KIDNAP OF OKONJO-IWEALA'S MOTHER: Two police men arrested — Delta CP

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61773

LUTH Doctors' strike: Patients forcefully discharged — P.7

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

FUEL SUBSIDY DEDUCTIONS:

36 govs drag FG, NASS to S-Court

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KIDNAP OF OKONJO-IWEALA'S MOTHER:

Two policemen arrested — Delta CP •Kidnappers kill soldier, driver, abduct Lebanese •Warri judge, Umukoro, escapes kidnap attempt •Brig. Gen. Rotimi's wife kidnapped in Ibadan —P.8

BY EMMA AMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH-SOUTH, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, AUSTIN OGWUDA, EMMA ARUBI & FESTUS AHON

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SABA—AS the Federal Government intensified efforts to secure the release of Professor Mabel Kamene Okonjo, mother of Finance Minister from the kidnappers’ den, the Delta State Police command, yesterday, confirmed the arrest and detention of two police men who were supposed to be on duty at the palace

Continues on page 5

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DEAR BUNMI •P.46

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19

OGAGA IFOWODO •P.19

Mr & Mrs

PROTEST—Staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), protesting their disengagement without benefit at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Olamikan Gbemiga.

Bankers' Committee picks Borno to pilot financial inclusion C M Y K

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2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—5

POCKET CARTOON

20 armed kidnapers in the past few days.

Security scare in Delta

SUMMIT—From Left: Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Minister of Information; Prince Nicholas Okoye, President and Founder Anabel Leadership Academy, and Mr Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State at the First Nigerian Leadership Summit held yesterday in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Kidnap of Okonjo-Iweala's mother: Two policemen arrested Continues from page 1 when the kidnappers struck.

Also Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt.

Caleb Olubolade (rtd), yesterday, instructed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to deploy Special Police Officers from

the Force headquarters, Abuja to assist in locating and rescuing Prof.

Okonjo.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day workshop on ‘Budgeting for Effective Policing in Nigeria’, the minister who expressed sadness at the kidnapping incident said, “it is a very dis-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

‘Self-Talk’ is what you say to yourself in your mind. What do you say? As a man thinketh so he is and so he will become.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Nothing external to you has any power over you — Ralph Waldo Emerson

M

OST people would be glad to have some peace of mind in their life. They would be happy to enjoy moments of inner calmness and freedom from obsessing thoughts.

Ramez Sasson, a successful author suggests ways to achieve this state of tranquillity with ease. says; stay away from negative conversations and from negative people. Don’t hold grudges. Learn to forget and forgive. Nurturing ill feelings and grievances hurts you and causes lack of sleep. Don’t be jealous of others. Being jealous means that you have low self-esteem and consider yourself inferior to others. Jealousy and low self esteem, often lead to lack of inner peace.

Accept what cannot be changed. This saves a lot of time, energy and worries. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, irritations and situations that are beyond our control. If we can change them, that’s fine, but this is not always possible. We must learn to put up with such things and accept them cheerfully. Learn to be more patient and tolerant with people and events.

turbing issue. In unraveling this matter, the Police must take into cognizance that we have a role to let others know that such incidents will be given equal treatment. It could have been the mother of anybody.

“Already, the IGP has deployed his men and they are working round the clock on the issue.

The IG is on top of the situation. However, I have instructed the IGP to deploy specialist officers from Abuja if need be, to help in fishing out the culprits”.

There was still no information yet on the whereabouts of Professor Kamene Okonjo, but a dependable source said workers in the palace were invited by the police to make statements on how the matriarch of the Okonjo family was abducted.

Two police men arrested – Aduba Ikechukwu Aduba, Delta State Commissioner of Police, yesterday said that the command was not party to any negotiation for ransom over the kidnap of Prof. Kamene Okonjo.

He said that two policemen who were supposed to be on duty when Okonjo, mother of Fi-

nance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was kidnapped had been arrested and detained following investigation.

Aduba, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba, said that the police was not aware of any negotiation for ransom.

According to him, the command is not in support of giving ransom to the hoodlums. NAN recalls that Okonjo, the wife of Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area was kidnapped on Sunday afternoon at the palace.

“As far as I am concerned the issues of ransom in the newspapers are all stories. And I don’t like telling stories.

I deal with facts. We have spread our dragnet to ensure we get these hoodlums. Issues of ransom, we are not involved and we have never supported it.

“We cannot cover up anybody, investigations were carried out and the two police officers who were supposed to be on duty are now in detention,” he said. Aduba said that there were usually insiders in every issue of kidnapping, bank robberies, among others.

He said that the state command had strengthened its artilleries, which led to the arrest of

Meanwhile, there was security scare in Delta State, yesterday, as four daredevil kidnappers, armed with AK 47 rifles, allegedly shot dead a soldier and abducted a Lebanese expatriate staff of Setraco Construction Company at Ughelli, Mr. Harry Fadi.

Also, a judge of the Delta State High Court, Justice Marshal Umukoro, miraculously escaped death, along Warri-Ughelli Road at Okuokoko community, when another set of four gunmen riddled his KIA SUV with bullets.

A prominent politician and former senatorial aspirant, who hails from Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Mr. Ngo Martins was attacked Monday night, as he was returning from Asaba to Ibusa.

His driver was shot dead, while a police officer attached to him was injured. The politician and the injured police officer were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba for medical attention and were still there at press time, yesterday.

Delta Police Commissioner, Aduba, however, confirmed the foiled kidnap of the judge and abduction of the expatriate staff to Vanguard, adding that there was no cause for alarm, as the police would track down the kidnappers.

A woman was hit by stray bullet in the Ekiugbo Junction, Ughelli operation, while another staff of Setraco sustained minor injury.

The daring broad day escapades of the kidnappers sent a disturbing signal to residents, as well as security agents, who were comb-

ing suspected hideouts in the state for the kidnappers of Professor Kamene Okonjo, mother of the Minister of Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala.

Pandemonium in Ughelli Vanguard gathered that the gunmen killed the soldier when he attempted to stop them from kidnapping the expatriate staff, who the deceased was escorting in a vehicle at Ekiugbo Junction, Ughelli. They drove away with the Setraco staff after killing the soldier.

According to a dependable source, a male operator of the company and a woman, who was passing by, were hit by bullets during an exchange of fire between the hoodlums and security personnel attached to the expatriates.

Justice Mukoro, who is the presiding judge in High Court 1, Warri, was said to be coming to work from Asaba in a black coloured KIA Sportage with registration number, AS 530 UGH when he was attacked between 7.30 am – 8.00 am, yesterday.

Narrating how the kidnappers struck, his driver, who gave his name as Akatugba Ossai, said as they approached the traffic hold-up at Okuokuoko, he sighted some armed youths who immediately opened fire on the judge’s SUV, but he courageously drove through the traffic “to save my oga’s life.

"When I noticed two of the assassins beside the vehicle, I pushed them aside and came face-toface with three other members of the gang, who fired at the front seat where Oga hanged his suit, thinking he was there and the bullets pierced through the front windscreen".

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Jonathan seeks US support to tackle Boko Haram, oil theft

BY BEN AGANDE

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From left: Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal and Hon. Yuusuf Ayo Tajudeen at the commissioning/ presentation of empowerment organised by Hon. Yuusuf Ayo Tajudeen for his constituents of Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Kogi State, Monday.

Fuel subsidy deductions: 36 govs drag FG, NASS to S-Court

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — GOVERNORS of the 36 states of the Federation, yesterday, dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court, alleging that it has between 2007 till date, persistently used the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to illegally deduct revenue accruing to the country in the guise of funding the fuel subsidy regime.

The governors, in a summons they filed against the Federal Government by a team of six lawyers led by the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, equally joined the National Assembly as the second defendant in the suit.

Specifically, the plaintiffs beseeched the apex court to declare “that the Federal Government of Nigeria lacks constitutional or statutory power to make deductions from revenue accruing to the nation as a whole, whether generated from petroleum taxes or any other form of revenue without such revenue being paid first and foremost into the Federation Account for appropriate sharing among the three tiers of government (federal, state and local government) and any deduction so made in the guise of fuel subsidy deduction by the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of her agencies such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from such revenue between the year 2007 till date before being paid into the Federation

Account is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

As well as declare that “the act of the Federal Government of Nigeria in charging on the Federation Account deductions and expenses incurred by it on or to service the activities and or functions of its agencies or bodies exempted by Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 before distributing the revenue among the federal and state and local governments in each state is inconsistent with Section 162 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.”

They contended that the Federal Government was bereft of the statutory authority to unilaterally make deductions from the nation’s revenue, adding that the various deductions made so far amounted to usurpation of the powers of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA.

Illegal directive The governors further alleged that the Federal Government gave “illegal directive which made PPPRA to honour unverified vouchers from importers of petroleum products to the detriment of all the plaintiffs,” adding that, “rather than ensure that all revenue is centrally transferred from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Federation Account which is the distributable Pool, the 1st defendant through her agency, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,

NNPC, deducts without approval the so called Fuel Subsidy from source as if same is a first line charge.”

Besides, they urged the court to in the interim, issue “a perpetual order of injunction restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria by itself, servants, agents, privies and those taking instruction from it from making any further deductions from the amount standing to the credit of the Federation Account for the purpose of funding the payment of the fuel subsidy claims or any other purpose whatsoever, except those authorized by Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The litigants unanimously prayed for “a restitutionary order of the court directing the Federal Government to pay to the plaintiffs their 24 per cent share of the total amount of money wrongly deducted by the Federal Government from the Federation Account from 2007 till date.”

Access to all accounts, books, records In the alternative, they urged the apex court to direct the Federal Government to grant them or a firm of accountants engaged by the plaintiffs, “full and unconditional access to all accounts, books, records or other documents relating to accruals to and disbursement from the Federation Account for the period of 2007 till date.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Murktar, is yet to constitute a seven-man panel that will hear the matter.

