and Mr. Jude Nzeata, Sales Manager, Hypo, a Division of Multipro Enterprise, during the grand finale of 2013 1st Round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week, MNCH, at Alausa, Lagos.

Photo: Akeem Salau.

BRIEFING: From left, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; Marketing and Operations Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mrs. Awawu Olumide-Sojinrin; Public Sector Account Executive, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Akin Animashaun; Lagos State governor , Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Olayinka Oni (extreme right), and other Lagos State officials, during the Executive Briefing Session on e-Governance for Mega Cities, at the Microsoft Technology Centre, MTC, Dubai, U.A.E.

CONFERENCE: From left, Founding President, Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria, Dr. Austin Uwandulu; chairman of the occasion, Chief Inaolaji Aboaba; President, ISMN, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the COMPETITION: From left, Afolabi Olamide, Michael Oluwale, explaining how Cardiolife health solution developed by Team Ni2013 National Conference of the Institute in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele geria works, at the just concluded 2013 Microsoft Imagine cup software students competition, in St.PeterBurg, Russia. Photo: Emeka Aginam

SEMINAR: From left, Mr. Seun Olubola, Project Coordinator of Youth Orientation for Development; Mrs. Edem Christy, Director of Olivesfield College, Magodo; Miss Carley Overs, Expatriate on International Relations and Development, and Mr. Emmanuel Ejiogu, President, Youth Orientation for Development, YOD, during the YOD grand finale of the seminar on skill acquisition for students of Olivesfield College, Magodo, Isheri, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

PROGRAMME: From left, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega, Mrs. Abibat Lasisi, collecting empowerment materials from Sheri Care Foundation, SCARF, president and wife of Osun State governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, and Barr. Funmilayo Esho William, during SCARF's Widowhood Care programme to empower needy widows in the state.

SPEECH DAY: From left, Mr. Willams Iweama, Principal, FSTC, Yaba; chairman of the event, Engr. Jubillant Enyinnaya; former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Nora Obaji; Principal, Queen’s College, Mrs. E.H. Osime, and guest speaker, Prof. Mopeola Olusakin, lecturer, Educational Foundation Management, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, during the Annual Speech Day and Prize-giving ceremony.

PRESS BRIEFING: From left, MD/CEO, AVON Healthcare Ltd., Mrs. Simbo Ukiri; Head, Sales Business Development, Mrs. Kehinde Oyesiku, and Head, Provider Services, Mr. Banjo Oni, at a prelaunch press briefing of the company’s products, at Ocean View, in Lagos.

WEDDING: From left, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aniekan Umanah; his former media assistant, Nduese Essien; his bride, Uche; and Barr. Onofiok Luke of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, during Essien's wedding in Uyo.

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Katsina govt allocates 8,614 bags of fertiliser to farmers in Sandamu LG

Rotary to sink 25 boreholes in Lagos, Ogun

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

K

L

AGOS—NEWLY in stalled Governor of Rotary International District 9110, Olugbemiga Olowu, has promised that Rotary will sink no fewer than 25 boreholes in public schools across Lagos and Ogun states in the course of his oneyear tenure.

Lamenting the unavailability of potable water in many parts of the country, Olowu said that the district would also focus on maternal and child health, disease control and prevention; water and sanitation, and the provision of micro-credit facilities.

Explaining how he intended to achieve the required N200 million for the execution of the intended projects, he said: “I will work in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC; United States Agency for International Development- USAID and some medical personnel. As for the required sum, I will say the goal is achievable because we have our partners, the Rotary foundation and Rotarians, who will definitely contribute their quota.”

Olowu spoke in Lagos during his installation ceremony and assured that efforts were being put in place towards removing Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic nations.

Graduation

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ICTORY Group of Schools will hold its valedictory graduation service on Tuesday July 23, 2013 at Victory Hall, Onigbagbo, Ikeja Lagos. The graduating students consist of 19 sets of Victory Grammar School, 29 sets of Victory College and 40 sets of Victory High School.

According to a statement by the school proprietor, Chief C.F.I Olaniyan said prize will be given to best students, adding that key personalities from the educational sector are expected at the programme.

VISIT—From left: Immigration Comptroller-General, D.S Parradangi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu and Vice Chairman, Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi during the visit of the committee to Nigerian Immigration Service in Abuja on Wednesday.

Suspected terrorist killed, another captured in Sokoto S

OKOTO— A SUSPECTED terrorist has been killed in Sokoto after a shoot-out with soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, yesterday, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.

Brig-Gen. Tasi’u Ibrahim, the Commander, 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, said the suspect was killed in the operation which lasted for about six hours at Gidan-Dare, near Kalambaina area of the city.

He also said one suspect was captured alive, while 11 members of the suspects’ family, “were rescued and secured”.

Ibrahim told a press conference in Sokoto after the operation that, six of those rescued were children, while five were women, adding that two of the women were pregnant.

“The pregnant women are now receiving ante-natal care at the Brigade’s clinic,” he said.

The commander disclosed that the joint operation was carried out following a tip-off, adding, “the house was being used as a terrorist hide-out.

“The operation was clinically and carefully carried out in line with the existing global rules of engagement,” he assured.

Ibrahim listed some of the weapons recovered from the house to include: Six AK 47 and one pump action rifles, 13 IED Prima clocks and an Abuja vehicle plate number, EL 295 ABJ. Other items were: 13 ammunition magazines, 7 Improvised Explosive Devices making materials, 32 (9 volts) batteries, one axe, four handsets,

56 SIM cards, three memory cards, 10 cartons of milk and N76, 685 cash, among others.

“This group of people do not wish Nigeria and the state well. In this Holy month of Ramadan one may wonder how these people are bent on breaching the peace.

“All well meaning and law

abiding Nigerians will continue to be protected and secured. The Army will make every effort to ensure that the innocent do not suffer,” he said.

Ibrahim commended the people of the state for their sustained cooperation with security agencies, but cautioned them against renting their houses to unknown persons.

ATSINA— KATSINA State Government, has allocated 8,614 bags of fertiliser to Sandamu Local Government Area of the state for sale to farmers at subsidised rate.

Alhaji Albashir Baure, Chairman, Fertiliser Distribution Committee, Daura zone, said this while distributing the consignment to farmers in Sandamu yesterday.

He said that the fertiliser would be distributed to each polling unit of the area so as to ensure that peasant farmers benefited from the gesture.

According to him, each bag of fertiliser would be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of N1,780 to enable ordinary farmers get the commodity with ease.

He noted that the commodity would be distributed to farmers of the area regardless of their political inclinations, because the fertiliser was for all the people of Sandamu.

The chairman also warned the beneficiaries against reselling the commodity to marketers.

Plateau LGs seek upward review of federal allocation

BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

J

OS— LOCAL govern ment councils in Plateau State have called for an upward review of the allocation to them from the federation account, describing the continued allocation of the lion share to the Federal Government as unfair.

The councils made their position known at a session with the Special Task Force on Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Commission which is collating views on the review of the revenue allocation formula.

Chairman of Association of

Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Plateau State Chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Loman, who presented their position said the 52.68 share to the Federal Government was too much such that it always had excess fund.

He contrasted this with local government councils which he said found it difficult to pay salaries because of the paltry allocation to them.

“Why will the Federal Government always go with the lion share? What makes up the federal government are the state and local governments; then why should excess fund be allocated to the

federal government at the detriment of those at the grassroots"?

President, Plateau State Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, PLACCIMA, Mr. Bulus Dareng, called on the special task force to look at the three tiers of government, and ascertain their running cost before making recommendations to the President.

According to him, “Nigerians should seriously look into this issue, because this is what might break this country apart.

In Plateau state for instance, we produce 80 per cent of potatoes consumed in Nigeria, yet we have no single derivation from this”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 41

70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF MRS BERNADETTE GEORGE

From left, Chief Sena Anthony; Dr. Pat Bello; HRM, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, and Chief Katia Ekesi, at the reception

From left, Chief Olufemi Olopade, Rev. Fr. Jude-Marie Ezeigbo, Mrs.Paulina Johnson and Mrs. Aduke Falase

BIRTHDAY: From left, Dr. Olu Egbe, Mrs. Bernadette Adebisi George, celebrant, and Mrs. Remi Odunlami, during the 70th birthday celebration of Mrs. Bernadette George, at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Photo: Shola Oyelese

From right, Mrs. Bernadette Adebisi George, Mr. Ayoola George; Mr. Ope George and Mrs. Femi George - children during the church service.

