Sanusi lambasts Obasanjo by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 61708

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Adenuga's GCON well

deserved — Presidency

N150

2015: No automatic tickets for Jonathan, —P.6 Sambo, others — Tukur

•P.8

PLANNED N5,000 NOTE:

Sanusi lambasts Obasanjo •Says he is a bad economist

•CBN begins audit of banks' control staff •Bankers throw weight behind N5,000 note

BY MICHAEL EBOH, EMMANUEL ELEBEKE & LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

AGOS—THE Gov ernor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,CBN,

ANGRY RIVER BENUE SACKS RESIDENTS

Mr. Lamido Sanusi, yesterday, intensified his campaign for the introduction of N5,000 note, by saying that comments by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on the proposed currency restructuring was incorrect and showed that the former president is a bad economist. Speaking at the Annual Conference of the

Continues on page 5

Crude, slippery•P.17 arguments DEAR BUNMI —P.50

Rotimi FASAN •P.19

Mr & Mrs DISPLACED— People move out of their submerged houses in parts of Makurdi, yesterday, as the River Benue overflowed its banks. Photos: Peter Duru. See story on Page 5.

New SANs take oath of office •P.15 today

Ibori's $15m: —P.15 Court orders IGP to arrest Uba, Bizman

2—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—5 WEDNESDA

POCKET CARTOON

N5,000 note: Sanusi lambasts Obasanjo Continues from Page 1 Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, in Abuja, Sanusi said Obasanjo's comments came to him as a shock, considering the fact that it was during his tenure as president that majority of the country’s highest currency denominations were printed. He said Obasanjo introduced more higherdenominations than any other president of the country and was surprised that he could condemn the proposed introduction of the N5,000 note. According to Sanusi, those opposing the introduction of the N5,000 were ignorant of its benefits, adding that its introduction would lead to efficiency of the country ’s payment system since the policy was targeted at a small number of Nigerians handling huge cash. He said Obasanjo’s assertion that the introduction of higher bills would stimulate inflation, was not true, stating that if this assertion was true, Nigeria would have gone into extinction within the eight year period that Obasanjo introduced the N100, N200, N500 and N1000 notes. He said: “This is an interesting country because my uncle or my father who was our former head of state,

General Obasanjo, who we all know is a very successful farmer, is a very bad economist; especially for saying that the introduction of higher denomination will cause inflation and improve hardship. “Obasanjo introduced N20, N100, N200, N500 and N1, 000. He had introduced more higherdenomination currencies in Nigeria than any other head of state. “He did N100 note in 1999, he did N200 in 2000, he did N500 two years later and in that period, inflation was coming down because it was accompanied by prudent fiscal and monetary policy. “It is wrong for somebody, like Obasanjo, who had done this to stand up and say introducing a higher denomination will cause inflation. “We all know that we cannot have inflation by printing higher bills if you don’t increase money supply and this is simple economics.” On the benefit of the restructuring of the currency, Sanusi said: “We are introducing coins for various reasons. First as part of cost management; the N5, N10 and N20 note have a very high frequency and we have to replace them every three months but the coins last longer. “Second, we are working on a hypothesis that

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

“AERODYNAMICALLY, the bumble bee should not be able to fly, but bumble bee does not know, so it goes flying anyway.” Mary Kay Ash. You can do the seemingly impossible even when you don’t seem qualified for it.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

AM fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair — Nelson Mandela Paul Rogat, in his writings puts it simply: “Those who make us believe that anything’s possible and fire our imagination over the long haul, are often the ones who have survived the bleakest of circumstances. The men and women who have every reason to despair, but don’t, may have the most to teach us, not only about how to hold true to our beliefs, but about how such a life can bring about seemingly impossible changes .” Emily Dickinson sums it beautifully: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all.”

the reason Nigerians do not accept the coins is because they couldn’t buy anything with them and, maybe, if you give them coins that have value as a medium of exchange they would accept them.” He said the introduction of the N5, 000 would enhance the store of value function of the naira. “In the 1970s, when the N20 was introduced, it was the equivalent of $30. In 2012, when we would have introduced N5, 000 note, it will be the equivalent of $30. “If you could buy $30 with one N20 bill in 1978, you now need 250 N20 bill to buy $30 and you would have had to print those 250 bills, pay for the paper, the ink, for the security features, for transportation, for insurance, for clearing, for the bullion van and processing and these are cost to the economy.”

rently manning controlled functions, to enable it assess the skills, qualifications, experience and competencies of such staff. In a release signed by CBN’s Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Y. B. Duniya, titled “Assessment of Competencies in the Nigerian Banking Industry,” CBN said, “further to the Exposure Draft on the Competency Framework for the Nigerian Banking Industry, issued on June 26, 2012, we advise stakeholders that we have noted and incorporated as appropriate,

Bankers throw weight behind N5,000 note

AKURDI— DIS ASTER hit Makurdi, Benue State capital and several communities in the state, yesterday, as an unprecedented surge of River Benue swept away several houses, leaving thousands of people homeless with property worth billions of naira washed away. The surge which started building up Sunday night had at the last count, submerged close to 10,000 residential houses, business places, huts and farmlands. Worst hit by the devastation were houses within the bank of the river and most structures within five kilometres radius of the river. Some of the affected communities included: Kucha Otebe, Gyado Villa, brick factories in Wadata and New Garage, the abattoir along the new Makurdi Bridge, North Bank and the highbrow Judges quarters area of the town where Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom have their residential houses. Also threatened by the steady rise in water levels is the main campus of the Benue State University and the newly constructed Benue University Teaching Hospi-

Meanwhile, the Bankers Committee and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN have thrown their weight behind the apex bank on the introduction of the controversial currency into the economy. At two separate meetings in Abuja, the bankers said they did not see anything wrong with the proposed currency note. The Bankers committee made its position known to journalists by the Group Managing Director of UBA, Philip Odueze at a press briefing at the CBN head quarters after its meeting, while the position of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria was made by its president, Mr. Segun Aina at the institute’s 6th Annual Banking and Financial Conference held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.

CBN to begin audit of banks’ control staff The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also directed all banks in the country to furnish it with the names of staff cur-

observations submitted in respect of the exposed draft. “However, there is the need to assess the skills, qualifications, experi-

ence and competencies of staff currently occupying controlled functions as provided in Appendix B of the Draft Framework."

River Benue surge: Disaster hits Makurdi BY PETER DURU & UMAR YUSUF

tal; the Regional Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, all in Makurdi. The flood also sacked most of the students of the state owned Benue State University who were moving out in droves after losing most of their books and house hold items to the flood. A final year student of the university, Mr. John Itodo, told Vanguard that the flood took them unawares. He said: “Two days ago, we noticed a sudden rise in water levels along the bank of River Benue, and we felt it was normal given the torrential rains in the last few days; but to our surprise, we woke up this morning to discover that our houses had been completely submerged by water flowing from the river. “Some of us have been able to rescue few of our belongings from the flood but many lost virtually everything. This is the first time we are witnessing this type of disaster in this part of the country”, he added as he fought back tears. Meanwhile the state Director of Environment at the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Daniel Iorshahea, has warned residents living within the banks of River Benue and other adjoining communities to immediately vacate their abode to avoid being swept away

by the fast increasing water levels of the river.

Adamawa flood: 25 bodies discovered in Yola In a related development, 25 decomposing bodies were, yesterday, discovered at the bay of River Benue in Yola, by Local Water Transport Operators following the flood in Adamawa. Water transport operators, told Vanguard, yesterday, that, on a daily basis, they discover corpses, adding that the latest discovery was the highest number since the flood started. They observed that most of the victims might have been floated from the river bank in Cameroon Republic and other adjoining villages along the river bank. According to them, the families of the deceased often alerted them of the disappearance of their wards and children, adding that they had been on the look out for corpses on the water. However, Adamawa State Government has urged all those who were displaced by the flood not to go back to their homes yet until government decides it is safe to do so. The Secretary to the state government, Mr Ari Kobis Thimnu warned that more water will still be released from the Lagdo Dam authorities.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

2015: No automatic ticket for Jonathan, Sambo, others—Tukur zSays PDP not planning to amend constitution BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & HENRY UMORU

BUJA—AHEAD of the 2015 Presidential and general elections, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, insisted yesterday that there would not be automatic ticket for all those seeking re-election on the platform of the party. He said this affects all those seeking re-election at both the state and national levels, including presidency and the National Assembly. The PDP National chairman noted that as a party, it has its constitution where processes for candidates’ selection are clearly spelt out, adding, “we are therefore only bound by the provisions of this constitution and not the conventions of any other party, anywhere else in the world. We are no copycats.” In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP however denied statements that it was into another process of amending the party ’s constitution to guarantee automatic tickets to some incumbent office holders for second terms. “The authors of this alien idea insinuated that we want to model our internal nomination process after the practice in the United States of America,” the PDP said. This came as leaders of the South-East geo-political zone, the heart of the Igbo ethnic group, are divided over President Goodluck Jonathan’s yet to be declared re-election ambition. According to Metuh, the PDP was not involved in any process to amend its constitution at the moment, adding that the 2012 amended copy was now the grund norm of the party and “we intend to strictly abide by its provision.” Tukur, who noted that the PDP does not exist solely for the purpose of perpetual amendments of its Constitution, said: ‘’We have already made our position known that holders of elective positions can only secure another term based on their performance and their acceptance by the people in a free and fair primary election where all party members shall be guaranteed a level playing ground.’’

The PDP spokesperson who disclosed that the party had received several calls from concerned party members for clarification, stressed, “the PDP under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur shall never short-circuit the will of its members under whatever guise. We therefore urge our members to disregard this idea as we suspect that it is the handiwork of mischief makers who are desirous of causing disaffection among our members.”

Support for Jonathan divides Ndigbo In South-East, Igbo leaders are divided on how to approach the 2015 presidential polls. In 2011, the South-East gave block votes to Jonathan in the hope of producing the President’s successor when he leaves office. Umbrella body of Igbo socio-cultural associations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led the crusade. After what it said arose from wide consultations running into six months, the apex Igbo body had on October 15, 2010, in a statement by its President General, Amb Ralph Uwechue, endorsed Jonathan to continue in 2011 and asked that the South-East should succeed him in an unbroken fashion because the South-South and South-East were the most short-changed zones in the country in terms of presidential power sharing. In line with the agreement to ensure Jonathan’s victory at the polls, leading Igbo presidential aspirants were asked not to run for the presidency or vice presidency and they obliged. The agreement was one of the reasons the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, adopted Jonathan as its presidential candidate in 2011 and did not field a flagbearer. However, the scenario may not recur in 2015 given prevailing political alignments and realignments in the zone. Although Jonathan has not said he is running, pointers indicate that he is likely to run than otherwise. For starters, APGA has been factionalised over the issue. While a camp is bent on fielding a presidential candidate in 2015, the other camp is all out for Jonathan to seek a second mandate. Currently, four groups or schools of thought have emerged in the South-East.

They are the South-East Forum, SEF, G-21, Jonathan carry go and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hardliners.

South-East to produce presidency in 2015 The SEF, led by prominent Igbo leaders like Dr Ezekiel Izuogu, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and Senator Uche Chukwumerije, sources said, wants the South-East to produce the president in 2015 and nothing less. Established on June 4, 2011 after a meeting at Links Hotel Owerri, the SEF, said the existing political leadership of the region has been a disappointment to the people at the state and federal levels and wants to “articulate organizational and programmatic responses to challenges facing the region as well as fashioning out ways of broadening the dialogue with other groups within and beyond the region.” Leaders of the group said the Southeast has been afflicted by a group of political leaders who are mostly opportunistic, selfserving and lacking in vision for the public good. While there are exceptions to this general trend in some States, these exceptions have not been enough to galvanize wider transformation in the leadership values of the region” hence their intervention. The G-21 is said to be led by the faction of APGA loyal to the embattled Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh. They are also insisting on the South-East producing the chief occupant of Aso Rock in 2015 with one of the South-East governors as the arrow head. According to sources, the Jonathan carry go group has the likes of Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, Uwechue and Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife. Indeed, during his visit to Anambra State last week, Governor Obi assured Jonathan that the SouthEast would back his reelection bid if he so decides. The fourth group, is a group of politicians, who have resolved to go with the decision of the PDP. One of them told Vanguard: “Whether or not Jonathan should continue is not the issue now. It is his performance that will determine. If he performs, there will be need to

TELECOM AWARD— Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, (left) presenting the Telecom Marketing Award of the Year to CEO Insight Communication, Mr. Jimi Awosika, at the Telecoms Award ceremony in Lagos yesterday.

continue the work in progress. However, I stand by PDP decision. It is a bit too early to say a conclusive thing now but I am for whatever the PDP will say on the issue.” Vanguard gathered foot soldiers of the various groups are fanning out to the grassroots and Igbo socio-cultural groups, to garner support for their objectives and to be in

vantage positions to influence what would happen before and during the 2015 general polls. Of interest is getting SouthEast backing for the presidential candidate of choice. Sources said the issue reared its head last week during the election of executives of Ndigbo Lagos. A section of Igbo leaders went to court to

obtain an injunction stopping the election because the out-going exco wanted to impose proJonathan persons as leaders. Ndigbo Lagos played crucial roles in garnering Igbo support for Jonathan in 2011. However, the election still went on leading to the emergence of Professor Anya O Anya as Chairman of Ndigbo Lagos.

2015: INEC trains staff in South Africa, Senegal BY SONI DANIEL

BUJA—ALTHOUGH the Presidency has cautioned against campaigns for the next elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is pressing ahead with necessary preparations for the polls. It was learnt yesterday that the commission had already deployed its key personnel abroad for training in critical Informational and Communication Technology applications. A source in the commission, who confirmed the early preparations, however, declined to say whether the ICT personnel were being trained in preparation for the planned electronic voting or analog election in 2015. INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, had hinted last year that it would be possible to use electronic voting in the next election, an idea that was promptly opposed by those who claim that Nigeria is not ripe for such an experiment. But the commission, it

was leant, might send a bill to the National Assembly to approve electronic voting, if the need arises to use the method in future. The opposition notwithstanding, the commission has opted to begin early training for the election so as to avoid the pitfalls that were noticed in the last general election. Vanguard gathered that the staff, who are mostly drawn from the Information Communication Technology, ICT, had been in training in Johannesburg for about a month while the next set of staff will be heading for Dakar next week. While the key staff are undergoing training abroad, other categories of staff who would be involved in the elections, are being trained locally, all in preparation for the crucial polls. It was gathered that the training, which is meant to strengthen INEC’s capacity in election management, is being supported by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and International Foundation for Electoral Systems, IEFS,

International Research Institute, IRI, and other groups that promote democracy and good governance. Although the number of personnel so far deployed for the training in Johannesburg and Dakar could not be ascertained, a source in INEC confirmed that the staff were representatively selected from the commission’s headquarters and its state offices. The source said the commission had learnt some lessons from previous elections and was actually planning ahead to ensure a smooth conduct of the next election to ensure that Nigerians derive satisfaction at the end of the polls. “What we are doing is part of building resources for democracy, governance and elections and it will enable INEC to get it right in 2015. A lot of work is involved and we are not leaving anything to chance. “Nigerians can be rest assured that the next election will not only be hitch-free but will also give the nation and its people a sense of pride,” the official boasted.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—7

PRESENTATION: Dr. Tawanda Mushuku, Managing Director/CEO, UAC Foods Limited (right), and Mrs. Agnes Okhuakhua, Managing Director of Japio Stores, winner of pick-up van as number two distributor of UAC Foods at the company's 2012 Customer Awards Ceremony in Lagos.

Ibori $15m: Court orders IG to arrest Uba, bizman BY EMMA AMAIZE & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA—FOLLOWING an application by Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, to arrest and investigate Senator Andy Uba and one Chibuike Achigbu, with a view to ascertaining their actual involvement in the $15 million bribe allegedly offered to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by cronies of the convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, in 2007. It will be recalled that Achigbu, who identified himself as an oil magnate, on August 29, 2012, approached a Federal High

Court, Abuja, claiming that the said money, which is currently in custody of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, belonged to him. This is even as both the Federal Government and the Delta State government are currently enmeshed in a legal tussle over who should keep the alleged bribe money, which Ibori denied offering or authorising anyone to offer on his behalf. Meanwhile, few days after the court fixed September 17 for hearing of arguments from the Federal Government and Delta State government on the issue, Achigbu, who engaged the services of three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, went before the court, claiming that he actually gave the $15 million to Dr.

Falana, Jacobs, 23 others take oath as SANs BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA—CHIEF Jus tice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Muktar, will today, administer oath on 25 legal practitioners recently conferred with the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, LPPC. Among those to be sworn in today are: Mr. Femi Falana, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George and Prof. Clement Dakas. Deputy Director, Press and Information at the Supreme Court, Mr. Festus Akande, in a statement, said the event will hold at the ceremonial hall of the apex court. Others to take the oath

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as SAN include: Mrs. Joy Adesina, Chief Connie-Jean Aremu, Mahmud Magaji, Ogwu Onoja, Garuba Tetengi, Henry Ogbodu, Selekeowei Larry, Abenny Mohammed, Charles Obishai, Luke Illogu, Francis Agbu, Paul Ananaba, Akinlaja Moses, Ahmed Raji, Adekunle Oyesanya, Rotimi Oguneso, Oluseye Opasanya, Aduroja Olumuyiwa, Aliyu Umar, Illo Sanusi and Ndukwe Nnnawuchi. Meanwhile, CJN will tomorrow, conduct a special valedictory court session in honour of Justice Francis Tabai, who has bowed out of the Supreme Court bench upon attaining the mandatory retirement age for judicial officers in that cadre.

Uba, a former aide to the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for the purpose of financing Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2007 general election. In an affidavit he deposed to before the high court, Achigbu averred that owing to his desire to ensure that PDP win at various levels of governance in the country then, he initiated a personal fund-raising scheme for the party. Nevertheless, dissatisfied with the explanations, Keyamo sought an order for the duo to be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted for either acting as accessories to an act of bribery or for deposing to false affidavit, which he said amounts to perjury. Keyamo maintained that in the event that the origin of the $15 million was not ascertained, Uba and Achigbu should be charged with money laundering and/or conspiracy and bribery. He further contended that in the alternative, the Federal Government should: “Arrest Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, interrogate him and charge him to court, if necessary, for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and perjury as regards the proceedings in Asaba, when he swore on oath or procured another to swear that he was given a bribe. “This is because, it is either Ribadu on the one hand is lying that he was offered $15 million as bribe or Andy Uba, Ibori and Achigbu on the other hand are all lying that it was not bribe. Both versions cannot be correct and any version that is false amounts to a crime under our laws.”

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Politicians split over Jonathan's criticisms BY SONI DANIEL

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s admission that he is the most criticised President in the world, has drawn mixed reactions from the political class, which has been split on the issue. Jonathan had at the opening of the 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja, lamented that he was the most criticised president in the world, thereby throwing up sharp disagreement among politicians. While some politicians have asked President Jonathan to take the avalanche of criticism in good faith and use it to shame his critics, others have accused him of being the architect of his own misfortune. Chairman of Senate Services Committee, Senator Suleiman Adokwe, noted that while there was nothing wrong with criticism, many Nigerians have taken it as a point of duty to chastise the President unduly. Adokwe, a People’s Democratic Party, PDP, lawmaker, who represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District, pointed out that though most of the criticisms against the administration were borne out of bias, others were the honest expressions of patriotic Nigerians, who meant well for the government. While urging Jonathan to ignore the antics of those who are out to pull down the administration, Adokwe pleaded with him to sift any grain of wisdom that might be found in the analyses of well-meaning Nigerians to move the nation forward. The lawmaker expressed regret that most Nigerians were castigating the administration out of sheer

primordial sentiments at a time the nation needed sound advice and moral support from all to make progress. Adokwe said learning from the issues for which he has been routinely vilified by critics, President Jonathan could turn around the fortunes of Nigerians and easily put his enemies to shame in no distant time. He said, “First of all, let me appeal to the President to take the criticism in good faith. If his administration is the most criticised it also means that he has been the most tolerant of the people. “He (Mr. President) should not be afraid of criticism. Those are the things that will make him stronger and better. At the end of the day, where he needs to call off the bluff he should. Where there is need to get better advice to move ahead he should do so. “As far as I know, there are some honest and patriotic Nigerians who really wish the president well and they may air their views so that he can use such criticism to move the country forward. There are others who simply criticise in order to be noticed while others criticise solely to bring down the government in the name of opposition. However, the spokesman for the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, described the admission by Jonathan that he was the most criticised President as the lamentation of a leader who has not done enough to elicit the accolades of the citizens. Fashakin said Jonathan deserved the criticisms leveled against him and his administration because there was nothing to show for the promises, which he made to Nigerians while campaigning for the office.

NSE HOLDS WORKSHOP—From left: Mr Oscar Onyema, CEO Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE; Mallam Mohammad Ahmed, DG PenCom and Mr Ade Bajomo, ED Market Operations NSE during a workshop organised by the NSE at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Adenuga's GCON, well deserved — Presidency zSays foreign reserves to hit $50bn soon BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday defended the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON honour on the Chairman, Conoil, Chief Mike Adenuga, describing it as well deserving. Addressing newsmen, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said there was the need to divorce the action of Adenuga’s company from his personal achievements. Okupe who noted that he stands as one of the greatest employers of labour in Nigeria today, said Chief Adenuga has done a great

ACN slams PDP, alleges smear campaign against Tinubu

CTION Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has described the ongoing smear campaign and reaction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s attendance of the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA as symptomatic of an indolent, frightened and seemingly intimidated government suffering from misplaced priorities and whose past time is peddling C M Y K

rumours half truths and disinformation. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterdayday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said if anyone is guilty of mischief, falsehood and deliberate attempt at disinformation on this matter it is the PDP-led Federal Government. According to the party, in the first instance at no time during this needless controversy did the ACN

issue a statement concerning Tinubu’s attendance of or invitation to the Democratic National Convention and adding that it was challenging the PDP propagandists-in chief to produce evidence to the contrary. Rather, the party explained, it was the Tinubu Media Office that issued an unambiguous self explanatory statement on the issue.

deal for the country through his numerous business concerns which employ thousands of Nigerians. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, also disclosed that Nigeria now expects power generation to hit about 7,000Mw by December with the increased availability of gas to power the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, in the country. He also said the nation’s external reserves will soon hit $50 billion, stressing that at present, it stands at about $39billion which according to him was enough to guarantee three months of imports without fears. Okupe said that with the present reserves, it will strengthen the Naira, stabilize the economy as well tame demands on income.

Power generation to hit 700Mw by Dec According to him, expected increase in power generation would be in excess of 600% of the amount ever generated in the country, adding that those planning to buy generating sets should jettison the idea against the backdrop that Nigerians will now begin to enjoy more hours of uninterrupted power supply.

Okupe who explained that the major problem that affected the power sector in the country was the inability of the NIPP to come on stream following the absence of gas, added, “but today, I am happy to announce to you that through the emergency measures taken by the President, that has changed." According to him, though Alaoji, Olorunsogo and Sapele power stations required about 60million standard cubic metres of gas to power electricity, what is now available is 240million standard cubic metres of gas with additional 100million standard cubic metres expected to be supplied by a private company, adding, ‘’they are now going to add to the national grid. It is envisaged that by December this year, Nigeria will hit all time high in excess of 7000Mw. That will mean that Nigeria will have more hours of uninterrupted power supply nationwide. It will be 600 per cent more than what we already generated.” Tongue lashing the opposition of misleading Nigerians for too long with disinformation about the capacity of this government to manage the economy, Okupe who stressed that there was a plan to build

excess crude account to $10billion, added, ‘’the principles that are embedded in the Nigerian economy are beginning to yield fruit and belies the argument of the opposition about the capacity of government to manage the economy. There is investor confidence. It means we are now on a steady keel of stability on the Nigerian economy. All these are good indices of the Transformation Agenda.”

Railway rehabilitation On the state of railway rehabilitation in the country, Okupe disclosed that rehabilitation work of western 488 kilometres the Lagos-Jebba railway line has been completed and the 638 kilometres Jebba-Kano railway line while the new standard gauge AbujaKaduna 180 kilometres was at 35 per cent completion. Citing the observation made by the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigerian, MAN, Chief Kola Jamodu, the Senior Special Assistant explained that in the last one year, over 240 new manufacturing industries have opened in Nigeria investing N400billion and employing in excess of 200,000 Nigerians while capacity utilization has increased to 70 per cent

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012— 9

Lagos creates new agency for parks, gardens ...To rehabilitate monuments, tourist sites BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI with agency reports

AGOS State Government has set up Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, to foster sustainable environment and further enhance the aesthetics of the state. This makes it now mandatory for tenement/owners and occupiers to landscape and beautify the

perimeter areas of their properties. Violation of this provision shall warrant the penalty of N250, 000:00 or such sums as the state shall incur in doing same on behalf of the tenement, or six months imprisonment or other non-custodian sentence. The agency is saddled with the responsibilities of managing all designated

parks and gardens in the state, in its effort to create a sustaining structure for the landmark beautification and landscaping projects across the state. The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this during the public presentation of the agency in Alausa, Ikeja and explained that the agency was the outcome of a bill initiated by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and eventually approved and passed as the Lagos State Parks and the tour was to enable Gardens Law No 13, of the house to know the 2011, by the Lagos State extent of progress so far House of Assembly. made by the institutions.

Ogun Assembly commends TASUED, promises support

BEOKUTA – The Chairman, Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Yinka Mafe, yesterday commended the authority of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, for its ingenuity in the running of the institution. “The building of 1,000 capacity hostel each for male and female students from your internally generated revenue is commendable. “I assure you that the Ogun State House of Assembly will do all that is possible to ensure your continued existence,” Mafe said. The Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof Segun Awonusi, said that the institution was the first to conduct the post JAMB examination on electronic platform. He said that salaries were paid as at when due. Mafe made the comment during the committee’s visit to the institution in continuation of its oversight function to the state education institutions. The chairman said that

Fakeye counsels Jonathan BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

EADER of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement, Prophet Gabriel Fakeye, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan has good plans but he is surrounded by bad advisers which can lead the country to a revolution. Fakeye stated that the high level of corruption and bad advisers can be the major motive of the revolution. He said this yesterday at the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the youth fellowship church while urging the federal government to select men of intergrity as advisers and executives. According to him “Corruption will lead us to a revolution. We don’t pray for it, but if we are not careful, we will not be able to avoid it. It happened in Russia, in France and several other countries. If we say cor-

ruption is a monster, then we reduce its power to the barest minimum by selecting men with integrity.

Evangelist Kunle Adeshokan, South West representative at Coaliation of Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria (right) with Dr. Frederick Fasehun, during the latter's quarterly interactive media roundtable held in Lagos. Photo:Sylva Eleanya.

N47bn fraud: Judge, Akingbola’s counsel disagree in court BYABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHEAL OLADEPO

OUNSEL to the former Managing Director, Intercontinental Bank Plc, (now Access Bank Plc), Dr. Erastus Ak-

Okada riders meet Fashola, back new traffic law BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

OMMERCIAL motorcycle operators in Lagos state, yesterday declared their total support for the new traffic law in the state. The operators under the aegis of Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, MOALS of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lagos state, declared their support for the new law at the end of a closed door meeting with the state governor, Babatunde Fashola at the State House, Alausa,Ikeja. Speaking on behalf of the association at the end of the meeting which lasted for several hours, Chairman of MOALS of NURTW, Mr.

Tijani Pekis said “ We are now ready to comply totally with the traffic law.” Explaining on what transpired at the meeting, Pekis explained “at the meeting, we explained our grievances to the governor on the new traffic law.” According to him, “But when we listened to his response, it was human. It suits us as a union. We all appreciate his response and we decided to back the law. “As the grand patron of the okada riders in the state, he has assured us that the law will continue to have human face. And we have also assured him that we will go back to our members and sensitize them on the importance of the new law before the enforcement,” he said.

ingbola, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, yesterday frowned at the manner at which the trial judge, Justice Habeeb Abiru was handling the proceedings of his client’s trial. Fagboungbe who did not hide his countenance from the judge, said the judge's interest to hear the defence’s case was limited, adding that for him to overrule his request for an adjournment was preventing him from further leading Akingbola’s co-accused, Bayo Dada, in his evidence. The lawyer, representing Akingbola and his business associate, Mr. Bayo Dada had requested for the adjournment to carry out “investigation on certain things” that will help his case. The judge had earlier in the proceedings expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the defence has been conducting their case, said Fagbohungbe’s request for an adjournment was belated. Justice Abiru said, “Since

morning you have been with the witness and you spent five minutes on each question. You delayed the progress of the court and now you are seeking for adjournment in respect of investigation. No, there is no adjournment. “Since the last adjourned date in July, you should have done whatever investigation you wanted to do. You had July, August and even September before yesterday’s sitting. You should continue with your question, there is still time.” Responding, however, Fagbohungbe said, “My Lord, it is like you are angry with me. It is like you want to be hearing one side of this case. I’m not asking for too much. I was only asking for tomorrow. After all, you granted my learned friend (counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) when he requested for an adjournment yesterday (Monday) till today (Tuesday).”