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has solicited the support of United States of America (USA) government to fight the Boko Haram menace as well as crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

He made the call when he received the Commander of the United States’ Africa Command, AFRICOM, General Carter Ham, who paid a courtesy call to the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

The President called on the United States to assist Nigeria to find lasting solution to the security challenges, such as Boko Haram, policing the nation’s extensive maritime borders, crude oil theft and kidnapping.

While commending the global role of the USA in promoting global peace and security, Jonathan said the role played by the USA had engendered a safer and more

secure world.

According to Jonathan, Nigeria deeply “appreciates the commitment of the United States to assist in ensuring that the world is safe and secure.”

He also briefed General Ham on his visit to Mali and the efforts by ECOWAS to resolve the conflict in that country, adding that the situation could still be contained if the right steps are taken quickly.

Earlier, Gen. Ham had revealed that he had taken advantage of his paper presentation at the National Defence College to hold talks with security agencies on ways to strengthen the partnership between Nigerian and American forces.

He promised that the USA was ready to cooperate with Nigeria in areas such as maritime security, communications, development of civil-military capabilities, and resolving the conflict in Mali.

Court admits Ndume’s call logs with Boko Haram spokesman as evidence

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — JUSTICE Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, admitted into evidence, call logs and text messages allegedly exchanged between Senator Ali Ndume and the self confessed spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga.

It was the Federal Government that tendered the said call logs which were yesterday tagged as “Primary evidence” against Ndume who is currently representing Borno South in the Senate.

Ndume was specifically accused of furnishing the Boko Haram sect with classified information that aided their terror operations in the country.

At the resumed hearing on the matter, yesterday, the high court heard how the call logs and text messages obtained from two telephones belonging to Senator Ndume and Konduga were processed by a forensic examiner from the department of the SSS, Mr. Aliu Usman.

Despite spirited effort by counsel to the embattled lawmaker, Chief Rickey Tarfa, SAN, to persuade the court not to admit the documentary evidence against his client, Justice Kolawole overruled

him.

Tarfa, had contended that the SSS operative who prepared the documentary evidence as a forensic examiner did not disclose his qualification to enable the court ascertain his capabilities at extracting such evidence.

He said the failure of the expert to back up his claim with requisite qualification as demanded by law was fatal to admissibility of the documentary evidence.

Beside, the counsel argued that the telephone conversations and the SMS messages documented in a bounded report was not certified as required by section 102 of the Evidence Act. However, in moving the court to admit the document, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Thompson Olatingbe, argued that the witness prepared and signed the document as his own report of the forensic examination carried out on the telephones of Senator Ndume and Konduga.

In his ruling, Justice Kolawole agreed that the failure of the SSS operative to establish his qualification was fatal to the case of the prosecution, though he agreed that the document did not fall among the public documents that must be certified before it can be admitted in law.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—7

Union Bank ex-MD, four others found guilty of share scam

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From left: President of the Canadian Parliamentary Centre, Mr. Jean-Paul Ruszkowski; Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Khris Scooter and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha during their visit to the National Assembly, yesterday.

Strike: Healthcare services grounded at LUTH zAccident and emergency unit shut, patients discharged zWe are following JTB directive — CMD

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS — H E A LT H C A R E services were grounded, yesterday, following an indefinite strike by members of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Branch of the Association of Resident Doctors, LUTH-ARD, over alleged excessive taxation by the hospital.

The new tax law which took effect at LUTH since August this year is said to be the directive of the Joint Tax Board of the Federal Government.

A visit to the hospital showed a crisis situation.

The Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital known to be a beehive of activities was a shadow of itself even as new patients were denied admission. Almost all the wards in the hospital were empty.

Further investigations by Vanguard revealed that the hospital can no longer care for the patients already on admission. As a result, the management has resorted to forceful discharge of patients whose cases are less serious.

Unfortunately, most of the patients who were discharged have refused to leave. When Vanguard visited LUTH, yesterday, many of the patients who refused to obey the discharge order have

continued to groan without being attended to.

In some of the wards like Female Surgical Ward, Ward D, Children Emergency and Modular Theatre, Vanguard investigations revealed that there were skeletal services there, thanks to a special arrangement by nurses, patients and some sympathetic doctors Confirming the forceful discharge , a patient, Mrs. Chukwuma Ijeoma, said: “I was actually discharged two days ago but where else do

I go with a little amount of money left on me. I would have loved to try other places, especially now that no doctor is attending to me but where is the money for deposit over there. I pray the strike is over today.”

We are following JTB directive — CMD Reacting to the development, Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Akin Osibogun who lamented the unfortunate incident said the

management of the hospital was following the directive of the Joint Tax Board in implementing the new tax law.

He noted: ”We are obeying the law. We are following directives by the Joint Tax Board.”

At press time, it was gathered that the striking doctors were holding a meeting with the hospital and government’s representatives towards finding a lasting solution to the industrial action.

BY INNOCENT ANABA

AGOS — FORMER Managing Director of Union Bank, Mr Batholomew Ebong and four other directors of the bank have been found guilty of share scam by the Investment and Securities Tribunal, IST, sitting in Lagos.

Others found culpable alongside Ebong are Samuel Ayininuola, Austen Obigwe, Lanre Idowu and Mrs Emily Odinkanekwu.

The five-member tribunal, headed by Dr. Nnenna Orji, in its ruling, also ordered that Ebong and other 19 directors of the bank be probed for the crash in the bank’s shares between 2006- 2007.

The tribunal ordered the appointment of the firm of KPMG Professional Services to undertake an inquiry/investigation to determine “the extent and quantum of the losses suffered by investors in the securities market as a result of the unlawful activities of the respondents and to determine the nature, extent and quantum of any direct benefit or advantage received or receivable by the respondents as a result of the respondents.”

Other respondents in the case were Samuel Ayininuola, Austen Obigwe, Kenneth Adeyemi, Ado Abdullahi, Ebenezer Emeruem, Walter Mbah and Anthony Esangbedo, Musa Yakubu, Ahmadu

Abubakar, Mansur Ahmed, John Akinleye, Emmanuel Edozien, Ibrahim Gobir, Festus Odimegwu, Olusegun Olusanya, Cosmas Udofot, Onajite Okoloko, Lanre Idowu and Emily Odikanekwu.

Following the outcry over the crash, which shook the stock exchange to its foundation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, took the former management of the bank before the tribunal, seeking “A declaration that in acting in this suit in respect of the shares of Union Bank Nigeria Plc sometime in the year 2007 (particularly as these activities relate to the year end dividends for Union Bank share for the 2006-2007 financial year), the respondents engaged and/or participated in a scheme and or artifice that enabled Union Bank of Nigeria Plc to either directly or indirectly fund the purchase of its shares and thereby, retaining the beneficial ownership of the shares, and as a consequence,(i) violated or contributed to the violation of the provisions of the Investment and Securities Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder, (ii) undermined the fair and orderly conduct of the securities market and (iii) abused, breached and undermined the integrity of the securities market.”

External borrowing: Govs to confront NASS, Finance Ministry

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — THE thirtysix state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, have concluded arrangements to confront the Senate and the Ministry of Finance on external borrowing on the revised proposed pipeline projects as contained in the Medium Term Plan of 2012 to 2014.

The governors who rose from a meeting at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja in the early hours of yesterday, said the move to meet with the lawmakers became imperative to enable further deliberation on the issue.

A communiqué read by Rivers State governor and

Chairman of the forum, Chibuike Amaechi, said the governors also carried out an end of year review of its polio eradication initiative across the states of the federation.

The NGF also emphasized the centrality of routine immunization as a sustainable means of eradicating polio and the need to engage stakeholders from local communities in the campaign, even as the body noted changes in the demography of incidences and resolved that states should put necessary incentives to motivate vaccinators for better performance and better information sharing mechanism of good practices across states.

The forum also

emphasized the centrality of routine immunization as a sustainable means of eradicating polio and the need to engage stakeholders from local communities in the campaign.

It would be recalled that the Minister of State, Finance, Yerima Ngama and some state commissioners of finance had before the Senate defended their request for an external loan of $7,905.69 billion. State commissioners, in particular were, on Monday, with the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.

President Goodluck Jonathan had also sent a letter to the Senate, seeking its approval to borrow $7.9 billion for

2012-2014 pipeline projects.

The loan named Medium-Term External Borrowing Plan (Revised), which spans 2012 to 2014, will enable the states fund specific developmental projects.

According to some of the governors who were at the meeting, the brainstorming exercise with the Senate and the ministers will be fruitful and it will be a way forward to clear some issues associated with the Medium-Term External Borrowing Plan.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State who noted that borrowing for development purposes was right, stressed that it would be wrong when borrowing

was done for consumption.

Also speaking, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State explained that the Medium-Term External Borrowing Plan was in stages and that the Ministry of Finance and other relevant bodies had cleared some issues on it.

He said: ‘’The National Assembly and the Senate have been sitting on this and some issues have come up and that is what we are trying to clear.”

Governors of Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Borno, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kogi attended the meeting.

Others were governors of Niger, Ondo, Adamawa, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Yobe states.

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

N4bn scam: EFCC on the trail of Audu, ex-Kogi gov zI'm not on the run — Audu

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

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BUJA—ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may declare former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu wanted, following the inability of its operatives to arrest him yesterday.

EFCC sources said operatives stormed his 32 Suleiman Barau street, Aso Villa, Asokoro Abuja yesterday but could not arrest the former governor who was said to have beaten the security officers.

The former governor is alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4 billion while he was governor of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003.

The latest effort to arrest the ex-governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed the ex-governor’s appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial

by EFCC. Prince Audu had approached the apex court asking for a stay of proceedings in his trial at the Kogi State High Court

where he has been standing trial since December 1, 2006, on an 80 criminal count charge of conspiracy, fraud, criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of public fund.