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2013—43

101-yr-old 3-storey building collapses in Kaduna Continues from Page 9

BOOK LAUNCH: Prof. Ben Nwabueze, author (left) and Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Special Guest of Honour, during the public presentation of Prof. Ben Nwabueze's autobiograpgy (two volumes) in Lagos. PHOTO: Diran Oshe.

10 killed, 15 injured in Bauchi auto crash

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI —NO fewer than 10 persons were killed while 15 others sustained injuries in an autocrash along Bauchi/Gombe road, about 75 kilometres from Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi

State.

Vanguard gathered that the accident which occurred early in the morning involved a Pegeout J5 with number plate KATSINA XF 56G KTN and a commercial Toyota Hiace bus with number

plate KANO XK 162 KMC. It was learnt that the accident happened as a result of a head-on collision between the two vehicles at a dangerous bend.

Confirming the incident, the state Sector Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Com-

FG anounces NITEL/MTEL's liquidator

F

EDERAL Government, yesterday, announced the appointment of Olusola Senbore and Co as liquidator for Nigeria Telecommunications Limited, NITEL, and its sister company, Mobile Telecommunications, MTEL. Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, made the announcement in Abuja, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the fifth meeting of the National Council on Privatisation, NCP, presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Ngama said that the liquidator was successfully selected from eight companies that tendered a bid to be considered for the liquidation of NITEL/MTEL within the next six months.

He said: “We are also happy to announce that a liquidator has been appointed for NITEL/ MTEL and this liquidator was reached after several bids were collected.

“About eight companies bidded to be considered. At the end of the day, five qualified and then after a lot of analysis, we came to the successful liquidator who is Olusola Senbore and Co.” According to him, government expects the two firms to be sold off as ongoing concerns to continue in the same line of business.

“There will be no dismembering of the assets of the firms and then selling them differently, but the process will be similar to the sale of national fertiliser company in Onne, Rivers State, to global fertiliser giant, Notore.

“This time around, we expect the sale to be a success.”

He said liquidator and interested investors are expected to carry out due diligence on NITEL and MTEL after which preferred prices will be set by Bureau for Public Enterprises ahead of the privatisation process.

mission, FRSC, Mr. Sunday Olatunji, said 25 persons were involved in the accident.

According to him, “Of the 25 persons, were 15 males, four females, five female children and a male child.

“The number of people that lost their lives are 10, of which five were males, two were females and three female children.

Fifteen persons sustained injuries and they included 10 males, two females and three female children.”

The Sector Commandant disclosed that when officers of FRSC received the information about the accident, they rushed to the scene and evacuated all the corpses and injured persons to Dukku General Hospital in Gombe State.

Microsoft announces Imagine Cup winners

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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FTER four days of showcasing creative ideas, innovation and passion in technology by no fewer than 309 brightest technology students from 71 countries, Microsoft, at the historic Alexandrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday, announced the worldwide Imagine Cup winners with more than $1 million in cash and prizes going to the student teams that were recognised.

The wining projects were announced for the three major competition categories, including Innovation, Games and World Citizenship as well as three product-specific challenges and eight special awards from Imagine Cup sponsors.

Team Nigeria, which had

a good showcase and presentation had developed an application called CardioLife.

The application helps prevent heart attacks by monitoring heart readings on the fly via the Microsoft Windows phone.

It also provides a rehabili-

tation programme for stroke patients using the Kinect sensor.

Accordingly, Microsoft awarded cash and other prizes valued at more than $1 million for the year-long Imagine Cup competition, including awards for the winning teams at the Worldwide finals that ended, yesterday.

friends, hold on. This is not the time to talk to the press, you can see that we are making efforts to get equipment.”

Resource Management Coordinator of the Nigeria Red Cross Society in the state, Mr. BJ Charles, said: “We came with a team to see the number of casualties that we can assist.

“But as I talk to you, there are no casualties yet. We are advising that they should get bulldozers from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to enable them start the rescue operation.

“NEMA is in a position to provide equipment for the rescue operation, unless there is a bulldozer to lift the collapsed materials, there is nothing we can do to rescue the victims.

“We have our ambulance standing by with our team well positioned.”

‘I wish I were not born'

However, the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Force and the Nigeria Police personnel were said to have formed a ring around the building to keep people away from the trapped persons.

Some sympathisers complained that although the victims were suffocating inside the collapsed building, the security personnel would not allow them to start the job.

One of the onlookers said: “They are suffocating. The military men would not rescue them and they would not allow us do it. I wish I were not born to see this.”

NCC to transfer N10.5bn into consolidated account

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—EXECUTIVE Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Eugene Juwah, has told the Senate that N10.5 billion will be transferred to Federal Government as Special Remittances, being part of its contribution to the consolidated account for 2013.

He said that contrary to insinuations that the Commission was not remitting the

money, there had been transfer of funds in accordance with laid down rules.

Defending NCC’s 2013 budget of N63.953 billion before the Senator Gilbert Nnaji-led Senate Committee on Communications, Juwah said that the commission projected total revenue of N55.9 billion.

He added that N14.7 billion will be for recurrent expenditure, while capital expenditure would gulp N13.3 billion. He said N6 billion will be spent on special projects.

He highlighted some problems affecting the Commission to include incessant facility vandalism, cutting of fibre links, terrorism attack on base stations and state governments’ bottleneck in granting permits for base stations deployment as the challenges facing the Commission in its regulatory responsibilities.

He said that NCC was in cooperation with the National Economic Commission and other relevant stakeholders.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Africa lacks capacity for reforms, says UNECA

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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BUJA—UNITED Nations Economic Community for Africa, UNECA, has said that African nations lacked capacity to implement their economic reform initiatives.

This was the major highlight of the organisation’s observations as contained in its Economic Report on Africa 2013, which was launched in Abuja, yesterday.

According to the UN organ, the inability of African nations to implement reforms remained the major cause of their weak economies and, therefore, advised that urgent steps be taken to shore up the region’s capacities in undertaking global competitive economic management strategies.

To correct this lapse in capacity, UNECA noted that rapid transformation of the manufacturing sector was crucial to achieving sustainable growth and global competitiveness of Nigeria and other African economies in the years to come.

UNECA said that such strategies have “become imperative if most of the economies would get out of the woods and become competitive in the years ahead.”

It urged Nigeria and other African nations to leverage the competitiveness of their economies by developing value chains in their commodities, especially in agriculture and solid minerals, while raising the stake of the manufacturing sector.

SAVE IBADAN GOVT COLLEGE: From left— Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, Chairman of the event; Dr. Christopher Kolade, Chairman, Governing Council, Government College Ibadan Restoration Project, and Chief Biodun Jolaoso, at the Government College Ibadan 250 Million Restoration Project fund raising programme held in Lagos. PHOTO: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Ekweremadu, Gana locked out of Tukur's residence

BY HENRY UMORU BUJA—THE crisis between the Professor Jerry Gana-led Special National Convention Committee and Alhaji Bamangar Tukur, National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, came to the open, Wednesday, as Gana and Secretary of the Committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, were locked out of Tukur ’s residence.

It will be recalled that since the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party, at its last meeting last month, approved the Committee to conduct elections into the posts vacated by some members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who resigned, Tukur and the committee had been at loggerheads.

The problem, Vanguard gathered, first came up when Tukur complained of non-inclusion of members of NWC as sub-committee members,

A

which then led to the inclusion of six of NWC members.

The National Chairman and members of the interim NWC, a source told Vanguard, were not happy with the Gana’s committee on the grounds that the committee was operating as a parallel NWC, whereas the committee was expected to take directives from the Tukur-led NWC.

Eyewitness account

According to an eyewitness, both Gana and Ekweremadu were at the Wuse 2 residence of Tukur as early as 9.30a.m., Wednesday, to intimate him of the progress so far made by the committee and the new date for the special national convention.