Lagos gov to flag off new legal year Sep 17 BY JANE ONOZURE

AGOS State Gover nor, Babatunde Fashola, will lead other eminent lawyers across the state in celebrating the commencement of the year 2012/2013 Legal Year which begins next week. Also, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips will visit the Kirikiri Medium and Maximum prisons, Apapa on September 18, to free some inmates who are qualified to be released under the relevant laws of the state. In a statement signed by

the Chief Registrar, Ganiyu Safari, the programme will kick off with a Church and Mosque service on Monday, September 17th at the Cathedral Church, Marina and the Central Mosque, Lagos respectively. The Chief Judge will thereafter proceed to the High Court to inspect a parade of guards by the Nigerian Police. On Tuesday, the Chief Judge alongside her Management team and members of the Nigerian Bar Association will visit the Kirikiri prisons to liberate the inmates that are qualified for freedom.

10—Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,

2012

Expobiz to hold Lagos premium expo By Elizabeth Amihor

Expobiz Limited, yesterday, said its forthcoming Lagos premium Expo will help redefine Nigeria’s new middle income class of the future, as it will afford over 150 companies the opportunity to display their products, services and solutions. According to a statement by the company, the expo, scheduled to hold between November 30 and December 2, 2012, will bring together manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, retailers and most importantly consumers. The company also said the expo will showcase products from six consumer-facing sectors including services, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs), gifts, e-commerce, fashion and

accessories and arts and crafts. The company said, “the event would feature a leadership conference with visionary keynote speakers and panelists, an exhibition with over 150 companies displaying products, services and solutions that will redefine the new middle income class and awards ceremony recognizing Nigeria’s most innovative companies and initiatives. The statement further said media inquiries should be directed to Olanike Osuntokun (08025368962) and Michael Akindele (08092149910) “Expobiz is an organization with an objective to create world class, top-rated expo that has unequal opportunities for consumers to interact with leading brands and companies.”

Mimiko, Oke unfold agenda at campaigns BY DAYO JOHNSON

overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday maintained that if reelected governor at the forthcoming election, his administration would make the bitumen deposits located in Agbabu, Odigbo Local Government of the state commercially viable. He also maintained that the state had established a relationship with countries like Trinidad and Tobago to develop the bitumen deposit to a commercial level. The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Chief Olusola Oke, however, said that he will provide quality jobs through economic policies that will be targeted at the youth of the state. According to the Deputy Director of Publicity of Olusola Oke/ Saka Lawal Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Ogunleye, the party through Olokola deep seaport initiative will provide quality employment for over 40, 000 youth in the state. Governor Mimiko while addressing supporters in Agbabu during his re-election campaign said the state C M Y K

has started working with technical partners and the Federal Government in its bid to commence exploration, adding that it had applied for the revalidation of certificate for the bitumen exploration. On his part, the PDP candidate lamented the slow work pace at the Olokola site where the deep sea port is to be established. According to Oke, “It is unfortunate that despite the level of work done on the Olokola site where the deep sea port is to be established, the present administration allowed the resources of the state to waste away. Instead, he is busy doing projects that lack definition in sustainability.” He stated further, “It appears the youth have been neglected by the present administration in Ondo State. No job, not even a policy in this direction by the government because this administration is more concerned with politics and fantasies.” He, however, lampooned the Mimiko administration for reckless spending in the state. He said, “The PDP government left N38 billion in the state's coffers, now the government is in debt”.

L-R: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, representing Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Steel and Metallurgy; Engr. Chris Akamnonu, CEO of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN); Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, cutting the tape; Mr. Darius Ishaku, Minister of State for Power and Engr. Taofiq Tijani, Commissioner For Energy And Mineral Resources, during the Commissioning of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission {NERC}, Ikeja Forum Office in Lagos for electricity complaints. Photo:Bunmi Azeez

Three Ogun PDP lawmakers dump party over crisis BY DAUD OLATUNJI

B E O K U TA -T h e crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun became worse yesterday as three out of the six members of the party in the state House of Assembly announced their defection to the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The three lawmakers are Olusola Sonuga; the former PDP Whip,

representing Ikenne State Constituency; Babatunde Edunjobi, representing Egbado South State Constituency and Adeyemi Harrison, representing Ogun Waterside State Constituency. Announcing their defection, the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi who read their letters stated that the trio had to dump the PDP for the broom

party in order to bring full dividends of democracy to the people they represent. The three defectors were, however, welcome and embraced by the ACN lawmakers including the Speaker of the House, brandishing brooms. The defection of the three former PDP lawmakers to ACN has

Akeredolu urges IGP to redeploy top cops T

HE governorship Candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN, in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to ensure that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the state, is redeployed to another state, in order to ensure unbiased policing of the exercise. He also dismissed claims by the Labour Party, LP, that he was not a registered voter in the state. A statement by the Director Media and Publicity of Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, ACO, noted that ACN would not increase the tuition fees of the Adekunle Ajasin University and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic if

elected. His words: ‘’We call for the immediate transfer of the DeputyCommissioner of police in charge of operations in Ondo State, Mr. Henry Fadiro, the Force Public Relation Officer, Ondo State, Mr. Adeniran Aremu, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Garba, Muhammed in order to avoid the compromise that could lead to chaos in the coming October 20 governorship election in the State.’’ He further explained that, ‘’the activities of Mr. Fadairo Aremu and Muhammed have become firmly rooted in the State since 2009, when they were transferred to the State following the resumption of Governor Olusegun Mimiko after his victory at the court of Appeal in Benin.Twice they have

been transferred from the State to Taraba and Lagos States; twice they had been brought back to Ondo State with the influence of Governor Mimiko.’’ In addition, he described the allegations that ACN candidate was not a registered party member, as a ploy aimed at circumventing the wish of Ondo people. ‘’ACO wishes to state unequivocally that nothing can be farther from the truth than this idle talk targeted at arresting the rising profile and acceptability of Akeredolu. It is laughable to insinuate that the ACN flag bearer, a senior member of the Bar would contemplate of venturing into anything unconstitutional,’’ he stated.

increased the number of ACN lawmakers from initial 17 to 20 while the number of PDP lawmakers has reduced to three, namely Job Akintan, representing Egbado-North, Akovoyon Abiodun, representing Ipokia/ Idiroko and Bowale Solaja, representing Ijebu-North I. Meantime, Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has described the defection as historic. The governor who said this yesterday in Abeokuta while speaking with newsmen, said “history has been made today. The legislators have heeded the call of members of their constituencies. “The people and the lawmakers have seen our good works and have decided to join us in order to increase the pace of socio-economic development of the state. This is democracy at work, as the will of the people has prevailed,” he said. Amosun, however, decried what he called campaign of calumny by a segment of the opposition, saying they “are planning to return Ogun to a state of anomie. This is democracy at work, as the will of the people has prevailed,”he said. Amosun however decried what he called campaign of calumny by a segment of the opposition.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—11

SERAP seeks repatriation of forfeiture order on Alamieyeseigha's asset BY INNOCENT ANABA

AWARD: Former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru (left), presenting the African ICT Man of the Year Award to Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who was respresented by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, at the 8th Annual Nigerian Telecoms Award in Lagos.

Sacked Bayelsa LG boss indicted over alleged scam BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—A re port by the Financial and Project Review Committee on Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has indicted the former council boss, Mr. Timwei Orunimighe, over alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure. Also indicted were former Secretary and Treasurer of the council, Mr. Collins Baker and Quickpen Oseke respectively, who were signatories to the council accounts and through whom most of the payments were allegedly made through cash. The report was signed by Mr. Edoumiekumo Samuel and six others. According to the report, the former council boss, who was among five council chairmen recently sacked by the state House of Assembly, was alleged to have been involved in

questionable financial transactions while in office. The committee also recommended that all beneficiaries of questionable payments be invited for interrogation and made to refund funds they received if found wanting, adding that the council must ensure due process in all future financial transactions.

The report, which covered the period between April 2010 to May 2012, noted that there were discrepancies in three major areas, namely personnel cost, overhead cost and security cost and called for the adoption of internal control system to discourage future occurrence in the council. According to the report, there were no payment vouchers in some months “thereby making it difficult for the committee to be-

Oboh tasks US on N-Delta security BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ANAGING Di rector, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Christian Oboh, has urged the United States Government to play a more active role in the security and stability of the Niger Delta region. Speaking when the American Consul-General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, paid him a courtesy call,

in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Oboh noted that the strategic economic importance of the region to Nigeria, US and other parts of the world makes it necessary for stakeholders to ensure that the region was crisis free. He said though NDDC has a mandate to address the problem of under development in the region, the commission cannot achieve the task without

NDDC Gbaregolor-Esanma road to terminate at Ogulagha —Manager

HAIRMAN, Sen ate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator James Manager, yesterday, said that the multibillion naira Gbaregolor – Esanma Road project, being executed by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, would terminate at Ogulagha town in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Manager noted that though the various on-

lieve the competence of the council treasurer,” stressing “the urgent need to verify this and reconcile the salary figures.” On overhead cost, the report said most of the payments were frivolous, including several claims of N1million for the exchairman’s trips to Yenagoa as well as several claims of N10million by the former Secretary for the chairman’s logistics without retirement.

going road projects in the Niger Delta would take a long time to complete, they would fast tract development of the area when completed. Senator Manager, who spoke in his residence yesterday at DDPA, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state when the member Representing Bomadi council in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Kenneth Preyor, paid

him a thank -you visit on his election victory, urged his supporters to imbibe the spirit of patience and dedication. He enjoined communities in the region that would not be affected by the current road construction exercises to be patient, noting that the current Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led Federal Government was poised to deliver on its promises to the people.

the collaboration and understanding of other stakeholders, including the US. Citing the difficult terrain, dearth of infrastructure and unemployment as some of the problems of the region, Oboh called for closer collaboration between the US, Nigeria and by extension NDDC in the areas of funding, capacity building and youth development. He said: “We appeal to the American ConsulGeneral to assist NDDC in getting access to foreign donor funds to pursue more developmental projects in the Niger Delta.” Mr. Hawkins described the Niger Delta as “an extremely important part of Nigeria and the source of a great deal of the nation’s wealth, which also harbours majority US investment.” Hawkins said: “Nigeria and US have looked into the troubled areas of the country and have set up a bi-national commission to discussion issues of mutual interest, one of such areas is the Niger Delta problem.”

O C I O - E C O NOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday, called on Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN, to urgently seek from the United State Government, repatriation of forfeiture order on $401,931 in assets belonging to Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Baylelsa State, who had been convicted in Nigeria of money laundering and unjust enrichment while in political office. SERAP’s Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, in a letter to Adoke, said: “On June 28, 2012, the US Department of Justice obtained the first

forfeiture judgment ever issued under the new Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative against Alamieyeseigha. The initiative is designed to target and recover the proceeds of foreign official corruption that have been laundered into or through the US. “The Nigerian government has not yet made a request for the repatriation of the stolen wealth. The failure to repatriate the recovered assets illustrates the government’s attitude to recovery of stolen assets. “Yet, being a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption, Nigeria has a legal obligation to make a request for mutual legal assistance to the US for the return of the assets."

Edo NMA crisis resolved BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—THE crisis rocking Edo State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, was laid to rest, yesterday, with the inauguration of a new executive led by Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro. It will be recalled that

the state chapter of NMA was factionalised on the expiration of the tenure of Dr Philip Ugbodaga in July. Ighodaro commended members for their maturity in finding lasting solution to the leadership crisis that engulfed the association.

Court grants Ugolor bail BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

E N I N — D E TAINED Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, who was arrested over his alleged complicity in the murder of Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, was, yesterday, admitted to bail by an Edo High Court sitting in Benin. Trial judge is Justice Philip Imodemhe.

Ugolor has been in detention since his arrest by Federal Special Anti – Robbery Squad on July 27, despite repeated orders of Justice Esther Edigin of the state high court, that he should be released unconditionally from custody. In his ruling after listening to Mr. G. Oguntade, SAN, counsel to Ugolor and Mrs. Adekumbi, state Counsel and Assistant Director in the Edo State Ministry of Justice, Justice Imodemhe admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1million and one surety in like sum.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Oritsejafor hosts nationhood seminar BY SAM EYOBOKA

VISIT: HRM Igwe Kenneth Orizu III of Nnewi, Anambra State (left) receiving the “Do the Right Thing” plaque from the Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri (Right) during a visit to the palace of the royal father in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Karibi-Whyte dares striking RSUST lecturers BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

ORT HARCOURT—PROCHANCELLOR and Chairman, Governing Council, of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Justice Adolphus KaribiWhyte, has challenged striking lecturers at the university to resign and be replaced. Justice Karibi-Whyte, was, yesterday, reacting to the ongoing strike by lecturers at the institution, which had crippled academic activities over their disapproval of the reappointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae for a second term as Vice

Chancellor. The lecturers under Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities, ASUU, branch of the university, embarked on the strike on August 13, when Prof Fakae was first reappointed as Acting VC, following the expiration of his first tenure with Governor Rotimi Amaechi confirming his appointment as substantive VC for a second term. Karibe Whyte said the lecturers had no business quarrelling with the governor and Visitor to the institution for appointing a VC. He said: “How does the employment of a Vice Chancellor interfere with

Activist decries abandonment of NDDC project BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—A HU MAN rights activist, Mr. Ezekiel Akpasibewei, has decried the abandonment of the 36-kilometer canalization project awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, over eight years ago. He appealed to NDDC to re-award the contract to a more competent contractor from the area.

Akpasibewei, who addressed newsmen, weekend, said: “I am urging NDDC management to revoke the N1.3 billion project aimed at linking four Egbema communities of Tsekelewu, Opuama , Ogbinbiri and Ogbudugbudu, all in Warri North council and rearward same to a competent contractor from the area.” He accused the contractors that had handled the project of gross incompetence and insincerity.

their teaching? You can’t compel your employer to employ another person. They said they are withdrawing their services. All you need do is advertise for new staff to come into the place.” Reacting to Karibi-

Whyte’s call, ASUU branch Chairman at RSUST, Dr. Felix Igwe, said the union would not be intimidated into calling off the strike until they were satisfied that their grievance had been addressed.

S part of a triple ju bilee and his commitment to the Nigerian Project, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s Word of Life Bible Church has perfected plans to host a lecture in Warri, Delta State, to fashion out ways to sustain the founding fathers’ dreams. The lecture scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, will be addressed by erstwhile Foreign Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi who is expected to speak on: The Nigeria of our dreams: Towards the consolidation of the national unity.

Eminent Nigerians including politicians, academicians, businessmen and other concerned stakeholders in the Nigerian project have also indicated their willingness to attend the lecture aimed at proffering solutions to current threats to the nation’s corporate existence. A statement signed by the martriach of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Helen Oritsejafor said the occasion expected to coincide with this year’s Jubilee Word Festival, will mark the triple celebration of the CAN president’s birthday, his 40 years in ministry and the 30th anniversary of the church.

Obong Uko dies @ 87

HE remains of late Obong Albert Uko, Group Head of Asuna, were interred on Saturday, September 8, at his family compound, Ikot Akpanya, Asuna, Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Obong Uko, a retired civil servant and elder statesman died on June 29, 2012 after a brief illness. He was aged 87. He is survived by many children, including Ime Uko, Mr. Albert Uko, former Acting Gen-

eral Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Chief Donald Uko and grand children.

Late Obong Udo Uko

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—13

14-day rainfall sacks Enugu community BY CHINENYE OZOR

SUKKA—FOURTEEN days of continuous rainfall in Okutu, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, has wreaked havoc in the community, leaving behind submerged and collapsed markets, schools, churches

and residential houses. During a visit to the flooded community by Vanguard, water was gradually receding from some primary schools and Nkwo Okutu Market. It was gathered that the disaster rendered over 200 persons homeless and damaged property worth

... as bank donates N5m on security BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—UNION Bank Plc has presented a cheque for N5 million to support Anambra State security programme. The bank’s team, led by the Deputy General Manager, Sir Peter Aliogo, presented the cheque to Governor Peter Obi during a courtesy call at the Government House, Awka. Aliogo said the gesture was part of the bank’s social responsibilities aimed at encouraging

the various initiatives by the state government to ensure the protection of life and property across the state. He said the board of Union Bank was impressed with the giant strides made by the governor to provide a conducive business environment in the state. He added that as a commercial and industrial hub, the state requires effective security network to protect and promote the influx of local and foreign investments.

millions of Naira, even as all the rivers overflowed their banks. The situation was worsened by the resurgence of the extinct Adada River, which has its source from Ibagwa-Aka in Igbo Eze South Local Government Area of the state. Meanwhile, Chairman of Nsukka Local Government, Mr. Tony Ugwu, has sympathised with the community over the flood disaster, even as he expressed happiness that no life was lost. Ugwu spoke when lead-

ers of the community, led by the traditional ruler, Igwe Dan Ogbonna, visited him in his office. He assured that the local government would assist the victims to ameliorate the effect pending the intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA. Igwe Ogbonna said a similar disaster occurred in 1990, but said it was not as destructive as the present one.

Sabotage: Gunrunners escape NATFORCE's trap BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—ILLEGAL im porters operating along the dredged River Niger have allegedly disappeared with goods, arms, ammunition and light weapons said to be heading to the commercial town of Onitsha in Anambra State. Anambra State branch of the National Task Force Against Illegal Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Am-

PROMO: From left— Mr. Adekunle Adams, Head, Public Relations, Yaba College of Technology; Mr. Elvis Daniel, Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria; Mr. Aderoju Babatunde, winner of Cliqfest star prize; Mr. Omobayo Taofeck, Dean Student Affairs, Yaba College of Technology, at Yabatech 2012 Cliqfest in Lagos.

munition and Light Weapons, NATFORCE, said, yesterday, in Onitsha that the importers were able to escape due to alleged sabotage by some security operatives assigned to arrest them. Director of operations of the task force, Chief Alex Igwemma, who addressed newsmen in Onitsha, added that the syndicate was also suspected to be involved in oil bunkering, adding that one of the barges they disappeared with was carrying oil stolen from places in Bayelsa and Delta states. According to Igwemma, the illegal importers were on the run with 15 AK47 rifles, 30 pump action guns, 20 double-barrelled guns and four tankers of oil, adding that the information was provided by his men planted among the illegal importers. He explained that NATFORCE had been monitoring the syndicate for the past six months, but regretted that they could not be arrested because some members of the task force leaked information on the planned arrest.

Fleeing Ebonyi community leaders refuse to return BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—FLEEING leaders of Ishiagu community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the home town of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, taking refuge in Enugu following alleged invasion of the community by soldiers and armed policemen, said they would not return to their homes until their safety was guaranteed. Chief David Aja, who was earlier elected President of the Ishiagu Community Development Union,

ICDU, in August, had in a press conference in Enugu, Monday, blamed the crisis on Chief Anyim, saying reports from their community indicated that the soldiers have remained even after the former Senator had departed the community. However, suspended ICDU President, Engr. Godfrey Aja, dismissed the allegations against the SGF insisting that he has no hand in the crisis brewing in the community. He said: “Anyim was here for the elections and has always returned home any time there was ICDU election; it is not the first

time and I must tell you that he is a peaceful man and would always want the best for his people in Ishiagu.” The aggrieved community leaders accused the former Senate President of planning to hijack the leadership of the town union by force and without following the constitution. They alleged that acting governor of the state, Chief Dave Umahi, jettisoned the recommendations of an investigation committee set up by the government and fixed another election for Monday, during which soldiers were mobilised to “terrorise” the people.

Members laud Delta ACN's chairman

ARRI—TWO members of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Delta State, yesterday, took a swipe at those party members, who are calling for the head of the Chairman of the party in state, Chief Joe

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Adolor Okotie-Eboh. In a statement made available to Vanguard, yesterday, by Prince Oghene Ekuren, representing Delta Central, and Elder Moses Onosodeke, representing Delta South, said: “In two

years Chief Okotie-Eboh has done much more than all the other ACN chairmen put together since the inception of the party in the state.” The statement said Chief Okotie-Eboh, from every indication, was abreast of his responsibility in the party, adding that the party chairman “has shown that he has a blue-print on how to deliver.”

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Panel report vindicates us— NUEE BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

AWARDS: From left— Mr. Jimi Awosika, Managing Director, Insight Communication; Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, Marketing Manager Lager, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Director, and Mr. Funsho Ayeni, Brand Manager, Legend, at the Legend Celebration of Excellence Awards in Lagos. PHOTO: Sylva Eleanya.

Pay our TEA or... — Enugu teachers

IGERIA Union of Teachers, NUT, has asked Enugu State Government to pay the balance of Teachers Enhancement Allowance, TEA, to teachers in the state. National Coordinator of the union, Mr. Julius Tola, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Enugu, yesterday. Tola said the union has requested for the complete payment of the 17.5 per-

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cent outstanding allowances to the teachers. He said: “Any time strike comes from teachers, it permeates all stratum of the society quite unlike other industrial unions, but we are not strike mongers. “We are not looking for where we can embark on strike. If they can afford to do one or two funny things, I mean, there is no point going on strike, but we need it.”

ATIONAL Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, yesterday, said the report of the panel of investigation on pension matters in the power sector vindicated the union from the pension scam, contrary to the alleged plan by the former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji. An investigative panel set up by Nnaji to audit the controversial Power

Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Superannuation Pension Fund, where over N200 billion was said to be missing, had submitted its report, Monday. Reacting to the committee’s report, General Secretary of NUEE, Mr. Joe Ajaero, in a statement, said the report of the committee had again failed to indict PHCN workers and their leaders. Meanwhile, Ministry of Power has denied report that power generation has

dropped by 1,000 megawatts. A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs) ‘Dere Awosika, said: “Presently, the peak generation has remained at 4,439.5 megawatts. This peak status was gained on September 5, 2012 and since then it has been steady.” The statement quoted the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Dickson, as assuring “the recent gains in the power generation are not only being consolidated, they will be improved upon.”

Treat Nigerians well, Mark urges Zimbabwe BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—SENATE President, David Mark, has called on the Zimbabwean government to stop humiliating Nigerians, just as he reiterated the need for the government to improve on its relationship with foreigners residing in their country. This is coming on the heels of the ill-treatment

being meted out on Nigerians in Zimbabwe. Speaking yesterday, when he hosted the Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Mrs. Thokozani Khupe, in his office, Senator Mark reminded the government and people of Zimbabwe of the need to accommodate other nationals and crave true democracy. Mark noted that recent reports show that Nigeri-

ans consistently face humiliation in their daily activities, with the immigration service and other security agencies in Zimbabwe. He appealed that the action should be addressed if the already existing bilateral relationship between the two countries must be strengthened, adding that “Nigeria will contribute towards ensuring that true democracy reigns in Zimbabwe.”

Earlier, the Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Mrs. Thokozani Khupe, disclosed that her visit was to intimate the President of the Senate of the establishment of a Global Power Women Network, a body to champion the cause of women across African continent. She stressed that the organisation will look at the plights of women and collectively fashion out ways to combat them.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 2012 — 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Kwara to build vocational centres

Arik Air goes public

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

RIK Air will soon become a public quoted company and Nigerians will have opportunity to be partowners of the biggest airline in West and Central Africa. Vanguard exclusively gathered from a very reliable source that plans are at advanced stage to go public. It will be recalled that the chairman of Arik, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide first dropped the hint sometime last year at the airline’s 5th anniversary press briefing. Already Delloite of United Kingdom is looking at the books of the airline as part of preparations to going public. This development will afford Nigerians the opportunity to buy shares in the airline and have a say on how it is being run. It will also consolidate the financial standing of the airline and enhance its capital base. When contacted, Arik Air spokesman, simply said “we are discussing with our financial advisers and will come out with a statement at the appropriate time.’’

Gov Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (left), speaking during an inspection visit to the offices of the State Pilgrims Commission burnt down by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect. With him are his deputy, Engr. Abubakar D. Ali, JTF Commander, Col Dahiru Abdulsalam and Police Commissioner Patrick Egbuniwe...in Damaturu yesterday.

....As speaker urges Nigerians to emulate Akanbi

Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (middle) cutting the tape during the commissioning of ward development projects vehicles at the Government House, Minna.

Tension in Bauchi over relocation of LG, suspension of lawmaker zAs gunmen kill three travellers BY SAM EYOBOKA

ENSION is mounting again in Bauchi State over the relocatioñ of a local government headquarters and the suspension of a Christian member of the State House of Assembly, just as Islamic fundamentalists on Monday attacked some people who were travelling in a vehicle from Bauchi to Tafawa Balewa town living three persons dead. According to sources, the innocent travellers came under attack when their vehicle was ambushed at a point on the Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa highway where they used matchetes to kill three while other passengers managed to escape. According to the report, the victims included two young men and a lady who were travelling to Tafawa Balewa from the state capital, Bauchi. The source hinted that several persons are being killed silently daily because

LORIN—IN an attempt to reduce the problems of youths unemployment in Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday laid the foundation of the N1.4billion international vocational centre in AjaseIpo, Irepodun local government area of the state. Governor Ahmed during the foundation laying at the permanent site in Ajase Ipo , along Ijagbo Offa road said the centre if completed will be the first of its kind in Africa. Abdulfatah Ahmed said

the first phase Vocational Centre is part of his administration’s resolve to “create a new generation of highly employable artisans and prosperous youth entrepreneurs through the provision of market relevant skills under our Share Prosperity Programme”. He noted that the Centre will, through modernized vocational training, premised on world class standards, turn Senior Secondary School leavers, Polytechnic and University graduates into well trained artisans ready to create jobs and contribute to the collective prosperity of the state.

the Bauchi State House of Assembly in February this year passed a bill to relocate Tafawa Balewa Local Government Secretariat from Christian-dominated Tafawa Balewa to a Muslimdominated Bununu. The move by the State House of Assembly also led to the suspension of the only Christian and female member of the House, Rifkatu Samson since February for daring to oppose the relocation of the local government

headquarters. Reports confirmed by the Bauchi State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Simon Samuel, have it that Hon. Samson, the only Christian and female member of the state House, who dared to objected the relocation for lack of merit, is yet to be recalled by the leadership of the House. The Bauchi State chairman of Youth CAN, YOWICAN, Pastor Simon Dolly also confirmed the

development, saying that since the move there have been a series of attacks on the people, communities and lives and property are being wasted daily. Pastor Dolly said the member representing the constituency is hamstrung and the Bauchi State government has refused to act on the brewing crisis because the affected person and the community she represents belong to a different religion from the state religion.

Bad road stalls minister's visit to hometown BY PETER DURU

AKURDI— ATTEMPT by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe to visit Emichi, her husband’s village in Otukpo local government area of Benue State, was stalled weekend due to bad roads leading to the c o m m u n i t y . Emichi is one of the villages

in the local government without infrastructure due to neglect by successive administrations in the state. Mrs Ochekpe who visited the state to flag-off two water facilities at KatsinaAla and Anyiin left for Otukpo the following day without reaching her husband’s village due to the poor nature of the road occasioned by the torrential rain in the state. Vanguard gathered that the

minister’s convoy had to turn back when it could not make a headway and headed for her hotel room at Otukpo town. According to sources, most people who go to Emichi and other adjoining villages including Okpomaju and Amla now do so on motorcycles as part of the road bordering OtukpoIcho/Odudaje where the tarred road ended was not motorable.

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

LORIN—NIGERIANS have been urged to imbibe the sterling qualities of the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, Justice Mustapha Akanbi to make Nigeria attain greatness. The speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr Razak Atunwa gave the advice while felicitating with Justice Akanbi on his 80th birthday. Atunwa described the former President of the Court of Appeal as a jurist per excellence who had

contributed tremendously to jurisprudence. He described him as a detribalized Nigerian, courageous judge and an epitome of discipline. He noted with delight that the jurist is a thorough bred personality who devoted his life and endowment towards serving God and humanity. The speaker explained that the nation needed the likes of Justice Akanbi in surmounting the myraid of challenges bedeviling it. Atuwa urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of the octogenarian in the bid to restore the glory of the country.