In a judgement delivered

by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to consider the questions referred to it for determination after being aware from the records of Appeal that a nolle prosequi had been

filed.

Part of the setback suffered by the Commission in the prosecution of the case was the filing of several applications by the defendant for stay of proceedings at the high court pending the final determination of the appeal.

However, Prince Audu lawyer Mr. Abdullahi Haruna, told Vanguard on phone yesterday that he traveled out of the country last week for medical treatment in the UK after an ac-

cident he was involved in on September 28 on his way to Jos, Plateau State.

According to him, he traveled to London for treatment immediately after the accident and that he only returned home last week to attend his daughter’s wedding after which he flew back to continue his treatment.

The former governor said he has not received any invitation from the EFCC and that as such the issue of escaping did not arise.

Group Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Sala Borah (middle), Head, e-Business, Thabo Makoko (right), and Head, Mobile Money, Globacom Nigeria, Seshogiri Rao, at the first anniversary celebration of Stanbic IBTC Mobile Money in Lagos, yesterday.

FG loses N300bn annually on unremitted revenues — Reps

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—THE Federal Government has been losing over N300 billion annually due to unremitted revenues from some of its a g e n c i e s .

This was disclosed yesterday by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jibrin, while contributing to a motion on the full implementation of the 2012 budget.

He stated that some of the federal agencies summoned by his committee to explain the various roles they had played in the unfolding situation had so refused to honour the invitation sent them.

He requested the speaker to use his good offices to compel the affected agencies to honour the invitation by his committee.

He identified the agencies to include Central Bank of

Nigeria, CBN, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Nigerian Port Authority, NPA, and Nigerian Customs Service, NCS. Others include Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, and Pension Commission, PENCOM. Jibrin revealed that the affected agencies rather than remit 80 percent of their independently generated revenue to the Federal Government, they have never remitted more than between 10 and 20 percent of their operating surpluse s .

He also revealed that it was only one of the affected agencies that remits 50 percent of its operating sur-

plus to the Federal government out of 60.

The lawmaker also categorized the 60 agencies into four, whereby some refused outrightly to remit their operating surplus while another group remitted but not in compliance with the l a w .

Another group comprised of those agencies that generated operating surplus but rather than remit, they keep it in a deposit account to generate interest.

He, however, gave reason behind the recalcitrant attitude of the agencies, saying, “To justify their action, these agencies blow up their expenditure to swallow their operating surpluse s .

Said he:"Sadly, it is the money-spinning agencies that indulge in this more.

Over N150 billion was found to be unmerited by these agencies.

"For instance, in 2011, NNPC’s operating surplus target was N500 billion and

was expected to remit 80 percent but remitted nothing. NPA operating surplus was N160 billion for the same period but its expenditure was creatively blown to N160 billion.

CBN’s operating surplus for 2012 was N240 billion but its expenditure was put at N234 billion. For 2013, CBN operating surplus target was N400 billion but as usual, its expenditure was creatively put at N390 bill i o n .

"And this is an organization whose Chief Executive was advocating for the sack of half of Federal Government workforce.

The independent revenue is a huge issue and there is no way the passage of the 2013 budget would be possible until we deal with the remittances because we intend to compel all the agencies involved to remit what they are supposed to remit and it is our intention to add it to the budget for 2013.

Gen. Rotimi's wife, Titilayo kidnapped in Ibadan zPolice suspect labour dispute

BY BY LEKE ADESERI, S-WEST EDITOR & OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—TITILAYO, wife of former governor of Western State, Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi, (rtd), was yesterday abducted by some unknown gunmen. Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi was made Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in 2007.

According to information gathered, the kidnappers numbering four abducted her on Monday evening when she was about entering her company, AOK Logistics Ltd. It was further gathered that the wife of the ex-miltary leader was whisked away in a green Nissan Primera car.

Confirming the incident, the Oyo State Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayodele Lanade said” Titilayo was kidnapped on Monday at about 6.30pm and I can tell you that our men are currently on the trail of the criminals.”

The incident which happened within the jurisdiction of Egbeda Police Station was transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department at Iyaganku, Ibadan.

According to a source, the police may be working on a possible labour dispute lead going by the way the woman was kidnapped within the premises of her company. Her driver was said to be helpless as her boss was taken away from him.

The PPRO said, “the incident was different from other cases of kidnapping in some parts of the country because in this case, we found out that there was a rift between the woman and her workers because of wages and there was a kind of agitation from the aggrieved workers.

The workers were said to have earlier demanded for their unpaid three months salary which according to him, led to the retrenchment of some of them.

“So, it seems there is a foul play in this case. It is not in anyway related to other kidnapping cases,” he said.

Christopher Oluwole Rotimi was a Nigerian Army officer, diplomat and politician. A distinguished officer, he eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

He served during the Biafran War and was the Governor of Western State while Nigeria was under military rule from 1971 - 1975.

Oluwole Rotimi then became the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States in 2007 He was born February 20, 1935 in Abeokuta, Nigeria to a Yoruba family. He attended Agooko Methodist School, Lisabi School, Olowogbowo Methodist School as well as Kings College Lagos. After which he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College Ibadan.

Oluwole Joined the Nigerian Army in 1960 and served as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He rose to become the first African Deputy Quartermaster General and the third non-white Quartermaster General of the Nigerian Army in 1966. During the Biafran War Oluwole Rotimi provided logistics support for the Federal Government’s war efforts. He became the commander of the Ibadan Garrison between 1969 and 1970.

In 1975, Oluwole Rotimi was removed from office as governor of Western Nigeria after the 1975 coup d’état.

The following administration led by General Murtala Mohammed, commissioned a panel to investigate corruption amongst the governors of past administration. Oluwole Rotimi, together with Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, (Lagos State Governor) were the only governors exonerated under Obasanjo’s military regime.

In 1999 Gen. Oluwole Rotimi was appointed by civilian President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of a Commission of Inquiry for the Investigation of Federal Government Landed Property.

Oluwole Rotimi was honoured with a National Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2003.

In 2005, he was appointed a member of the National Constitutional Review Conference representing his home state-Ogun State.

He later became the Ambassador to the United States of America in March 2008. He was however sacked from the post in March 2009 by late President, Umaru Yar’Adua after allegations of insubordination.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 12, 2012—9

Lagos CJ frees 75-yr-old prisoner, 45 others

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS —The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, yesterday, released a 75-year-old prisoner, Job Meleb, and 45 other inmates from the Ikoyi Prisons in Lagos.

Justice Phillips had on Sept.

18 released 233 inmates from the Kirikiri Medium and Maximum Security Prisons in Lagos.

Meleb speaking during the release said he was awaiting trial over alleged murder since 2008 and that he had yet to be charged to court.

The chief judge ordered the release of the inmates during her visit to the prison.

She said the gesture was aimed at de-congesting the prison in order to alleviate the sufferings of the inmates.

Phillips admonished them to be of good behaviour and make positive impacts in the society.

“Today, I release you from prison custody and I admonish you to go and sin no more,” she told the elated inmates.

Phillips also commended various non-governmental organisations, especially the Christian Lawyers Association (CLA) and the Zarafat and Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM), for their contributions to the welfare of the inmates.

Earlier, the Deputy Controller, Ikoyi Prisons, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele, said the correctional facility had 1,739 inmates.

Bamidele charged the freed inmates not to betray the confidence reposed in them, adding that they should strive hard to contribute their quota to the betterment of the society.

The Deputy Controller said: “The fear being nursed about releasing awaiting trial inmates is that crime will increase.

“However, I want to allay that fear because the people being released today have been properly reformed and trained in various areas.

He appealed to Nigerians to give them a second chance, noting that stigmatisation of ex-inmates was a major obstacle to their rehabilitation and re-integration into the society.

Also speaking, Mr. Babatunde Fadugba, President of Three Rs Club, an NGO based in Ikoyi Prisons, said the purpose of the organisation was to reform, recreate and re-

habilitate inmates.

Fadugba, who has been an inmate of the prison since 2009 on a charge of stealing, said the club had rehabilitated and given hope to many pris-

BY INNOCENT ANABA

B

From right: Dame Abimbola Fashola, First Lady of Lagos State; Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Lagos State Governor; Nimi Akinkugbe, Promoter of the City of Lagos Edition of Monopoly; Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, Chairman Bestman Games; Mrs. Remi Odunlami, representative of the Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, member of the newly inaugurated Lagos State University (LASU) Governing Council, during the City of Lagos Launch Programme, held at the City Hall, Lagos Island, yesterday.

Fuel scarcity may wane in Lagos towards yuletide

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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AGOS —THERE are in dications that the current fuel scarcity bedeviling Lagos and the entire nation may wane just as oil marketers are expected to discharge reasonable quantities of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from their depots.

One of the marketers, Techno Oil, a major player in the downstream oil sector, is expected to discharge 60,000 metric tonnes of PMS or petrol, during the yuletide season.

This is expected to comple-

ment supplies from the Nigerian National Petrol Corporation, NNPC, within the same period.

The company which is currently discharging 10,000MT of petrol from its Kirikiri depot also confirmed that the nation’s most strategic pipeline, System 2b, currently on shut-down, would be up and running well ahead of the yuletide.

The Executive Vice Chairman of Techno oil, Mrs. Nkechi Obi, disclosed to newsmen that PMS is currently available in their depot and would be made accessible to the public.

L

AGOS — Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, yesterday, presented cash donations to two critically affected victims of the Oke Afa estate building collapse located in the LCDA The beneficiaries were; Mrs.

“We are currently discharging 10,000 metric tons of PMS from our allocation and between now and December we will have discharged 60,000MT,” she said.

She, however, pleaded with the Federal Government to expedite payment of subsidy claims to companies that were indicted in the subsidy scam.