However, the source said, aides of Tukur refused them entry and locked out.

The source said that the aides of PDP national chairman had told Gana and Ekweremadu that “Chair-

man had travelled before their arrival.”

Gana and Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, were said to have insisted that Tukur was inside his residence since all his security details were around and intact.

Determined to see Tukur, Gana then came out of his car to sit at the Police tent in front of the National Chairman’s house, while Ekweremadu remained inside his official car marked Deputy President of the Senate.

After waiting for over 20 minutes, they dropped a message for Tukur with one of the security details and then left.

According to the source, no sooner had Gana and Ekweremadu left they left the PDP chairman’s house at 10.04a.m., than members of the Interim NWC arrived to commence meeting with Tukur.

The members left after an over 60, while Tukur left his

Fulani attackers operate from Nasarawa, Suswam tells Al-Makura

BY PETER DURU & ABEL DANIEL

L

AFIA—GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, yesterday, accused Nasarawa State government of harbouring Fulani herdsmen and mercenaries, who had been accused of attacking Tiv communities in Benue.

Suswam made the accusation during a peace meeting between both states held at the Nasarawa State Government House, Lafia.

The governor maintained that C M Y K

it was obvious that the attackers were being accommodated by some communities in Nasarawa State.

He said that the people of Benue were being pushed to the wall by the carnage that trail repeated Fulani invasion of parts of Benue State, pleading that community leaders should help governments of both states to stem the crisis.

Suswam said: “This crisis has got to a point where those of us in Benue State believe that the Fulani perpetrating

the violence in Benue communities are being harboured and camped in Nasarawa State, from where they strike Benue and then retreat into hiding.

“The truth is that we cannot pretend over these things, because the Fulani and their collaborators come from Nasarawa State and unleash attacks on Benue communities, yet we pretend that we do not see them or know anything about it.”

Earlier in his welcome re-

marks, Governor Al-Makura commended Suswam’s prompt response to the peace meeting.

He said that the two states had shared common affinity for over 20 years and, therefore, should not allow disaffection to hamper their cordial relationship.

He explained that the meeting was convened to discuss the insecurity situation in the both states with a view of finding permanent solutions to the unfortunate situation.

residence for a journey to Yola, Adamawa State, at 12.03p.m. with his entourage.

One of the party members, who met with Tukur before he travelled, was the new Director of Mobilisation and Organisation, Uche Igwe.

‘Why Tukur's angry’

Explaining why the Tukur was not happy with Gana and his Committee members, the source said: “Gana’s committee has, against the norms, relocated the special convention committee from the offices of the party to a private office in Wuse 2 by the Parakou Crescent.

“The committee had awarded contracts for the convention, yet the date of the convention is not insight. The contractors have awarded and produced the wrappers for the convention without any directive from NWC. “Even the six members of NWC that are expected to be members of the convention committee are yet to be given or made members of the special committee.

“To make matters worse, Gana’s committee had gone to the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhen, to request for money to conduct the convention, but they were turned down and asked to channel their request for money through the National Chairman.”

According to the source, Bamanga Tukur would want to trash out these issues with President Goodluck Jonathan before audience would be granted to the Gana’s committee.

Vanguard, FRIDAY , JULY 11, 2013—45

Egypt picks cabinet, probes Morsi's jailkbreak E

GYPT’s interim Prime Minister, Hazem elBeblawi, weighed potential Cabinet picks Thursday, with ousted President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood rejecting any role and criticizing arrest warrants issued Wednesday for its leaders.

The country’s top prosecutor ordered the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohammed Badie, one of his deputies, and eight others, accusing them of inciting violence that killed 51 people Monday in Cairo.

Meanwhile, officials say prosecutors will investigate allegations that Egypt’s ousted president escaped from prison during the 2011 revolution with help from the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The officials say chief prosecutor Hesham

Barakat has collected testimonies from a court in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia that will be the base for an investigation by state security prosecutors into the jailbreak by Mohammed Morsi and more than 30 other Muslim Brotherhood leaders.

The question of whether Hamas helped them escape amid the chaos surrounding the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak has been debated in the media for months. Hamas denied any role. Morsi says local residents helped him escape.

Wednesday night, supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi carried empty coffins towards the presidential palace in Cairo. They said the coffins represent the people killed since the military took over the government after ousting Morsi.

The Muslim Brotherhood

has called for mass demonstrations tomorrow.

It is demanding Morsi be reinstated.

The movement, along with the ultra-conservative Islamist Nour Party, and other smaller parties, are critical of the transition plan laid out by the military and interim President Adly Mansour.

Egypt’s interim Prime Minister, Hazem el-Beblawi

Mandela’s friends lament his decline A

HMED Kathrada, a warhorse of the antiapartheid struggle, was allowed just a few minutes at the hospital bedside of his critically ill comrade, Nelson Mandela. It was, he said, a traumatic experience to see the former president, physically robust during their prison years together, in such a fragile state.

Mandela could not speak but his face

Kathrada said of the July 1 encounter, which was overseen protectively by Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel.

•Mandela “changed” and he recognized his visitor “through his eyes,”

Ex Bosnia leader’s genocide charge reinstated by at driving Muslims and UN judges Croats out of towns and

villages claimed by Serbs as their territory.

The decision will draw out Karadži?’s trial on charges including orchestrating Europe’s worst massacre since the second world war: the 1995 murder by Serb forces of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the town of Srebrenica.

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PPEALS judges at the United Nations’ Yugoslav war crimes tribunal have reinstated a genocide charge against Radovan Karadži? linked to a campaign of killing and mistreating non-Serbs at the start of the Bosnian war in 1992.

The decision reversed the former Bosnian Serb president’s acquittal last year on one of the two genocide charges he faces, but it does not amount to a conviction.

•Karad• Presiding judge Theodor Meron said appeals judges believe that prosecution evidence presented at

Karadži?’s trial “could indicate that Karadži? possessed genocidal intent” during a campaign in 1992 aimed

Mali’s government returns to key northern city Nations officials. a military coup in March

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Malian army commander says government officials have returned to the northern city of Kidal 16 months after they were chased out by rebels.

Col. Mamary Camara, the military chief in Kidal, said regional governor Col. Adama Kamissoko arrived by plane around midday Thursday accompanied

by Malian and United

Like the rest of northern Mali, Kidal fell to Tuareg separatists and then al-Qaidalinked fighters following

2012. France launched a military intervention in January, driving the rebels out of the other major towns.

Africa’s economy ‘seeing fastest growth’

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FRICA’s economy is growing faster than any other continent, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB).

A new report from the AfDB said one-third of Africa’s countries have GDP growth rates of more than 6%.

This is the image of Mandela that South Africans, and many people around the world, find hard to accept.

Cameron rejects pay rise for MPs

D

AVID Cameron has rejected a proposal for MPs to receive a pay rise of nearly £8,000 a year, but is stopping short of following Ed Miliband in vowing to turn down the salary increase.

Downing Street said the prime minister would tell the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, in a formal response to its proposals, that the overall cost of politics should go down and MPs should not receive a pay rise while public sector workers face restraint.

The prime minister’s spokesman said: “A rise

isn’t taking place. There is a proposal from Ipsa on which it is consulting, on which the prime minister will be making [his] views clear as part of that consultation.”

Asked about the Ipsa package, which would increase net costs by £500,000 a year, the spokesman said: “We don’t agree. The PM doesn’t agree that the cost of politics should go up.”

Cameron appeared to leave the door open to a pay rise when he said in Islamabad on 30 June that the overall costs of politics should come down but did not address salaries directly.

UK PMs veto decision to arm Syrian rebels

B

R I TA I N ’ s parliament backed a motion on Thursday requiring Prime Minister David Cameron to give it a veto over any future move to arm Syrian rebels, in a symbolic vote the government said it

would heed.

Britain says it has not yet taken any decision to arm rebels fighting to topple President Bashar alAssad, but its role in helping to lift a European Union arms embargo on Syria in May fuelled

speculation it was planning to do just that.