FDI holds confab

HE Foundation for Development and Environmental Initiatives, FDI, will hold its fourth international conference on emerging urban Africa on Oct 11-12, 2012 at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos with the theme: "Good Urban Governance for Effective Service Delivery in Nigeria". A statement by the Executive Director, Prof. Michael Filani said, "reputable international and national experts will speak

on issues ranging from governance to urban and environment development, while participants expected are state governors, legislators, representatives from the presidency, government ministries and agencies, professional bodies in environmental design and management. Others are department and faculties in environmental design and management and non-governmental organisations active in the environment sector.

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012— “Politics offers yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems.” —Marshall McLuhan

Crude, slippery arguments

•Governor l-Fattah Ahmed of Kwara State crimes and massive destruction of oil and gas assets and activities which had been clothed under the polite term of militancy. If anyone thought Northern governors lack too little clout to sustain a strong onslaught on the dichotomy, given their rather tenuous hold on their political terrain, they did not reckon with Governor of Kwara State, who rumbled in with his claim that the case for revisiting the dichotomy is well and truly alive. Abdul-Fattah Ahmed said the revenue derived by littoral states from products in the high seas belong to all Nigerians, and littoral states are receiving funds that they do not deserve. t now looks as if this issue will as sume a dimension far beyond mere legal arguments. The Federal Government’s hand has been played by President Jonathan, so it is already in its own corner of the ring. The National Assembly is unlikely to reverse itself, even with a majority of members from the North, on an issue it decided with extremely conflicting results. Littoral states who have enjoyed unprecedented affluence (at least at the levels of their leaders) are unlikely to just roll over and concede that they are threat-

ening a fragile federation by impoverishing parts of it with their greed. They will remind the nation of the saying that it is easier to give meat to the lion than take it away from him. But then the demand for a review of the dichotomy will not abate or go away either. Many states, especially in the North, complain that they are barely managing to pay for basic services with their share of revenue from federation accounts, most of which is made up of proceeds from oil and gas. They could bury their faces in shame over their profligacy (one said he fed the poor with N2.5 billion in the last one month, and many are spending hundreds of millions sending political cronies to Hajj and Jerusalem) and unbridled corruption, but they will not. They will

HE arguments over the legality and propriety of the onshore-offshore dichotomy are likely to get louder and more involving in the next few months. It is safe to assume that this issue will feed existing faultlines in the nation, and will quite probably play a pivotal role in determining security issues around oil and gas, and even the 2015 elections. It is even safer to assume that the issue is most likely to be obfuscated by existing prejudices, deliberate and emotive misrepresentation and spectacular grandstanding. This is one issue that needs very careful handling, but will most likely be left to fester and infect the polity by a leadership whose cup of unresolved issues is already full. Not long after the Governors of Kano and Niger states signaled an intention to open up the resource control controversy, or more specifically the onshoreoffshore dichotomy because the current revenue sharing formula it has created is unjust, inequitable and unacceptable, threats and dire warnings began to emanate from oil-producing areas. Tension rose with language reserved for times of war. South-South leaders warned the “North” to back off. The North was reminded of all the struggle it took for oilproducing states to get to where they are; and how their people will fight to keep what they have or fight to death doing that. Others said they will obliterate the entire oil and gas asset if one kobo of what the communities earn is directed away to parasitic parts of the nation which are too lazy and greedy; and who will not be content with selfinflicted poverty and backwardness. Just when the temperature was rising to alarming levels, with much of the heat coming from the oil-producing areas, President Goodluck Jonathan wades in with a warning that the issues around the onshore-offshore dichotomy are settled for good; and the nation should move on. If the President thought his warming would calm nerves and settle issues, he was wrong. The other side saw his intervention as predictable nepotism, and a play to a gallery which is only precariously-balanced. Allusions were made to weighty questions regarding the validity of the National Assembly ’s decision to abolish the onshore-offshore dichotomy in 2004 after the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2002 which upheld the dichotomy. Governor of Rivers State then raised the tempo a bit with a thinly-veiled threat that reopening the issue will re-ignite violent

The littoral states cannot continue to keep revenue derived from high seas which are the property of every Nigerian; they must be made to see the injustice in this, as people who have themselves been victims of injustice in the past

make the case that the North is being impoverished by security challenges which the Federal Government should deal with. They will demand for equity and fairness in resource allocation to build and rehabilitate infrastructure, to train young people and give them

OPINION By OHWEVWO UFUOMA EUGENE,

VER the last eight months, I have watched with keen interest how opposition political parties and some notable Nigerians have criticised President Goodluck Jonathan and his administration. While some of these criticisms have been objective, constructive and have portrayed nationalist interests, some have been unnecessary and at best, political. Ordinarily criticisms are meant to correct and keep one on course but when they become unconstructive, biased and appear to have veiled motives intended to pitch the citizenry against the President, then, they not only become laughable and seen as mere academic exercise, but make mockery of the original critic. The fact is that I am not a member of C M Y K

Unnecessar nnecessaryy criticisms of President Jonathan PDP,or by any means a beneficiary of this administration, and like most ordinary Nigerians, I am a victim of PDP misrule since the last 12 years. But the point is criticizing the President should be constructive, objective and seen to have nationalistic interest. I was particularly piqued by the recent outburst of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, averring that the President’s submission at the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association, that he is the most criticized President in the world, and more so he inherited the insecurity

problem, power failure and collapsed national infrastructure from previous administrations, is a sign of failure, incompetence and unpreparedness for governance. But let us be sincere: Was the President's assertion far from the truth? It is a general knowledge that the challenges President Jonathan faces today are no doubt the creation and offshoot of previous administrations in the country. But while it will be acknowledged that as the current President, the responsibility of steering the nation out of these challenges lies squarely

skills; to develop agriculture and solid minerals and arrest the deindustrialization of the North. They will not beg for these. They will demand them as rights. They will mobilize public opinion, legislators, the media and the law to make their cases. But they will fail to even make a dent on the determination of littoral states to keep what they already have, rightly or wrongly. They will, instead, generate a reaction on the other side that will pitch the nation in another conflict that will sap its energy and divert its attention from serious challenges posed by a stubborn insurgency, widespread criminal activities and corruption eating at the fabric of the Nigerian state. The biggest problem, however, is the absence of political institutions which could limit this potential damage. The PDP’s home is the North and South-South, the very antagonists in this battle. Yet, it is incapable of exercising any mediating influence. The Presidency is already part of the problem. Governors are the combatants. The judiciary has already had its say on the matter. nd all these, over a matter that should involve Nigerians in a more systematic and organic manner. Our leaders are fighting over huge assets, while we get crumbs and pay for the consequences of their greed. Neither the governors of the South-South nor the North will survive the simplest scrutiny in terms of how they use our resources from oil and gas. Yet they will ask us to go to war over how much is allocated to their governments. The Federal Government does not have the higher moral or political ground either. It leads in waste and profligacy, and the mind-boggling exposés on corruption around its operations suggest that its share of the revenue is more stolen then used. Some very difficult compromises will need to be made, if we are to avoid a potentially disruptive future. The littoral states cannot continue to keep revenue derived from high seas which are the property of every Nigerian. They must be made to see the injustice in this, as people who have themselves been victims of injustice in the past. Land-based minerals and other products should be made to benefit communities in which they are found, and all parts of the nation should concentrate on what God endowed them with, rather than what others have. We need to revisit the manner we raise and allocate revenues to all three tiers of government, and how to make our leaders more accountable. The question is, who would do all these, since all the people involved in these potentially damaging quarrels are the very sources of the problems?

with him, it is not out of place for him to admit that the country’s current challenges are a product of previous administrations and should not have been registered by the ACN as a sign of failure or incompetence. The truth is, the criticisms from opposition political parties should be to get the President to sit up, and they must be objective, transparent and constructive. Criticisms should not be dished out with the aim of scoring cheap political points or whipping up political sentiments and emotions. In criticizing the President, the interest of the nation should be paramount and not the parochial interest of any political party, ethnic nationality, religion or region.

Mr Eugene wrote from Warri, Delta State

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

IGERIANS were surprised — when the Federal Government, on Tuesday, September 4, announced the lifting of the suspension on the flight operations of Dana Airlines. Coming exactly 93 days after its Flight 992 crashed in Iju-Ishaga on the outskirts of metropolitan Lagos, with all 153 on board and another six on ground killed in a tragedy officially tagged the worst airline accident this year worldwide, mixed reactions were bound to follow in its wake, and they did. Industry stakeholders were happy about it, part of their reason being that it offers an opportunity for many of their members rendered jobless to return to work. Arguments were raised that it is counter-productive to sink airlines after each fatal incident, as many airlines operating around the world have experienced such ugly incidents but were still allowed to continue to operate once standard practices have been restored. Some also argued that ships sink at sea, trains derail and many road ac-

As Dana flies again cidents claim even more lives than aeroplane mishaps do and yet the companies operating these modes of transport are never forced to close shop. Sound as these arguments appear others, however, are of the opinion that letting Dana go back to business at this juncture is hasty and smacks of insensitivity on the part of the authorities. For one thing, they say compensation packages are yet to be completely disposed of. Dana authorities have made commendable efforts to refund the tickets of those booked flights before the incident. They have openly applied several corporate social responsibility actions. But many issues remain to be settled to enable the general

public to put the ugly incident behind them. For instance, they argue that it has not been fully established whether the alleged twin engine failures was as a result of corner-cutting or official neglect by the airline. The forensic analysis of the flight Data Recorder (FDR) which was taken to the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) of the USA has not yet been completed. At least, the public has not been informed of the outcome. The inquiry into the incident by the National Assembly has not been settled. Also, the coroner’s inquest in Lagos was suddenly suspended by court order recently. The emotional sore is still fresh. We hope, however, that the aviation authorities have put all necessary checks in place to ensure that we never experience a repeat of this very sad incidence in the aviation industry. More efforts should also be made to build more c onfidence and trust in the industry. Nigerians deserve no less.

OPINION

Ikot Akpan Udo crisis: Where the Eneyo peace committee failed By UDO IBUOT

N May 24, 2012, the Akwa Ibom State Deputy Gov ernor, Obong Nsima Ekere, constituted an Adhoc Peace and Reconciliation Committee to broker peace between Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area and Amazaba villages in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state. The 13-member committee headed by E. E. Eneyo, was set up following accusations of government’s inaction and indifference to the plight of Ikot Akpan Udo citizens whose homes were burnt and 11 persons killed in the Amazaba massacre of August 28, 2008. Laudable as government’s initiative has been, it is noteworthy that the Eneyo committee made considerable efforts to meet the Ikot Akpan Udo refugees who are scattered in many villages of Ukpum Ete and other clans in Ikot Abasi LGA, at Ikwa village. It also met with the Amazaba villagers at Okoroete in Eastern Obolo LGA. All sides to the crisis had their say and apparently communicated their terms for peace in the conurbation to the committee. However, in interpreting the committee’s terms of reference, Eneyo’s mien or body language created the impression that working out “modalities for resolving the conflict” meant forcing the people of Ikot Akpan Udo to accept his contrived peace plans by all means possible, including coercion and police assault on the leadership. This is not an acceptable model and lends credence to accusations of overt influence by the Andonis. Some of the recommendations of the committee are not only preposterous but also lacking in capacity to reduce the tension and conflicts in the area. For instance, the recommendation for construction of a bridge to link former Amanglass (Idung Nglass) with former Amangbuji (Idung Obo) smacks of the highest level of insensitivity and misunderstanding of the topography of the Ikot Akpan Udo land area. C M Y K

The first reason this recommendation should not have featured in the report is the fact that a bridge across this creek will fence off Ikot Akpan Udo from the Akpan Udo River and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean where some of her fishing nationals earn their living. Whoever authored that recommendation banked on the ignorance of the committee members and government functionaries at Uyo, about the topography of this district and is not doing Akwa Ibom State government any useful service. The second reason that Ikot Akpan Udo will not consent to the signing of any memorandum from the peace and reconciliation committee is the fact that given our recent experience, allowing Amazaba villages to satellite Ikot Akpan Udo again will be an invitation for them to continue to murder Ikot Akpan Udo citizens. This is because they have proven, for the umpteenth time, that they are not capable of living in peace with their neighbours. The state government is aware that penultimate week, the Amazaba citizens who now live at Iso Otoyo, kidnapped four Ikot Akpan Udo youths – Idorienyin Ufot Akpan, Moses Udo Akpan, Abasiakan Ufot Akpan and Maurice Thompson. Even the mobile police team stationed at Ikot Akpan Udo, though aware of this development, could not prevent it. This confirms our assertion that the reconciliation effort was not successful. If due to political considerations, the state government is uncomfortable with relocating the Amazaba villages to Otunene and Ememen near their kith and kin at Emereoke, which lie within Eastern Obolo local government territory, it could settle them along Usung Effiat, from Idim Ukpong to Ikot Inyang (Okoro Inyong). However, where the Amazaba citizens are made to settle at Idim Ukpong on the Ikot Akpan Udo mainland, they shall automatically become citizens of Ukpum Ete clan in Ikot Abasi LGA and cease to belong to Eastern Obolo LGA. This stand is anchored on the

inerrant premise that the Akpan Udo River which begins at Ikot Ekpang in Mkpatenin LGA and courses through Nda Uko, Ikot Akpan Udo, through Iso Otoyo and Isong Mfon to the Atlantic Ocean shall be the constitutionally delineated boundary between Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo local government areas. Settlements on the right bank of this river shall remain in Ikot Abasi LGA while those on the left bank shall belong to Eastern Obolo LGA.. Commission of enquiry report: Also of interest is the fact that the ad hoc peace and reconciliation committee in its report urged the state government to release the report and white paper of the Magistrate Ime Ekam Commission of Enquiry into the communal disturbances at Ikot Akpan Udo empanelled by the erstwhile deputy governor of the state, Obong Patrick Ekpotu, in November 2008. It is our opinion that the committee apparently was wasting its time by clamouring for that commission’s report because the Amazaba villagers are entrenched in the Ministry of Justice. Their counsel at the commission’s sittings at Eket in November 2008 is now in that ministry. If Governor Godswill Akpabio who is seen as an embodiment of justice and fairness is eager to assure the citizenry that he will not tolerate miscarriage of justice with impunity, then it would be appropriate for him to order the ministry to release the commission’s report without further delay. Meanwhile, the state government should set in motion machinery for the reconstruction of the destroyed Ikot Akpan Udo community so that the refugees who are weary of their alienation from their homestead can return to rebuild their lives. The children that have been denied access to education for more than four years should be made to return to school, while the jobless youths should be provided with job opportunities through the provision of medium and smallscale firms to employ them.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012— —19

, The Jonathan he might not know(2) proposed book which he must be-

S for labelling critics of the President, so-called pestlewielding cynics, self-appointed activists, idle/idling twittering children of anger distracted by social media- those Abati now see as confused alaseju (busybodies)- as for labelling this group of Nigerians who might in the long run turn out to be Jonathan’s best friends, alaseju, Dr. Abati got it wrong. What is more, Abati should realise he was until lately in the vanguard of these alasejus. In other words, he is the head alaseju in a crowd of alasejus, even if he is now on the side of power. When did he gain the insight that the President’s critics are alaseju? Certainly not until 14 months ago when he became the President’s loudspeaker. While he must defend the President, he need not become the eleke eebu, chief name-caller, of the Presidency who flippantly labels critics of the President’s non-performance idlers. Abati should know (shouldn’t he?) he gave far less quarter to the President when he remained a columnist than his critics today are giving Abuja and Jonathan. Although he works presently in the Presidency, his

lieve his present position gives him unimpeachable right to write (every pun intended) on Jonathan- this book which he is already convinced some have vowed not to read- Reuben Abati’s book I say, contrary to what he might have led himself to think, may turn out far less authoritative than beer parlour gossips in due course. That he is by his own words a frequent caller at the President’s dining table does not make him an insider of the President’s moment-by-moment activities. He has been everywhere with the President, he says. We shall see how much that avails his proposed magisterial memoir on the Jonathan years in the many months and years ahead. Until then, however, he might like to know that he came close to confirming the street lore that sees the president as an avid lover of kainkain (a local brew) when he tells in cloying details the gastronomic predilections of the President. Nigerians read worse, a lot of which sounded like mere fabrications of the media, about Sani Abacha and his regime. Many of the revelations about

A child going to school barefoot is a fact of everyday living in our part of the world, not an exclusive experience of Jonathan’s

the Abacha years, including the insouciant carousing, debauched nightly excesses and pillaging of the treasury that were part of the regime’s policies; sponsored assassinations, molestation and torturing of perceived critics and opponents of the regime would be confirmed after the sudden demise of Abacha. So the President’s spokesman now wants us to believe the President was only being metaphoric in his obviously tearjerking claim while on the campaign trail that he was a poor boy who went to school without shoes- a point that was turned into a campaign mantra by his supporters and cited as evidence by many that he would be on the side of the poor- Mr. Abati indeed wants this claim now accepted as a metaphor? Maybe so, but such metaphor must be more an incompetent spin of Abati’s imagination than President Jonathan’s intention. In case he also wants us to believe that the President is a descendant of Rockefeller now too rich to remember his humble beginning, let him be reminded that a child going to school barefoot is a fact of everyday living in our part of the world, not an exclusive experience of Jonathan’s.

Or is Abati in the classical tradition of the sympathiser who cried more than the bereaved, now more embarrassed on behalf of the President for his poor childhood than he cares to remember? Okay then, if the young Jonathan never wore school shoes, today he can at least afford any he desires. Let us, therefore, thank God for little mercies. And whatever shoes the President never wore in his school years, he should be consoled that he has now a glamorous permanent secretary wife (I wish her a quick German recovery if she was indeed taken ill as reported by the media but denied by the Presidency) whose collection of shoes might make Imelda Marcos envious. ut Mr. Abati should know there are far more accomplished Nigerians than President Jonathan who went to school without shoes and were/are not ashamed to say so even after rising to prominence. From Chief Obafemi Awolowo to MKO Abiola and even Olusegun Obasanjo, OBJ, God’s instrument (or Satan’s handmaiden, depending on which side you belong in the narrative of Jonathan’s emergence on the national stage) in paving Jonathan’s way to Aso Villa- these figures, among others whose passage through the corridors of power have been chronicled, went, perhaps, through far more penurious childhood than the young Jonathan and they never told their stories in the sugared lexicon of metaphors. I thought it was Abiola who, having gone through the crucible of grinding poverty, famously said there is nothing to glamorise in poverty. But Abati and others like him too embarrassed for the President’s acclaimed hard childhood can

dream up poverty in metaphors. That is their choice. But they must allow others their choice and have the humility not to pretend only they know the meaning and use of words. What really am I saying? Maybe I should add that while some politicians are known or said to campaign in poetry while ruling in prose, President Jonathan doesn’t strike me as one for metaphors pre- or postelection. He has no poetry and such prose as he spews is bad. Neither his body language nor utterances make him a candidate for metaphors as Abati claims. He is in a word one of the most literal-minded in the long array of colourless leaders Nigeria tends to throw up. Which Nigerian leader could match the rhetorical height of any of Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention last week? We will continue to hope that Nigerians would not one day pull the rug from under our politicians for their bad prose and, even worse, put the noose on their necks for their atrocious poetry like the Roman mob did for Shakespeare’s Cinna. Still on shoes and poverty, OBJ as a young adult proposed to his first wife even without shoes on his feet and MKO Abiola ate fried eggs for the first time in the home of his future wife, Simbiat. With these examples, what then is the ballyhoo about Jonathan’s shoeless childhood? Of all the positions Abati listed to prove the President’s ‘detribalised’ credentials, the only one of significance in the real world of Nigerian politics is that of his Chief Security Officer. For reasons difficult to fault, Jonathan’s choice is from his home state of Bayelsa. Concluded

Need for respect for traditional institutions O

VER the years, human society has transformed both in civilization, information and physical development. To that extent, it has become incumbent on the people to evolve a system of government and administration that could tap the various opportunities offered by the transformation of the society to enhance growth, peace and progress. Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State is a quintessential example of a people that has steadily transformed. In matters of physical and human development, Ibusa has risen to become a force to be reckoned with. With the array of intellectuals, captains of industries as well as seasoned technocrats both serving and retired, Ibusa community poses a challenge of administration which only a learned and experienced technocrat can resolve. Against this backdrop, the person and personality of Obi Professor Louis Chelunor Nwoboshi is quite appropriate to meet the leadership needs of a sophisticated community like Ibusa. A professor of sociology and anthropology from the famous and premier University of Ibadan, Obi Louis Chelunor Nwoboshi has distinguished himself as knowledgeable and competent in matters of social engineering. His public commentaries on traditional, cultural, national and international issues eloquently interpret the stuff that Prof Nwoboshi is made of. Over and above this, his ability to socialize and adapt to the traditional Ibusa society has proved him also to be a tool for communal development and traditional administration. Indeed on matters of leadership and rulership of Ibusa community as typified by the office and stool of the Obuzor of Ibusa, Ibusa people do C M Y K

not have to look any further for the right person to sit on that throne to administer the day-to-day administration/activities of the entire community. Prof Nwoboshi by his antecedent and his daily activities stand shoulder high than any contender for the office and stool for the Obuzor of Ibusa. He deserves it and can acquit himself creditably in the office. This writer is worried and very surprised that a handful of elites of the community under the canopy of unrecognised Izu-ani Ibusa and others under another canopy of Ibusa Community Development Union, ICDU, who by their positions should be fully engaged in joining hands with their God-given gift in the person of Obi Nwoboshi as the Obuzor of Ibusa, instead create unnecessary crises and make very provocative statements and unguarded remarks about the person of the very revered Obi and his council of chiefs. ne thing is obvious, no single individual, irrespective of his or her status, can cry foul when there is none. All those who for their selfish desire to become Obuzor, should wait for their turn and at the appropriate time which is when only God Almighty decides to call the incumbent Obuzor to join his ancestors, otherwise no amount of campaign of calumny, tales of woe and defamation of character and names or the use of the media, be it electronic or print, can remove the Obuzor Obi Professor Nwoboshi from the well deserved stool. The government of Delta State, like any other government in the country, owes it as a duty to give a staff of office to any eligible and competent person chosen and accepted by his community to become the traditional ruler of such community like in the case of the incumbent Obuzor of Ibusa. It is, therefore, very laughable for the few members of ICDU led by it President-General based in Port Harcourt, with

some few uninformed indigenes based outside the country to scheme for the removal of the incumbent Obuzor on the mere unfounded and baseless allegations that he, the Obuzor, is high handed, not transparent and refuses to accord the senior Diokpa of the community due recognition and functions, amongst others. The question which is seriously seeking for an answer to be provided by the ICDU leadership or the Izu-ani Ibusa and their cohorts is: *Since the establishment of Obuzor institution in 1995 which incidentally is the same year the ICDU was inaugurated,

BY GODWIN AZUBUIKE OKOLIE

All those who are in the habit of falsely accusing the Obuzor should retrace their steps and seek for forgiveness

what development has it attracted or it could point at as achievement in Ibusa? *Why is it now after 17 years of fruitful leadership and administration of Obuzor system that the ICDU and Izu-ani Ibusa members have woken up from their slumber to stage a campaign of pull Obuzor down syndrome?

rof Nwoboshi, on ascension to the throne as the Obuzor and traditional ruler of Ibusa in 1995 embarked on some meaningful developmental projects from monies donated by some few individuals of the community during a launching for financial drive. These projects include the construction of a benefiting ul-

tra modern eye clinic adjudged to be the best in Africa as well as the renovation of the cenotaph at Nkata-Diokpa’s palace hall Ashianta Ibusa. He also introduced and supported the establishment of a functional vigilante group to assist the law enforcement agents in combating crime in the area. It is unfortunate and most regrettable that a man of Obuzor’s status and a traditional ruler who has shown humility, decorum and above all has remained upright, and showing interest in the welfare of his people and neighbours could be subjected to ridicule. I stand to challenge these individuals, including the ICDU leadership since its inception 17 years ago, to point at one development structure they have been able to attract or made possible in the community. I will not conclude this write-up without commending two leaders of the state : A one time military administrator, Ibrahim Kefas, who act of delight for the numerous administrative leadership of Obi Nwoboshi, handed over as part of honour, the amusement park in the community built after his name to the Obuzor. Big kudos goes to the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, who out of his benevolence, regard and respect for traditional institution, during the recent inauguration of some traditional rulers in the state, advised all, especially PresidentGenerals of Town Unions, to sheathe their swords in whatever differences they may have with their traditional rulers. Therefore, all those individuals who are in the habit of falsely accusing the Obuzor should retrace their steps and begin to seek for forgiveness to avoid the wrath of our forefathers falling on them. A word is a enough for the wise. Mr. Okolie, a social commentator, Ibusa, Delta State.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Debate of the masses

An association for prostitutes BY EBELE ORAKPO

Benue and UNICEF move to save over two million children BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

ENUE State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, recently took up the challenge of saving over two million infants and young children from avoidable death across the state. Also to benefit from the initiative against avoidable death in the state are over one and half million women and nursing mothers in the state. The new strategy is anchored on community health workers and councillors who were trained and in turn trained five care-givers in each of the 23 local government areas of the state. These were then sent into the various rural and urban communities to further train and enlighten nursing mothers and women in the coming two months on necessary health tips for healthy living and child survival. Aside being anchored on strategic training and enlightenment on improved infant and young child feeding, beneficiaries who are mostly domiciled in the villages and hamlets of Benue State, would also be availed comprehensive details on immunization and safe motherhood. Speaking to Vanguard Metro, VM, on the renewed strategy, the Director of Public Health at the C M Y K

Benue State Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Kumba, said the new initiative would further deepen safe motherhood practices in the state and by extension save millions of lives. Dr. Kumba said the Ministry has deployed all necessary machinery to unsure that the programme turns out to be a huge success in all parts of the state. “We are closely monitoring the process in order to ensure that the entire State is covered in the exercise so that the benefits would be far-reaching and in consonance with set target,” he said. Kumba added that at the end of the day, millions of children, women and nursing mothers would enjoy the benefits of the new initiative. In her comment, the Benue State Coordinator of Baby Friendly Initiative, BFI, Mrs. Catherine Anger, disclosed that the training would also dwell on the need for exclusive breast feeding and timely and appropriate compulsory feeding for infants and young children. Anger lamented that before now in many communities, infants and young children feeding practices remain far from satisfactory. She added that the new approach would be farreaching, stressing that it would go a long way to stem deaths associated with malnutrition and wrongful feeding of babies

and young children at the early stage of their lives. According to her: “Accelerating interventions aimed at improving infant and young child feeding, IYCF, at community level is a key priority in the effort to improve survival, growth, and development of children with equity. “However, in many communities IYCF practices remain far from optimal. Care-givers often lack the practical support, one-toone counselling and correct information. “In fact, this time we are taking the fight against childhood killers diseases to another level and we strongly believe that at the end of the exercise we will be singing a new song because we expect a drastic drop in infant mortality”. In her comment, the Nutritional Focal Person for Ado Local Government, Mrs. Enotse Ogbu, noted that with the new approach, which is aimed at stemming child mortality in the state, the requisite training counselling of all those involved in the campaign would be comprehensive and farreaching. According to her: “The master trainers had trained zonally and it has been cascaded to the Nutrinioal Focal Persons who have now gone down to train community workers who have in turn moved into the various communities to take the campaign farther”. She did not stop there. “UNICEF recently developed a new set of generic tools for program-

ming and capacity development on communitybased Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling. It is aimed for use in diverse country contexts, the package of tools guides local adaptation, design, planning and implementation of communitybased IYCF counselling and support services. “ It also contains training tools to equip community workers, using an interactive and experiential adult learning approach, with relevant knowledge and skills on the recommended breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices for children from 0 up to 24 months, enhance their counselling, problem solving, negotiation and communication skills, and prepare them to effectively use the related counselling tools and job aids,” she said. Her counterpart from Ogbadibo Local Government, Mrs. Mary Ajogwu, stressed that at the end of the series of trainings, participants will be well mobilized to drive down the UNICEF enlightenment campaigns to nooks and crannies of the state. “We all expect nothing less than 95 percent success in this campaign against childhood killer diseases which is anchored on infant and young child feeding strategy and hygienic leaving in the rural communities,” Ajogwu said.