It was earlier reported that a total of 24 vessels, out of which 15 are laden with PMS, bearing a combined total of 483,343 metric tons (about 638 million litres) were awaiting berth at the ports.

Court adjourns ruling in N1bn alleged subsidy fraud

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS—A Lagos State High Court in Igbosere yesterday adjourned ruling on the bail application of Abubakar Ali Peters (son of a retired Commissioner of Police), who was arraigned for fraudulently obtaining over N1billion from the Federal Government

through petroleum Support Fund, till December 18.

Peters was arraigned alongside Nadabo Energy Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two count offence of fraudulently obtaining money from the Federal Government through petroleum Support Fund, an offence said to be

Collapsed building: Ejigbo LCDA assists victims

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

oners.

The law empowers the CJ to grant freedom to inmates who have been in custody longer than necessary.

Body of SANS condemns duration of cases in courts

Coker Christiana Adebisi, who lost her two daughters in the incident, and Alhaji Daramola Olalekan.

It would be recalled that the incident occurred on November, 21, 2012, while the state government announced a relocation plan for the displaced occupants.

Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan gave each of the victims N100,000.

The two victims were the only occupants of the building of six flats in the estate, who lost all their properties, as the other occupants were said to have evacuated their properties before the collapse.

contrary to section 8 and punishable under section 1 (2) & (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Justice Christopher Balogun said: “The ruling on this bail application is adjourned till 18th December, 2012 at 11a.m.

The 2nd defendant will continue to be kept in the custody of EFCC until 18th December, when the ruling shall be given.”

Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Taiwo O. Taiwo (Chairman, NBA Lagos branch), urged the court to admit the 2nd defendant bail and relied on the case of Bamaiyi vs State.

He argued that the offence is a bailable one and it may be said that the accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ODY of Senior Ad vocates of Nigeria, has regretted the length of time it takes to conclude cases in courts in the country, warning that the development was eroding the confidence of the public in the courts.

Mr. Louis Mbanefo, SAN, who represented the body at the valedictory court session held in honour of Justice Gloria Okeke, who retired from the bench of the Federal High Court, at the Ikoyi, Lagos premises of the court, said “the length of time it takes to dispose of a case is of grave concern to us.

“It is a matter of concern to us that cases are not disposed of as they should be.”

He noted that in most cases, matters which should have been decided early enough were allowed to drag and at the end, the person that brought the matter to court in the first place regrets doing so.

Group calls for probe of NSPMC management

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

A

NTI—Corruption Network, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate the management and board of Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, over the alleged mismanagement of N2.1billion in the company.

It also urged the Federal Government not to sweep the matter under the carpet.

Briefing newsmen during a protest yesterday in Lagos, the Lagos State Coordinator of the group Mr. Ayo Oyalowo called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to prosecute anyone found culpable.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

Court restrains Oyo govt from demolishing church

BY OLA AJAYI

O

YO State High Court has restated that the order it made which restrained the state government from demolishing the Celestial Church of Christ, Onala Parish, on Mokola/Sango Road, Ibadan still subsists.

This was disclosed by Justice O. I Aiki while presiding over the case filed by the Church before the court.

Subsequently, she said the order should be served on the defendants within 48 hours.

In the Suit No. I/1144/ 2012, Kolawole Olakanmi, the Sheperd in charge of the Church had dragged Oyo State Government to court.

The church prayed the court to restrain the government and its agents in Ministries of Justice, Lands, Housing and Surveys, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Physical Planning and Urban Development from demolishing or tampering with the Church Building.

Aregbesola dares PDP to invite EFCC over contract

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO — Osun State governor, Mr.. Rauf Aregbesola has dared the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West to invite the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, to investigate all the financial transactions of his administration since he came into office two years ago.

Aregbesola’s challenge came on the heels of allegation raised by the South West PDP over the award of the N17.8 billion contract for the construction of the dual carriage way from Osogbo to Ila Odo boundary of Kwara state awarded to SAMIYA Construction Limited.

The Wouth-West PDP had asked the EFCC to probe the award of the contract to the construction company, saying that the company’s accounts had been garnished by a Federal High Court over a dispute the company had with one of its bankers, Wema Bank Plc, in 2011.

But the governor in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon in Osogbo, yesterday, stated that the PDP was determined to confuse the

BY DAUD OATUNJI

P

ENSIONERS numbering about 500 on Tuesday took to the major streets in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital protesting the alleged nonpayment of their gratuity and pension for several years.

The protesters, who were between 65 and 95 years of ages were armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “ we served our country at youthful ages,we deserve better treatment, President Jonathan, no gratuity since 1996 not talk of monthly pension” and “ we are begging president Jonathan to have mercy on us``among others.

capacity to deliver the project within the stipulated time? Is the PDP aware that the said contract is being handled under contractor-financing arrangement?”

“In case the PDP cohorts in the South-West do not know, SAMIYYA is a major contractor handling major projects for the PDP led Federal Government.

A

KURE — Governor Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday replied to the petitions filed by the opposition parties against the result of the October 20 govenorship election in the state and declared that the parties have no case.

Mimiko in his reply submitted before the Justice Kaka’an-led Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, said that the Action Congress of Nigeria and three other political parties are only out to waste the time of the judges.

The governor’s reply was in response to the petitions of the ACN, Accord Party (AP),

Ajah Clash: 6 remanded over alleged conspiracy, murder

BY NWOPOKE MICHAEL AND CHINENYE EZEAMANIE

LAGOS — The police yesterday arraigned six suspects before the Yaba Magistrate Court for alleged murder of one Martins Egang and possession of fire arms without valid license .

The suspects are: Alhaji Murisiku Ojupon; Chief Muka Kolawole; Lawal Olufemi; Bamike; Wasiu Bajulaye and Godson Ulinfoh.

They were charged with 17 count charge which include disruption of peace, setting of several houses ablaze with fuel, shooting of one Martins Egang, illegal possession of

Just three months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan still approved a contract to SAMMIYA. "Let the PDP in the South West first ask the EFCC to commence a probe of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council before it asks EFCC to probe Aregbesola,” the statement added.

From left: Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, United States Consul General to Nigeria; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor; his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Mr. Segun Ologunleko, Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism and a member of the Consul's entourage, Miss Deanne Collins, during a U.S. delegation to the state, in Ado-Ekiti.

Mimiko takes on petitioners at Tribunal

BY DAYO JOHNSON

Pensioners protest over unpaid gratuity

unsuspecting members of the public with the allegation.

His words: “Has the PDP found out that no due diligence was carried out on the company before the contract was awarded to it?

Since the company commenced its work on the project, has there been any complaint over SAMIYYA’s

fire arms, among others which they allegedly committed at No 1, Ajah Ileje in Lagos on 27th and 28th Nov. 2012.

The presiding magistrate P. A Adekomaya paused the case pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, in pursuant to section 64 of the administration of criminal justice “Due to the nature of the case, the defendant are hereby remanded in prison custody pending the DPP’|s advice,” the Magistrate said.

The magistrate adjourned the matter to 2nd of January 2013.

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Peoples Democratic Congress (PDC).

Opposition parties had last month approached the tribunal to challenge the results of the poll, asking it to nullify the poll and order a fresh election.

The governor, who is the first respondent to the petitions, prayed the tribunal to throw out the petitions for being frivolous, vexatious, an abuse of court process and lacking in merit and substance.

Mimiko’s replies were filed by a former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, President, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) leading a 35-man legal team including three other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Ricky Tarfa, Adebayo Adenipekun and John Baiyeshea as well as Dr. Olumide Ayeni and Abayomi Akanmode.

The 2,318 page-reply to ACN petition listed 1,047 witnesses to give evidence before the tribunal while that of the Accord Party has 19 pages with three witnesses listed for defence.

In the case of CPC, Mimiko submitted a reply of 51 pages with four witnesses and filed 29 pages with four witnesses against PDC.

Ogun Customs intercepts 3000 ammunition

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, yesterday said that it had seized 3000 short-gun cartridges allegedly smuggled into the country in the past three months.

Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Area Controller, Mr. Ade Dosunmu disclosed this, adding that the command also seized 117 bags (392kg) of cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp worth over N1million.

Dosunmu said that Customsmen on patrol in Agosasa intercepted an unmarked Honda CRV conveying the 3000 Redstar Highspeed short-gun cartridges worth about N900,000.

He said that the driver of the CRV conveying the ammunition, before being arrested, escaped into the bush.

He, however, disclosed that, the Customs impounded 171 vehicles, 2058 cartons of frozen products , 465 kegs of 25litre vegetable oil, 112 kegs of 25litres of petrol and 567 bags of imported rice.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 12, 2012—11

NIPRODEV tackles gender discrimination

BY SIMON ADEWALE

A

non-governmen tal organisation, Niger Delta Professionals For Development, NIPRODEV, has emphasised the need for men and women to work together with the aim of shunning gender discrimination and called for unity among men and women to build a formidable and viable society for the states and the nation.

Programme Officer of NIPRODEV, Mr. Arinze Ojukwu, made the call at Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, during an event to foster socio-economic development of the community.

Uvwie monarch rewards indigenes

A

socio -cultural group in the Niger Delta, Uvwie General Improvement Union, UGIU, has said that 15 illustrious sons and daughters of the kingdom would be honoured by HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom on the December 24, in Effurun, Delta

Egbelughe for burial

M

R . Johnson Eg belughe is dead.

He died on November 6, 2012. at the age of 70.

A statement by the family said service of songs will hold at his residence, 118 Okpe Road, Sapele, Delta State, tomorrow.

Funeral service takes place at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Sapele.

He survived by five children amongst whom is Mr. Ejiro Egbelughe of Power and Energy Ministry, Asaba, Delta State.

Late J. E. Egbelughe

Property tax: Oshiomhole warns against rent increase

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—GOVER NOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has vowed to send bulldozers to destroy the property of any landlord who increases rent as a result of property tax, which was signed into law recently by the state government.