The lower house of parliament voted by 114-1 to back a motion requiring the government to seek its “explicit prior consent” for any future decision to provide lethal assistance.

NSA surveillance: French rights groups seek probe

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WO human rights groups have filed a lawsuit in Paris seeking an investigation into whether the US National Security Agency violated French privacy laws by secretly collecting massive amounts of personal data.

The legal complaint against persons unknown

aims to prompt a judicial investigation that would also look at the alleged role of tech companies including Facebook, Apple, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Skype in data-gathering by the NSA. The France-based International Federation

for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights League based the complaint on disclosures by the NSA leaker Edward Snowden which indicated that the US government amassed phone and internet usage data on people around the world for security reasons.

46 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

APC is a political fraud — Gov Lamido AFTER a two-day state-wide sight-seeing in Jigawa State, four journalists sat with Governor Sule Lamido in his private chamber in the Governor’s Lodge, Dutse for an interactive session. Here are some excerpts:

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA

unify us and then define us so that we hold it very dear; we would cherish it. We can defend it with our lives. That is what any credible leader should hold tightly to, not divisive emotions.

So with people like Edwin Clark and Asari Dokubo who seem to be at the forefront now, what are the fears you have for Nigeria?

It is just like Chief Bola Ige, of blessed memory and others in Afenifere and the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). When we talk about June 12 they were not anywhere near it on June 11.

That is my worry - that people don’t reckon with history. People who take advantage of a national effort and kind of appropriate it for their ethnic ends. Where were they on June 11? It is the same thing we are going through!

Asari Dokubo and Clark, where were they in 2010?

Where were they when PDP held their primaries? They were not there. So you must not diminish Nigeria or the office of the President.

T

HE Jigawa landscape seems to have changed in the last six years. What happened?

The role of a person in office is to perform the functions of that office. Because of distortions and aberrations we have literally submitted to hopelessness.

That is my pain. Why should you be surprised? What is there that any other country can do that we cannot do in Nigeria? It is people; I mean in any human endeavour; in the sciences, Nigerians can compete with anybody in this world; with any professor, anywhere.

The Nigerian is a very hardworking person. We as people are very industrious. How can we continue to evoke this kind of emotion in seeing something being done right, must we only do the wrong thing as a people?

So, would you consider volunteering yourself to fill the perceived leadership vacuum in the country?

This country is applying democracy with idiosyncrasies and our own peculiarities. That it is not the turn of the person yet. It is the Nigerian chemistry you have to look into, which has been hijacked by people who manipulate it. Today, if you go to somebody in the South-South he would say ‘my son is there, he must be!’ It would not matter whether that man is killing him.

So, first and foremost, the

Yoruba Nigeria president •Lamido: Edwin Clark was never part of the PDP vocabulary in 2011 campaign as a Nigerian leader, but after winning election somebody will come and start saying “he is our son, he must serve a second term”.

,

People who take advantage of a national effort and kind of appropriate it for their ethnic ends. Where were they on June 11? It is the same thing we are going through!

Asari Dokubo and Clark, where were they in 2010? Where were they when PDP held their primaries?

Nigerian chemistry, is it thoroughly healed? The elites are they honest enough? The people, are they courageous enough to do the right thing.”

If you fall into our own compartment like South-South, South-East, Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, you cannot win any national election. You must

,

After winning a national election some people will claim him as an ethnic or regional property. It is when you win election then, Chief Edwin Clark would say “our son must have a second term.” If he said he must get the PDP ticket, you can say so because ticket is a party affair, but even that is to be decided by

party delegates.

But second term is a factor of election. If you are saying his party must give him the ticket it is okay. Let them give him. But it doesn’t mean he is going to win the election. But when you say he must win the election, then what are you talking about? What then is democracy?

And this old man ... in 2011, the name Edwin Clark was not part of PDP vocabulary. And then look at it today, it has become the main vocabulary. And what is the qualification? Emotion and sentiments. And Nigeria made him to grow till 86 and secured; is he giving Nigerians the same hope for them to be 80; those who are ten and twenty now, by his pronouncements? Is he giving them hope to be what he is to Nigeria? Because Nigeria made him and dignified him. He was a federal minister.

Would you have preferred that

Nigerians ignore him?

No. You see, there are some people who have acquired a kind of status - statesman - they should be circumspect in whatever they say. There are some things they should not say.

The way you speak you sound terribly disappointed in him?

Absolutely! Because it is about politics and about PDP and he (Clark) had no input in making the president. He met Jonathan as a finished product, not as a raw material. That was why I said Edwin Clark was never part of the PDP vocabulary in 2011. Was he? Absolutely not! Because of your proximity to the man in power, you now begin to carry his fights and wars and all that.

There is something called sobering character - something which encapsulates what you call the Nigerian mission; the Nigerian interest, the Nigerian collective interest, which will

It is true Nigeria president must come from a tribe, a village and a zone but by the time you get there, you are absolutely a Nigerian. That was why in 1999, in trying to heal the wounds of June 11, we said fair enough, let us locate the presidency in the South - west. Truly, it is not the preserve of northerners only but then in taking it to the SouthWest; we are looking for Yoruba Nigerian president and we decided on former President Olusegun Obasanjo. We were looking for Yoruba Nigeria president and not just because of the agenda of the Yoruba. And that was why we picked Obasanjo and the Yorubas didn’t want him.

So what I’m saying is that today, coming to your question, it is not about my aspiration: are we cured? Are the emotions gone; the sentiments, are they all gone? Are they ready to melt into what you call a genuine effort to be able to restore Nigeria as the

Continued on page 47

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—47

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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NOTHER battle seems to be in offing ahead of the 2015 gubernatorial election in Ogun State between the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his predecessor and estranged political associate, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

This time around, the two political gladiators are not ready to leave a stone unturned as their loyalists have begun surreptitious moves to garner support from the three senatorial districts in the state.

Amosun ,a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria won the 2011 election when he defeated Daniel’s point man, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka popularly called GNI who contested under the platform of Peoples Party of Nigeria ,PPN, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Gen. Adetunji Olurin (rtd).

Two years after, the coast seems clear for Daniel to launch another political attack on his estranged friend, Amosun ,but this time using the platform of Labour Party.

Although, Governor Daniel has not announced his defection from the PDP to Labour Party, but the body language seems to give

Ogun: Amosun and Daniel again GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun and his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel were once political soul mates who were used by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his 2003 sweep of the Southwest. But following their victory, the two men parted ways and have since been boxing one another using different gloves and political platforms. Their fight is taking a new shape ahead of the 2015 round of general elections

•Amosun: Pushing the Ogun Standard

•Daniel: Supporters moving to Labour Party

had in the twilight of his regime thrown his weight behind Isiaka on the strong argument

South-Ipokia constituency in the consideration of the leaders.

Remarkably, the decision was reached in cahoots with some traditional rulers who for strategic reasons preferred to remain behind the scene.

The interactive session which was held in Imeko-Afon, had among others Chief Waliu Lai Taiwo from Ado-Odo/Ota , Olumide Bankole, Ipokia; Chief Lisa Adejobi, Imeko Afon, Mrs Kemi Adeyemi, Yewa North and Alhaji Sunmola Adewale from Yewa South as signatories to the communiqué on the new arrangement.

,

Two years after, the coast seems clear for Daniel to launch another political attack on his estranged friend, Amosun ,but this time using the platform of Labour Party

credence to his impending defection.

Many of his supporters across the state have defected to Labour and there are reports that Isiaka who Amosun trounced in 2011 may also be the arrowhead of the new fight

by Daniel.

Remarkably, Daniel’s alleged romp with Labour Party it was learnt has the approval of the presidency which is believed to have positioned him as a top strategist for the 2015 presidential election project.

Daniel was President Goodluck Jonathan’s coordinator in 2011.To concretize his strength in Labour, Vanguard learnt that Daniel recently held a closed door meeting with the National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu who reportedly offered him the senate ticket for Ogun East senatorial district in 2015.

Daniel’s romance with Labour follows perceptions that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on whose platform he governed Ogun State for two terms would be inhospitable to him on account of the mutual war of destruction between him and supporters of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Daniel it would be recalled

,

of encouraging power shift to Ogun West.