*Some of the counsellors undergoing training for the assignment ahead

HE Mile-Two bound commuter bus inched its way through the Monday morning rush hour traffic and as is usual with Monday mornings, traffic came to a standstill at some point. The commuter bus came to a stop right in front of an old storey building that badly needed repairs. Sitting idly in the compound were women of easy virtue in their usual trade attire; clothes that leave nothing to the imagination. “These ones no get work o. Early this morning they are already looking for men to destroy,” said Sam

They are real professionals; they even have an association, National Association of Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP; so what are we talking about?

with a loud hiss. “How could you say they have no job? They are practitioners of the oldest profession in the universe. Abeg, they are full-time professionals. They are already in their offices, ready for the day’s job,” said Joe. “And what do you mean they are looking for men to destroy? It takes two to tango, you know. And by the way, why is it that whenever prostitution is mentioned, every finger points at women? There are male prostitutes too,” noted Rose. “No mind them jare!

It’s all about this chauvinistic tendency of the average male,” quipped Kate in response to Rose’s assertion. “They are real professionals. They even have an association, National Association of Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP. So what are we talking about?” asked Mary tongue-in-cheek. “I read sometime ago that prostitutes in Sokoto State had called on officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Sokoto Command, to arrest and deport their counterparts from Republic of Niger and Togo,” informed Joe. “Tell me you are kidding,” laughed Sam. “No kidding. They are protecting their territory. It’s just like Nigerians going to the UK and getting all the jobs meant for the nationals. Of course, the nationals will protest. So that is what I think happened in this case,” said Joe. “In fact, they said the foreigners were snatching their customers from them and also operating illegally in the country.” “I think it’s jealousy. You know Nigerians love anything foreign, so they will always go for the expatriates, leaving the locals to suffer,” said Mary. “Or maybe their services are cheaper. You know we like cheap articles,” said Sam. “Yeah, and again, one of the local prostitutes, according to the report, said they wanted the expatriates out because they were spreading sexually transmitted diseases and that all of them were HIVpositive,” said Joe. “Funny, isn’t it? See kettle calling the pot black!” said Rose. “Ehn, let the foreigners form their own association too,” counselled Sam.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 2012 — 21

RMAFC gives Anambra conditions for oil derivation fund

HE Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said that Anambra will benefit from the oil derivation fund once the mineral resource from the state contributes to the Federation account. Mr Elias Mbam, Chairman of the commission, made the clarification on Monday in Asaba on the sidelines of a workshop organised by RMAFC and Delta Government on economic d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n . Mbam told newsmen that although crude oil production had commenced in the state, becoming a beneficiary to the monthly allocation from the 13 per cent oil derivation was not “automatic’’. He said, “Derivation fund is clearly defined in the constitution; derivation fund doesn’t say ‘when we see solid mineral or any other kind of mineral in your place you start benefiting.’ You only benefit when that mineral resource contributes to the federation account and what you benefit is the value of its contribution to the federation account. So the existence of a mineral resource doesn’t make it (Anambra) automatic beneficiary of the 13 per cent (derivation f u n d ) . ’ ’ On August 30, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the inclusion of Anambra state as one of the oil producing states in the country. The president declared this at the inauguration of the first oil refinery in the state built by Orient Petroleum Resources Plc in Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA).

From left: Mr Eugene Nii Abhor, Site Maintenance Manager; Mr. Nigel Balchin, Managing Director, SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited, and Mr. Clinton Bambridge, SGS Scanning Manager at the official commissioning of two mobile gantry scanners at Onne port, River State.

SEC strengthens enforcement, warns operators against malpractices BY PETER EGWUATU

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has strengthened its enforcement unit with the latest deployment of Nigerian police to the Commission, and has warned market operators to desist from illegal practices as anyone caught will be dealt

with in accordance with the Investment and Securities Act. Director General of the SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh, said the deployment of policemen to the Commission will help speedy resolution of cases involving market abuses, fraudulent disposal of investor assets, illegal fund management, wonder banks, insider

Customs fingers wrong documentation for delay in goods clearing BY GODFREY BIVBERE

BOUT 75 percent of delay in the clearing process in the nation’s port has been blamed on wrong documentation by importers and their agents, the Public Relations Officer of

171.85

+8.80

2,654.00

-22.00

19.32

-0.06

114.41

+0.16

96.17

-0.25

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

154.78 247.292 197.8243 163.4597 1.978 0.2809 235.62 24.4189 41.2714 26.5375 237.2468

155.28 248.0909 198.4634 163.9877 1.9844 0.2909 236.3812 24.4982 41.4047 26.6232 238.0132

155.78 248.8897 199.1024 164.5158 1.9908 0.3009 237.1423 24.5776 41.538 26.709 238.7796

CBN Exchange rate as at 11/09/2012 C M Y K

Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Timi Bomadi, has said. Speaking to Vanguard in Lagos, Bomadi noted that most agents are not very enlightened about the various classifications of goods importation and delay the clearing time for their goods. He noted that there is need for proper education if the expectation of government regarding 48 hours clearance of goods from the port is to be achieved. The Apapa Customs image maker explained that there was a case of an importer who got his manifest almost a month before his goods arrived and prepared his document for the Service Provider for the collection of his Risk Assessment Report (RAR), but about a week was wasted before the Service Provider could provide the importer with the RAR. He said that the Fast Track facility provided by the Nigeria Customs is alive and thriving in the Command, noting that currently 115 companies have availed themselves of its services and in so doing have achieved a monthly average of 800 containers exiting the ports under the scheme. He further noted that in its last stakeholders forum held to sensitize importers, shipping companies and

members of the manufacturing community about the privileges they enjoy under the facility, the Area Controller, Adamu Yusuf Garko, implored members of the business community to make maximum use of this program, saying that it would help to drastically reduce the cost of business at the ports. The Command had, through its query and amendment seat tried to resolve all disputes bordering on proper classification and procedures for imports. On revenue collection, the Apapa Customs image maker pointed out that they were given a monthly target of N27 million and considering the fact that the highest revenue ever generated in the Command in a single month was N25 billion in September 2011, it appeared even more unachievable to the undiscerning observer. Bomadi noted that the first quarter of 2012 started on a shaky note, as general strikes took its toll on activities in the ports. This accounted for over N7 billion loss of revenue, attributable to the strikes alone. Other factors that affected the down turn in commercial activity are factors that traditionally influence business operations in the country at the beginning of each New Year.

dealings, corporate accounting fraud and share manipulation by capital market operators. She further declared that despite great successes recorded by the Commission in tackling fraudulent practices in the market, the SEC is not resting on its laurels as there are still illegal fund managers, wonder banks, and possible cases of market abuse. According to her, “It is our earnest hope that this synergy with the police will help to significantly reduce, if not totally eradicate these nefarious activities to the benefit of investors and the Nigerian capital market.” She, however, commended Inspector General of Police, Mohammed .J Abubakar for releasing his best officers to complement SEC’s enforcement team. According to her, “ In order to achieve a successful collaboration, the Commission will in the course of their duties, expose the officers to further appropriate training, (both local and international , which we have already started) for a deeper understanding of capital market laws, operations and investigation techniques. “In addition, the logistics required for the efficient operation of the police unit will be provided by the Commission. These we believe, will adequately equip them with the needed skills and logistics to successfully discharge their duties.” “The presence of the staff of the office of the honourable Attorney General along with your personnel will obviously speed up the process of investigation and prosecution of capital market related offences and thereby boosting investor confidence and market discipline. Meanwhile, in his comment during the inauguration of the 18 man team seconded to the Commission, Abubakar warned criminals to stop such act or be prepared to face the wrath of law.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Capital market operators advocate mergers, acquisition for stockbroking firms By NKIRUKA NNOROM

TOCKBROKERS in the nation’s capital market have joined their voice to call for possible mergers and acquisitions among the brokerage firms, saying that it holds numerous benefits for the market, particularly now that activities of the bears is still persisting. Those that spoke to Vanguard maintained that mergers have become increasingly necessary following the reduction in both volume and value of transactions done at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Speaking, the Managing Director/CEO, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, said, “The merger or even exit of some Stockbroking houses has become inevitable given the changes that have taken or still taking place in the Nigerian equities market.” He listed some of the changes to include the introduction of Market makers, domination of market activities by less than 10 out of the over 200 stockbroking firms, reduction in volume and value of daily transactions and the exit of retail investors. According to him, these factors have made it almost impossible for many stock broking

houses to cover their operating costs from brokerage commission hence the need for them to go into merger arrangements if they intend to continue in business. Also speaking, Idowu Ogedengbe, a stockbroker and Executive Director, ESS Investments and Trust Limited, remarked that mergers and ac-

quisition among stock-broking firms would result in emergence of stronger players in terms of capital adequacy and capacity to absorb risks, adding that it would enhance the global competitiveness of the industry. He stated that market liquidity is expected to rise with mergers and acquisitions, adding

that banks that are hitherto reluctant to extending credit facility to brokers would be more inclined to open credit lines or grant overdraft facilities to the more and better capitalized players. “Market liquidity is expected to rise as banks will be more inclined to open credit lines or grant overdraft facilities to the

From left: Mr. Chukwuma Ochonogor, Managing Director, Rosabon Financial Services Limited presenting a cheque of N200,000.00 to Humphrey Onwujuba representing the winner, Ebere Okafor at the Rosabon Win-Big-Monthly Investment Note promo

CIS to brainstorm on govt policies, capital market issues … Postpones National workshop By PETER EGWUATU

HE Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has resolved to tackle government policies that affect the Nigerian capital market and the economy in general, just as it postponed its maiden edition of the Annual National Workshop originally scheduled to hold on September 13, 2012 in Abuja to first week in November. Mr. Albert Okumagba, Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers’ National Workshop Committee who announced the postponement, said the shift would enable CIS to broaden the participation in the workshop and reach out to more groups. According to him, “We were pleasantly surprised by the level and the quality of responses that trailed the various announcements on the September workshop. Many other focused groups we had excluded also called to express surprise that they were not part of the plan. With the postponement, the CIS would be able to reach out to all the groups that were not in the plans before”. While addressing the CIS Council on the latest development, Okumagba, noted that the annual workshop as deC M Y K

signed by institute is meant to generate quality input which it intends to make available to the Federal Government in designing the appropriate policies for the country. Speaking at a media interactive session to announce the national workshop of CIS in Lagos last Monday , Mr. Ariyo Olushekun ,President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), said the institute decided on the national workshop as part of efforts to take its rightful place in charting a new course for Nigeria. According to him, brokers have resolved to take a more active role in influencing economic policy by organising annual national workshops that would contribute immensely to the transformation, not only of the capital market, but the national economy as a whole. “It will also assist government agencies to track budget performance and showcase best practices in service delivery. Further, the workshop will present an avenue to influence government policies thereby ensuring the growth and development of key sectors of the Nigerian economy,” Olushekun said. The workshop would attract distinguished Nigerians from both the public and private

sectors. Some of the guests, paper presenters and discussants at the event include Arc. Namadi Sambo, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Honourable Minister of Fi-

nance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Akinwunmi Adeshina, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, and Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Honourable Minister of Communication Technology.

PZ Cusson targets improved earnings, ups investment in supply chain BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

Z Cusson has said that it has invested heavily in strengthening its supply chain and operational efficiency with a view to improving profitability for all stakeholders in the coming year. In line with this, the company said that its detergent and soap manufacturing processes have been improved to drive efficiencies and meet increasing demand, while the Robb production process has been upgraded to further enhance the product and consumer experience. Speaking ahead of the 64th annual general meeting, scheduled to hold on Thursday, the Chairman, Prof. Emmanuel Edozien, said that as a result of years of rising raw

material costs, coupled with significant wage inflation in emerging markets, the company has been developing programmes to ensure that its supply chain cost base remained at a competitive level. He noted that already these supply chain optimization projects have started yielding results, as evidenced in the first quarter financials. He explained that as a result of investments in supply chain, which has enabled it to enhance the quality of its key products, the company achieved 10 per cent overall top line growth and a recovery in the last quarter of 2011 to profitability. The company achieved N72.2 billion turnover as against N65.9 billion recorded the previous year.

more and better capitalised players. “The task of supervising about 300 stockbrokerage houses by both the NSE and SEC will be reduced as the industry consolidates. This will obviously promote a more transparent and well managed industry,” he added. Presenting a paper in an event, recently, the immediate past President of Chartered institute of Stockbrokers, Mr. Mike Itagboje, said that the liquidity crunch in the market has necessitated mergers and acquisition, adding that what was important is not the number but the effectiveness of the players. He explained that some Exchanges, like Johannesburg Stock Exchange that are ahead of the NSE have fewer stockbroking firms playing in their market. However, David Adonri, CEO, Lambert Trust & investment Co. Limited, differed with the first two respondents, saying that resolution of the debt overhang in the Stockbroking industry cannot be achieved through mergers. He noted that merger is a delicate corporate action which must be predetermined from within and cautiously approached.

Scaborough Group eyes Nigerian market

CARBOROUGH United Group Plc (SUGPlc), a wholly owned subsidiary of Scarborough Group International Limited (SGIL), a United Kingdom based company, is set to launch into the Nigerian market. A major step in the actualisation process is the recent appointment of Mr Jacob Esan, a leading Nigerian investment banker into the boards of SUGPlc and Sheffield United Plc (SUPlc). SUGPlc and SUPlc are wholly owned subsidiaries of Scarborough Group International Ltd (SGIL) which is controlled by the United Kingdom based McCabe family, led by the well known international real estate and leisure entrepreneur, Kevin McCabe. Jacob Esan commented “Working with the other members of the Scarborough team to create a major independent group is an exciting challenge which I will relish. Given the anticipated size and scale of the group - and with it the famous Sheffield United - I believe the opportunity to access capital to advance the business interests in our three divisions– is of great importance.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—23

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

Select ICT events zInternet Show Africa. Holds Sept 11-12 in Johannesburg, South Africa. z Submarine Networks World. Holds Sept 11-13 @ Marina Bay Sands - Singapore. zThe Mobile Show Africa 2012. Holds Sept 11-13 @ Sandton Convention Centre - Johannesburg, South Africa. z PDS 2012 Technology. Holds Sept 19 - 20 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. z ICT & Child Development: Benefits and Challenges. Holds Oct. 4 at Sheraton Hotels, Lagos.

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

Cat tunnel sofa The Cat Tunnel Sofa concept was created to provide a more harmonious seating situation for humans and their feline companions. Designed by Seungji Mun of South Korea, the sofa features a cat-sized tunnel that travels along the side, back and arm of the sofa. The tunnel gives the cats a way to play and exercise that complements their natural tendencies while allowing the owners a new and easy way to interact with them during their own couch-time. Although still in the concept phase, Cat Tunnel sofa could come to market in early 2013.

Terrorism: The new frontier for telecoms sector BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

HE entire ICT sector was massively shaken, last week when the news broke of the attack on telecom operators’ base stations and other installations by persons suspected to be terrorists. At least, 26 mobile phone masts belonging to operators MTN, Glo, Airtel, Etisalat, Multilinks, and telecom infrastructure provider, Helios Towers were targeted and destroyed across northern Nigeria by the assailants. The terrorists, had earlier in the year issued a warning that it would attack telecommunications installations because operators were assisting security operatives in tracking its members.

They seemed to have made good the threat, as young men armed with guns and bombs hit mobile phone masts in northern Nigerian cities of Kano, Maiduguri, Gombe, Bauchi and Potiskum in two consecutive days of coordinated attacks. A statement purportedly issued by Boko Haram and signed by Abul-Qaqa, admitted responsibility for the bombing of telecommunication facilities in Borno, Yobe, Kano and Bauchi States. It warned that the attacks would continue on telecom facilities. Many stakeholders and industry analysts have expressed concern at this turn of events, especially at a time the operators are ramping up efforts to significantly improve the quality of service available to customers in the sector. MTN in an official reaction

ecommunication operators, some of MTN’s installations in Northern Nigeria have been damaged by unknown persons. As far as we are aware, there were no fatalities as a result of these attacks and we are receiving full co-operation

from the government agencies”.

relevant security

Grave dangers Also, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, (ALTON),

Mobile phone masts

I N S Amadi: A I lifetime in a D profession E C M Y K

said the attacks had caused service challenges in parts of the north as sensitive hub sites were affected. According to the company’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, “we confirm that like all the other major tel-

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo has equally spoken of the grave consequences this latest development has on the ongoing efforts to raise service quality levels across the industry, raising alarm that it could arrest the pace of growth in the sector and set the industry back substantially, as money that could have been used for building more base stations will now be used for replacements. He said: “when a base station is put out of service, often the implications go farther than the immediate environment. And this is one of the things we have been telling agencies of government which take delight in shutting down operators’ base stations. There are base stations which are hubs for an entire region. When it is out of commission, the entire region is blacked out. It’s as simple of that.

Transmission outages

DIARY

At least, 26 mobile phone masts belonging to operators MTN, Glo, Airtel, Etisalat, Multilinks, and telecom infrastructure provider, Helios Towers were targeted and destroyed across northern Nigeria

Amazon's Kindle Fire gets bigger, goes HD

The Reuben Abati that they don't know?

And even for the other ones, the way they are planned sometimes, they are meant to be interdependent. Damage to one Microwave Tower will often affect several others in line of sight, causing widespread transmission outages affecting subscribers and QoS. In essence, damage to an installation can actually have ripple effect on service quality nationwide. These are the real dangers of this sort of ugly development, and a reason why we must quickly nip it in the bud.” Adebayo however denounced reports making the rounds that operators have threatened to wind down operations in affected areas. According to him,

Continues on Page 34

NUC out with online accreditation portal

24 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Amadi: A lifetime in a profession I

F not for the enabler ready. On my return, called information somehow, the reality of my and communication tech- dear colleague’s passing nology (ICT), the tears had a dissonating effect; a would long have dried reluctance to come to terms before I even know any- with the reality of his dething had happened. mise was at play, what Wednesday 29 August, as Leon Festinger called the I was boarding a flight to avoidance-avoidance-conSouth Africa, little did I flict syndrome. But at the know that the ranks of the reception to the main editorial staff in the Van- newsroom, seeing the conguard environment was dolence register and his already depleted one, al- framed photograph, actubeit a big one. ality replaced fantasy; it Anyway, the flight took was no more a case of “they off, and landed at OR Tam- say, they say.” bo International Airport in I first saw Ogbonna Johannesburg the follow- Amadi at the office of NIing morning. Per the itin- TEL’s Public Relations Oferary, after clearing pass- ficer, a man called Osagie port control and Anyaru. picking up lugAmadi, like T h e n , gage from the madi the rest of us Awas carousel, next restop was the porting here transited hotel to freshen successfully telecomup and have municabreakfast. It was tions. I into what I at breakfast could not may call that someone, help but from home hands-on jour- notice the here, called a i t t y nalism, and w colleague also young on the trip to with the ubiq- m a n , inform him of about my the tragic de- uity of internet age, give mise of Ogbon- became digital- or take naya Amadi, or ly-equipped two Vanguard’s Enthree, tertainment who had journalists Editor. t h i s The colleague f l a s h y, screamed: “It’s a lie! Are ever-ready smile for all you serious?” By that time, and sundry. He still had every member of the del- the smile, even as we both egation dropped their cut- aged over the more than lery and waited, ostensi- two decades we knew each bly for a clarification. He other and worked here at was sitting next to me, and Vanguard. turning to face me, he Along the line I became announced: “Ogbonnaya Chief Sub-editor, and he Amadi of Vanguard is Entertainment Editor. He dead.” called me “Chief-o!” and The announcement had because he got to Vanthe impact of the iron fist guard earlier, I called him of a heavyweight boxer in “Broda Ogbonna”. the guts of an out-of-exFrom an analog, meercise, beer drinking mid- chanical foundation, Amadle aged man on all of us, di, like the rest of us here including Tope Ogbeni transited successfully into Awe, dean of the travel what I may call hands-on press. journalism, and with the I had activated a Voda- ubiquity of internet becom line purchased an came digitally-equipped hour earlier at the airport, journalists who used and quickly dialled some mechanistic experience to colleagues. After two facilitate new culture refailed attempts, I rang Azu porting and make the Akanwa, who confirmed work easier. Only GOD to me the sad news. knows why, but as mortals, “Azu, wetin do Ogbon- it is inexplicable why one na?” has to lose such a col“Chief (as people call league at such notice, and me here), the thing tire us at this time. Again, only o........”and went on to GOD knows, since die we narrate in graphic detail must, all, someday. over ether, more than five Farewell, Broda Ogbonthousand kilometres na, and may the Almighty apart, the last moments of God give his loved ones Ogbonna Amadi at work. the fortitude to bear the The rest, you know al- loss.

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NLESS you hid under a rock last week you know that Amazon unveiled the next generations of the Kindle Fire. The Kindle has become a necessity in many lives and, despite the popularity of tablets, continues to sell at a rapid pace. And the addition of the color screen, web browsing Fire a year ago gave Amazon an entirely different market and truly made Samsung and Apple stop and pay attention. Kindle made some smart moves with the new family of Kindle Fire that will continue to keep consumers and competitors on their toes. Amazon announced 3 new versions of the Kindle Fire HD, in 2 sizes to suit a variety of preferences. The most visible difference (if the name did not give it away) is the HD resolution. All 3 also include faster processer, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, reduced glare, better viewing angle and enhanced audio– a good move considering the video uses – plus a front facing cam-

Amazon's Kindle Fire gets bigger, goes HD era for video calls. The dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi means faster download speeds, over 40% faster than iPad 3 or Google Nexus, according to Amazon. Being a Kindle Fire owner I can attest to the gen 1 speed. I’m curious to see how much better it can get.

The 7” Fire HD includes a 1280×800 screen and ships this week at $199 for 16 GB and $249 for 32GB. If 7” isn’t enough consider the Kindle Fire HD 8.9” or 4G version. In addition to the upgrades listed above these big versions offer 1920×1200 resolution and HDMI out for

moving the movies or TV to a bigger screen. The 8.9”, $299, and the 4G version, $499 (32GB) and $599 (64GB) through AT&T, ship in late November. So is Fire HD the solution? With enhanced picture quality and sound, streaming of the Prime Instant videos will be an improvement on what was already a favorite feature. Processor speed will theoretically assist in navigating around the device – somewhat laborious on the gen 1. Early reports from press who tested units say that the lag is still there unfortunately. So we will see what consumers say when they hit the market. The other big consideration is how will the units compete with the Google Nexus 7, iPad and anticipated mini iPad. As a reading device or video streaming unit, I say very well. As a daily browsing and tablet device, we shall see. —coolestgadgets.com

NetApp urges business to brace up for data explosion BY EMEKA AGINAM

T the just conclud ed big data techno logy summit held last week in Lagos, NetApp, how best corporate organizations can properly manage big data to avoid date explosion was the topic of discussion. The District Manager, West Africa, NetApp, Mr. Rex Mafiana told the gathering that organizations must manage their data to avoid big date explosion, adding that organizations must prepare for the challenge ahead in view of explosive increase in big data which is putting enormous pressure on existing infrastructure, especially its storage platform. Speaking to IT Journalists during the event, Mafiana noted that corporate organizations in the technology driven economy must ensure effective management of data generated through their Information Technology systems. He said that proper management of data would give a company insight to manage the business. He said that universally, data had continued to expand rapidly and as time went on, companies’ data would con-

tinue to increase. Even with human-generated datasets, including Facebook pictures and Tweets, among others were getting the most attention in the media, the biggest source of data growth, according to him is machine-generated datasets. ‘’Digital technologies are moving to denser media, photos have all gone digital, video and medical imaging systems are using higher resolutions, and advanced analytics require signifi-

cantly more storage.” he explained. We live in a data explosion era all over the world and Nigeria is not different, he said , adding that organizations double the amount of data stored every 2 years. According to him, "When speaking about Big Data, organizations point out 4 main challenges: the comlexity of the data, the required speed for data traffic, storage and security. The convention will present solutions for all of the above – showing how

to prepeare today's systmems for the future". According to Nir Kunik, CEO, DataGroupIT, "NetApp and DataGroupIT's conventions have become a tradition for IT experts in Nigeria. “This year we decided to focus on Big Data due to the rapid pace in which data is multiplied and the extent in which it affects organizations. We are here to show that Big Data created not only challenges, but also big opportunities". he said.

ASYLUM FOR ASSANGE: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange addresses August 19, the press and supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. The Organization of American States declared "solidarity and support" for Ecuador in its dispute with Britain over granting asylum to WikiLeaks founder Assange. AFP Photo.

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CWG wins award for CSR BY EMEKA AGINAM

NUC out with online accreditation portal BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

HE National Uni versities Commission (NUC) has inaugurated its first ever Online Programme Accreditation Portal. It is a new initiative aimed to fully automate the accreditation process of Universities’ Academic Programmes as carried out by the NUC in order to ensure that the Minimum Academic Standard Document in every programme is attained, maintained and fully complied with by our universities as enshrined in the laws establishing the commission. The portal provides benefits such as the automation of database of all universities in Nigeria with links to NUC for proper management of our university system. The inauguration was held last Friday at the University of Calabar, Cross River State. The new user friendly online accreditation process will immediately come on stream with real-time updates of information and data management. According to Professor Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), "with the Online Programme Accreditation System, the NUC has taken a major stride forward in making access to information more transparent and easier to apply in car-

new result released by Ericsson ConsumerLab’s annual study presented in the TV & Video Consumer Trend Report 2012 shows that social TV is becoming a mass-market phenomenon. According to the report, sixty-two percent of consumers use social media while watching TV on a weekly basis. By gender, the study revealed that about 66 percent of women do this, compared to 58 percent of men. Twentyfive percent of consumers use social media to discuss what they are watching while watching it. Ericsson ConsumerLab Senior Advisor, Niklas Rönnblom said: “Mobile devices are an important part of the TV experience, as 67 percent of consumers use smartphones, tablets, or laptops for TV and video viewing. Furthermore, sixty percent of consumers say they use ondemand services on a weekly basis. Watching TV on the move is growing in popularity, and 50 C M Y K

rying out its oversight functions." Professor Okojie said the project will harvest and display information directly from NUC portal and databases. This allows for a secured, timely and cost effective database system of all Nigerian universities as it enables universities to upload students, academic and nonacademic staff dData and the entire professors’ information (e.g. Name, Qualification, Area of Specialization, and Date of Professorship etc. More so, the portal can detect double record input of lecturers/professors in more

than one university and pops up an alert to the user. Hon. Paul Adingwupu, Project Consultant on National Universities Commission Data Base project (NUCDB), said harmonization of information standards and formats will facilitate the development of many other knowledge areas of our university system and ultimately aid Nigerian Universities to be among the world best. Adingwupu, while espousing the benefits of the NUC online programme accreditation portal, stressed that the portal boasts of well secured features intended to mod-

ernize and improve the inspection and accreditation process. He said that the project has opened up new frontiers of engagement for the benefit of all stakeholders in the education sector and the general public. The NUC Online Programme Accreditation System is one of the many benefits of the National Universities Commission Data Base (NUCDB) project, introduced on November 12, 2008 to help NUC enforce the laws establishing, regulating and sanitizing the product of the Nigerian Universities for improved quality and visibility among other objectives.

T the just conclud ed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) award organised by Ctru concepts, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Limited has emerged the most outstanding achievements in CRS 2012 ICT company. Presenting the award to Head, Human Resources &Admin, Mrs. Olapeju Ayo-Fisher who received the award on behalf of the company, Mrs B. Folami, representative of Lagos State first lady, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, confirmed that CWG has undeniably been exceptional in her CSR initiative. Olapeju while thanking the organizers of the event said ,‘It is said that no nation can survive without one form of sup-

Ceragon to showcase FibeAir IP-10 radios at NigeriaCom BY EMMA ELEBEKE

DONATION: From left Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; Deputy Governor, Imo State, Sir Jude Agbosa and Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma at the presentation of Security Patrol Vehicles by MTNF to Imo State at Government House, Owerri, last Friday. Photo by Emma Elebeke.

port or the other to the citizens from corporate organizations or the government. "Every organization owes the society social sustainable responsibility and CWG is set to encourage, appreciate and reignite the passion on giving back to the society’ she said. She said that consistent with her determination to support education in Nigeria and Africa, it would be recalled that CWG had won the best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - ICT Company in 2011. CWG, she assured remains committed to promoting and encouraging academic excellence and would continually make significant investments in personal and community development.