The governor gave the warning yesterday at a town hall meeting with stakeholders in the tax sector, with a view to sensitising the people on the recently passed law on the Land Use Charge 2012.

He said it would not be a burden for tenants but a levy on owners of large expanse of land especially in the Government Reservation Areas.

He said: “If a landlord passes this burden to the tenants, he is taking unmitigated risk. The government will take the land of the landlord who increases their rent and bulldozers will go into action and we will turn the land to a school.

“Nobody who is economically disabled will be made to pay the land use charge. It will not put ad-

ditional burden on the poor and it will not be used in any way to oppress the poor and a good section of the middle class.”

Noting that the law was not for tenants, Oshiomhole maintained the government would not devise policies against the poor because the poor need support.

“But those who are rich must be made to pay for the land because the most im-

portant resource in Edo State is the land which nobody brought from heaven. You will see how families are squeezed in old traditional homes, faceme, I face-you. In that same street, you have another man who occupies 10 thousand square metres, from the beginning of the street to the end.

The truth must be told that before God, we are all equal. If one man could take so much land, and the rest of the peo-

TOWN HALL MEETING: From left: Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Secretary to the State Government; Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and Chief Oseni Elamah, Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Edo State, at a Town Hall meeting which the Governor held with taxpayers in the state, in Benin City, yesterday.

Flood: 231 Delta communities submerged, says Technical Committee Oleh.

BY EMMA AMAIZE

A

SABA—DELTA State University, DELSU, Abraka, Technical Committee on the impact of the recent flooding in Delta State, has said that 231 communities were submerged by flood in 12 local government areas during the period of the disaster.

A member of the Com-

mittee, Prof. Chris Orubu, disclosed this while presenting the highlight of the report to Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The committee is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of DELSU, Prof. Eric Arubaye.

Meanwhile, Governor Uduaghan, has flagged off the distribution of cassava stems and farm implements such as cutlasses and hoes to select farmers from the flood ravaged areas of the state at

After the flag-off, the committee, headed by Justice Francis Tabai, distributed yam seedlings to five flood ravaged areas, namely, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West, Oshimili North, Oshimili South and Aniocha South at the Oshimili South arcade, Asaba.

Prof Orubu told the governor in Asaba, that the Technical Committee went to the field, designed a questionnaire and administered it to people in order to have first hand information on the flood.

Political leaders blamed for Ika’s underdevelopment

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

A

PUBLISHER and community leader in Agbor, Delta State, Mr. Steve Ashien, has blamed the underdevelopment of Ika South and Ika North West Local Government Areas of the state, on poor leadership and lack of focus by past and current political representatives of the councils at all levels of

ple live in a small 50 by 50 land, as he acquired the land, he will pay for it,” he said.

The governor noted that those targeted by the Land Use Charge Law were instigating some people to protest against same, saying, “those who are benefiting from a system that impoverishes the poor will do everything possible to maintain the status.”

governance.

Ashien, who spoke in Agbor, lamented the poor state of infrastructure in Agbor metropolis and other communities in Ikaland.

The publisher of Ika Weekly, a community tabloid based in Agbor, expressed disappointment that there was nothing to show in terms of real development in Ika land, even when the area had produced a former acting governor, two former speakers of the Delta State House

of Assembly, a Secretary to the State Government and other high positions in government.

He condemned the greed, selfishness and ostentatious life style and other anti-people tendencies of the political class and urged them to turn a new leaf for the sake of posterity.

Advising Nigerians not to be docile on issues that affect their individual and collective well being, the community leader urged them to rise up and take their destinies in their hands.

Reyenieju tasks state assemblies on conflict resolution

W

ARRI—HOUSE of Representatives member, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, has called on state Houses of Assembly in the country to put machinery in motion for the prevention of conflicts and resolution of conflicts in the political space they legislate over.

Speaking, weekend at the United Nations, New York, at a conference on conflict resolution organised by the Parliamentary Union and the Office of the President of the General Assembly, he said: “It is most gratifying to note that even the United Nations, which ideally deals with Heads of Government in its relation with sovereign states (i.e. the executive arm of governments) has come to realise the veritable roles that parliaments can play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts.

“I hope that the Federal and state governments of Nigeria will equally appreciate this new approach espoused by the United Nations.”

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Bankers’ C’ttee picks Borno to pilot financial inclusion

BY OMOH GABRIEL

T

HE Bankers’ Com mittee has picked Borno State to pilot financial inclusion. The idea is to ensure that as many Nigerians as possible have access to financial resources. The committee of bankers also applauded the progress made by the Federal Government on Power Sector Reform, as it pledged its commitment to transforming and growing the economy.

At the 4th Annual Bankers’ Committee Retreat held in Calabar, Cross River State, bankers in the country resolved to pursue the implementation of Financial Inclusion Strategy by commencing with the pilot scheme in Borno State. The Committee, it was learnt, expressed concern over the large number of financially excluded adults in Nigeria, particularly in some of the poorest parts of the country.

To this end, Borno State was selected to pilot the Financial Inclusion scheme due to its high rate of financial exclusion, significant number of rural women, security issues plaguing the state and having one of the highest levels of poverty in the country. The Committee agreed that financial inclusion should be broader than mere access to credit. It involves facilitating the development of cheaper alternative channels to serve the underbanked segments of the population, within the context of alleviating poverty and exclusion from the economic system.

CHANGE OF NAME ETONYEAKU - I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Etonyeaku Chizoma Adaku, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emeka-Onyeokoro Chizoma Adaku. All former documents remain valid. Keystone Bank Ltd and general public please take note.

Gunmen shoot UNICAL lecturer, kill gatekeeper

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR—GUNMEN, weekend, shot the Head of Department of Public Administration, University of Calabar, Mr. Felix Akpan, an Associate Professor, at a relaxation joint and also killed the gateman while escaping.

Akpan and some officials of the University of Calabar, were said to be at a meeting with some representatives of a first generation bank on the update of the hydro-power project and the necessary things done so far by the university to secure a loan for the project from the bank, when the gunmen struck.

The gunmen, it was gathered, gained entry to the place and went straight to the meeting point. One of them identified Akpan and the other brought out a gun to shoot him on the head but luckily, the bullet hit his hands, while attempt by the 70year-old gateman to close the gate when he heard the gunshot attracted the wrath of one of the assailants, who immediately shot him dead.

It was gathered that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. James Epoke, had on assumption of office, made radical appointments to sanitise the institution in a bid to compete

favourably with other universities in the world.

Akpan, who was appointed the HOD of Public Administration on October 1, this year, was said to have embarked on the sanitization exercise, which, it was gathered, did not go down well with some sections of the university especially, some students who were said to be in the habit of not paying school fees.

A source close to Akpan, who did not want his name mentioned, alleged that the attempt on Akpan’s life, could be because of the policy of the university that students should pay 60 percent of their first semester fees before writing their examinations and then complete the remaining 40 percent before writing the second semester examination and that students suspected to have pro-

INAUGURATION: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right) and Prof. Turner Isoun shortly after the latter was inaugurated as the Chairman of the new Niger Delta University Governing Council, at Government House, Yenagoa.

Ghana opposition vows to challenge election results A

CCRA—GHANA’S main opposition candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, yesterday, rejected the presidential election results giving victory to incumbent, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, and vowed to challenge them in court.

Speaking at a rally of several hundred people in the capital, Akufo-Addo urged supporters to remain peaceful, but spoke strongly against the results after his New Patriotic Party alleged a “pattern of fraud” in the election.

He said: “We are not accept-

cured fake receipts and in their final year, were asked to present photocopies of all fees receipts for verifications. Confirming the report, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr John Umoh, said he was aware of the shooting of the lecturer and the killing of the security man but he was not aware whether any arrest had been made, adding that investigation was ongoing to fish out those responsible.

ing the results that were declared by the electoral commission. That is the official position of the New Patriotic Party.”

The 68-year-old human rights lawyer and son of a former president, said: “We are not going to retreat from the stance we have taken.

“We are going to put ourselves in the hands of the Supreme Court judges. While we are doing that, I’m asking for calm. I’m asking for peace.”

Other speakers at the rally,

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For further details contact: Barr. E.E. Edumanichukwu 4th Floor, 9 Machie Lane, Upper New Market Road, Onitsha, Anambra State, GSM: 08033230954, E-mail: eeedumanichukwu@gmail.com.

however, took a more militant stance, declaring, “no justice, no peace” and spoke of a “constitutional coup.”

There appeared to be a fight behind the crowd at the rally, but details were unclear.

The decision to go to court comes with the country under pressure to maintain its reputation as a stable democracy in turbulent West Africa. Local election observers, citing their own findings, said they supported the results which showed Mahama won.

According to the electoral commission, Mahama won the election, held over Friday and Saturday, with 50.70 per cent of the votes cast, compared with Akufo-Addo’s 47.74 per cent.

Stakes in the election were especially high in the country of 24 million people with a booming economy fuelled in part by a new and expanding oil industry.

Top officials from the opposition party, including AkufoAddo, met at an Accra hotel earlier yesterday to decide whether to challenge the results in court, emerging in the afternoon to declare that they would.

Uduaghan lauded over DESOPADEC appointment

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—OW EVWE Progressive Movement, Owevwe Agbarha- Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, has commended the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for appointing Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi as a Commissioner representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government Areas on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. The group in a statement by its Coordinator, Mr. Pender Agwarive, commend Uduaghan, “for appointing our illustrious son, Chief Christopher Obiuwevbi as a commissioner on the board of DESOPADEC representing Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government Areas.”

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 —13

7,403 TB patients treated in FCT in 4yrs

BY VICTORIA OJEME

A

BUJA—THE Fed eral Capital Territory, FCT, Tuberclosis and Leprosy Control Programme, yesterday, said it treated 7,403 Tuberculosis, TB cases in the FCT in four years.