Given his renewed support for Isiaka, the people of Ogun West otherwise known as Yelwa it was learnt may have decided

to team up with him and against the incumbent ahead of 2015. This despite the accord reportedly reached between Amosun and leaders of the zone that he, Amosun would support power shift to the zone in 2019.

Some Ogun West leaders, however, seemed to have jettisoned the agreement with Amosun last weekend as they announced their adoption of Isiaka as their governorship candidate for the 2015 election.

He came ahead of a member of the House of Representatives, Abiodun Akinlade who represents Yewa-

APC is a political fraud — Lamido Continues from page 46 leader of Africa, leader of the black race? So my aspiration, to me, is not a big deal. As far as I’m concerned, by my upbringing there are some ideals I cherish and once they are being followed by anybody there is no problem.

The entire thing is not about personal ambition, it is about working for a larger picture.

So to me, if the person in place is doing the right thing I have no problem. Let him remain there forever. Now it is left to us to sort out what we want. If we keep on emphasising emotions, sentiments, appropriation of power, of course, we will remain where we are; the richer will be getting richer while the poor will be getting poorer.

Nigerians have expressed disgust over the outcome from the chairmanship election in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). How do you feel?

The NGF is an informal forum, you don’t have to belong to it. It is just for our own convenience and issues we discuss are just purely economic and security, that is all. We don’t discuss politics at that place. Really, the NGF is not a very big issue that you should be worried about. It is nothing for God’s sake. But in Nigeria everything is for entertainment.

Is the friction really about 2015 as is being suggested?

I’m a Muslim and there is something called destiny in my religion, which is God’s template where before the beginning to the end of more than billions of years, everything has been put in that template and by the time the time comes then it becomes.

Now who has that guarantee that he is going to live till 2015? Why are we wasting our energy and our steam over it?

APC interim national publicity

secretary, Lai Mohammed was quoted as saying that by the middle of July the party would have 23 governors. Are you among those about to jump ship?

I’m highly amused. Do you know what they call self-wish?

These are local propaganda which is terribly elementary. In 1999 we had PDP, AD and APP. After fourteen years in 2013, it is PDP only that has remained. AD had gone from AD into AC, into ACN, into something else and now going to APC. APP had gone into ANPP and then later on they are going to something; they are going to APC. Now, CPC is a one-man party. Some politicians who lost out in PDP now see Buhari as their bread industry. So they hang on him and because he is very naïve, he thinks they are serious.

Did you say Buhari is naïve?

Relatedly, other leaders from the zone under the aegis of Ogun West Rebirth recently held a closed door meeting with the executive of Labour Party where issues of common benefit were discussed.

Vanguard gathered that, the three hour meeting had both the Chairman of the group, Chief Dapo Oke and the State Chairman of Labour Party, Olabode Simon leading the talks. Following the meetings, the Labour Party it is believed decided zero in on Ogun West for a governorship candidate in 2015.

Absolutely! He is politically naïve. Yes, he is politically naïve.

Absolutely!

Could you be more explicit?

I would say he should be walking with his eyes wide open because those around him in 1999 were somewhere else. Were they with him? Our people will say if you see a horse fully dressed walking alone in the forest, it must have thrown the owner off. Don’t ride it because it threw somebody away.

I have been wondering; they abuse the PDP that we are murderers, party of riggers, a party of whatever - it is evil.

Fine! Why do they want murderer governors in their midst? Why do they want us to be there? Number two, this so called APC is again what you call political fraud because you may change the nomenclature change it ten times over. Did people in the newly named party come from heaven? They are the same old people.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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RE you going to contest the governorship election?

This is to tell my brothers and sisters in Anambra State that I am contesting for that position in the election. I also wish to state that I am not just coming out to join the bandwagon of those who say that they are contesting, but that I am fully prepared and ready to contest as a person who is contesting to win by the special grace of God. Your party, APGA, is in crisis.

Don’t you see this as an impediment?

I know you are talking about the disagreements in our party.

This is normal in any political organization and it is an ingredient of democratic process. In politics there are bound to be litigations and there could also be controversies. Though APGA is a minority party in Nigeria, it is however the leading and majority party in Anambra State.

I am sure that you are aware of the court matters about APGA leadership and what the Enugu Appeal Court said about the High Court judgment against Sir Victor Umeh. Going by that, Victor Umeh is still recognized as the National Chairman of APGA.

Issues at the high court We still have issues at the High Court, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court over the matter. But at the moment Victor Umeh remains the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance and that is where I belong, unless something else happens legally. Besides, the Appeal Court position on the matter remains substantive until it is reversed.

Don’t you see the fact that you are from the same local government area with the outgoing governor, (Anaocha) as a challenge?

Anambra State is a unique state. Our people are highly politically aware and cannot be misled. What the people of Anambra State want is good governance irrespective of where the person comes from.

I wish to make it known to you that zoning is not the issue in Anambra State. There has never been a time Anambra State agreed on zoning or a zoning formula. It is only when Anambra people come together through any manner and say this is what we want and which of the senatorial districts would start, then we address that issue and it takes off from there. Even those who are saying that it is their turn had contested with other zones in the past.

Anambra 2013: No man can intimidate me — Ekwunife MRS. Uche Ekwunife is a two -term member of the House of Representatives for Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia federal constituency. She contested for the governorship seat of Anambra State in 2010 on the platform of Peoples Progressives Alliance, PPA. In this interview, Ekwunife spoke on her governorship ambition, the crisis in her party, APGA among other issues Excerpts.

There is this insinuation that you have gone into a political marriage with an oil magnet also contesting for the governorship for the purpose of being his running mate. Is it true?

Nobody runs for the post of Deputy Governor. I cannot be spending all my time and resources, draining energy, creating all the awareness across the state in the name of becoming a deputy governor. I wish to reiterate that I have what it takes to manage the affairs of Anambra State creditably. Anybody telling you that I am going to become running mate to anybody or deputy to anybody is not saying the truth. I have heard it before and I see those stories as rumor and it does not hold water. I want to make it clear that I am running to win and I have the belief in God that I will win the election.

You have moved from the PDP to PPA and now to APGA. Some believe that you would soon return to PDP. Is it true?

I have no intention to join the PDP at anytime. I am a member of APGA and the party is dear

•Ekwunife to us and to me in particular.

When you look at our party, APGA, you will discover that the party has done well in our state.

This is through the instrumentality of our governor, Mr. Peter Obi. He has done so

well and that is to the credit of APGA as a party. That is also the testimony that we are using as APGA. So we in APGA shall build on the foundation that he has laid to better Anambra State. So there is no point

going to the Peoples Democratic Party when the APGA -led government has done well.

Like I said before, the leadership problem in APGA does not mean an end to the party. We have a National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh and he remains that. One cannot because of the normal democratic developments in his or her party, join another party.

As a woman are you intimidated by the presence of many men in the contest?

I am contesting for the post of a governor to render service to my people. Any person can render service to the people of Anambra State and it doesn’t matter if the person is a man or a woman. What matters is service to the people. I will like to adhere that being a woman is not an impediment at all.

Come to think of it, we are not going there to fight physically where you would say we need men. Again at my level and stage in politics, I am above such fear of intimidation by men. You should also know that I have passed that stage of intimidation in politics. I have spent close to eight years in the National Assembly and in the National Assembly we have about 360 members who are men and women of integrity.

People experienced from all walks of life and we share ideas and rub minds on issues about our people and you feel that with such an experience any law maker cannot make a good governor? So it is not a man or woman thing. It is all about service to the people and it does not matter if the person at the helm of affairs is a man or a woman.

Running for Governor is not a joke — Hon Jime HON. Emmanuel Jime, a former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, is a second term member of the House of Representatives and chairman of the House Committee on FCT. In this interview, he responds to issues on the review of the constitution and the increasing focus on the 2015 round of general elections among others. Excerpts

BY PETER DURU

W

HAT is your take on the proposed six year single tenure for state governors and the president?

When we had our constitutional town hall briefings in 360 federal constituencies and the result that came out of that exercise, a great majority of Nigerian preferred the retention of the present system which is two terms of four years.