EADING backhaul specialist, Ceragon Networks, will exhibit its innovative technology radios for the mobile network industry, FibeAir IP10, at the NigeriaCom event scheduled for Lagos this September. The FibeAir IP-10 is a family of radios, which provide fiber in the air, thereby allowing network operators to connect their various base stations in the shortest time possible with minimal efforts and at reduced costs yet using cutting technology. Ceragon’s Nigeria Country Director, Mr. Bekele Tadesse, speaking on the company’s preparation to demonstrate the

suitability and appropriateness of the FibeAir IP10 solutions for the Nigerian, and indeed, African environment, said Ceragon remains the only company with a radio solution that can be placed outdoor, in the harshest of conditions, yet still deliver the connectivity it promises. “Whether you are talking of the MainOne cable or the Glo 1 cable or in fact the WACS cable as well as the SAT-3 cable, this is the product that every mobile operator or bank or oil company, or anyone who needs to take services from the cables, requires to deliver the last mile connectivity,” he said.

MTN dangles plane, slashes tariff BY EMMA ELEBEKE

Study reveals high use of social media among TV viewers percent of the time spent watching TV and video on the smartphone, is done outside the home, where mobile broadband connections are facilitating the increase.” Although viewing behaviours and demands are changing, the study also showed that only 7 percent of consumers say they will reduce their TV subscriptions in the future. More than half of consumers want to be able to choose their own TV and video content. ”As the number of

screens and services increase, people are eagerly looking for an easy-touse, aggregated service that can bring everything together. It should allow consumers to mix on-demand and linear TV including live content, facilitate content discovery, leverage the value of social TV and provide seamless access across devices,” said Rönnblom. Data for the study was collected in Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK and the US. In all, 14

qualitative and 12,000 quantitative online interviews were conducted representing more than 460 million consumers. In all, 14 qualitative and 12,000 quantitative online interviews were conducted representing more than 460 million consumers. Ericsson ConsumerLab gains its knowledge through a global consumer research program based on interviews with 100,000 individuals each year, in more than 40 countries and 15 megacities. — Emma Elebeke

HE long awaited crashing of call rates by MTN finally became a reality, even as it promises a star prize of an Aeroplane in the MTN Ultimate Wonder promo. Announcing the new value proposition at formal launching of the promo and draw for the first winners in the on-going mega promos, held in Lagos, GM, Consumer Marketing, Kola Oyeyemi, said that MTN has developed a set of value propositions in line with a new marketing campaign of live, laugh and love more. “As market leader, MTN is committed to enriching the lives of its teeming subscribers through innovative and exciting value propositions. This new exciting offering gives every subscriber an opportunity to connect to their loved ones in so

many ways by encouraging Nigerians to live, laugh and love more,” he stated. Oyeyemi said further that MTN’s commitment to the continuous engagement of the market through exciting promos is total and nonnegotiable. “For many people, it’s so hard to believe that we are giving out an aeroplane which for me is understandable because no other brand has done that in our history. “It looked very impossible to many like in the case of the N1 billion naira promo where we shelled out N1 Billion naira to 100 lucky winners until we made it happen. The Automania game is ongoing; so far we have given out over 86 Hyundai ix35 SUVs to lucky winners in the 100 SUVs - 100-day nation-wide automania game,” he added.

34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

CIIN advocates compulsory insurance to mitigate natural disasters By RITA OBODOECHINA

HARTERED Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN,has called on Nigerians to take compulsory insurance seriously in the face of escalating natural disasters in the country. President of CIIN, Mr. Wole Adetimehin,said this has become necessary because of the reality that Nigerians are under daily threat from risks emanating from natural disasters such as floods, rainstorms as well as security risks which are taking their toll on the citizenry. Adetimehin who made this call during the institutes visit to the Governor of Ogun state, at the Government house Abeokuta,noted that with unemployment at an estimated 23.9 per cent in 2012, the insurance business in Nigeria is hardly able to improve on its contribution to the nation’s GDP above one per cent unlike in South Africa where it is 15 per cent. The reason for this is because citizens are apparently emburdened with costs which are channeled at the procurement of otherwise basic and fundamental needs such as electricity, water and security, preventing them from making insurance part of their priorities. According to him, the institute’s governing council has put in place a strong branch machinery to guarantee the actualisation of the Institute’s goals and objectives in all the states of the Federation. He said that the Institute will

continue to cherish the support of Ogun State in the propagation of insurance education. “Our College of Insurance and Financial Management sits comfortably on a two hectare land at Asese village along the Lagos/Ibadan expressway” he said.

he College of Insurance will attract further development in its immediate community and also provide employment opportunities for the youths of the community. “It is also our expectation that the College will be a signpost

for career choice by encouraging the youths of the community to embrace insurance as a career” he said. He added that the Ogun State chapter, which facilitated the institute’s visit, is a vibrant branch and has continued to be in the vanguard of promoting insurance awareness and insurance education in Nigeria. He said, “We are satisfied with the developmental agenda of the Ogun State branch of our great Institute, especially their quest to build a befitting secretariat in Abeokuta, the secretariat, when completed, will be a centre of excellence for insurance education in the state” Continuing he said, “We wish to also seize this opportunity in requesting Ogun State and other state governments to provide a level playing ground for the insurance companies within their states in the procurement of state insurances”

L-R CIIN President Mr. Wole Adetimehin; Ogun state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and CIIN DG, Mr. Adegboyega Adepegba during a visit to the Governor in Abeokuta recently.

FBN Life boosts customers reach through outlets By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

FBN Life Assurance Limited,said the expansion of its outlets across the country was to bring its products closer to customers. Speaking to Vanguard in Lagos,the Managing Director of FBN Life, Mr Val Ojumah said that using their growing team of financial advisers and the extensive network of First Bank of Nigeria, the company is now able to bring insurance closer to potential customers. He said “FBN Life products and services have been very well received and we have brought some new excitements into the industry. The old operators whom seem to have been complacent have been awakened by our impetus. Our shareholders have shown a lot of understanding and our Directors have supported our strategies.” “Our products have received C M Y K

very wide acceptance much to our surprise and delight. All our products have been designed with the consumers in mind and have all been made to address specific gaps in the existing product offerings in the market. Some of our retail products that are selling the most in the market include: Flexi Savings Plan, Flexi Cash flow, Flexi Education Plan, Extended Family Support Plan etc” Ojumah said.

n the strategies his organisation has put in place to sustain its position as a leading insurance company, Ojumah said, “As the first company to receive license in Nigeria in over 20 years and coming into the industry at a time when many of the operating companies were going through enormous challenges, it was important that we got our strategies right, from the beginning. In a few words, our strategy has been anchored on doing things differently

giving to the customers bespoke products at least cost. Innovation has been our watchword.” On service delivery, Ojumah said that the company had planned certain standards from inception, setting for themselves very high targets. “At this time, I can honestly say, we are still not where we want to be in service delivery considering the time it has taken our software vendors to fully automate our processes. However, we are all certain that our service delivery will achieve the lofty heights we planned before end of 2012. But I dare to say, that even as we are today, we are miles ahead of other competitors.” On claims payment, the FBN boss said that the company has met and sometimes exceeded its standard in claims payment from day one making claims payment within 24 hours adding that the proposed First Bank Holding Company Structure is a very pragmatic step that will enhance the separation of functions in the financial services sector as well as give a respectable identity to FBN Life. In terms of managing outstanding premiums and enforcing compulsory insurance provision, Ojumah said “In life insurance business, only group businesses are written on credit. Most individual life policies require premiums to be paid in installments and in advance.

BRIEFS

Consolidated Hallmark provides cover for journalists

NSURANCE journalists would from October 1, be entitled to compensation should they be involved in an accident.The Managing Director, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance plc (CHI), Eddie Efekoha, has said. He disclosed this in a chat with correspondents in Lagos, adding that the management of the company has arranged group personal accident insurance cover for journalists covering the nation’s insurance industry as part of its corporate social responsibility. He said the cover is for a limit of N1 million per journalist in the event of accident or injury that may result in death anywhere the journalist may be in the world, adding that affected journalist would also be entitled to N1 million compensation in the event of permanent disability that may impair the performance of his duties and a limit of N200, 000 for medical expenses. Efekoha noted that the company is constantly looking at how it could contribute its quota to the nation’s socioeconomic development. He explained that the organisation decided to provide the insurance cover bearing in mind that journalists need protection against the various hazards they are exposed to in the course of carrying out their challenging duties. The recent unfortunate incidents involving Enenche Akogwu of Channels Television and Steve Nwosu of the Sun newspaper, according to him, have further brought to the fore why journalists must be adequately given insurance cover.

RIMSON brings risk managers together on security matters

ISK and Insurance Managers’ Society of Nigeria (RIMSON) is looking at providing a platform that would usher quality discourse on the way out of the present security situation. To this end, RIMSON is dedicating its 2012 Annual Conference billed for October 23-25 at Richton Hotel & Suites, Abeokuta, to find solutions to the menace of degenerating security situation in the country. President of RIMSON, Mrs. EfiomEkaha said the theme for this year’s Conference, “New Perspectives in Security Risk Management” has been carefully selected to address the pressing issues of safety and security and their implications for personal and corporate business survival in the country. According to her, the Conference will provide a veritable platform for intellectual discourse by experts as well as proffer practical solutions that will ensure that organisations stay ahead in the quest for value creation for stakeholders amid heightened security risks in the business environment. The annual Conference is a major event of RIMSON, at which Risk and Insurance Management Practitioners from across the country assemble to examine topical issues and contribute to the discourse on issues of national and professional interest.

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Boko Haram: Jonathan urged to declare state of emergency in northern states

ANNIVERSARY: From left: Mr. Dapo Apolola, Brand Manager; Mr. Thabo Mabe, Managing Director, Mr. David Ukeme, Brand Building Director and Vivian Ihaza, Category Manager, Oral, all of Unilever, at the Close Up Love Naija Concert to mark Close Up anniversary in Nigeria. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

SENDFORTH: From right: Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Mazi Udoh; former Director, Safety Engineering Electronic Services, Mr. Raymond Panguru and Director, Finance and Administration, Mrs. Elizabeth Agom, during the sendforth ceremony for the former Director held at NAMA Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos.

R E S I D E N T G o o d l u c k Jonathan was, yesterday, urged to declare a state of emergency in all northern states where Boko Haram has been causing violence and wreaking untold hardship on innocent citizens. A prominent member of South-South Leaders and Eldlers Forum, Chief Richard Lamai, who made the call in Lagos, said the political leadership in those states have abdicated their responsibility to their people. He said: “Boko Haram started as a tool of political blackmail against President Jonathan, the first president from the minority tribe, and some northern elite in Borno, Yobe and Taraba vowed that they would make the nation ungovernable. But today, they have lost control over it and the fanatics do not listen to them any longer because they have now embarked on an agenda of destroying the North which invariably will affect the whole nation. “These miscreants are wreaking havoc in the North and the leadership of the region has kept

quiet. The men they armed have found out that those who sponsored them in the first place, are actually the cause of the abject poverty and lack of development of the region. The situation today in the region is so bad that the only way sanity can be brought back to the region is a declaration of a state of emergency that will allow for the enthronement of a template

for development, so that by the time peace is restored no political leader will have the guts to loot the commonwealth of the region.” Chief Lamai explained that what makes a declaration of emergency in the violent prone states of the region imperative is that the region has suddenly lost any form of leadership and a flock without a shepherd will surely go astray.

No serious organisation can ignore social media—UNICEF BY FUNMI AJUMOBI

3-day workshop organised for journalists in South West as well as Edo and Delta States by UNICEF in collaboration with NTA on Social Media as Tools for Child Right Advocacy, has ended with a call for organisations in Nigeria to fully embrace social media. The workshop which was held in Lagos, was an avenue to enlighten journalists on the positive use of social media in enhancing the delivery of content faster to the world rather than relying

only on the traditional media. UNICEF Lagos Field Office Communication O f f i c e r and workshop facilitator, Blessing Ejiofor, said the workshop was targeted at building capacity for media people to be able to leverage on the advantages and popularity of the social media networks. She said the target of every organisation, including UNICEF and the media was on the social media and that no serious organisation with a cause to promote could ignore social media.

Mimiko pledges to industrialize Ore

Gantry scanners'll facilitate trade O —Customs boss BY GODFREY BIVBERE

OMPTROLLER General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Abdullahi Dikko, has said that the installation of the two mobile gantry scanners by SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited, at both Onne and Port Harcourt ports, will help in trade facilitation and reduce cost of doing business at the ports. Dikko, who said this in Onne at the official commissioning of the two mobile gantry scanners, noted that the scanners were of improved technology. He pointed out that the scanners will complement current efforts of the Federal Government at reducing cost of doing business at the ports. He said: “The hi-tech gantry scanners introduced by SGS is a new, improved, and up-todate technology that will complement current efforts of the Federal GovC M Y K

ernment at reducing the cost of doing business at the ports. “The scanners are more productive and cost effective than fixed cargo scanners. Each can scan about 34 trucks per hour as compared with 16 trucks for fixed scanners. Each has double tunnel which enables it to scan two trucks simultaneously with equal image quality as a fixed scanner. It will therefore be a

boost to trade facilitation and provide a 48 hours target for clearance of goods at the ports.” Managing Director of SGS, Mr. Nigel Balchin, said that the trucks remain stationary during scanning unlike a fixed scanner where the truck is pulled through the scanner on a conveyor that is more vulnerable to maintenance issues. The scanner is mounted above ground unlike a

fixed scanner where one of the detectors is four metres underground. In addition, a relocatable gantry scanner can be redeployed to an alternative site in a relatively short time in case of any expansion or new development. The introduction of the gantry scanner, he said, will impact positively on the economy of states in the South-East and South-South regions of

NDO State Gover nor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has continued his re-election campaign to Odigbo Local Government Area of the state with a pledge to turn Ore, the capital city of the area into an industrialized zone. Mimiko, who addressed a large crowd of supporters in Ore, his first port of call, where he also flagged off the rehabilitation of 6.1-kilometre Ore township roads, listed the developmental projects already put in place by his administration in the last

three and a half years to include the multi-million naira Industrial Park, the on-going Ore Sunshine City, Ore Agriculture Farm Settlement, and a modern international market among others. He said: ”Ore, given its unique position, is a potential gold mine and we have begun the process of making it one of the best cities in the world. "It is largely unplanned but we have started planning it and putting in place a lot of infrastructure that would make it an industrialized city."

Chime assures on workers' welfare

Evang Odunukwe for burial

O V E R N O R Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has expressed gratitude to workers in the state for their contributions and sacrifices towards the actualization of his administration’s vision of bringing about holistic and sustainable transformation in the state. Chime, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the Civil Service Week in Enugu, said the attain-

ment of this objective would also ensure that state resources were fully utilized for the benefit of the people. He assured workers that their welfare will continue to receive priority attention, adding that the government recently approved the construction of workers’ estate and a new secretariat complex to ensure their welfare as well as conducive environment to do

their work. He added that his administration had taken steps in the past to correct the anomalies in the public service to ensure efficiency and secure the loyalty and partnership of workers. Chime reaffirmed the determination of his administration to build and leave behind, a very functional and effective public service in the state.

VA N G E L I S T G o d w i n Odunukwe of Akaboedoji, Uruagu Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, is dead, aged 50. Corpse will lie in state at his residence, Odunukwe’s compound, Akaboedoji, Uruagu Nnewi, followed by a funeral service and interment on Thursday, September 13, 2012.

He is survived by his widow, Ifeoma Odunukwe, Ebuka Odunukwe (son), and other relations.

Late Evang Odunukwe

36— Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Retirement not on Lampard’s mind

rank Lampard said he has never thought of retiring from international football. Despite sitting out Euro 2012 injured and having experiencing abused from England fans, Lampard has always been motivated to play for the national team, even though it has not always been easy.. The 34-year-old has won 92 England caps and having netted twice against Moldova on Friday, he now has 25 international goals and still has the opportunity to become his country’s greatest midfield goalscorer with subsequent games in the World Cup qualifiers. “I am very proud of my England career. With England careers, they can’t always be rosy for any player especially if you are going to get towards 100 caps,” he told ESPN. “I am very proud of the games, the goals, the games I have been involved in. The only downside is that we have not won anything. That’s something we all want to put right.” The Chelsea midfielder insisted he always wanted to keep playing for the team despite becoming a target for England fans’ abuse in the course of the unsuccessful qualifying campaign for Euro 2008. He added: “I am pleased I didn’t bail out when I was getting stick because there can be easy routes particularly when you get to 30. You are allowed to retire from that age onwards.

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Chelsea named European Club of the Year

anchester C i t y captain Vincent Kompany has admitted the club’s Champions League ‘Group of Death’ is a daunting prospect yet exciting prospect this season. The Barclays Premier League champions begin their quest to land Europe’s elite prize against Real Madrid, then face German champions B o r u s s i a Dortmund and Holland’s top team Ajax. Kompany told The Sun: ‘Games like this are why you are in the Champions League. I thought it couldn’t get more difficult than last year but there you go. ‘It’s a g r e a t challenge. I think we are the sort of team which gets better as the challenges get even greater. ‘It’s perfect for us. There won’t be any moments where we will be surprised. The motivation will be sky-high, the atmosphere great. I couldn’t think of a better way to play the Champions League. ‘It’s all about how far you can get but it’s even nicer when you play against the best teams.’

We relish our Champions League’s ‘Group of Death’ — Kompany City have made a steady if uninspiring start to the defence of their title, but Kompany believes their unbeaten start should be taken as a positive. He added: ‘I’m happy with things so far. We won the Community Shield and have made a good start, with seven points out of nine. ‘If I had one message for the team, it would be “Well done guys”. We’ve always battled hard and shown how strong we are as a team. We’ve proved we have plenty of character. ‘If we can win games when supposedly not at our best, what will happen if we do hit

helsea have been named European Club of the Year by the European Club Association. The European champions were handed the award by their peers at yesterday’s third annual ECA Awards. Chelsea were recognised “ for their outstanding achievement during the 2011-12 season on a European and domestic level”. Last term saw the Blues finally end their wait for Champions League glory as well as winning the FA Cup, although they finished a lowly sixth in the Barclays Premier League.

Lukaku set for Baggies return

est Brom striker Romelu Lukaku will be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Fulham after proving his fitness while on international duty. The powerful teenage striker, who is on loan with the Baggies for the season from Chelsea, scored on his debut against Liverpool and was again introduced from the bench against Tottenham. He then missed the Capital One Cup date with Yeovil and the Premier League success against Everton due to an ankle injury, but was fit enough to join up with his international colleagues and played 45 minutes in the win over Wales on Friday. Lukaku is set to feature again in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier with Croatia before returning to the Hawthorns to prepare for Saturday’s Premier League date at Craven Cottage. “Romelu’s injury was the result of a tackle and, to be honest, it was probably a 10-day injury. He just ran out of time to play against Everton,” manager Steve Clarke told the club’s official website.

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Murray celebrates win with Champagne

ndy Murray’s maiden grand slam title at the US Open could signal the start of a collection of major silverware, according to former British number one Tim Henman. Henman well knows the burden Murray has shouldered since bursting on to the scene in 2005, shortly before the four-times Wimbledon semi-finalist retired having failed to end the country’s interminable wait for a men’s grand slam champion. Murray’s five-set victory

S Open winner, Andy Murray celebrated his victory at Flushing Meadows with dinner and drinks at Hakkasan last Monday night. Following his gruelling, five hour match against Novak Djokovich, Murray and his party – including girlfriend Kim Sears – headed to Hakkasan on West 43rd Street. Despite having being closed for half an hour, the restaurant opened its doors to the Grand Slam winner. The group promptly tucked into US$6,448 dollars worth of drinks at the Ling Ling bar, including two bottles of Louis Roederer for $396, four glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon and 17 Zesty Martinis for $255. At $64 for four glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon, the group was clearly enjoying the Three Saints 2009 from Santa Barbera, priced at $16 a glass – or $65 a bottle, which was evidently ordered later .

over Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows finally retired the worn-out statistic of Fred Perry being the last British man to win a major, almost 76 years to the day before the 25-year-old Scot broke through. “I definitely see him going on to win more (grand slam titles),” Henman told the BBC. “How many he can win only time will tell. The confidence of the Olympics and this will give him so much confidence. “I said the first one would be the hardest but I think it will be the first of many, I really do.” A survivor of a school massacre in his home town of Dunblane back in 1996, Murray’s first season under coach Ivan Lendl this year also brought an Olympic gold medal in London before his triumph in New York. “It was certainly his time.

•Murray

Serena still partying like it’s 1999

he year was 1999 and newly crowned U.S. Open tennis champion Serena Williams joked that she might need to compete against men for a challenge worthy of her immense power and skills. Times have changed; Williams, not so much.Starting 13 years ago, when she bulldozed Martina

Murray triumph ‘the first of many’

Hingis 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to win the U.S. Open, her first Grand Slam title, Williams’ athleticism and big hitting have always impressed and forced her competitors to ratchet up their power, too. The same was true on Sunday, when Williams beat Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 2-6, 7-

5 in the U.S. Open final to win Grand Slam title No. 15. But what is becoming as astounding as her tennis is Williams’ longevity at the top. Most athletes who last this long suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, injury and slumps in form and motivation at some point. But few roar back quite as emphatically as Williams in this golden summer of 2012 when she won Wimbledon, gold in singles and doubles at the London Olympics and, now, her fourth U.S. Open championship. “Three decades — the ‘90s, 2000s, 2010s. That’s kind of cool,” Williams said. In the professional era, no other woman has crafted such a sustained span of success at the same Grand Slam tournament.

The most important aspects were his resilience, both mentally and physically. He remained calm and was able to produce the goods and really it was Djokovic who was struggling at the end,” added Henman. Murray ’s rather dour exterior had, until this year, distanced him from the type of popular support enjoyed by Henman. A run to this year’s tearful Wimbledon final where he lost to Roger Federer, followed by glory against the Swiss in a hugely successful Olympics for the hosts, finally endeared him to the British public. His popularity levels after Monday ’s epic are now soaring and after rising above injury-hit Rafa Nadal to third in the ATP rankings, he looks perfectly placed for an assault on more grand slam titles next year and even a tilt at world number one.

Lendl hails his progress I

van Lendl is confident Andy Murray will become a multiple Grand Slam champion following his thrilling US Open success. The 25-year-old beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 in Monday’s final to become the first British male to win a major since Fred Perry in 1936. The Flushing Meadows triumph capped off an excellent year for the British number one. The Scot reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the last eight of the French Open, but his final defeat by Roger Federer at Wimbledon was the catalyst behind his late-season s u r g e . Murray went on to exact revenge on the Swiss at the Olympics before breaking his Grand Slam duck this week. Lendl, who became Murray’s coach at the start of 2012, has been impressed by his pupil’s progress. ”He won two big ones in this fantastic year. I’m very happy for Andy. It’s a great achievement and let’s hope he can continue and rake up more,” said the eight-time Grand Slam champion. ”Andy has been maturing very nicely as a player, as a competitor, as a person. As you mature you become more comfortable in these situations. ”Of course, it’s very important to be in more of these situations and the more of them you are in the more comfortable you feel.” C M Y K

38—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

BAKASSKI PENINSULA:

Why Nigeria should ask ICJ to review verdict (2) Mallam Abdullahi U. Maiyaki, a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos in this second edition of the Vanguard Media series on rethinking the judgment of ICJ and options before the Federal Government where the executive seems to be alone in conceding Bakassi provides fresh insights on options before President Goodluck Jonathan

ONSEQUENTLY, by the foregoing provisions cited above, President Olusegun Obasanjo can be said to have qualified to have entered the Green Tree Agreement of year 2006 between Nigeria and the Cameroun over a transitional programme for the handover of the Bakassi Peninsula in accordance to the ICJ Judgment of October 10, 2002 which ceded the Island accordingly to Cameroun. However, still the said Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties provided yet another legal facility as contained in Article 46(1) where it states:- “A State may not invoke the fact its consent to be bound by a treaty has been expressed in violation of a provision of its internal law regarding competence to conclude treaties as invalidating its consent unless that violation was manifest and concerned a rule of its internal law of fundamental importance.” Article 46 (2) further presented some clarifications to the above provisions:“A violation is manifest if it would be objectively evident to any State conducting itself in the matter in accordance with normal practice and in good faith.” These provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties equally present Nigeria with an option to challenge a violation of its internal procedures for legitimizing treaties/agreement which the Green Tree Agreement of 2006 did not observe. In the final analysis, it must be noted that the said Green Tree Agreement has nothing practically to do with the ICJ Judgment in terms of its legitimacy or otherwise to have warranted its inclusion by Nigeria in C M Y K

her quest for a revision of the ICJ Judgment of October 10, 2002. Since the said Green Tree Agreement was entered in year 2006 which was far back after the Court verdict was passed. What Article 61 of the Statute of the ICJ requires are areas of errors or unknown facts from the Judgment it passed on October 10, 2002 on the case between Nigeria and Cameroun over the disputed sovereignty question of the Bakassi Peninsula. Therefore, we should be more focused and articulate in our submission/presentation for revision of the said ICJ Judgment of October 10, 2002 which ceded our Bakassi Island to Cameroun. Basically, therefore, the preceding paragraphs attempted to situate within some provisions of the Statute of the International Court of Justice and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties areas of ambiguity for Nigeria to explore in her quest for the revision of October 10, 2002 verdict which ceded the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun as provided for in the Court Statute Article 61 (Sub-Section 1 & 5) respectively.

Map of Bakassi area isting ideas towards the nation’s quest for the ICJ to revisit its contentious verdict which ceded Bakassi Island to the Cameroun on October 10, 2002. Below are the said opinion of the Court Judges. 1. Separate opinion of Judge Raymond Ranjeva (Madagascan) (a) Judge Ranjeva is said to have expressed reservation in respect of the analysis set out in paragraph 203 and 209 of the Judgment, which relied on rules of International Law to justify the conclusion that the United Kingdom had authority to determine Nigeria’s boundary with Cameroun (para 209). Judge Ranjeva questioned … the refusal to accord international status to the agreement concluded by the United Kingdom with the Chiefs of Old Calabar justify reference to the concept of the Law at the time”?

Governor Lyel Imoke of Cross River State ars of International Jurisprudence on their perspectives to the inter-

Continues from yesterday

Provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties equally present Nigeria with an option to challenge a violation of its internal procedures for legitimizing treaties/agreement which the Green Tree Agreement of 2006 did not observe

Below are presented some articulated thoughts for Nigeria to study and analyze from the separate/dissenting opinions of some of the Judges of the ICJ as well as some intellectual presentations by renowned legal Jurists of International repute and schol-

pretation of the 1884 Treaty of Protection between the Old Calabar Chiefs and Britain which erroneously formed the basis upon which the ICJ was said to have passed its verdict of October 10, 2002 that ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun.