The programme Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Uduak Uwakonfon, made this known in Abuja when the Global Fund team inspected some projects in the city.

According to her, 1,540 TB patients have been treated in the city in the first, second and third quarters of this year.

She stated further that 2,034 patients were treated in 2011, while 1,894 were treated in the city in 2010.

In 2009, she said that 1,935 TB patients were treated in the city.

She lamented the challenges the various TB clinics were facing, including lack of laboratory facilities in some of them.

15 risk jail over contempt of court

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—FIF TEEN persons risk being committed to prison by an Ugep High Court over alleged contempt should they fail to appear in court on January 8, 2013.

Justice Michael Edem had on October 18, 2012, ordered a bench warrant against the contemnors for not complying with the judgment of a High Court of the old Eastern Nigeria that sat in Enugu and a Supreme Court judgment on a land matter between Ebijakara and Ebom communities in Cross River State in 1959.

The contemnors are Chief John Eremi Azuma, M r. Egbe (Lawyer), Pastor Bassey Eyo Bassey, Eze Bassey Enya (Insp.), Sunday Enya Egbe, Okorie John Odah (Egt), Chief Joseph Odu Arreh, Henry Ofewa, Sunday Bassey Okpa, Bassey Anthony Aroke, Joe Anthony Aroke (Engr.), Ekwor Riman Ekor, Benjamin Okorie, Douglas Egbe Ego and AJa Francis.

FG, Swiss govt vow action against terrorists’ financiers

BY VICTORIA

A

OJEME

BUJA—THE govern ments of Nigeria and Switzerland, yesterday, reiterated their commitment to denying sources of financing for terrorists activities in Nigeria and West Africa in general.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Martins Uhomoibhi and Ambassador of Switzerland in Nigeria, Hans-Rudolf Hodel, made the commitment during the opening of the training workshop on “Countering the Financing of Terrorism” in Abuja.

The workshop organised by the West African anti-money laundering group, GIABA, with support from the Swiss Confederation and Nigerian government, brought together West African anti-money laundering agencies, governors of central bank of West African states as well as experts in countering terrorists financing.

Ambassador Uhomoibhi reiterated Nigeria’s commitment take all necessary steps to choke off any avenue of financial life line to terrorist activities, as one of

the tools of dealing with the menace.

He noted that the preponderance of cash economies, coupled with weak financial

SUMMIT: From left: Ambassador George Obiozor, Igwe Emeka Ibouno, Eze Dunu Ifitedunu, Prof. Pat Utomi, and Mr. Vic Osakwe, at the first Nigerian Leadership Summit, organised by Anabel Leadership Academy, Lagos, yesterday. Photo. Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Oil producing communities demand 13% derivation

BY EMMANUEL ELE-

BEKE BUJA—EVEN as oil producing states are demanding for increase in the current 13 per cent derivation formula from the federation account, the oil producing communities under the aegis of Oil and Gas Communities of Nigeria, have petitioned the Chairman of Fis-

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cal Responsibility Commission demanding that they be paid the 13 per cent monthly derivation from oil and gas.

In a petition to the Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, signed by leaders of the group led by William Igere-Delta; Pastor Macpherson Kurobo Bayelsa; Harry Opaks-Riv-

ers; Samuel Ebiwanno-Ondo and Saviour Okon-AkwaIbom, and made available to Vanguard, the group said the 13 per cent derivation under the proviso to section 162 of 1999 Constitution as amended; the oil producing communities and not the states are those entitled to receive and manage the fund.

Vandals, flood cripple Anambra water scheme

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—THE multi-mil lion naira Obizi regional water scheme in Aguata local government area of Anambra State has been put out of use, following activities of vandals and submerging of the pumping machines by

flood.

The water scheme, which was started during the administration of Chief Jim Nwobodo in the second republic, was abandoned for years before it was rehabilitated by Governor Peter Obi’s administration at a

cost of N400 million.

Before the recent incidents, the scheme was supplying water to Uga, Nkpologwu, Ekwulobia, Isuofia and some parts of Igboukwu and plans were under way to extend the supply to all the 14 communities in the area by next year.

Court grants Onwuka, 100 pro-Biafra group Enugu.

At press time yesterday. the members bail Presiding Judge, Justice L. accused persons were yet to

BY TONY EDIKE NUGU—AN Enugu High Court, yesterday, granted bail to leader of the proBiafran movement, Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM), Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, and 100 members of the group who were arrested by the police on November 5, 2012, after re-declaring the Republic of Biafra in

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control among other variables made collaboration with major global financial centres to counter terrorist financiers inevitable.

Okereke granted the Biafran activists bail in the sum of N1,000,000,(one million naira) with a surety who must be a civil servant above grade level 14, a member of the National Assembly from the South East Zone or a member of the State House of Assembly as well as a reputable traditional ruler.

meet the bail conditions which many described as stringent.

Defence counsel to BZM, Okologu Njoku, had while moving the bail application, told the court that his clients did not commit any crime against the state as they were not caught with any weapon of destruction as gun, axe, club, machete, etc.

Obi threatens to sack contractors over delay

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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W KA — G OV E R N O R Peter Obi of Anambra State has directed the contractors handling the AmanseaEbenebe-Obaofemili road project in Awka North local government area to accelerate the pace of work or lose the contract.

The governor, who issued the threat after an interaction with stakeholders in the area at the project site, said he was not happy with the pace of work, warning that government would no longer tolerate further delay on the project.

He recalled that the reconstruction of the road, which was flagged off four years ago, was delayed by the bridge project which was completed over one year ago, stressing that government expected the contractor to increase pace of work to ensure it was completed on schedule, especially within the present dry season.

According to him, the state government wanted the project to be completed as early as possible as part of the many ongoing projects in the area, to address the neglect of the local government area over the years by successive administrations, which his government was trying to reverse.

14—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

FG reviews VAT Act

BY ENYIM ENYIM

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NITSHA—THE Federal Inland Revenue Service has said it was reviewing the Value Added Tax Act to enable it resolve the problems faced by taxpayers in complying with VAT. Acting Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Kabir M. Mashi, stated this during the agency’s enlightenment campaign on VAT in Onitsha yesterday.

He said the review of the VAT Act was to ensure that drastic improvement in the collection of VAT was sustained, adding that VAT was the third highest contributor to tax collection in the last eight years.

He said: ”VAT has contributed 16 per cent of total tax collection in the last eight years. We have also seen VAT collection grow from N163.3 billion in 2004 to N659.1 billion in 2011, representing an increase of over 400 per cent. ” We are currently in the process of reviewing the Value Added Tax and we will soon come up with a draft VAT Amended Bill which will help to resolve the challenges faced by taxpayers in complying with VAT law.”

Orji appoints Transition C’ttees for Abia LGs

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—GOV ERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has submitted 34 names to the State House of Assembly for consideration for appointment as chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 17 local government councils of the state.

The nomination followed the expiration of the second tenure of the last set of transition committee members.

Since the expiration of the last elected council executives in 2010, the councils have been run by transition committees.

The immediate past committee members served for six months, that is three months in the first instance and their tenure was renewed for another three months.

Govs call for release of $1bn excess crude funds

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—STATE gover nors, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to release the sum of $1billion from the excess crude account, which is a subject of litigation between the federal and state governments, warning that ongoing projects in states would be stalled if the money was not released.

Addressing state house correspondents after a meeting of the National Economic Council, the governors said though the council resolved that the case in court should proceed while avenues were explored to find amicable resolutions, the Attorney General of the Federation was directed to find ways of paying the money to the states.

Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, who led the governors of Ekiti and Ebonyi states as well as the deputy governor of Sokoto state to the briefing, noted that the issue of the excess crude account was not a pointer to a dispute between the states and federal government but meant to resolve how such monies should be shared .

On the prevailing fuel scarcity in some states, the governor of Gombe State said the council was briefed on the payment

of subsidy to marketers whose claims had been verified, adding that government was working had to verify the other outstanding claims.

According to him, payment of up to N881billion has so far

been made after verification, while about N100billion was still needed for settlement and still being verified.

Other decisions taken by council, the governors said, were the issue of abuse of siren by government officials and

other persons; Nigeria’s Centenary celebration; the establishment of complimentary security outfits by state governments, the state of federal roads and the construction of a national broadband and ICT centre for the nation.

LAUNCHING: Chief Executive Officer, Bestman Games Limited, Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe (left) and Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, at the formal launch of the City of Lagos edition of Monopoly, at the City Hall, Lagos, yesterday.

houses razed Abia Assembly summons commissioner, 3 as LG workers gov’s aide over publication protest in

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State House of Assembly has summoned the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, over a dirty and scandalous publication in a local magazine, Weekly Details.

The publication allegedly accused the information commissioner of many wrong doings.

The scandalous publication,it was learnt, was a source of embarrassment to the citizens of the state who pushed the House to investigate the matter.

Vanguard learnt that the Commissioner had accused

the Chief of Staff of being behind the publication against him.

The summon by the House followed a petition by two groups who felt that the sordid revelation in the magazine was a big embarrassment to the government the two senior political appointees were serving.

Arik Air ‘ll boost Nigeria’s economic ties with Congo —Amb Kele

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

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AGOS—NIGERIAN Am bassador in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Kele, has said the coming of Arik Air into Kinshasa, Congo, would boost the economic power of Nigeri-

ans living in Congo as well as strengthen the good relationship between both countries.

Ambassador Kele spoke at the inaugural ceremony of Arik Air at the Aeroport International De N’ Djili Airport, Congo, when the first flight of Arik Air landed at the airport.

Vanguard witnessed the warm welcome reception given Arik Airline by the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the aircraft went through water canon which is a sign of welcoming a new aircraft into the country’s airspace and airport.