First the Senate in her sitting may have come out with the suggestion of a six year single tenure. I’m better inclined to the position that it seemed most Nigerians agreed with in the course of the House of Reps town hall meetings. And I say

this, because clearly when you sit in 360 constituencies, it seemed to me that you have Nigerians participating in greater numbers, spread over a greater area.

So if you were to ask me of an aggregate of what Nigerians think, I would prefer, with all due sense of responsibility, to align with the findings that have come out of the House of Reps on that issue. And I think it’s good logic in retaining what we have.

It’s just two years after the last elections, and politicians are already agitating ahead of the 2015 elections. Is it not too early?

I believe that the time is actually ripe for people to

actually begin to make statements of intentions as far as political contestation is concerned. Of course you know that this is the second year since the last elections; and if I understand the constitution and the electoral laws very well, the year 2014, I believe is the year when most political activities will peak because then we will have party primaries.

And also like I said, if I understand the electoral laws very well, we will also be having elections and be able to do all litigations six months before swearing in by May 2015. It then means that we will most likely have general elections in 2014 as well. So it

seems 2014 is then the defining pivotal year for anyone who may have political intentions to show it.

I am glad to observe that people have been calling on some of us to make a statement about the governorship of Benue state. First let me say that I believe that any person who is of (Masev, Ihyarev, Nogov Development Association) MINDA, extraction should at this time be truly concerned about fighting to get this important office zoned, so to speak, to MINDA axis of Benue State. I think, that is the real battle that is going on right now.

I am aware that the executive Continues on page 49

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—49

T

HERE is little doubt that the present Nigeria owes its fragile existence to the amalgamation in 1914 of the Southern and Northern provinces by Lord F. Lugard. It appears like a miracle that of all the world‘s painfully contrived associations of multi-ethnic groups in the 20th century, Nigeria alone remains superficially united.

Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and other mature societies have dissolved themselves into smaller, but independent countries.

Several times in the past, Nigeria had perched on the precipice of disaster, but saved only by Providence. The disastrous civil war had been forgotten easily in an atmosphere of rosy life and prosperity associated with oil bonanza of the subsequent decades. The Nigerian society became more gluttonous with sharper taste for foreign goods and foreign currencies. The foundation of subsequent economic decline was laid during that period of conspicuous consumption of imported luxuries.

The long period of military rule seemed to have encouraged the mood of laziness, mental lassitude, depravity and painful brain-drain. In the country, many reasonable citizens were cowed and others became cunningly quiet in the face of threats of sudden disappearance or incarceration by the authorities.

In an attempt to survive by all means, some Nigerians became money lusting - veritable hustlers and a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Civil strife was apparent when that divine intervention stopped the abysmal political descent in 1998.

The dreary political conditions of the 1990s under military despotism were compounded by the distress of economic stagnation of the period. There was mass unemployment, productivity declined and industrial capacity utilization was at its lowest point.

Poverty bred hunger, and crime rate soared. Citizens became more violent and ruthless and mob punishment assumed its own form of savagery in the hopeless scenery of lawlessness.

The return of democracy at the tail end

07059197616

Pr osperity thr ough economic and Prosperity through political ssttability of the century brought a sense of relief and a ray of hope, even if there was a good ground for pessimism. While it is true that multi-party system could breed political reforms, the experience so far has shown that there is little or no difference among the parties on issues that affect the pockets of their members.

Their legislators, unfortunately, fought with one salient voice on the moral justification for their juicy allowances instead of becoming the defenders of the poor and harbingers of hope for the future. Of recent, some legislators are accused of becoming bribe takers with sticky fingers and insatiable appetite for good things of life.

There is no doubt that the last two years have witnessed the intensification of economic reform program under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The reform is anchored on the principle of “Economic Stability and Poverty Alleviation” which is necessary for political stability and prosperity of Nigeria. It is however surprising, if not really painful, that several attempts by the previous governments (military or civilian) have not been successful as expected. The realization of economic stability (with full employment) has become very elusive.

What are the factors that have militated

against the previous attempts? Many analysts have always pointed to the “Vicious Triangle” – Bank Lending Rate, Foreign Exchange Rate, and Inflation Rate. Instability in any of these could undermine any economic policy. The main problem of the previous governments including the present one is the inability to reconcile the policy of cheap lending (cheap money) with those of rising prices (inflation) and falling value of the national currency (depreciation). The conflicts of reconciliation have resulted in observable distortions and instability within the economy.

According to the stand of the present government, macro-economic stability has been achieved through increase in Foreign Exchange reserves (about $48b); GDP growth rate of about 6.5% and stable exchange rate (about N159 to 1US$), but with heavy unemployment rate of over 20% of the work force.

What is yet to be evaluated by the government and its advocates is the consequence of high unemployment on the political and economic stability of the country. As observed, heavy unemployment in the country has bred poverty with its associated criminal acts of armed robberies, kidnappings, and wastage of human lives. These are

heavy prices to pay when compared with elegant statistical figures. It is possible to allow a moderate rise in price level (inflation) to achieve economic growth with rising employment.

There is no doubt that a policy of low lending rate by the bank to the real economy would tend to encourage domestic production which needs higher effective demand to sustain it.

A rising effective demand needs ejection of more funds to create higher purchasing power for the consumers.

Higher liquidity in the system should not be mopped by the Central Bank but rather, should be channeled to higher expenditure on consumer goods and infrastructural developments.

However, there is the justified fear of the Central Bank that if the excess liquidity in the system is allowed (unchecked) to operate as basis of Banks‘ credit, the volume of loans would become so huge and the purchasing power so expanded as to cause a boom and consequent disaster (hyperinflation).

The foreign exchange mechanism is an intriguing one for the Nigerian economy which relies on foreign imports (essential raw materials, all types of capital equipment, spare parts, and food) for its survival. A depreciated currency leads to increasing cost of locally produced goods and rising prices of locally produced goods in both domestic and foreign markets. Though a strong naira might induce high imports of foreign goods which might affect the country‘s balance of trade, but the constant inflow of foreign money and some fiscal measures should take good care of this fear.

The ideal solution for a lasting prosperity is the resolution of conflicts within the inter-dependent relationships of “The Vicious Triangle” to achieve the desired macro-economic stability and tolerable rise in employment.

As I have suggested before, this resolution depends on sensible politics, common sense economics which is aided by good administration (less corruption).

Running for Governor is not a joke — Hon Jime of MINDA has in recent time been touring the state to make a case that we should at this point in time be considered for that high office. I am part and parcel of those who are working on that project because it is the right thing to do.

I think that we are now at a point when leadership recruitment must be serious. It is serious business, it is not a joke (without being derogatory to those who intend to run), but I just know that running for the governor of a state is not a joke, especially if we the MINDA are serious and also want the to convince the rest of Benue to concede the office to us. We have to put our first eleven forward and our foot in front, we will then show that we are worthy of the trust of the rest of Benue state.

You are certainly aware that people from other zones outside the Tiv speaking section of the state are also

,

Continued from page 48

I believe that the time is actually ripe for people to actually begin to make statements of intentions as far as political contestation is concerned

,

jostling to govern the state?

It is good because we are beginning to see that people have taken interest in politics.

I know that because of where we are coming from (the military era) when we had transition in 1999, most people did not actually believe that

•Jime democracy had come to stay, therefore most of the people who went out that early to contest, in most cases with greatest respect, were mostly people who had no business in

actually contesting for offices; for most parts they were idlers, people who had no serious business of their own doing; and so that was because we were having a transition from a military to a civilian administration and because of the experience we had with the Babangida era where there had been so much deception, most people had been skeptical that democracy was actually going to happen. So merely 14 years after, by 2015 it would have been 16 years since democracy, what you are beginning to see now are people who are serious minded, people who have been successful in other endeavours of human life, who are now

beginning to take a second look, if you like, at politics with a view to really being able to offer service delivery that is qualitative.

You are the Chairman of the House Standing Committee for the FCT, are you satisfied with developments so far made by the administration of the territory?