Declaration and the separate/ dissenting opinions of the icj judges against court’s verdict which ceded bakassi island to cameroun on October 10, 2002 The Summary of the ICJ Judgment on the disputed case over the sovereignty question of the Bakassi Peninsula between Nigeria and Cameroun accessed from the Court’s website on the 8/8/2012 at http/www.icj.org/ docket/index.php? sum pages 17-19 contained both the declaration and the separate/dissenting opinions of the Court’s Judges for public information and analysis respectively. Accordingly, therefore, these articulated thoughts are hereby captured for critical preview and consideration by Nigeria to reinforce ex-

Principle of international law b) Judge Ranjeva was said to have asserted that, no Lawyer can help but be surprised at the Court’s warping of the found principle of International Law….as far as agreement with leaders or eminent dignitaries of what International Law terms “uncivilized nations” are concerned, Pacta non servanda suni legal “unilateralism.” Judge Ranjeva maintained that it has already been the target of criticism by legal scholars in the case concerning Frontier Dispute (Burkina-Faso/Republic of Mali) where he noted that the Chamber directly applied Colonial Law, which it recognized as such and as the source of the applicable Continues on page 39

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Why Nigeria should ask ICJ to review verdict (2) law. Thus, Judge Ranjeva opined that it would have been preferable to distinguish between the two spheres of law in the present case (i.e. Nigeria vs Cameroun); c) Judge Ranjeua observed International Law in respect of reaching between European Colonial Powers and Colonial Laws in respect of relation between the metropole and the colonial territories. Dissenting opinion and Judge Abdul G. Koroma (Sierra Leonian) (a) Judge Koroma in his dissenting opinion was said to have acknowledge the important note of the Court as a forum for the peaceful settlement of disputes between neighbouring States, to which in his opinion has potentiality to escalate with destructive consequences for the States concerned; (b) However, Judge Koroma argues that, if the Court as a Judicial organ is to effectively play its assigned role, its decision must be based on the application of relevant conventional and relevant principle of international law, foremost among which is the fundamental principle of pacta sunt servanda, that every treaty in force is building upon the parties to its and must be performed in good faith; (c) It was the view of Judge Koroma that the ICJ cannot operate on a different set of principle. He was reported to have expressed regrets on the face on this occasion the majority of the Court departed from the law and legal principles inflinching its decision which is, therefore, not sustainable. (d) Judge Koroma was said to have observed that by failing to uphold the validity of the 1894 Treaty between the Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar and Great Britain which expressly provided for the gracious protection of the people of Old Calabar by

Great Britain, but instead of upholding the validity of the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 which ceded the territory of the people of Old Calabar to German without their consent; (e) The ICJ Judge Koroma observed chooses to consecrate political reality over legal validity, since the 1884 Treaty did not entitle Great Britain to transfer the territory of the people of Old Calabar without their consent, and the extent that the 1913 Anglo-German Treaty purportedly had the effect, Judge Koroma then asserted that it should have been declared defective by the ICJ. Hence, Judge Koroma concluded that the Court was in error in upholding Cameroun’s title based on the 1913 Anglo-German Agreement;

Principal claim of Nigeria (f) Furthermore, Judge Koroma is said to have disagreed with the Court’s response to the principal claim of Nigeria to Bakassi and settlements around Lake Chad of territorial title. In his view, the acquisition of territorial title is not close to what the Court described in the Judgment as “established” modes. Judge Koroma argues that, “if his was so, there would have been no place in international jurisprudence for “prescription” recognition estoppel or preclusion”, or “acquire scene.” In other words proven long usage, coupled with a complex of interests and relations which in themselves have the effect of attracting a territory, and when supported by evidence of acquiescence, constitutes a legal basis of territorial title. Such a basis to territorial title, Judge Koroma argues has been recognized in the jurisprudence of the Court. (g) Consequently, Judge Koroma maintained that “what was required in this case was proof of the claim and it is for the Court

to examine the evidence if it substantiates such claim.” Nigeria, Judge Karma opined “presented substantial evidence to justify the claim of historical consolidation effectiveness linking the Bakassi Peninsula and the settlements around Lake Chad with Nigeria and with the necessary evidence of acquiescence.” (h) Judge Koroma then asserted that, it should have been the Court to examine such evidence, to determine whether it established title and not to concentrate on the “label” under which the evidence was presented to it. The Court is said to have stated that “apart from the Norwegian Fisheries case the“the notion....has never been used as a basis of title other territorial disputes, whether in its own or in other case law”. Judge Koroma maintained that “even if these were so which is not the case, what should have mattered most is the evidence and not the appellation applied to it;” (i) Judge Koroma then concluded that, “it is the approach taken by the Court in considering the law and material evidence before it, which proved to be the flaw in the decision which the ICJ reached.” He maintained that “this approach led the Court quite erroneously to uphold Camerouns title base on the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 and reject Nigeria’s claim to territorial sovereignty based on original title and historical consolidation. He took the view that on the basis of the evidence presented to the Court, if the issues of original title historical consolidation and effective authority had been given the due consideration, a different conclusion would have been reached by the Court with regard to Bakassi and the settlements around Lake Chad”. (j) Judge Koroma then concluded that by insisting that “where the judicial settlement of territorial and boundary disputes are

Bakassi peninsula residents protesting the ceding of the territory

Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke concerned, it is imperative for the Court to apply a valid treaty, and the relevant principles of international law, if the judgment is to be regarded as based on law”.

Declaration of Judge Rezek Judge Rezek is reported not to have joined the majority in respect of the question of sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula and adjacent waters. His reasons being that, “it is unacceptable for the Treaty concluded in 1884 between Great Britain and the Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar not to be considered a Treaty, because it is obvious that at the time in question even the colonial Powers were required to show a minimum of good faith”. Separate opinion of Judge Awn Shawkat Al-khasaweh (Jordanian) (a) Judge Al-Khasaweh in his separate opinion to the Court judgment argues that, “even though he associates himself with the reasoning of the Court as contained in paragraphs 214 to 216 to the verdict”, however, observed that “it was unnecessary and unfortunate for the Court to revert to the questions of the 1913 Agreement between Great Britain and Germany and to the 1884 Treaty of Protection between Great Britain and the Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar”. Judge Al-Khasaweh then challenged that “it is morally and legally difficult to reconcile a duty of pro-

tection with the subsequent alienation of the entire territory of the protected entity”. (b) He further observed that “in its judgment, the Court fails to distinguish between Protectorates and colonies and concludes that Great Britain has acquired sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula through a derivative roottitle”. The centre questions of the case. Judge Al-Khasaweh maintained, “relate to the interpretation of the 1884 Treaty of Protection and of the subsequent practice of the Parties”. Notwithstanding however, he argues that “these cannot be circumvented by the invention of a fictitious sub-category of Protectorate named “Colonial Protectorate” where title is presumed to pass automatically and regardless of the terms of the Treaty”.

Continues tomorrow

Continues from page 38

It is the approach taken by the Court in considering the law and material evidence before it, which proved to be the flaw in the decision which the ICJ reached. This approach led the Court quite erroneously to uphold Cameroun’s title based on the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 and reject Nigeria’s claim to territorial sovereignty based on original title and historical consolidation

40— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

CBN’s proposed currency restructuring, unthinkable — CIIN BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has said that the proposed introduction of N5,000 notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is unpopular and unthinkable. President of the Institute, Mr. Wole Adetimehin, who said this added that the move will send a wrong signal that all was not well with the economy. Adetimehin said “The proposed issuance of N 5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria is unpopular and unthinkable and it would send a wrong signal that all was not well with the nation’s economy. Such action would amount to aiding inflation in a nation whose citizens are groaning under the burden of an inflationary trend calculated in geometrical proportions over the years.” Adetimehin wondered why the CBN would conceive such idea at a time it should be preoccupied with measures aimed at actualising its canvassed cash-less policy. “CBN’S cashless policy is well conceived and commendable but it is now being contradicted by the proposed issuance of the N

5,000 note,” he stated. The public outcry against the move by the nation’s apex bank to churn out N 5,000 currency denomination has

continued to make the news, with most critics calling on the federal government to apply the reins and forestall what would amount to a pitfall in the

nation’s monetary policy. If public opinion is anything to go by, the move should be thwarted and the CBN made to rest its plans.

From left: Dr. Maxwell Ubah, a change management consultant; Mr. Idorenyen Inang, former Managing Director, Samsung West Africa and CEO, Corporate Shepherds; Mrs. Tito Adeniyi-Aderoju, Chief Client Engagement Officer, Interswitch Limited; Mr. Roger Snow, Vice President, Miller Heiman and Mr. Oliver Nnona, CEO, Profiliant Development Resources, all speakers, at the 2012 Sales Performance Summit (SPS) organized by Profiliant in Lagos.

Skye Bank wins card innovation award BY RITA OBODOECHINA

S a further confirmation of its leading role in electronic payments business, Skye Bank Plc at the weekend won the “best card innovation Bank” award in the nation’s financial services industry at the 2012 ‘Nigeria Telecomms A w a r d s ’ . The awards organizers, Nigeria Telecomms Awards Group, said Skye Bank Plc won the award because of the overwhelming industry consensus and independent research of its various assessment teams which acknowledged the bank’s creativity in payments cards. Specifically, the awards organizers said the bank won the award because of its creative ingenuity in the creation of the first Pound Sterling denomination Mastercard and for being the first bank to issue a Mastercard Verve card. In addition, the group said Skye Bank was the first to issue a Visa co-branded card for online transactions which it described as a commendable premise on which the card business has built further creativity. Skye Bank Plc received popular endorsement in this regard as over 70 per cent of the

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respondents recommended the bank for the award over and above the other banks nominated for the award. It will be recalled that Skye Bank recently won the “best card issuing efficiency award” at the ACI Payments Worldwide’s ‘African Payments Awards’ held in Lagos where banks and other providers of cards and electronic payments systems c o n v e r g e d . ACI Worldwide , a worldwide leader in payments system solutions to banks, processors and retailers around the world, has a reputation built on the success of its products that have consistently provided stability, scalability and reliability. Also recently, the bank won Intermarc’s best ‘card activation award’ at the recent Card Expo organised by Intermarc Nigeria Limited in Lagos where operators in electronic payments and card business were recognised and honoured. The bank was adjudged to have demonstrated the most efficient card issuance strategy and sustained the

highest active card rates in the banking industry in Nigeria for the past one year. According to the awards organizers, Skye Bank was rated number one in terms of

card issuance and activation rate, in addition to being the industry leader in terms of focused and strategic card issuance to relevant sectors of the economy.

CSR: FCMB begins second phase of Evergreen Project in Katsina

IRST City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) in collaboration with Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and the Service to Humanity Foundation (STHF) has commenced the second phase of its Evergreen Project in 10 communities in Katsina State which aims at fighting desertification in the state. Evergreen Project is an FCMB Corporate Social Responsibility initiative which integrates economic empowerment with genuine environmental sustainability drive, engineering a behavioral change through sensitization, advocacy and training on sustainable alternative. It reduces the demand for firewood as well as reduce carbon emission with the introduction of the Save80 Stove and the Briquettes made from combustible waste.

This year ’s exercise will involve the training of 200 beneficiaries from Mai’Adua and Kaita local government areas in the making of briquettes and the use of save80 stoves, distribution of 250 Save80 Stoves to further ensure the adoption of environmentally friendly lifestyle changes and emission reduction, and supporting the governor ’s skills acquisition drive by empowering 10 selected youths from the Craft Village to be awarded seed capital. In 2011, FCMB worked with SIFE and the STHF to implement the first phase of the project. The briquette making machines were designed and produced by SIFE while the Save80 stoves were supplied by BIA (a Nigerian social enterprise) which has an understanding with Atosfair .

B-R-I-E-F-S UK banks face rising bill as mis-selling claims soar

HE number of complaints against British banks mis-selling payment protection insurance (PPI) doubled in the first half of 2012, ac cording to the Financial Ombudsman Service, pointing to a further rise in the compensation bill for banks. Britain’s banks have already set aside over 10 billion pounds ($16 billion) to compensate customers wrongly sold payment protection insurance alongside loans and mortgages in one of the worst consumer financial scandals in British history. Policies were typically taken out alongside a personal loan or mortgage to cover repayments if customers fell ill or lost jobs, but they were often sold to people who would not have been eligible to claim. The Financial Ombudsman Service, which deals with cases where banks and their customers cannot agree a settlement, said around 1,500 new cases were arriving every day. It went on to say many customers were now taking on the cases themselves without resorting to using claims management companies.

Spanish banks sell 5% of Enagas for 175m euro

group of Spanish savings banks sold its 5 percent stake in gas distributor Enagas on Tuesday for 175 million euros($224 million) to raise capital, in a move likely to be mirrored by other cash-strapped shareholders. Spain’s struggling banks are starting to sell off their industrial holdings ahead of a European rescue comprising a 100 billion euro credit line as they seek to maximise capital before using any taxpayer funds. “We see a high risk of more (Enagas) stakes being sold soon,” Espirito Santo Research said in a note to clients. It tipped the Spanish government’s 5 percent stake held through state holding company SEPI and 5 percent stakes held by savings banks BBK and Cajastur as next on the slate. Banks Credit Suisse and Santander managed the sale on Tuesday on behalf of investment group Sagane Inversiones, a company formed by savings banks Caja Murcia, Caja Granada and Caja Castilla La Mancha.

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42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

KOGI @ 21: Topsy-turvy march to statehood At 21, has Kogi State fared well in terms of development? In Kogi, answers to this question are varied. While some say the state is lagging behind with little or no achievements other say that the indigenes have reasons to celebrate BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

KOGI State is one of the nine states created on August 27, 1991 by the retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime. And just like other states created at the same time, it has witnessed a lot of ups and downs. Christened as the Confluence State, its creation, to some was a dream come true for a people who once formed the Kabba Province and with huge human and material resources, Kogi came with a lot of promise. Huge resources: Today, the boundaries of the state are roughly coterminous with those of the old Kabba Province. It lies to the South of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory – Abuja and shares boundaries with Nasarawa, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Benue, Edo, Enugu, Niger and Anambra states. This is a unique feature, which no other state in Nigeria has. Lokoja, the state capital is located on the confluence of Nigeria’s two largest rivers - Niger and Benue. The ancient and historic capital city of Lokoja is two hours drive to Abuja. It once served as the administrative headquarters of Nigeria before the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern

•Map of Kogi State

•Governor Wada: It's time for sober reflection The state is also the home of grown in commercial quantities include yam, cassava, rice, solid mineral deposits and they maize, guinea corn, cocoa, coffee, are found in almost every part of cashew, oil palm, beni-seed, the state. These minerals include melon, soya beans and sugar cassiterite (tin ore), clay, coal, cane. The forest resources of Kogi columbite, dolomite, feldspar, state are equally of very high Gemstones, Granite, Iron ore, economic values. At present, Kaolin, marble (limestone), mica, about 85 per cent of the total land Quartz, sandstone, Talc, Tantalite area is covered by untapped and other such minerals. They are found in great commercial Although we have witnessed some quantities in the state. In the spheres of tourism, Kogi growth in terms of amenities such as State can safely be referred to as electrification of towns and villages, one of Nigeria’s major tourist destinations. new road networks and water schemes, A very significant landmark in tertiary educational facilities, among the state is the Confluence of others...Most of our infrastructure are in Rivers Niger and Benue. Other tourist attractions include relics decay and grossly inadequate of colonial history such as the Protectorates of Nigeria by the forest reservation containing Royal Niger Company flag British Colonial Government important economic trees that can stand, the World War Cenotaph, under Sir Fredrick Lugard support paper mills, sawmill and European Colonial Cemeteries, veneer and plywood mills. and the Iron of Liberty, which in1914. Kogi State has a total land area Lokoja and stands at above 1,500 marks the spot slaves were freed of 28,313.53 square kilometers metres above sea level, which is in the late 19th century. Tombs of and a population of over four a tourist delight. With an some deposed Northern Emirs, million people. It lies on latitude observable average maximum Lord Fredrick Lugard’s first 7.49 and Longitude 6.45 degree temperature of 22 – 35 C, annual residence in Nigeria, the first East with geological features rainfall ranges from 1016mm to prison in Northern Nigeria, and depicting young sedimentary 1524mm. The vegetation of the the first Club House in Nigeria rocks and alluvium along the state ranges from mixed are also places of interest. Divided opinion: However, 21 river beds, which promote leguminous (guinea) woodlands years after, opinions are divided agricultural activities, which are to forest Savannah. The state plays host to one of over whether or not these the main stay of the state’s economy. About 70 per cent of the Africa’s largest steel companies resources have been harnessed populations of the state are – Ajaokuta Steel Company and to develop Kogi State. It’s been motion without engaged in one form of the National Iron Ore Mining movement — critics Company at Itakpe. Because of agricultural activity or another. A Human Rights activist and Kogi state has a wide stretch of its richness in raw materials, Kogi arable land for farming, good has great potential for industrial Executive Director, Centre for grazing ground for livestock and activities and also plays host to Human Rights and Conflict large bodies of water for fishing. Africa’s largest cement factory – Resolution (CHRCR), Comrade Abdul Miliki, says there is little Food and cash crops commonly the Obajana Cement Industry.

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or nothing celebrate because 21 years after, Kogi is “without state Television, the state newspapers – Graphic Newspaper is still being printed in Ibadan subjecting the citizens to loss and boasting the economy of other states. All laws passed by the State House of Assembly cannot be cited in any court of law due to lack of printing press to gazette such laws. Even major resolution and decision by state executive councils are not gazetted. The last nine years have witnessed the worst form governance as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has rated the state as the second poorest in the country. Since the creation of the state there is no blue print for development that will cover all areas such as industries, education, tourism, housing, entertainment, youth and women development. Abandoned and substandard projects are witnessed in all parts of the state due to corruption, incompetent contractors and consultant”.

Meaningful developments The state chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Alhaji Hardy Ametuo, also shared Miliki’s views. He criticized the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led administration for allegedly devastating Kogi in the last nine years. Ametuo alleged that the state had been worse off since the PDP took over, claiming that the only meaningful developments recorded within the past 21 years were carried out by Prince Abubakar Audu before he was swept out of office in 2003. “The present Olympic size stadium was started by Audu; the state university in Ayingba was constructed by Audu; the state Library, by him. Also, look at the Confluence Beach Hotel; it was also constructed by him. There is absolutely nothing you can

ascribe to the state since PDP took over power in 2003. Their nine years of reign put the state in a total ruin” Cause for celebration: Amid these complaints, there is a school of thought, which insists that the state has made progress, noting that government is continuums and that all past governors either civil or military had contributed their quota to the development of the state. To this set of people, Kogi has witnessed tremendous changes in its features, politics and economy in the last 21 years. For instance, they said that Lokoja and other towns have witnessed improvements as “architectural master pieces are gradually replacing old, dusty and nasty roofs that once dot the face of Lokoja.

usiness activities have picked up in the various towns and the hospitality industry is now a booming business in Lokoja and some neighbouring towns. Indeed, Governor Idris Wada said Kogites have reasons to be happy, even though there was need for sober reflection. His words: “ I recall that the agitation for the creation of the State was long-drawn and tenaciously prosecuted. We must all give thanks to Almighty God who has enabled us to live together peacefully in the last 21 years as a people bounded by a long history of socio-cultural affinities, as well as geo-political expressions under Kabba Province and Kwara State, before being separated temporarily between 1976 and 1991 as part of Benue State before Kogi State was created. Our togetherness has no doubt yielded for us a lot of dividends in terms of better mutual understanding and interr e l a t i o n s h i p s . “However, I will like to believe that given our enormous human Continues on page 43

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—43

Ogoni declaration, a sign of frustration — Mudiaga Odje •FG unfair on East/West road project DR Akpor Mudiaga-Odje is a lawyer and human rights activist. He has also authored several books on the Niger Delta struggle. In this interview, he spoke on various issues of national importance. Excerpts: BY FESTUS AHON

HE Urhobo ethnic group and other minority ethnic nationalities in the country have alleged that they are being marginalised by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. What is your take on this? Indeed, one would say that the agitation of the Urhobo people in particular and other minority ethnic nationalities of the country is actually genuine and should be addressed immediately. The ethnic minorities must be reflected in the structure of governance especially at the federal level. The resources are derived from their territory but what God has not given us is numerical strength. God has given us quality resources and that balances the equation. Accordingly, the interest of the ethnic nationalities need to be reflected in whatever arrangement being done in terms of offices,

Jonathan particularly in the area of infrastructure development of the Niger Delta? Late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua actually established the Ministry of Niger Delta in the interest of peace. We are not unmindful of the fact that the Vice President at that time, who is the current president, played a very fundamental role in the establishment of that ministry. And as we said then, the establishment will not be sufficient. We actually need to be pragmatic in the development of the people of the Niger Delta. We can always develop the Niger Delta as Abuja was developed. Abuja didn’t have a ministry before it was fully developed and industrialized. On East West/Road I believe that the East/West road project ought to have been completed a long time ago. It is a Federal Government issue, not necessarily that of the Niger Delta

The crude oil that Nigeria depends on is now $115 per barrel and the production rate is at 2.47 million barrels a day courtesy of amnesty programme. What is the reflection on the people of the Niger-Delta?

governmental businesses and other related matters. So, I support it as an Urhobo. We are a set of people that are hardworking, dynamic and indeed we have contributed to the development of this country. So a situation where any arrangement does not carry other ethnic groups along is not encouraging.

Ethnic minorities The Urhobo people and other ethnic minorities must be represented. In fact the federal character as reflected in the constitution has not been complied with, in view of the fact that ethnic minorities especially the Urhobos have not found their way into the federal government. So we should remember in retrospect that the minority ethnic nationalities were the people who actually fought for the emergence of the president. So for the sake of equity, justice and natural justice, we must be well represented in government. To do otherwise will be unjust. How will you assess the administration of President

Ministry. The Ministry of Works should go back there and government should complete it within 18 months. They should complete that road because that is where the resources of this country come from. If the people cannot be connected by way of road, what can you say you are developing in the region? It is criminally wicked and callous to abandon the road like that. The current state of that road is a disservice to every Nigerian, and particularly to the Niger-Delta people. Government is trying but it should redouble its effort especially in the Niger-Delta where its resources come from. The crude oil that Nigeria depends on is now $115 per barrel and the production rate is at 2.47 million barrels a day courtesy of amnesty programme. What is the reflection on the people of the Niger-Delta? Do you see the establishment of the Niger Delta Council as a step towards the development of the region? Bureaucratically speaking or otherwise, the establishment of the council is a welcome move, but the point is that we want the implementation of any blue print

or the Niger Delta Technical Report on the region. What is the government doing towards implementing that report? There are reports, there are blue prints, and so to establish a council I don’t have a problem with that, but let it not reduce the need to implement other reports.

Geographical survey

f you go back to the 1960 constitution, Section 14 provided for the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Board, and it was set up by the Niger Delta Development Board Act and sub section 2:1 called for the general geographical survey which was like having a master plan of the entire region. From that 1961 up till 2004 we didn’t have any geographical survey and master plan for the region. In fact, the master plan that they have been parading around in NDDC has not been fully accepted by the stakeholders. So we are just seeing now what the English man saw in 1961. How can you develop a nation or a region without a master plan? Would you say the intended objectives of the amnesty programme are being realized? The programme is on course and the incumbent president has

*Mudiaga Odje

the pedigree of seeing it to a successful implementation. However, that it is moving and has increased the production rate of barrels from the region, shows it is succeeding, but it has to be embracive. I believe that is where people are having problems. It appears to be one sided. Other ethnic groups who met these conditions requiring the amnesty training should be included. The Niger Delta belongs to ethnic nationalities, not one ethnic group. If they meet the criteria, even if they were late, there is nothing wrong with the government carrying them along. So there is some semblance of peace and tragic peace in the region. Recently, the Ogoni people declared political autonomy; don’t

you see this as sabotage to the Niger Delta struggle? You can make a declaration for academic purposes and for historic purposes. You can make a declaration for purposes of independence, succession or otherwise. Saying that you are no longer part of Nigeria as an independent nation whereas you are still within Nigeria, you have not carried any force of your military to break away. I believe it is a mark of their frustration with the Nigerian state. Don’t just look at it as an Ogoni issue. It is an issue that everybody that has natural resources in this country, and does not come from a majority group, has to support. The declaration is a protection; it is a preemptive step to stop exploration and exploitation.

KOGI @ 21: Topsy-turvy march to statehood Continues from page 42

and natural resources, our present socio-economic situation could have been much better. And this fact should be the concern of all of us. "Although we have witnessed some growth in terms of amenities such as electrification of towns and villages, new road networks and water schemes, tertiary educational facilities, among others, that were non-existent at our beginning; nonetheless, poverty and unemployment are still prevalent. Most of our infrastructure are in decay and grossly inadequate. It is certainly an irony that whereas, the wherewithal for us to be great are available, yet this greatness has eluded us for so long. "This anniversary, therefore, calls for sober reflection by each and every one of us. At its present age, Kogi State could be said to have attained adulthood. While we can congratulate our-

selves on the progress we have made so far, we also need to ponder on how robust our growth has been. This is not a time to apportion blames, but a time to rise to the challenge of turning our potentials into actual benefits; a time to move our State to where it ought to be.

Discharging obligations I urge you all to use this occasion to reflect individually and collectively on how we can do better in playing our individual and collective roles and discharging our obligations in the building of the State. According to Mr Abu Michael, chief press secretary to the Deputy Governor of the state, Lokoja, which was a town with one major road in 1991, now has large expanse of well-laid roads fitted with street lights and some of its roads, have been dualised. “From

a ghost town prior to August 27, 1991, Lokoja has gradually assumed its rightful place as it was in 1900 when it was the administrative headquarters of the colonial government when its had all attention shifted to it”. Mr. Jacob Edi, Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Capt Idris Wada, concurred, saying that the achievements recorded by the state since its creation could not be pushed aside because Kogi had gone through thick and thin “For instance, Kogi State can now boost of a state-owned University located at Anyigba, a Federal Government owned-University sited in Lokoja, a private University, and Salem University sited at Jimgbe near Lokoja, a state and Federal Polytechnic, three colleges of Education located in Okene, Ankpa and Kabba. These are beside other tertiary institutions located in different parts of the state. C M Y K

44— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

CYNTHIA: Growing apprehension over social media freedom Following the recent gruesome murder of Cynthia Osokogu by people she met on a social media platform, many Nigerians have canvassed the need to regulate the unlimited freedom people have to social networking media. CHARLES KUMOLU reports

HE emergence of social media like Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry Messenger and YouTube have changed the face of media practice by making information sharing easier, faster and quicker. But this is not without its demerits. Social media has become a threat to the ethics of media practice and good governance because of its accessibility and absolute freedom. Every freedom carries a responsibility. Even in advanced democracies where we all believe good governance is practised, there is no absolute freedom. I, therefore, believe that there must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country.’’ It was on this note that the Senate President, Senator David Mark kicked off a twoday retreat for Senate Press Corps in Umuahia, Abia State two months ago. The Senate President said the check became necessary because people now use social media to demean their leaders.

on Saharareporters read thus: "ATTENTION: Occupy David Mark. The Senate President must be stopped from his moves to restrict the use of social media in Nigeria, as it has been done in militarised countries of the world. He has been quoted as saying the social media is being used to insult leaders. We are not in

Even in advanced democracies where we all believe good governance is practised, there is no absolute freedom; I, therefore, believe that there must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country

He added that there was no opportunity for retraction of information in such media. The position of the Senate President, however, attracted criticisms from various quarters, especially from those, who noted that social media platforms are a mechanism for ordinary citizens to assess the performance of their leaders. On the heels of the condemnations, were several posts on Facebook, which called for an Occupy David Mark movement, as a way of checkmating the suggestion. For instance, a particular post C M Y K

•Facebook founder: Mark Zukerberg

North Korea, this is a democracy. Occupy his telephone line and help save our only freedom of expression”. Another social media platform, Nairaland also had a post which read: "We now have citizen journalists. To me that’s a big improvement for the masses. The revolution in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya would have been impossible to organise without the social media. If someone commits what could pass for a crime, by all means get the person and sue him. They do it all the time in US and UK. Nothing is

•Cynthia...lured through Facebook and murdered wrong with that. There is a difference between slander and personal opinion. I can say Mr President is silly based on my personal observation of his conduct but I should be ready to prove it if I say that he embezzled 10 billion naira. Now, let me ask, why are they so concerned. "Are we doing them any real damage? Are they not still stealing our monies despite our Nairaland and other nonsense web where we helplessly vent our anger? Do your torturers have the right to tell you not to scream and cry?’’ Barely two months after the call by the Senate President, the nation was faced with the bizarre murder of Cynthia Osokogu, made possible by a social media platform, Facebook. For those, who had attacked and even supported the Senate President’s position, the Cynthia saga was a reminder of earlier calls, by Mark and others, for a law to regulate the social media. The late Cynthia, it would be recalled, was the last and only daughter of Major General Frank Osokogu and his wife Joy. A business woman and student, the 24- year-old was declared missing on July 22, a few weeks to her 25th birthday. She came into Lagos to purchase goods for her

boutique and also keep a date with a few Facebook friends who had allegedly paid her air fares. She was allegedly lured to a hotel in FESTAC where she was killed. Her alleged killers were said to be her Facebook friends who were part of a syndicate which lures young women to Lagos, robs them of their possessions and murders them. Cynthia was their sixth victim. She was allegedly drugged, robbed and strangled. All forms of identification were taken off her at the time of her death. She was even reported to be a call-girl who died in the ‘line of duty’.