Court adjourns Bawo’s suit to January 9

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ARRI—THE case instituted by the first son and child of late Chief David Poge Otirikpen, Mr. Bawo Edirin Poge Otirikpen, at OtorUdu High Court, has been adjourned to January 9, 2013, because of the absence of the judge, who could not sit on December 7, 2012, just as she did not also sit on November 27, 2012 when the case first came

up for mention.

Bawo Edirin after the latest adjournment, said he had done all he needed to do by suing the families and burial committee for planning the burial without his involvement as the first child and son of late Chief David Poge Otirikpen, the immediate past President-General of Udu Community in Delta State.

He said: “I am entitled to pay his last respect by performing dust to dust as he has not sold his birth-right to any younger siblings and not to be blame in future as he was willing to do so but it was not his making, because the court did not sit for two occasions and the families was unable to settle the case within him and his younger siblings.”

Plateau

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BY TAYE OBATERU

OS—AT least three hous es of top government officials were burnt in Plateau State yesterday as other workers joined striking local government workers in a solidarity strike.

The national secretariats of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, had directed other labour unions to join the local government workers in a solidarity strike if the state government failed to resolve the trade the dispute which had dragged for about seven months within 10 days. The ultimatum expired on Monday.

Angry youth were said to have barricaded roads in Mangu, Pankshin and Langtang North local government areas to protest what they called government’s refusal to heed appeals to end the impasse.

The protest in Langtang North was alleged to have been hijacked by hoodlums leading to the burning of the residences of the Management Committee Chairman of the local government, Mr. Namaan Darko, that of a member of Plateau State House of Assembly, Mrs. Joyce Rannap and the Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Lohfa Boko.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—15

Jonathan to NASS: Approve N162bn for subsidy or face fuel scarcity

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—STRONG indications emerged, yesterday, that Nigerians will have a bleak festive season if the Senate and House of Representatives fail to honour the request of President Goodluck Jonathan to approve additional N161,617,364,911 for fuel subsidy.

The President also wrote to the Senate requesting for the confirmation of the appointment of some persons into the Federal Civil Service Commission.

President Jonathan, in a letter to the Senate, read by Senate President, David Mark, explained that after a forensic audit, Federal Government discovered that the provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was underestimated.

The letter read: “The distinguished Senate President will recall that as part of the 2012 budget framework, a provision of N888.1 billion was made for payment of fuel subsidy for the nation.

“I wish to intimate the distinguished Senate of the fact that following the forensic audit carried out, the provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget was underestimated. As of now, the sum of N880,264,243,683:61 has been paid out, leaving a balance of N7,735,756,316. 39.

“In order to accommodate the outstanding arrears resulting from the forensic audit and remaining period of 2012, an additional N161,617, 364,911 over and above what was programmed in the 2012 framework is required.

“Given the need to maintain a steady flow of petroleum products, especially in the run

up to the festive season, it is my hope that the distinguished senators will kindly accord this request their traditional expeditious consideration and approval.

“Accordingly, I hereby forward copies of the supplemental request for the additional payment of 2012.”

Meanwhile, while Senate President was reading the letter, senators were murmuring,

an indication that the request, coming relatively late with a few days for the lawmakers to go for break, may suffer a major setback.

FCSC appointments

President Jonathan also wrote to the Senate requesting for the confirmation of the appointment of Dr. Ngozi Etolue, from Anambra State, to represent Anambra, Ebonyi

and Enugu in the Federal Civil Service Commission; Hope Ikiriko from Rivers State to represent Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta in the commission; Professor Aminu Sheidu from Kogi State to represent Kogi and Kwara; Mr. Emmanuel Ihedioha from Abia to represent Imo and Abia states and Mr. Joseph Akande from Osun State to represent Osun and Oyo states in the commission.

NIMC staff picket NASS

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—SACKED staff of the National Identity Card Management Commission, NIMC, yesterday, barricaded the National Assembly complex demanding that representatives give them justice based on their petition before the House.

This would make it the third time in the last three months that the aggrieved NIMC staff had mounted a barricade at the main entrance to the complex.

The DPO of the police station attached to the complex, Mr. M. Shehu, alongside Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, Minority Leader, George Akume and Abu Ibrahim addressed the protesters.

FG seeks regional cooperation on curriculum devt COMMISSIONING: From left— Mr. George Ekwensi, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Prof. Wole Soyinka, at the commissioning of Cyprian Ekwensi Library in Minna.

Reps grill Aviation Minister over $500m loan

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—FOR over two hours, yesterday, House of Representatives Committee on Debts, Aids and Loans Management grilled the Minister of Aviation, Princess

Stella Oduah, over a $500 million loan proposed for the aviation industry.

The minister had told the committee that the proposed loan was to be sourced from China Export-Import Bank and will be used for the upgrade of four international airports located in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Chairman of the Committee, Adeyinka Ajayi, said the parliament was interested in knowing if the loan complied with the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Ajayi also demanded to know the amount of money attached to each of the airports and if the projects had been subjected to the appropriate Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA. Oduah disclosed that the facility being sought was a concessional loan that would last for 25 years and had a 10-year moratorium and 2.5 percent interest rate.

According to Oduah, the loan had become imperative because of the need to construct new international airport terminals at the four airports.

The projects, she said, were to give the airports a facelift and bring them in line with international standards.

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—FEDERAL Government is seeking greater cooperation from countries in West Africa in the areas of curriculum development and teachers’ capacity building.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, made this known at the ongoing three-day West Africa Regional Workshop on Curriculum Innovation and Teachers Capacity Building.

Wike said the country and other countries in the sub-region shared common challenges, such as poverty and under-development, stressing that only countries with a functional system would continue to maximise their potentials and reap the benefits of quality education.

He said: “It is, therefore, imperative for developing nations like ours to ensure that their educational system appropriately responds to national development needs and priorities.

“This is where curriculum as a critical factor for promoting innovation in the education system is very fundamental.”

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

N195bn unspent pension funds missing— Senate

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Last has not been heard of the controversial case of the management of pension funds as the Senate, yesterday, revealed that N195bn unspent pension funds for the last five years could not be accounted for.

Stating this yesterday during the continuation of the public hearing on the pension fraud, Chairman of the Joint Senate Committee probing the management of pension funds, Senator Aloysius Etok, PDP, Akwa Ibom North-West, was however not happy that the chairman, Pension Tax Team, PT T, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina refused to appear before the committee.

He vowed that the Senate will not give him any opportunity if he fails to show up today to state his case on the pension fraud.

Senator Etok said: “We want to give Maina the last chance and this committee, which represents the Senate of the Federal Republic, is saying that whosoever is behind Maina’s arrogance should know that his time is up and the masses want him to account for his stewardship.

Says Maina must appear or...

“He should appear before this committee tomorrow (toady) at 11am without fail.

If he doesn’t come tomorrow, the committee will proceed to hold the public hearing and we will take presentations from Prison Service, Police and other agencies.

“We will get all the presentations and make up our case and tell the public what we have discovered in the course of our investigations.”

Etok noted that he must appear against the backdrop that the chairman of PTT had organised several media confer-

ence, where he had accused the committee of not giving him fair hearing.

Funds breakdown

In his contribution, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Kano South, who noted that N195 billion pension fund was unaccounted for, brought out the breakdown of the figures according to the AccountantGeneral’s Office, between

2005 and 2011.

According to Senator Gaya, Police Pension Office, N131,483,873,694.63 released; N58,270,660,632.00 spent, while N44,213,213,062.00 is unaccounted for. On Military Pension Board, N317,609,082,566.05 was released, N294,076,743,532.87 spent and balance unaccounted for stood at N23,532,339,034.

Customs, Immigration, Prisons Pension Office, N85,249,222,900.16 released, N27,452,200,993.72 spent, while N27,797,822,127.00 unaccounted for.

For the Department of State Service Pension, he said N34,698,149,304.68 was allocated, N9,413,090,416 spent with a balance of N26,121,394,662.63.

Head of Service, according to

Accountant-General’s report, had N139,056,523,955.20; N100,641,106,957.33 spent and N39,783,682,993.00 as the balance.

Meanwhile, ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, ControllerGeneral of Prisons, Chairman of ICPC, Chairman of EFCC, Head of Service, Director of Pension and Director, Police Pension Office are to appear before the committee today.

20 pick PDP's BoT chairmanship forms

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AHEAD of the January 8, 2013 election of the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Secretary of the board, Senator Walid Jubrin disclosed, yesterday, that 20 aspirants have picked forms, including nonBoT members.

Senator Jubrin said those who ordinarily were not expected to purchase the form did, adding that the fate of those persons will be known during screening and voting, especially against the backdrop that only members of the BoT will determine the next Chairman, either through open or secret ballot.

According to him, PDP’s constitution stipulates that the BoT Chairman and Secretary shall emerge from the party‘s BoT membership made up of 98 and that what this connotes is that those who are not members of the party‘s BoT are not qualified to contest the positions.

Jubrin added that since the election of the BoT chairman was not specified in the party ’s constitution, the BoT would implore a methodology that would ensure an open and transparent election, adding “January 8 had been fixed

zAs govs storm party secretariat, beg for Nyako for the election of the party’s BoT chairman and it shall remain so.”

Meanwhile, PDP governors stormed the Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the party to plead on behalf of their colleague, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, who has been having a running battle with the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee.

The governors, who were led by the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, particularly asked the NWC of the party to reverse its decision of sacking the Adamawa State PDP Executive that was loyal

to the governor and replaced with a Caretaker Committee.

The governors and their representatives, who were 12, told Tukur that they appreciated the reconciliation programme of the party’s leadership and moves designed to bring peace to the PDP. At the end of the closeddoor meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, told newsmen that the governors urged the PDP leadership to revisit the Adamawa issue since the governor had visited the leadership of the party and also showed remorse, where he pleaded with Tukur and others.