Quite frankly when El-Rufai was Minister, he had his issues, and there are a number of people who if you mention ElRufai’s name they would take diverse views, but, I still think that we haven’t actually been able to reproduce most of the progress that were made during El-Rufai’s era.

The present administration of the FCT is of course doing what it can within the limits of its capacity and ability and again within the limits of resources most importantly. FCT is one of the most understaffed agencies. Again that is understandable.

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013—51

Residing abroad, what you should know about Canada

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

I

difficult when trying to penetrate through certain situation(s), the point remains that it will be to the advantage of the immigrant when he or she, at point of entry, immediately register his/her presence and itineraries with the Nigerian embassy in the country of resident.

In these days and time where public telephones are becoming harder to find, due to the growing popularity of mobile phones,

T is important to note that residing abroad comes with lots of uncertainties and as such, Nigerians who intend to migrate to choice countries for diverse purposes are promptly advised to plan well ahead of time, putting into consideration, some of the merits and demerits behind migration.

It has often been said that a large number Nigerians engage in demeaning jobs abroad, Map of Canada placed under stricter laws in countries they have migrated to, and also constitute the highest number of individuals found in foreign prisons. Nigerians should, however, welcome the fact that they are generally known to be hard working and efficient individuals who can surmount various forms of pressures to bring about a better and prosperous Nigeria.

Migrating to Canada: Herein, prior to their planned trip, intending Nigerian immigrants should endeavour to update themselves Canadian prime minister with a few primary knowledge Stephen Harper concerning the people, culture, migrants are better off subscribed to climate condition, rules and telephone companies that offer regulations in Canada, as to which reduced long-distance call rates, and the citizens and migrants must or make use of telephone cards that abide. It is important also to note that are readily made available at while usual courtesies are observed reduced cost. It definitely would be in Canada, the country is known to pretty expensive for a migrant to be conservative, good, and uptight subscribe to any form of mobile in nature. phone roaming agreements with any international mobile phone pplicants must, however, companies, because of its high rate. familiarize themselves with The coverage may be near perfect in these facts for a better cordial major urban areas, but it is good you relationship with the Canadians. understand that it is almost always Generally Canadians condemn spotty in remote locations, and very presentation of gifts, mostly, in high to maintain, in terms of business settings, as such act(s) are agreement rate(s). Subsequently, unusual, considered unethical and internet services are also made in real sense, treated suspiciously. available throughout Canada, as are Unlike the culture of attaching internet cafes. bourgeois titles to peoples names, You can often find pay-per-use Wiboth at formal or informal situations Fi hotspots in coffee shops, fast-food here in Nigeria, it is common to outlets and airports, and in some address superiors, co-workers, cases it is rendered free, as long as friends, and so on, by their first names you buy food or a drink. Although, in Canada, as they often appreciate you can also find free public Wi-Fi getting right to the point. Canada has in public libraries and in some hotels, immense natural resources with a some others continue to charge high standard of living, although, the exorbitant daily fees on users. country unfortunately, is now Best time to visit: As you are suffering housing ripples, as prices considering migrating to Canada, it of houses have rocketed. is important to note, if you are under Keeping in touch: Communication the category of individuals who enjoy is one of the vital aspects of life and winter sports that the best time to in view of this, Nigeria immigrants travel would be between the month are promptly advised to ensure that of December and April. And if you they keep in touch back home, as love the great outdoors without the well as with the Nigeria embassy in snow, then you have to consider the country where they have travelling between the month of May migrated to. Although, it may appear and September.

A

OUR ERROR

O

N our Periscope column, on page 54 of Vanguard, yesterday, we published an article entitled ‘Basis of Nigeria’s foreign policy, by

Emeka Anyaoku’ which was written by Prince Henry Odukomaiya.

In the blurb, however,we inadvertently introduced the piece

with ‘Prince Emeka Odukomaiya’ instead of Prince Henry Odukomaiya.

The error is deeply regretted. —Editor

52 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

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Blow for Man Utd as Guardiola moves for Thiago M

ANCHESTER UNITED have suffered a major blow in their bid to sign Barcelona ace Thiago Alcantara with Pep Guardiola declaring: “I want him at Bayern.”

The 22-year-old midfielder had been on the verge of moving to Old Trafford.

But he now has another option with his old Barca gaffer keen to bring him to Germany.

Guardiola said: “I want Thiago Alcantara. I have asked Bayern to get him but I don’t know what will happen.

“Thiago is the only

player I want, that’s what I told them.

“It’ll be him or no one.

We have many players but we need the special extra quality that Thiago Alcantara brings.

“I know Thiago very well. I talked to Rummenigge and Sammer about him, we will wait and then see.

“I don’t think adding another midfielder will be a problem for us. I spoke to club about my concept and told them why I want Thiago Alcantara.

“I give my opinion, but I listen to the board. If they say no, that’s ok.”

FRIENDS REUNITED ... But not at Old Trafford if Guardiola has his way with Thiago

Wanyama seals switch to Southampton S

OUTHAMPTON have signed Victor Wanyama from Celtic for £12.5million.

The highly-rated Kenyan midfielder was left out of his side’s 6-2 defeat to Greuter Furth last night and after two weeks of talks, he will join Mauricio Pochettino’s squad at St Mary’s.

Celtic signed Wanyama for £900,000 from Germinal Beerschot at the start of the 2011-2012 season and he’s gone on to make 91 appearances for Neil Lennon’s side.

Several impressive performances - including the first goal in the Hoops’ memorable 2-1 win over Barcelona in last season’s Champions League group stage - attracted interest from top clubs in England.

But Southampton have staved off any other interest to get their man who will join former Celts Artur Boruc and Danny Fox at St Mary’s.

SAINT VICTOR ... Wanyama is now a Southampton player

Newcastle won’t sell Cabaye, Ben Arfa — Pardew

N

Cabaye

EWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has warned clubs targeting his biggest names they will have to “blow the doors off ” to stand any chance of landing them.

Pardew is desperate not to sell any of the men upon whom he hopes to build a side capable of bouncing back from last season’s disappointment

amid speculation over the likes of Tim Krul, Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa.

However, with the Magpies in a healthy financial position, Pardew believes it would take an offer of breathtaking proportions to persuade owner Mike Ashley to cash in.

United to bid for Garay

M

ANCHESTER United are readying a £15million bid for Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay as concerns grow over Nemanja Vidic’s long-term fitness.

United boss David Moyes has turned his attention to doing business for Garay, after captain Vidicwas ruled out of the club’s pre-season tour with an ongoing back problem.

The Serbian is set to recover quicker than expected, but his long-term injury complaints have given Moyes food for thought ahead of the new season.

And with deputies Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones also missing matches through knocks last term, United are ready to move for Garay to partner Rio Ferdinand next term.

The Benfica centre back

has been a target for United for around 18 months, but Moyes is ready to bite the bullet and try and pull off the transfer.

According to reports in Portugal, United are ready to open the bidding at £15m, and would even consider throwing Luis Nani or Bebe into the package to get a deal done.

Garay

Toure urges Suarez to stick with Liverpool

I

VORIAN defender Kolo Toure has urged Luis Suarez to stick with Liverpool and reject the advances of Arsenal according to Goal.com.

The Uruguayan striker appears destined to leave Anfield this summer after publically expressing his intentions to move on a number of occasions.

Suarez initially claimed that he wanted to leave Liverpool because he felt victimised by the English media. But as news of re-

ported interest from Premier League clubs emerged, Suarez has changed his story to him wishing to play in the Champions League.

Suarez is understood to prefer a move to Real Madrid but so far a bid from the Spanish giants has not been forthcoming.

Arsenal on the other hand are known to have made an offer of £30 million, although that was immediately turned down

by Liverpool.

54—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Eaglets capable of winning U-17 World Cup — Imoke T

HE Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, CON, on Thursday expressed absolute confidence in the ability of the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, to conquer the world at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals taking place in the United Arab Emirates later in the year.

Speaking at the Government House, Calabar while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Football Federation led by 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, Governor Imoke equated the silver medal won by the Golden Eaglets at the African U17 Championship in Morocco to gold, and assured that his administration would give the team all necessary support to go to the United Arab Emirates to lift the World Cup. “The Eaglets were only unlucky to lose the final match of the African championship on penalties. The boys are good and destined for greatness. I believe that from here, we will produce the next U-17

Rooney in race against time

W

AYNE ROONEY faces a race against time to be fit for the new season after suffering a hamstring injury.