Police the social media platforms With the trial of Cynthia’s alleged killers still on-going, Vanguard Features investigations reveal a growing concern over the use of social media networks and the need to regulate the use of social media in the country. Only recently, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, lamented the mischievous use of the social media by some Nigerians. He spoke at the 20th anniversary of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC in Abuja,

He decried the unwholesome information and pictures of teenagers posted on Facebook, which are sometimes used to tarnish the image of some innocent Nigerians. Also corroborating Maku’s call for a regulatory framework, Chief Emeke Ndige, told VF that it is regrettable that the merits of social media are being consumed by its disadvantages. He called on the regulatory bodies to check the trend, adding that concerned agencies should come up with laws regulating the freedom in social media usage. "It is a sad development, and we should all rise to do everything within the ambit of the law to checkmate this trend. It was unfortunate that the young lady ended in such manner. But it has come with a purpose because the law would now become so responsive to the need to police the social media platforms. They have to be policed in order to create order in its usage, because there is so much freedom there, ‘’ he stated. Continuing, Ndige said: ‘’I am not against any form of liberty; as a lawyer we support people’s inalienable rights, but that right should not infringe

Continues on page 45

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—45

Guidelines on Italian Visas By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

•David Mark, Senate President...wants social media regulated

•Alleged killers of Cynthia

Growing apprehension over social media freedom Continues from page 44 on other people’s life. So NCC and other concerned agencies should come in. But that is not all, the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary should ensure that any social media suspect is prosecuted to a logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent to others. In other countries, cyber criminals are prosecuted by the law’’. Also speaking on the need for cyber security in the country, the Managing Partner of Okoro&Okoror Chambers, Chief Eidonogie Isiwele, told VF, that there was nothing wrong with the unlimited freedom in social media. He explained that what is needed is to create a secured future for the youths. ‘’I am not holding brief for anyone, but you will agree that most cyber related crimes in Nigeria are driven by poverty and state of hopelessness. A lot of people have no future in this country because of the collapse of the social system, hence surviving in Nigeria, to

the footstep of the professionals in the CPN, the NCS and ATCON. These are people who have been trained in the area of informatics and information technology development; they should be the experts advising government,’’ the report said Continuing, Uwagie declared : ‘’ How can we have a nation that does not have an IT adviser to the President? And you want to safeguard your country from digital attack. There must be a Special Assistant to the Office of Mr. President, who would be a senior adviser on information technology. These are the things that need to be put in place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is very strategically imperative that we need to do as fast as we can’’. According to him: ‘’ There is no reason why we should not have an Institute of Cybercrime Monitoring; there is no reason why we cannot have Cyber Engineering in our institutions; there is no reason I am not holding brief for anyone, but you why we should not will agree that most cyber related crimes in inculcate the cybersecurity curNigeria, are driven by poverty and state of riculum from hopelessness; a lot of people have no future primary school upwards. Just the in this country because of the collapse of the same way we used social system, hence surviving in Nigeria, to to have the civic them, becomes survival of the fittest lessons of old, cybersecurity and them, becomes survival of the fittest. The situ- cybercrime can be introduced at the priation made the people to embrace internet mary and secondary schools levels’’. Vanguard Features recalls a recent report crimes, but that notwithstanding, the law should be preventive on social media crime,” on Aljazzeera titled: "Dutch boy sentenced in Facebook murder case". he said According to the report, the 15-year-old As far as Isiwele is concerned: ‘’Relevant laws should be put in place, but the people’s Dutch boy was sentenced to a year in right to social media should not be stopped juvenile detention after he confessed to like what obtains in few countries where their killing a schoolgirl over a row that appears laws are draconian as regards to social media. to have begun on Facebook, the social-net“I know that the Federal Government made working site. Jinhua K was 14 when he attempts to curb the excesses of social media fatally stabbed Joyce “Winsie” Hau at her and its growing influence early this year; it is home. Jinhua was further convicted by the in order because it would reduce the soaring court for attempting to kill his victim’s rate of cyber crimes in the country,’’ he posited father. ‘’The case, known in the Netherlands as According to him: ‘’Cyber criminals are already exploiting vulnerabilities and the Facebook murder, caused widespread loopholes in national and regional legislation, debate about the role of social media in there is evidence that they are shifting their violent crimes. The court said the boy did diverse operations to countries where not know the victim and had murdered her appropriate and enforcement laws are not yet “at the request or instructions of others". Dutch media reported that the 15-yearin place’’. A 2008 report by the President of Global old victim had argued for weeks with two Network for Cyber Solutions, Dr. Chris Uwaje, friends on the social-networking site before stressed the need for government to seek the they allegedly asked the defendant, who advice of experts in the field of information was 14 at the time, to kill her. He was technology. ‘’If Nigeria knows IP and cyber offered a 1,000-euro payment, the media security issues, they should domicile them at reported.

N order to meet up with the increasing demand for Italian visas by numerous Nigeria applicants, the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry recently, joined some embassies in the outsourcing of visa application processes to the VFS Global. Following the development, Nigerians who desire Italian visa for various intended reasons are hereby notified that all applications, legalization of documents and scheduling of appointments should be directed to the embassy’s outsourced centre.

Maximum processing time An applicant who is a first timer should note that the minimum time it takes to process visa application by the embassy is 25 calendar days, while maximum processing time is 40 calendar days. In the case of an applicant who travels frequently, the time expected to have the visa ready is 15 calendar days at the minimum, and 25 calendar days at the maximum. Applicants can visit the v i s a application center to find out the status of t h e i r applications f r o m

Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 am and 4pm, except during holidays observed by Nigeria or Italy government. Applicants also can track their application by calling the outsourced centre helpline and, or connecting their website, same time and days as stated above. It is worthy of note that neither the Consulate nor the application center is responsible for the decision taken on a passport that has been lying in wait for collection for up to 90 days, counting from the day the passport arrived the center. In other words, passports that were not collected before the stipulated deadline shall be returned to the Consulate General. Every applicant is expected to provide the new bio-metric passports. It is mandatory for applicants to submit alongside their application form, typed information containing full mame(s), beginning with surname, date of birth, passport number, personal phone number and an active e-mail address.

Italian ambassador to Nigeria, Roberto Colamine

Questions from readers via e-mail

HERE can I obtain a new Nigeria Passport? The passport is obtainable from all the 36 states of the Federation, including Abuja. And for exact office locations, applicants are advised to visit the website of the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS). Applicants can also get passport from Nigerian Diplomatic Missions and Consulates, except for official and Diplomatic passports which are only obtainable from the Nigeria Immigration Service Headquarters, Abuja. What are the processes needed to acquire a misplaced passport while broad? The first step is to lay complaint to a local police, so as to get a written police report, after which you can now notify the nearest Nigeria embassy or consulate at your place of residence abroad. At the consulate/embassy you are requested to apply for a replacement passport. In addition to the police report, you are expected also to include completed passport application form, documentary proof of your Nigeria citizenship, such as birth or National Identity Card. You shall also provide the required passport fee and two passport-size photographs. It is worthy of note that all cases of lost ECOWAS passport be referred first to Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja, as Nigeria Missions abroad will not be able to reissue lost ECOWAS passports without prior approval from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. E-mail: consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com C M Y K

46—V anguard, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 46—Vanguard WEDNESDA

MIDWEEK SERMON

with SAM EYOBOKA sameyoboka@yahoo.com

HE Vatican recently initiat ed a major reform of women’s religious in America. Particularly targeted was the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) which represents about 80 per cent of the country's 57,000 women religious. The reform comes in light of a hardened defiance against Catholic morality in areas of family life and human sexuality and is meant to ensure the nuns’ fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women's ordination and homosexuality. While we often hear about the present day priest shortage, few seem aware that all religious communities, great and small, male and female, contemplat-ive, active or mixed, if not strict-ly decimated, have been reduc-ed to a fraction of their former selves in the last 50 years. In Canada, the US and Western Europe, nuns are vanishing at an alarming rate. A recent study by the US National Religious Vocation Conference found the number of nuns in the US had fallen a stunning 66 per cent over the past four decades. In Canada, there are 19,000 nuns, down 54 per cent from 42,000 in 1975. Indeed, at the beginning of the 60s, Quebec was the region of the world with the highest number of women religious in relation to the population. Today, all sociologists agree that unless there is a reversal of the present trend, women’s religious life as we have known it will be only a memory in Canada. Pope Benedict XVI has reduced the problem mainly to a certain "radical feminism" that has crept into women’s religious orders causing an identity crisis among active orders and congregations. Women religi-ous, the pope says, have turned away from theology and sought liberation in psychologists and psychoanalysts who can only say at most how the forces of the mind function but not why and to what purpose. After Vatican II, religious communities began every kind of reform imaginable: abandonm-ent of the religious habit, degrees at secular universities, insertion into secular profess-ions, a massive reliance on every type of "specialist". Not surprisingly, modern sec-

ular values were often uncritically adopted and the concept of "love of neighbor" was soon replaced by that of "social welfare". In the process Christ-ianity gradually became reduc-ed to an ideology of doing. Pope John Paul II later warned against this minimalist appr-oach, saying that the true lead-ers are those who are "profoundly rooted in contemplation and prayer. Ours is a time of continual movement which often leads to restlessness, with the risk of ‘doing for the sake of doing’. We must resist this temptation by trying to be, be-fore trying to do." A major cause of the decay is a distorting of the evangelical councils by taking them as a psychological and sociological outlook rather than as a special state of life structured in accordance with the counsel Christ gives in the Gospels. True renewal means an adapt-ation of external activities with a view to a more effective pursuit of holiness. It is begotten by a disgust with weakening of discipline and by a desire for a life that is more spiritual, more prayerful

*The Correspondents' Chapel of Oyo State NUJ on Sunday began its Press Week with a church service at the Stone Church, Craig Avenue, Mokola, Ibadan. Pix by DARE FASUBE shows the church pastor, Oluwole Benjamin addressing members of chapel at the service.

This drift in reform of religious life today is parallel to the one governing the reform of the priesthood. On the one hand there is the obfuscation of the difference between the sacram-ental priesthood and the priest-hood of all believers; and on the other, of the difference between a state of perfection and the common state. What is specific to religious life is washed out or watered down in thought and behaviour. Take for example, the three evangelical councels (chastity, poverty, obedience) that are essential to religious life. Today, there is a certain distaste for chastity. A certain decline

By PAUL KOKOSKI

Women’s Religious Orders

Today, we see in a really terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the church does not come from the enemies outside, but is born from the sin in the church

and more austere. Post conciliar reform tends to move from the difficult to the easy or less difficult rather than from the easy to the difficult or more difficult. Today, a religious order questions itself, confronts experiences, demand creativity, searches for a new identity (which implies that it is beco-ming something other than it-self), moves toward building "true communities" (as if for centuries past religious orders had consisted entirely of false communities). Ultimately the crisis among religious is the result of an excessive conforming to the world, and a taking up of the world’s positions because one has despaired of winning the world over to one’s own. A by no means small or unimportant sign of this alienation is the change in the dress of members of religious orders, inspired by a wish that it should no longer differ from that of secular persons.

in delicacy and care are obvious not only in the wide-spread slackness in clerical dress, but in the more frequent mixing of the sexes, even on journeys, and in the abandon-ment of the precautions adopt-ed even by great and holy men. In regards to poverty there is a habitual and at times uncontrollable use of such technology as the television and internet. Of all the councels, obedience is the one where the drift to-wards relaxation in religious orders shows itself most clearly. The concept of obedience has been lowered by lowering the principle of authority and mix-ing it up with a kind of fraternal relationship by means of a fruitful dialogue. True Catholic obedience, however, implies submission to the will of the superior--so long as the com-mand is not manifestly illicit---and not a reexamination of the superior’s command by the one obeying. Catholic obedience does not seek a co-

C&S turns 87, tasks FG on Nigeria's highways

TERNAL Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim recently cele-brated its 87th anniversary in Lagos with pomp and pagean-try, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Members from different parts of the country converged in Lagos for the celebration service which was followed by a thanksC M Y K

giving service. Speaking during the cele-bration, the C&S Prelate, Elder Lazarus Onyeleonu, who also used the occasion to mark his first anniversary as the 8th Baba-Aladura of the church, called for Federal Government's immediate intervention on the dilapidated state of Lagos-Ibadan Ex-

pressway to end the miseries of commuters. Prelate Onyeleonu, who also turns 87 this year, frowned at the deplorable states of some of the country’s inter-state roads noted that the continuous neglect of the road is a sign of government’s insensitivity to the protection of lives of its citizens.

inciding of the wills of subject and super-iors. Such an agreement negat-es any sacrifice of one’s own will by conforming it to some-body else’s. It ultimately prod-uces selfgovernment, self-teaching, selfeducation and even self-redemption. This weakening in obedience has lead to a weakening of the spirit of unity. Individuals are now left to do the things proper to the religious state as if the community did not exist. Mass is said at anytime, prayer is left to the spirituality of each pers-on. With this aim in mind it is easy to see why religious instit-utes have virtually disappeared. It is a contradiction in terms to join a community in order to do individually, and on one’s own account, things one has joined the community to do in common. Not surprisingly, cloistered contemplative orders are under no such Vatican scrutiny. This is because they have withstood very well due to the fact that they are more sheltered from the Zeitgeist, and because they are characterized by a clear and unalterable aim: praise of God, prayer, virginity and separation from the world as an eschatological sign. Their wonderful capacity to give love, help, solace, warmth and solidarity did not give way to the economistic, and trade-union mentality of the "profession ".

e are at a point now when religious life in the Catholic Church should be presenting an alternative to the dominant culture of death, of violence and of abuse, rather than mirror-ing it. Hopefully the new re-form will remedy this. One thing is clear: sisters need to refocus their communi-ties on the founding charisms or original purpose of their orders. They also need, as a re-medy against radical femini-sm, Mary whose mystery was inserted into the mystery of the Church at Vatican II making her a focal point for the equilibrium and completeness of the Catholic Faith. When one recognizes the place assigned to Mary by dog-ma and tradition, one becomes more solidly rooted in authentic Christology. As both a Jewish girl and mother of the Messiah, Mary also binds together, in a living and indissoluble way, the old and the new People of God. She is, as it were, the

connect-ing link without which the Faith (as is happening today) runs the risk of losing its balance by either forsaking the New Test-ament for the Old or dispensing with the Old. Finally, according to her destiny as Virgin and Mother, Mary conti-nues to project a light upon that which the Creator intended for women in every age. Mary is the one who rendered silence and seclusion fruitful. She is the one who did not fear to stand under the Cross. As a creature of courage and obedience she was and will always remain an example to which every Christ-ian man and woman should look.

Greatest persecution In 2005 Pope Benedict XVI issued a resounding call for reform in the Catholic Church. He lamented: "How much filth there is in the church, and even among those...in the priest-hood." In May, 2010 he rei-terated this plea stating: "Today we see in a really terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the church does not come from the enemies outside, but is born from the sin in the church." These exhortations were widely interpreted as references to the sex-abuse scandal affecting the church's standing in North America and other parts of the world. However, the Pope’s comments were also directed more widely to the phenomenon of modernism that is poisoning the church at its core---the result of decades of liberal exegetical, theological, and "pastoral" creativity in the name of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council. One of the key areas where modernism has been allowed to take root, fester and spread has been women relig-ious. There are still some very good contemplative orders that have never given up the vision of the Eternal Church and have pass-ed this on to younger religious, who in scattered places preser-ve the Apostolic faith, much as the monks did on their lonely islands during the Dark Ages. It is with this hope that the church will again be revital-ized and become once more a vehicle for re-Christianizing the world. *Mr. Kokoski wrote in from Ontario, Canada.

V anguard, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 — 47 Vanguard WEDNESDA

Obama marks 9/11: ‘This is never an easy day’ BY UDUMA KALU with agency reports

HE mournful tones of “Taps” fluttered over the South Lawn of the White House as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama led America in a silent tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The crisp, clear day recalled the pleasant fall weather the morning of that national tragedy. The Obamas walked somberly out of the residence of the White House and, flanked by hundreds of staff, bowed their heads at 8:46 a.m.—11 years after American Airlines Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. The first couple placed their hands over their hearts as “Taps” played and a military color guard dipped its flags. Afterward, they turned, clasped hands and walked back into the presidential mansion. The Obamas then travelled to the Pentagon for a 9/11 observance ceremony. “This is never an easy day,” the president told an audience of active-duty service members, families of those killed and others. “But it is especially difficult for all of you, the families of nearly 3,000 innocents who lost their lives—your mothers and fathers, your husbands and wives, your sons and your daughters. They were taken from us suddenly and far too soon,” he said. “Even now, all these years later, it is easy for those of us who lived through that day to close our eyes and to find ourselves back there—and back here—back when grief crashed over us like an awful wave, when Americans everywhere held each other tight, seeking the reassurance that the world we knew wasn’t crumbling under our feet,” he said. “And even though we may never be able to fully lift the burden carried by those left behind, we know that somewhere, a son is growing up with his father’s eyes and a daughter has her mother ’s laugh—living reminders that those who died are with us

•Obamas at the anniversary still.Relatives of victims of 9/11 listen to President Barack Obama at a Pentagon memorial ceremony. (Jason Reed/Reu … “As painful as this day is and always will be, it leaves us with a lesson that no single event can ever destroy who we are. No act of terrorism can ever change what we stand for. Instead, we recommit ourselves to the values that we believe in, holding firmly without wavering to the hope that we confess,” he said. “God bless the memories of those we lost. And God bless these United States of America.” The president will visit the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Washington suburb of Bethesda in the afternoon. Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to make remarks at a ceremony honoring the passengers and crew of Flight 93, which slammed into the ground killing all aboard after an insurrection against the hijackers. Biden, who lost his first wife and baby daughter in a 1972 car crash, drew on his experience to deliver a searingly personal message to families mourning loved ones gone 11 years on. “For no matter how many anniversaries you experience, for at least an instant, the terror of that moment returns; the lingering echo of that phone call; that sense of total disbelief that envelops you, where you feel like

you’re being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest,” he said. “My hpe for you all is that as every year passes, the depth of your pain recedes and you find comfort, as/ I have, genuine comfort in recalling his smile, her laugh, their touch,” Biden said. “And I hope you’re as certain as I am that she can see what a wonderful man her son has turned out to be, grown up to be; that he knows

everything that your daughter has achieved, and that he can hear, and she can hear how her mom still talks about her, the day he scored the winning touchdown, how bright and beautiful she was on that graduation day, and know that he knows what a beautiful child the daughter he never got to see has turned out to be, and how much she reminds you of him,” Biden said. ”For I know you see your wife every time you see her smile on your child’s

face. You remember your daughter every time you hear laughter coming from her brother’s lips. And you remember your husband every time your son just touches your hand.” America, Biden said, has “not forgotten the heroism of your husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers.” In Washington, there were a few signs of some of the changes wrought by the attacks, such as a K-9 team outside a metro stop a few blocks from the White House and the dark silhouette of a military battery atop an office building overlooking the presidential mansion. And both Obama’s campaign and Mitt Romney’s suspended negative ads for a day.9/11 attacks play small role in 2012 election 9/11 losses and global terrorism Yesterday was September 11, the 11th year the United States was attacked by terrorists in the United States, the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. The attacks saw extremists from Osama bin Lad-

en’s al-Qaida terrorist network hijack four airliners to use as guided missiles, crashing into both towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people were killed. America’s response included the late-2001 invasion of Afghanistan, a war that is now the country’s longest, and the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Bin Laden met his end at the hands of Navy SEAL commanders in a May 2011 raid on his compound in Pakistan. The attacks against New York City and Washington, D.C., caused extensive death and destruction and triggered an enormous U.S. effort to combat terrorism. Some 2,750 people were killed in New York, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Pennsylvania (where one of the hijacked planes crashed after the passengers attempted to retake the plane); all 19 terrorists died. Police and fire departments in New York were especially hard-hit: hundreds had rushed to the scene of the attacks, and more than 400 police officers and firefighters were killed.

How 9/11 will affect this year’s election BY JEFF GREENFIELD

F you have any doubt that the first Tuesday in November is still shadowed by that second Tuesday in September eleven years ago, just replay a few lines from the Democratic National Convention. “General Motors is alive, and Osama Bin Laden is dead!” thundered VicePresident Joe Biden. Ask Osama Bin Laden if he’s better off than he was four years ago!” asked Senator John Kerry, after arguing that “after more than 10 years without justice for thousands of Americans murdered on 9/11, after Mitt Romney said it would be naive to go into Pakistan to pursue the terrorists, it took President [Barack] Obama, against the advice of many, to give that order and finally rid this earth of Osama bin Lad-

en!” Said President Obama: “A new tower rises above the New York skyline, al- Qaida is on the path to defeat and Osama bin Laden is dead.” The message is as subtle as a Hellfire missile. The Democrats, so used to playing defense on the issue of national security, are positioning their candidate as tougher, more seasoned, more focused on taking the fight to our enemies. This year we have yet another election—and that’s all but one since the attacks on New York and Washington—where September 11th has had a powerful, even decisive impact on our politics. There’s no surprise here. When the blood of thousands of Americans is shed, the impact lingers. For a generation after the Civil War, the

Bereaved families weeping yesterday Republican injunction to “vote as you shot” kept the party dominant for decades; from 1868 to 1912, only one Democrat—Grover Cleveland—won the White House. The last Americans left Vietnam almost half a century ago; but the Democratic nominee eight years ago and the Republican nominee

four years ago were men whose Vietnam service propelled them into politics. (One of them, John Kerry, saw that record savaged by those “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” ads.) So it comes as no surprise that the deadliest attack on American soil, and America’s response to that violence, has shaped our politics ever since.

48— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Imo govt to demolish shrines As security challenges heighten

RIMINAL activities, especially the serious ones, have been on the increase in Imo Sate for a long while now. Time was when commercial banks were brazenly attacked by rampaging hoodlums. Even those situated at shouting distance away from the state police Headquarters in Owerri, were not spared. Naturally, the security agencies got serious bashing from the citizenry and they sat up. When the police and other security organizations seemingly found the antidote for this ugly development, the criminals changed tactics. They started attacking private homes, churches, commercial vehicles and any other vulnerable place with fury. Not satisfied about being forced out of their damnable activities, the hoodlums shifted from petit- stealing and added kidnapping into the criminal lexicon of the state. The rich, the poor and lowly, including impressionable toddlers, became victims of these criminals.

Payment of ransom The list of those kidnapped is very long. Truth is that while some were left out of the hook after paying huge sums as ransom through members of their immediate family, others were not so lucky. There were those that were killed by their captors, even after ransom was paid and collected by the criminals. Fear gripped the people. Movement became forcefully restricted. Every person became suspicious of every other person. Night life virtually disappeared. Business suffered downward plunge. People learnt to go to bed early. Perimeter fences in private homes were raised to high heaven and all manner and designs of burglary proofs were installed. These were all aimed at warding off intruders. The affluent in society started applying for armed personnel to beef up their security. The presence of armed security personnel in some family

C M Y K

homes did not do the magic for all persons. The likes of former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Godffrey Dikeocha, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vin Udokwu and former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Chioma Ogoke fell victims to the onslaught of the dare-devils. They were kidnapped at various times, places and circumstances.

rked by this ugly development during his time, the Ikedi Ohakim administration sent an executive bill to the State House of Assembly to check the crime. After tinkering with the bill, the lawmakers slammed maximum sentence on anybody found guilty of the offence. This law remains effective till date. Available records show that some of the kidnap matters are in various courts in the state and they are in various stages of the legal processes, while the accused persons are in prison custody. The immediate past administration floated what it termed

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

•Gov. Rochas Okorocha,‘intensifying efforts’ the Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media Affairs, Chief Onyema Opara, disclosed that hoodlums reportedly squeezed the huge frame of the

The greatest challenge facing the Rocha Okorocha administration is the palpable insecurity in the land

“Operation Festival”. It also bought and distributed a number of double cabin Toyota Hilux vans to the security agencies for their use in fighting crime and criminals. The Principal Secretary to Imo State Deputy Governor, Emenike Ihekwoaba, an architect, was the latest government functionary that was recently abducted by unknown gunmen at Amaraku Junction, Isiala Mbano local council area of the state. Crime Alert investigations showed that Emenike, was on his way to his Nkwerre country home with his wife and driver before he was ambushed and whisked away to unknown destination by the armed hoodlums. Confirming the ugly incident,

Deputy Governor’s Principal Secretary into their vehicle’s booth and zoomed off. As at the time of going to press, it was not clear if he had regained his freedom. The Rochas Okorocha administration equally inherited a surging crime situation. It so overwhelmed him that he quickly launched “Community Policing” outfit. He equally bought several vehicles and distributed to the police, army, State Security Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. According to the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, SGI, Professor Anthony Gozie Anwuka, “the greatest challenge facing the Rocha Okoro-

cha administration is the palpable insecurity in the land”. Continuing, the fiery former university administrator said: “Initially, we opted to parade criminals in their villages. This did not attract the expected dividend. The kidnappers and criminals became toughened and started operating on higher grounds than government’s earlier plan. The Governor feels sufficiently worried about the level of insecurity in the land”.

Kidnapping and armed robbers Today and in line with the provisions of the anti-kidnapping law, the present administration has since started destroying any home where kidnappers and armed robbers use as their havens. Not even farmlands and community shrines are spared. “Any shrine found to be the abode of kidnappers would be destroyed by government without recourse to anybody. The same is applicable to farmlands. Such a land automatically becomes government land. Royal fathers and town union executives are therefore warned to ensure that criminals are not given sanctuary in their areas”, Anwuka warned.

•Uche Alaribe, one of the victi There is a pertinent question that should be asked at this juncture. How does anybody imbibe criminality as a stock in trade? Are the criminals living in the moon? Do they not have brothers, sisters, friends, fathers and mothers? A critical research carried out by Crime Alert showed that these criminal tendencies usually start like a child’s play from their respective homes. Most parents either neglect or refuse to curb it at its infancy. The children grow with it and become largely uncontrollable over time. Successive governments have some blame in breeding criminals. The armed uprising by youths of the Niger Delta Region largely started because of unfulfilled promises by government. Their communities became anything but areas unfit for human habitation.

Wallowing in abject poverty Why would the huge money realized from the sale of the liquid gold in their backyard be used in transforming other places while they continued to wallow in abject poverty and need? The anger boiled over and took up arms. Here in Imo State, some communities have not been finding things easy. The Area K, World Bank Housing Estate, Owerri, has re-

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—49

, buildings used by criminals Police drag 2 to court for stealing and being in possession of stolen properties BY ONOZURE DANIA

ims

•Adisa Bolanta,Cp Imo—We are poised for action

mained a thorny issue. Only a few days ago, People from Ndiokwu-Owerre Ebeiri, Orlu local council area, protested what they called “government’s unfulfilled government’s promises”. The visibly angry villagers, including widows, children and even the physically challenged persons, carried placards bearing varying inscriptions that castigated government. The leader, Mazi Innocent Udeagwu regretted that government has reneged on its earlier promises to the community in regard to the Timber Market. Udeagwu recalled with grief that the community is hosting not fewer than five government projects but there was nothing to show for their sacrifice, adding that for peace to reign, government must adhere to the terms of their agreement. Speaking also, the Chairman of

Umudiaku village, Mr. Daniel Igwe, called on the government to desist from further acquisition of their land, pointing out that takeover of their lands could deprive them of farmlands and this is an open invitation to hunger and starvation in the community.

Suffering undue hardship In his own speech, the Chairman of Ndiokwu Progressive Union, Mr. Okechukwu Ekezie, did not understand why they should suffer undue hardship after giving full support to the new administration. The foregoing amply explains how and why anger builds up in some communities. Nobody

will be shocked if the criminal elements go beyond the peaceful protest to adopt other unorthodox methods of showcasing their anger. Bad blood builds but it must be said that there are the chronic criminals that enlist their own acolytes. The rich amongst us are equally not helping matters. The way some of them flaunt their sometime ill-gotten riches, is very tempting. Only a handful of such rich people extend helping hands to the less privileged close to them. The cliché in some villages, especially amongst unemployed youths, is that if the rich feel reluctant to part with their money peacefully, then they must be prepared to part with it by force. That is how the aggrieved craft other ways of getting it by force. Crime build!

28-year-old man, Fidelis Williams, has been remanded in prison custody for stealing properties worth N277, 600. Williams was arraigned last week, alongside one Chimezie Egbeyi, 28, before an Ikeja magistrate court, for receiving stolen property. The Police prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams, told the court that Fidelis Willaims, committed the offence in October 2011, at 13, Egbeda road, Lagos and also on July 21, 2012, about 1:40am at 34, Mojishola Street, Ijegun The prosecutor said, Williams broke into the house of one Mr Kolawole Dada and stole the following items: one Blackberry curve 3 valued at N95,000, one Samsung phone valued at N40, 000 and one Nokia 3110 valued at N10, 000, respectively. She alleged that Willaims, on July 21, 2012 was caught breaking into the house of Abibat Samsondeen who resides at 34, Mojisola Street, Ijegun at about 1:40 in the mid night and stole one Nokia phone valued at N3, 500. She also claimed that the suspect on the same day at about 2:15am in the mid night, was alleged to have broken into the house of Mr Adejumobi Saheed who resides at 17, Irepodun

Street, off Community road, Ijegun and stole one Techno phone worth N8, 500 and cash sum of N600. The prosecutor also alleged that Egbeyi who received the items from Willaims, knew that they were stolen properties. The defendants whose residential addresses could not be ascertained as at the time of the arraignment are facing a four- count charge of stealing, burglary, felony and false pretence.