Manchester United have confirmed the striker will fly home from their pre-season tour due to the knock, which he picked up in training.

It is likely Rooney will be out for about a month, meaning he may struggle to get in shape in time for United’s first game against Swansea on August 17.

David Moyes has been trying to convince the 27-year-old his future lies at Old Trafford after Alex Ferguson claimed the hitman had tried to quit.

champions of the world.”

The Cross River State number one man, who celebrated his 52nd birthday on Wednesday, July 10, praised the Nigeria Football Federation for their policy thrust and thoroughness in producing one of the best U-17 teams to have been raised in this country, and also commended the coaches for their patience, diligence and direction.

“Everytime I see the boys, I feel so proud and excited. The Government and entire people of Cross River State are in love with the Eaglets. You see, football continues to be the biggest unifier of our peoples across the different states and regions, and across several other mental boundaries.

GOLDEN EAGLETS' Kelechi Ihenacho protects the ball from an opponent during a FIFA U-17 World Cup qualifier in Calabar

Trabzonspor join race to sign Mikel T

RABZONSPOR have joined Turkish rivals Galatasaray in the race for Chelsea star John Obi Mikel.

The Nigerian holding midfielder, 26, remains under contract at Stamford Bridge.

He is currently on holiday after playing at the

Confederations Cup, won by hosts Brazil.

But he admitted last month that he is unsure whether he has a longterm future in London under returning manager Jose Mourinho.

Galatasaray, where former Blues team-mate Didier Drogba now plays, made their move last

Keshi invites 24 Eagles Continues from BP Kaduna.

Kwara United’s former junior international defender Ganiyu Ogungbe, Kano Pillars’ midfielder Rabiu Mohammed, junior international striker Abdullahi Gero of Enugu Rangers and Osadinye Joseph of Warri Wolves are the new birds at hand.

Ace playmaker Sunday Mba, who scored two goals and made two others in the commanding 4-1 win, tops the list that also includes goalkeeper and skipper Chigozie Agbim, defenders Godfrey Oboabona, Azu-

buike Egwuekwe and Chibuzor Okonkwo, as well as midfielders Olufemi Oladapo and Ayo Saka, and forwards Muhammad Gambo, Ifeanyi Edeh and Dele Olorundare.

Having never previously qualified for the African Nations Championship– the flagship tournament for players plying their trade in their country’s domestic League in the continent – Nigeria has a firm leg in next year’s finals in South Africa, and Coach Keshi has promised there would be no room for the Ivorians to attempt a spectacular come-back in the return leg at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

month and now their old Super Lig foes are also pushing for the £16mil-

lion-rated star.

The Nigeria international has spent seven years

with Chelsea after joining in a controversial move from Lyn Oslo in 2006.

Minister inaugurates Committee Continues from BP ferred to the protest over match bonuses by Super Eagles players in Namibia as unfortunate, saying, “the unfortunate incident in Namibia brought to the fore the larger issues in the administration of football in Nigeria as rows in our

THE FULL LIST Continues from BP (Bayelsa United FC) STRIKERS: Muhammad Gambo (Kano Pillars); Gomo Onduku (Bayelsa United FC); Ifeanyi Edeh (Enyimba FC); Ezekiel Mbah (Akwa United FC); Abdullahi Gero (Enugu Rangers FC); Osadinye Joseph (Warri Wolves FC); Haruna Babalo (ElKanemi Warriors FC); Etebo Oghene (Warri Wolves FC); Dele Olorundare (Sunshine Stars FC)

football have been perennial.” The Minister hoped the committee which is headed by the former Spokesman of late President Yar ’Ardua, Segun Adeniyi who incidentally served as a member of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Super Eagles 2010 World Cup campaign will dig deep and find a lasting solution to the recurrent issue of match bonuses.

Earlier, the Director General of the NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye expressed shock at the Namibia incident , calling it “a national embarrassment” and wondered why other African countries that do not pay their players as much bonuses as Nigeria were not having such problems The terms of reference are to determine the immediate and remote causes of the match bonus row in Namibia,

develop a code of conduct for players on national assignments and any other recommendation that may be deemed necessary for the good governance of football in the country.

Chairman of the committee, Segun Adeniyi said the committee assignment was one that required action instead of long speeches. “We will talk less but when we submit our report, it will speak for us,” Adeinyi said. The committee is expected to submit its report in a fortnight.

Other members of the committee include the Group Sports Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Onochie Anibeze, AIT’s Aisha Falode, Shehu Dikko of the League Management Company, Akin Oshuntokun, former international Garba Lawal and Honourable Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013 — 55

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VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013

Trabzonspor join race to sign Mikel — Pg 54

Page 62

Abidjan cracker:

Keshi invites 24 Eagles S

UPER Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, yesterday called to camp 24 players who will fight for shirts in the 2014 African Nations Championship final qualifying leg against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, in Abidjan on July 27.

All the players are expected to report in Abuja on Monday, 15th July.

Only 20 players will make the trip to Cote d’Ivoire’s industrial and economic capital on July 24.

Keshi has invited four new players, including one defender, one midfielder and two strikers, in line with a pledge to inject a few new faces following last Saturday’s opening leg win at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium,

Continues on pg 54

THE FULL LIST

Bonus row:

GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim (Enugu Rangers FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC) DEFENDERS: Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves FC); Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars FC); Ganiyu Ogungbe (Kwara United FC); Kwambe Solomon (Sunshine Stars FC); Chibuzor Okonkwo (Enugu Rangers FC); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars FC); Benjamin Francis (Heartland FC); Ezekiel Bassey (Lobi Stars FC) MIDFIELDERS: Sunday Mba (Enugu Rangers FC); Rabiu Mohammed (Kano Pillars FC); Olufemi Oladapo (Shooting Stars FC); Ayo Saka (Enyimba FC); Mohammed Jiya

Continues on pg 54

Minister inaugurates Committee

T

HE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi yesterday inaugurated the committee set up to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the bonus row that exploded in Namibia, last month.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister re-

•Mba

TURK TARGET ... John Obi Mikel

Continues on pg 54

Eaglets capable of winning U-17 World Cup — Imoke

— Pg 54

Pg 54 QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Enrol (6) 5 Hesitate (6) 9 Marine (5) 10 Tumult (6) 11 Idling (6) 12 Consecrate (5) 14 Noisy (4) 17 Before(3) 18 Gala (4) 20 Mistake (5) 22 Waned (5) 23 Ewer (7) 24 Pointed (5) 26 Storehouse (5) 29 Boss (4) 33 Hell (5) 35 Surpass (6) 36 Gossip (6) 37 Carouse (5) 38 Poured (6) 39 Sore (6)

DOWN 1 Breathe out (6) 2 Toil (6) 3 Slight (4) 4 List (5) 5 Wrong (5) 6 Unfortunately (4) 7 Followed (6) 8 Tough (6) 13 Built (7) 15 Circle (5) 16 Drugged (5) 18 Managed (5) 19 Singer (5) 21 Free (3) 22 Nourished (3) 24 Outlook (6) 25 Tissue (6) 27 Separated (6) 28 Fear (6) 30 Weary (5) 31 Principle (5) 33 Present (4) 34 Auction (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Essay 7, Uneven 9, Fat 10, God 12, Sauna 13, Pose 15, Rusty 17, Exempt 19, Sour 20, Dream 22, Led 24, Minimal 27, Tic 28, Rowed 31, Boss 33, Cattle 35, Piety 37, Lame 38, Knelt 39, Era 41, Icy 42, Oppose 43, Death.

DOWN: 1, Jumped 2, Lessee 3, Peg 4, East 5, Stays 6, Announce 8, Norm 11, Duplicate 14, Exam 16, Stem 18, Emit 21, Renounce 23, Dart 25, Nice 26, Loll 29, Weapon 30, Deepen 32, Split 34, Tyro 36, Itch 40, Apt.

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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