Prison custody According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under section 326(b) and section 305 (c) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. When the charges were read, the defendants pleaded not guilty and Magistrate Olagbegi Adelabu granted the second defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum, while she remanded the first defendant in prison custody, saying that he can not be granted bail, since he is known to be a notorious and habitual house breaker. She noted that Fidelis Willaims should be remanded in prison custody till the next adjournment date and thereafter adjourned the matter till September 16.

•Court docks man, 22, for OBT and stealing BY ONOZURE DANIA

33-yearold man, Okechukwu Igbojekwe has been docked before an Ikeja Magistrate court for stealing N3,800,000. Igbojekwe, who was arraigned last week, is facing a twocount charge of unlawfully obtaining and stealing. The police prosecutor, Inspector Rachael Williams, told the court that Igbojekwe

committed the crime on June 18, 2010 around 4pm at Association Plaza, Cement bus stop, Dopemu, Agege, Lagos. He alleeged that the defendant had on June 18, 2010, around 4pm, unlawfully obtained two containers of tiles worth N3,800,000 from one Chief Sunday Osonwa on the pretence to sell and refund the proceed to him. She also said that Igbojekwe unlawfully obtained and stole two containers of

tiles valued N3,800,000, property of Chief Sunday Osonwa, pretending to go and sell them so that he could refund the proceed from the tiles to the owner, but never did. According to her, the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 312(b) and 278 (b) of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011. When the charges were read to the

defendant whose residential address could not be ascertained as at the time of the arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and was subsequently granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum. Magistrate Olagbegi Adelabu, who granted him bail, adjourned the matter till September 9, 2012, for further hearing. C M Y K

50—V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 50—VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

This mistress won’t go quietly

I have been vindicated by his death Dear Bunmi, My husband recently died suddenly after suffering from a massive heart attack. We have been married close to 20 years and have three children. Everyone expects me to be devastated by his death, but I’m not.

He was a real socialite, very popular and friendly to friends and relations. But to me and our children, he was nasty, miserly and grumpy. What’s worse, he had lots of affairs he wasn’t sorry for. As at the time of his death, he’d

His neurotic ex gets on my nerves! Dear Bunmi, I have been with my boyfriend for about six months now. We’re both in our late 30’s and get on just great. We spend a lot of time together and since we both work in the same area, he picks me up from work everyday and I stay at his place most nights. The problem is his ex-girlfriend who had a child by him. Since she found out about us, she phones and texts my boyfriend throughout the day and night. This is driving both of us mad. S h e even

saying he still loves me and not to let his ex spoil things. He believes that if we ignore her, she’ll get fed up and stop calling him. Should I put up with this situation and go back to him? Azeezah, by e-mail. Dear Azeezah, Could it be that you interpret your boyfriend’s unwillingness to shut his ex out of his life as a sign that he might abandon you and go back to her? Accept that he won’t. But because of the child between them,

Remember, the flash motor might break down and leave you stranded on an isolated pothole-riddled road, while your old Honda i t will never let you came might down looking take some for me at the place where I work. Luckily, I wasn’t there. My boyfriend and his ex broke up more than a year ago. But now that she knows he has a new partner, she won’t leave him alone. She keeps telling him that she loves him and that their child, whom he sees often, misses him. She also tells him she wants her body next to his and that he should “get rid of that bitch,” meaning me! My boyfriend has refused to change his number because he uses the phone for business and it would be too much hassle. He won’t even turn it off at night in case his aged mum or his sister need to reach him in an emergency. I have a feeling these are just excuses. My boyfriend had confronted her a few times, but she is an alcoholic, which is why they broke up in the first place. She says that whenever she has a drink, she loses control, and claims that often, she can’t remember making calls or sending texts. Then as soon as he got back home, she was on the phone to him again. I have refused to see him in the last few days because the relationship is getting stressful, but my boyfriend keeps calling me, C M Y K

time before he feels able to make a greater commitment to you. Any girlfriend always competes in a sense with every woman her man has known before her. By always begging him to take her back, this ex is presenting herself as a victim to whom your man needs to show mercy. It’s obvious your man is no longer prepared to be the protector of the drunkard his ex is but is ready to avoid humiliating her by totally switching her off shows he has not yet fully adapted to life in which he is free of obligation from the mother of his child. Give your man unquestioning and unwavering support at his difficult time. But also help him to discover that it is possible to make choices that will protect his happiness and yours without damaging his relationship with his child. His ex suffered a cruel blow when she learnt of her former lover’s relationship with you. He can help her and himself to move on by telling his ex that the child will always be part of him but will no longer tolerate erratic and frantic calls from her. Show him how he could let go of the troubling past by trusting in the affection you feel for him.

gloated to me and the children that he was planning on taking a second wife and selling the family house, so he would have money to buy a flat and pay the rent for a flat he would move the rest of us into. So you can imagine how jubilant I was when he had a heart attack in his office. I was thankful it didn’t happen at home or his relatives might accuse me of killing him. So as at the time of his death, my head ruled my reasoning instead of my heart. I quickly took the documents of the house to a safe place and locked all his relatives out. I believe in poetic justice and his death had vindicated me. I still feel bitter about the way he treated us and to bury him, I sold his two cars and told his relatives he had no liquid cash, when I was aware of how much he had in the bank. When they realised that I’d gotten the letter of probate and made my three children administrators to his will, my inlaws nearly beat me up. Now I do as I please, but they expect me to mourn him for a year at least. I am not prepared to do this. Lade, by e-mail. Dear Lade, You should be commended by this honesty you’ve shown about your feelings. And why not? Your husband treated you and your children badly flaunting his affairs. So a large part of you will actually be relieved he’s gone. And it is understandable you’re furious with him. You shouldn’t be afraid to own up to that. Having said that, if you allow yourself to feel all your anger, you might just discover, under the surface, that there’s also some sadness that he died, that your marriage failed, that things did not work out. And if you tap into that sadness, it may only take a small step to being able to let these bitter feelings go. You were both in love once— enough to make three children together. You should try and mourn this sad loss of a life that was cut short. After a decent mourning period, you should then begin your new life and perhaps find new love, and contentment. Your late husband’s relatives might be unaware of how badly you were treated and would be naturally bewildered if you behaved as if you were well rid of your husband. He was their flesh and blood too.

Dear Bunmi, For three years, I have been having an affair with a female colleague. She knows how strongly I feel about my wife and now that my wife is pregnant with our second child, I told her we should stop the affair. To my dismay, she really got nasty and angry, threatening to spill the beans to my wife if I dumped her. How can I make her realise it’s better if we just finish the affair quietly? Andrew, by e-mail. Dear Andrew, You may not be able to finish this affair as quietly as you hoped. It depends on wheth-

er your lover cares who she hurts, or is just doing what she can to keep you. Whichever way, you need to make it clear that you won’t go on with the affair whatever she says or does. Then you must decide whether to tell your wife or risk your former lover spilling the beans instead. Only you can judge your wife’s reaction, just as you’re the only person who can work out what your lover will do once she realises it’s all over. If she’s a decent person, my guess is that she won’t tell. But finding out from a stranger would upset your wife more than hearing it from you.

We pretend we’re still happily married Dear Bunmi, My wife and I row all of the time and it has got to a point where we both agreed we might be better off apart. But we’re both terrified of what the reactions of our friends and relatives will be when we break up. As a result, we still haven’t told anyone. Our two kids are under 10. Our parents and friends think we are the perfect couple, so how can we come clean and let everyone know we’ve been living a total lie and that our marriage is over? Ben, by e-mail. Dear Ben, I don’t think you should

come clean just yet. You might be a long way from actually splitting up. Yes, you row all the time, but so do lots of other couples. You must have something going for you if other people can’t spot the cracks in your relationship. Also maybe one reason you’re not spilling the beans is because you still habour the possibility of staying together. You need to really sit each other down and discuss the future of your marriage and the children. This will either help you to give the marriage another go or help you prepare to break the news of its inevitable end.

Does he want to use me again? Dear Bunmi, I met this sophisticated businessman when I went to spend a week out of my leave with my sister and he swept me off my feet. When I was coming back, he bought my ticket, gave me lovely presents and promised to call me. He never did and when I tried his line, I couldn’t get through. That was seven months ago and I’ve quickly settled with my old reliable boyfriend. Now, this flash man has phoned that he would be around for the next few months. He said he’d been away for a while but is back. He plans to spend a few weeks in Lagos and is dying for us to meet up. Help! Dorcas, by e-mail. Dear Dorcas, This one is up to you. Are

you the kind of person who’s happy cruising down life’s motor way in your reliable Honda, only to get overtaken by the latest Prado Jeep and feel instantly dissatisfied? Remember, the flash motor might break down and leave you stranded on an isolated pothole-riddled road, while your old Honda will never let you down. What you had with rich lover-boy was a fling, whilst you were on leave. You’re back in the real world now. He may be God’s gift to women, but where was he all these seven months until he realised he might need female attention in his next port of call? If you’re that undecided, go and see him and get it off your system. Then get back into your nice reliable Honda.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012—51

Rumpus in the media over Jonathan’s bribery allegations •Jonathan exaggerated —Ekpu •Media bases assessment on constitution— Adefaye •Jonathan is right— Olatilo

•Nduka Obaigbena, publisher This Day.

BY UDUMA KALU & BASHIR ADEFAKA

IGERIAN journal ists are not happy with President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that the country’s mass media have been bought and the owners now fly private jets. While groups such as the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, have condemned the statement, Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, challenged the president to provide a template to assess his officials. Other media chiefs, however, want the presidential statement investigated while others said the statement was an unkind generalisation. President Goodluck Jonathan on August 23, issued a damning verdict on the Nigerian media, portraying it as highly politicized and unreliable and that they have lost his trust as an independent and fair assessor of government’s performance. He spoke at the signing of a new performance assessment procedure for government officials, intended as an assessment tool to spotlight the government’s service delivery. The president said the unreliability of the media had informed his government’s decision to introduce a new model of appraisal.

Voice of the powerful Under the arrangement, ministers, permanent secretaries, directors and other staff, are to be evaluated based on set goals. The president had said: “Before, the media used to be the voice of the ordinary people. But now, the media is the voice of those who own the media houses and those who owned the media houses have private jets and those who own private jets are not ordinary people. So the media is now the voice of the powerful people. So, we have to have a way of assessing ourselves.” Since this presidential verdict, there have been various reactions in the media. In fact, in Lagos, there was a public disagreement on the issue at the public presentation of the book, Moving in Circles, written by the ex-directors of Newswatch Magazine, Dan Agbese, Ray Ekpu, Soji Akinrinade and Yakubu Mohammed at the NIIA. The reviewer of the book, Chidi Amuta, had while narrating the frosty relationship between the government and the media, recalled Jonathan’s statement. But the anchor of the event, Mr.

a lot of corruption also in the media. But to say that the media have been bought over is a vague generalization and I would not accept that.” In his reaction, former coach and one time scribe of the Nigerian Football Federation but now Group Managing Director, Great Publishing Company Limited, Fanny Amun, urged the media to probe Jonathan's allegation to find out why he made such pronouncement against the industry. He said: “He wouldn’t have made such statement if there was no reason behind it. Somebody of his position cannot just come out and say the media is biased. There should have been something that convinced him beyond every doubt warranting that he made that statement and it is the business of the media to stand up to that and probe.”

•Orji Uzor Kalu, publisher The Sun.

•Bola Tinubu, The Nation publisher.

Bisi Olatitilo, himself •President Goodluck Jonathan the CEO of BOS, a television content provider, disagreed with Amuta, saying there was corruption in the media and that those bad eggs should be identified and made to repent. However, President of the NGE, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, told Vanguard that “The president has a right to object because there is no consensus about the way for assessing public officers. The template that the media uses is Chapter Two of the constitution which is prerogative principles •Adefaye NGE president of state policy and all of that. Beunfair statement on the Nigericause we are working with Secan media. He said: “Of course tion 22 of the constitution which you would have deficiencies in is to hold the government acany of the professions. There are countable to the governed, listgood media, there are bad meing things that should be done dia and the media are part of the in the directive principles of state policy. That is what we use, which is what the president has found objectionable.”

•Jimoh Ibrahim, publisher National Mirror

•Erastus Akingbola, owner Inspiration FM

Nigerian society. There is a lot of corruption in Nigeria. There is

UJ, Lagos chapter, in its reaction, faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s comments, describing as “very unpresidential and unbecoming of a leader, who needs the input of the media to succeed.” In a statement in Ikeja by its Chairman, Mr. Deji Elumoye, and Secretary Sylva Okereke, the council said it is unfortunate that the President was castigating the media, which brought him to limelight and has consistently been setting agenda for his administration to succeed. The council wondered what becomes of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which mandated the media to hold public office holders like President Jonathan accountable, if his remarks were to be taken seriously. It said the media has been the voice of the voiceless before, during and after the nation’s Independence. The council recalled how journalists, at the detriment of their lives, fought against military rule and brought about the democracy, which President Jonathan is benefitting from today.

Pictorial battering of photo-journalist Uwalaka

defaye added: “What the president should do is to make that performance contract that he signed with his ministers and MDAs public in continuation of his positive intention over the freedom of information law. With that we can build consensus around the template he has developed with his appointed officers and double check that against Chapter Two of the constitution and then agree on how to assess public officers. Until then, the president is bound to accept the assessment by the media because they work by the constitution. This is not an emotional thing.” In his reaction, former chief executive officer of Newswatch Magazine, Mr. Ray Ekpu, described Jonathan’s allegation as a vague generalization. The veteran journalist said the fact that there could be corruption in a section of the media did not mean the President had to slam mud on all the media and that it was

Governor Babatunde Fashola is said to have begun full investigation into the assault on Benedict Uwalaka, marked (O), a photo journalist with Leadership Newspaper, battered and bruised last Thursday by members of the vigilante group of the LASUTH mortuary while he was covering the release of corpses of Dana Air crash victims at the Ikeja General Hospital Mortuary. An online pictures by For a CorruptionFree Nigeria said picture marked (X) is the face of the lead culprit making away with Benedict Uwalaka's camera after using crude weapons on him

52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Brazil hammer China 8-0 T

HREE goals for Ney mar was the key for Brazil, as they showed no mercy in destroying a demoralised China team 8-0 in Recife. The midfielder, Hulk, Ramires and Lucas Moura also found the net, while the Asian side’s misfortunes were compounded by Liu Jianye who put the ball past his own keeper in a second half to forget for the visitors. Neymar should have handed his side the lead after just five minutes when he got on the end of Oscar ’s cross, but with the goal at his mercy the Santos starlet hit the post. Hulk and Lucas both forced saves from Zeng Cheng, before midway through the half Brazil finally found a way through. Ramires surged brilliantly from deep and, after playing a delightful one-two with Chelsea team-mate Oscar, chipped past Cheng to open the scoring and ease the pressure on the home side. The advantage was doubled seconds later. A well-placed low cross

EPORTS have emerged of the Argentina squad being attacked in Lima prior to their 2014 World Cup qualifier against Peru on Tuesday. While this squad was being announced, the current group, who are in the middle of qualification for World Cup 2014, have been subject to an attack by a group of Peru fans in Lima. Coaching staff and players were reportedly pelted with stones as they left a training session at Estadio Nacional.

•Madison

•Messi

I used ‘juju’ on Black Stars keeper, wife confesses •TEAM WORK ... Brazil star, Neymar (m) with team mates celebrate a goal from Hulk, given a start in the place of Leandro Damiao after his goal against the Bafana, found Oscar with space in the area. The midfielder squared

for Neymar, who could do little else but stroke the ball into the net with little trouble. From that point onwards, it was merely a case of seeing how many Mano Men-

ezes’ men could add to the tally. A rampant Brazil added three more to the scoreline in less than 10 minutes after the two teams retook the field for the second half.

ORMER Black Stars keeper, Richard Kingson’s wife has claimed on a TV show that she caused his bad form and personal problems with black magic. Kingson, who has previously played in the Pre-

United sweat on Kagawa’s fitness S

HINJI Kagawa has handed Manchester United another injury headache after sitting out Japan’s World Cup

Parents sue Olympic champion pics, saying her parents IANNA Madison, a member of the U.S. women’s 4x100-meter relay team that won a gold medal at the London Games, has been sued for libel, slander and defamation by her parents. Robert and Jo Ann Madison filed the suit in a Cleveland court last weekend . They claim Tianna and her husband, John Bartoletta, spread false stories to media outlets in the lead-up to the Olym-

Argentina W/Cup squad attacked in Peru

were bullying her and mismanaged her finances and allowed a boy who Tianna says once molested her to enter their home. They are seeking $25,000 each in damages. Tianna Madison ran the opening leg in the United States’ world record-setting 4x100 relay team in London. Her parents were at a sendoff for their daughter before the Olympics and spoke like proud parents to the press.

qualifier with Iraq with back pain. The midfielder suffered the knock in training on Monday and was ruled out of his country’s match just an hour before kick-off. Kagawa is now a doubt for United’s clash with Wigan on Saturday and their Champions League opener against Galatasaray next Wednesday. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is already without Wayne Rooney who suffered a gash in his thigh against Fulham while Jonny Evans has yet to feature this season following ankle surgery.

2012 ICAN President Golf tournament holds BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

•Kagawa But the 25-year-old was called upon by manager Michael O’Neill for

Northern Ireland in their 2-0 defeat at Russia on Friday night.

SONigeria prepares for World Winter Games with SOAfrica Unity Cup

PECIAL Olympics Nigeria (SONigeria) has said that they would use their participation in this year’s Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup taking place in South Africa as part of their preparations towards the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea. Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup is billed to hold between the 3rd and 6th of October 2012, the games would feature 20 teams across the continent with the top three

mier League for Birmingham, Wigan and Blackpool, has failed to find a new club since being released from Bloomfield Road last year with his career suffering an alarming slump. According to his wife, Adelaide Tawiah, she not only made him lose his form, but also rendered him impotent with the use of black magic. “I messed up Richard’s life ever since we got married. I used my evil powers to trouble his career, I’ve been working on him spiritually to the point he could not perform in bed,” she said on a Nigerian TV show.

teams qualifying for the Special Olympics Unity cup in Brazil in 2013. The Special Olympics Africa Unity Cup is a seven aside football tournament featuring four footballers with intellectual disabilities and three without intellectual disabilities making a team. According to the National Director of Special Olympics Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Bolumole, the goal of the Unity Cup is to support the movement of inclusion and accep-

tance for people with intellectual disabilities and is an extension of the Special Olympics Unified Sports program. She notes that the Unified Sports program brings Special Olympic athletes together with partners without intellectual disabilities on teams for friendly athletic competition. “Sending the team to the event is part of Special Olympics Nigeria’s preparations towards the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea."

HE Institute of Char tered Accountants of Nigeria ICAN has concluded the 2012 edition of the ICAN President’s Golf Tournament, in honour of Mr. Adedoyin Idowu Owolabi, its 48th President. In his address, the highly elated President commended members of the Ikeja Golf Club, in particular, for organising such a befitting tournament in his honour. He said, “I am indeed grateful to you all for organising such an expensive tournament in my honour, considering the quality of prizes displayed here and cash to be given out to winners of different categories, this is quite remarkable”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 2012 — 53

C M Y K

54—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 — 55

We don’t need Mik el, Osaze — Ikpeba Mikel, F

ORMER African Player of the Year, Victor Ikpeba believes that Nigeria can carry on with their building process under Stephen Keshi without John Mikel Obi and Peter Osaze Odemwingie. Ikpeba made this statement as a guest analyst in a football magazine show, Monday Night Football, on SuperSport 3 on Monday. The winner of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations was responding to Keshi leaving out the duo from the 2-2 draw in Monrovia against Liberia at the

BY JACOB AJOM

BRIEFING on Glo Soccer Academy yesterday at the Adenuga Towers,V I lagos . From left Mr Victor Ikpeba,Chief Segun Odegbami and Mr Bode Opeseitan [Director, Events and Sponsorship, Globacom] Photo Shola Oyelese ter all both players were out Mikel and Osaze. weekend in the 2013 Afpart of the team that Nigeria is bigger than con qualifying. played against Guinea the two players and af“Nigeria can do withlast year. And what hap

NFF clears air on Mikel Continues from B/P insist that the decision to leave Mikel was not good for the team. And recently, NFF Executive members were said to have joined this school. Chairman of Technical Committee of NFF Chris Green reacted this way yesterday: “Nobody in the federation has raised this matter with Stephen Keshi what more insisting that he must invite Mikel. We have not done so. And we will not do so. This is official. Keshi is in charge and he decides on the players to be invited. He is free to invite anybody he deems good enough. Our job could be advisory on such issues but nobody has insist-

ed on Mikel being invited. “ When Keshi was appointed Eagles coach he had Mikel in mind as one who would take over from Joseph Yobo as Eagles captain. But in his very first outing, a friendly against Malawi Mikel opted out of the match after Keshi had told him he would be allowed a free role to express himself and possibly make attempts at goal. And since then the Chelsea player had not shown enough commitment to the national team, the last issue on astro turf being a pointer. ”It will be counter productive for anybody to mount pressure on Keshi to use any player.

It will mark the beginning of failure. Mark my words,” Nwabufo Obienu, a one time NFA vice chairman said yesterday. He warned Keshi over some players he said might not fit into his plans now and told him to learn from the problems his predecessor, Samson Siasia faced which led to his disengagement. ”If Keshi is not firm on players it will cause his sack. They will sack him and move on, laughing at him later. Recall the Vincent Enyeama, Osaze Odewengie and Mikel Obi issues with Siasia and how Siasia eventually lost out and you will appreciate this caution I’m asking Keshi to embrace,” Obienu offered.

Yobo yyells, ells, raps En Enyyeama Continues from B/P guard that younger players in the team were equally infuriated with Enyeama’s poor handling of affairs but were relieved when Yobo told him his cock-ups were becoming one too many for the team. “There was altercation in the Eagles dressing room in Monrovia while other players watched. Yobo was visibly angry and yelled at Enyema’’, our source said. Vincent Enyemah has had a solid career in the Eagles and distinguished himself in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa even though the players wobbled. But catcalls have trailed his one mistake too many notably against the Lone Stars although

Glo unveils Soccer Academy

coach Stephen Keshi has waived the olive branch to save his keeper. ‘’If there is anybody to be blamed, it’s the team, not an individual’’, Keshi declared yesterday through Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya. Speaking in Abuja, Keshi declared that the issue regarding national team performance cannot be placed at the doorstep of a single individual like Enyeama. He however assured that he will produce a new national team that Nigerians at all levels will be proud of. “ I understand the apprehension of Nigerians, and like I have always asked for, we need patience. I need lots of it to succeed. I am sure we will score many goals ”.

The former national team skipper of the famed Tunisia 1994 squad was speaking against the backdrop of news making the rounds that he has chosen to blame individuals rather than the team for the failure to win in Monrovia. “I never at any moment said that Enyeama, who remains our first choice keeper caused us the draw in Liberia and in fact I think that he is one of the best in the world but at times like these emotions rule over reasons. We must not bring individual players into our poor performance, it’s a collective effort and if there is failure, its also collective”, Ben Alaiya, Super Eagles Media Officer, quoted Keshi as saying.

HAT has been tout ed as Africa’s biggest football reality tv show, the Glo Soccer Academy was unveiled in Lagos yesterday at the Mike Adenuga Towers corporate headquarters of Globacom. in Victoria Island Lagos. Speaking at the event, executive director of the company on events and sponsorship, Bode Opeseitan disclosed that the academy will draw talents from Ghana, Republic of Benin and Nigeria, countries where the tele-

Kojo loses mother A

FORMER Chair man of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Anthony Kojo Williams has lost his mother, Madam Alexandra Adepeju Oni-Orisan. She passed on to glory on Sunday, September 9 in her sleep. She was 70. Born on April 28 th, 1934, the deceased was

amongst the first set of Nigerian ladies employed as Air Nigeria Hostess by British Overseas Airways Cooperation, popularly known as B.O.A.C. According to Kojo Williams, this departed mother was known for her generosity, who was always willing to give to the needy and lessprivileged in the society.

com company had interests in. He said ex-international, Victor Ikpeba will be the Team Manager and will be working with such ex-internationals like Tijani Babangida, Tony Baffoe among others while chief Segun Odegbami is the consultant. “The screening exercise begins as soon as entry closes in a month’s time,” Opeseitan said, adding that they will ensure only the allowed age group of 14-17 will be admitted into the academy. “Screening will begin in Cotonou(Republic of Benin), Tamale, Kumasi and Accra(Ghana) and in Nigeria the exercise will hold in five locations including Lagos, Benin and Abuja.” Out of the thousands that will be screened across the three countries, only 33 will be camped in Lagos and trained by celebrity coaches for four weeks. Sixteen will make the final selection for the Dream Team.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

NFF clears air on Mikel BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday clearly stated that they

R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D-!

were in no way mounting pressure on Eagles coach Stephen Keshi to invite Chelsea player Mikel Obi for the remaining international duties. There had been reports in the media that the federation was frowning at the exclu-

Yobo yells, raps Enyeama • Altercation in Eagles dressing room in Monrovia BY TONY UBANI

ESPITE efforts by Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to douse the effects of the mistake by goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Sports Vanguard can reveal that Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo almost exchanged blows with the keeper for creating the opportunity that saw Liberia drew 2-2 in the first leg of Nations Cup qualifier in Monrovia on Saturday. Sports Vanguard gathered that no sooner the match ended, had a livid skipper Yobo confront Enyeama over his howler and the two exchanged hot words. A very reliable source informed Sports Van Continues on page 55

TODAY'S

sion of Mikel from the national team. But they maintained that Mikel was part of his team and would be invited when there was need for his services. Keshi listed him for the match in Liberia but Mikel opted out on the grounds that he was not disposed to playing on artificial turf earlier chosen to host the match. Many had criticised Mikel for lacking patriotism and said that choosing the matches he could play for Nigeria underscored this. But there are also many followers of the game who

Continues on page 55

• Mikel

I'M FINISHED ••• Enyeama

WE CAN'T CONTINUE LIKE THIS ••• Skipper Joseph Yobo and goalkeeper Enyeama argue at the World Cup in 2010. They argued again in Monrovia last week.

We don’t need Mikel, Osaze – Ikpeba — P.55

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1Overwhelm (6) 5 Powerful (6) 8 Practice (8) 9 Thwart (4) 10 Entreat (3) 12 Hut (5) 15 Clique (3) 17 Uncooked (3) 18 Novel (3) 19 Meadow (3) 20 Sheepish (5) 21 Tune (3) 22 Pair (3) 23 Barley beard (3) 24 Stretch (3) 26 Implore (5) 29 Clef (3) 33 Basin (4) 35 Customer (6) 36 Thrill (6)

•Osaze

DOWN 2 Tend (5) 3 Component (4) 4 Loyalty (5) 5 Sorcery (5) 6 Present (4) 7 String (5) 10 Swell (5) 11 Degree (5) 12 Pounce (5) 13 Active (5) 14 Massage (5) 15 Brag (5) 16 Linger (5) 25 Hill (5) 27 Lamp (5) 28 Expect (5) 30 Laud (5) 31 Merriment (4) 32 Char (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Least 9, Molten 10, Hinder 11, Attic 12, Show 15, Cede 17, Heretic 20, Rid 21, Local 23, Page 25, Bond 26, Hoped 28, Mug 30, Reverie 33, Alas 35, Rind 36, Virus 38, Brutal 39, Relief 40, Tepee.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Smash 2, Floor 3, Lea 4, Entail 5, Ship 6, Tic 7, Adder 8, Bread 13, Helpful 14, Weigh 16, Disdain 18, Cover 19, Cab 22, Lower 24, Eon 27, Demure 28, Maybe 29, Gamut 31, Rigid 32, Edify 34, File 36, Vat 37, See.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number). Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos. C M Y K