It will be recalled that PDP’s

We'll support devt projects— Ugborodo

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ARRI—LEADER SHIP of Ugborodo Community Trust Governing Board has expressed gratitude to the Federal and Delta State governments for selecting Ugborodo land for the proposed multi-billion naira fertilizer project.

The body also expressed its willingness to make lands

available, as long as the intending investors show genuineness and sincerity of purpose, which must include the desire to ensure a comprehensive and holistic development of the area.

After the meeting of the Governing Board in Warri, its Chairman, Mr. David Tonwe, said: “We are most willing to

make lands available.

“A situation where government officials and political office holders place themselves in strategic positions to act as proxy for Ugborodo people to the detriment of the owners of such lands, who are then isolated and precluded from discussions and negotiations, will not be tolerated.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

NWC had last month sacked the State Executive Committee against the backdrop that the Mijinyawa Kugama-led exco, which was loyal to Nyako, refused carrying out certain instructions from the headquarters of the party.

To replace the exco, the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC inaugurated a nine-member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state.

The Adamawa State Caretaker Committee has Amb. Umar Damagun from Yobe State as Chairman.

Some others are Mr. Eli Gamaliel, member, Adamawa South; Mr. Dahiru Shehu, Adamawa South; Alhaji Sabo Mohammed, Adamawa Central.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Do you support creation of new states?(5)

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REATING more states would do more damages than good since majority of the present states already have challenges.

Talking of having more states will add to the problem currently confronting Nigeria.— Mrs Chinenye Ezeamanie, Student.

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HE country is not equitably delineat ed in terms of states creation. There are lots of lopsidedness.

But the question is what are the yardsticks of creating states? We do not want creation of states that will not address issues.— Mr. Ige Asemudara, Lawyer.

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E have to look at the economic viability of the states that are to be created or it would be a jamboree and scramble for the so-called National Cake. Some of the present states cannot even stand on their own.— Mr. Abubakar Shamsudeen, Lawyer.

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do not think we need more states. The exi isting ones are not viable. New states should be the last thing on the burner.

Some states should be merged. When we had 12 states, people were more united and things were far better.— Mr. Dokun Makinde, Lawyer.

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Y view on the creation of new states is that it is not necessary. The ones we have on ground are yet to get the required provisions and capacity to thrive. It is even better to reduce the states and give the people the best.— Mr. Jude Oputa, Lawyer.

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T is not necessary, considering the fact that most states in Nigeria are not viable at the moment. Many, perhaps with the exception of Lagos and Port Harcourt, rely heavily on the Federal Government for sustenance.—Mr. Olaoluwa Adekanbi, Lawyer.

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—

A disease that would kill a dog first takes away its sense of smell—Lesotho Proverbs

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eveloping from isolated abductions of foreigners in towns and cities by so-called militants in the Niger Delta who were exchanged for large sums from oil companies, kidnappings became big business and almost crippled oil and gas activities in the oil-producing areas of the region. Along with violent attacks on installations and sabotage of pipelines, kidnapping of particularly expatriates became serious threats which drastically reduced the output of Nigerian oil exports.

Like all crimes, kidnapping found other outlets because its sociological foundations were poorly understood; and the state’s responses are not prepared or designed to deal with it. The hasty conclusion of the amnesty programme in a manner that suggested that rehabilitating criminals eliminates crimes is largely responsible for the survival and spread of kidnapping as a serious business. The relative ease of picking targets, availability of small arms and large numbers of people previously exposed to the huge amounts which can be

The audacity of evil depended largely on the freedom of enterprenuers to be both visible and mobile began to shrink. When the rich and famous were beyond immediate reach, the small fry were available, in a community where everyone has value.

The endemic nature of kidnapping in the southeast and many parts of the south-south, as well as its potential to spread to other parts Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: 82 year of the nation should old mother kidnapped. now alarm this adminmade from this crime have turned it into a istration. The raging insurgency of the veritable industry. When the cover over Jamaatu Ahlil Sunnah Lid’dawati Wal Jicriminality in the Niger Delta was removed had (a.k.a. Boko Haram) is already a maby the amnesty programme, the skills and jor challenge to the nation’s military. Kidthe paraphernalia survived, and began to napping and crude theft and oil-related target new victims. But this was only a crimes are now threatening to match this boost, since the practice of kidnap for ran- insurgency in terms of their ability to erode som had been with the communities in the the state’s capacity to secure the nation and southeast from quite a while, and had replaced the crime of choice, armed robbery, They must not get away in the volume of returns and relative safewith this crime; the ty of the criminal.

Crimes of kidnapping spread because administration needs to the criminals succeeded, and the state failed boost its security to nail them. The huge amounts involved capabilities to bring matched the monumental failure of the communities to expose kidnappers and the kidnapping and other police to trace and free kidnappers and crimes such as armed prosecute victims. The success of the kidrobbery, crude theft and napper brought more success, to a point where it made much more sense to settle the Boko Haram with the kidnapper than to rely on state insurgency to an end agencies to free victims unhurt.

More and more people took their own protect citizens. precautions, and the social structure beIt does not need experts to remind the came fragmented because wealth and fame nation that the Nigeria police is so seribecame victims, while ordinary folks ously challenged that it is barely able to thought they were safe. Police became perform the basic functions of crime premore involved in protecting potential vic- vention and preservation of law and ortims and politically powerful people, while der. Raging and expanding threats to seroutine policing, intelligence gathering curity of lives and property and a nation and crime prevention were virtually aban- founded on laws and the imperatives of doned. Eventually, everyone in the region order challenge the Nigeria police daily. became a victim, and an economy which Social values crumble by the day, and lead-

,

HE kidnapping, last Sunday, of the mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from her home will shock even those who have been desensitized by the endemic nature of this crime. The audacity of this incident will suggest more than an attempt to extract bigger pay-off. It represents a serious attempt to humiliate the administration of President Jonathan, and further expose its structural weaknesses. The nation will be even more disturbed by the claim by Campaign for Democracy (CD) that kidnapping is now such a big industry in the southeast that abductors make an average of N750million in a month. The organization claims that an average of five persons are kidnapped every month in each state of the southeast zone.

For each kidnapped person, anywhere between N20m and N30m is paid. It says there is a massive exodus of industrialists and other businessmen and women from the region due to activities of kidnappers.

Major cities such as Aba, Onitsha, Owerri, Awka, Umuahia, Enugu and Abakaliki where the wealthiest people live are reportedly under virtual siege from kidnappers. C.D complain that governors of the region have been unable to curtail this spreading evil. Perhaps the sad kidnapping of an 82 year old mother of a serving Minister may help re-focus attention on this creeping evil that appears to have won all its battles against the entire security, law and order infrastructure of the nation, as well as the efforts of all communities in the southeast and south-south.

,

ers of communities lose capacities to regulate behavior of members or set standards of conduct that can be enforced because they lack the credibility to do so. Leaders of all types break rules and laws of the land, and the impunity with which they do this is so obvious that citizens who still believe in respecting laws of the land are derided by others.

Nigerians from the very young to the elderly hear of mind-boggling corruption in offices and corridors of power by people who swore to live honestly and lead by enforcing laws. Every institution of state has been corrupted by the vilest forms of greed and routine abuse from the highest to the lowest citizens in it; and there is no value that is so sacrosanct that people wouldn’t rush to violate. Even honest and hardworking citizens think their leaders are only interested in looting treasuries, and if they have chances of do the same, they will. Others in crime or those who hover between criminality and hopelessness feel no qualms over kidnapping or robbing other citizens, in a social context which places premium on getting away with it all. Generating community and social resistance against crimes such as kidnapping are virtually impossible in a situation where those who have responsibility to engineer the resistance live behind high walls and lines of policemen.

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hile praying for the early and safe release of this elderly woman that has joined the legion of those unfortunate Nigerians who attract attention by their names or fame or wealth, it is important to remind the administration that it will have to radically revisit its posture and strategy towards dealing with crime, including massive corruption. If Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s mother is released immediately, unharmed and without a hefty ransome paid, most Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief. But this will put government in a spot as well: many Nigerians will say government acts only when a prominent person close to it is a victim.

The mother of the Minister of Finance, a professor who gave her entire life in the service of her community and nation is in the hands of people who intend to trade her for money, or other rewards. They must not get away with this crime. The administration needs to boost its security capabilities to bring kidnapping and other crimes such as armed robbery, crude theft and the Boko Haram insurgency to an end. Under the present circumstances, this is a tall order to achieve in a short time. But that is what we have leaders for.

It will be most unfortunate if this elderly citizen is rescued soon, as she should be, and the impression is created that it is only because her daughter is a Minister in President Jonathan’s government.

OPINION

BY DELE AKINOLA

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Continued from yesterday's pg 17

JC’S recommendation on the reinstatement of swiftly-suspended president of the Appeal Court , Justice Ayo Salami, one of the few men of conscience and courage the country can still boast of, headed for its final resting place under the carpet.

Cases relating to the gruesome murder of great Nigerians like Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Alfred Rewane, Harry Marshall, Funsho Williams and others too numerous to recall are under the carpet. Suppose these illustrious citizens of the country chose the period of my visit to launch reprisal attack! No, I would never step on the Nigerian carpet, let alone the red section of it, not even for a carrot of a third, fourth and fifth terms in office. Even President Barack Obama, the most powerful man on earth, artfully dodged this enigmatic carpet. I doff my hat, though. Nigerian firms are manufacturers of the toughest carpets you can get.

The Nigerian carpet is the network with the largest coverage area in the world.

Why I won’t come near Nigeria (2) Fear of the unknown does nothing to endear the largest black people on earth to my heart. The more Nigerians believe they know, the more they know nothing. It makes no matter they parade a huge number of professors and multiple degree holders with those lousy things my late comedian father would describe as “iwe bamba-bamba” – ultra-voluminous books. If most of the numerous deserving executive felons in the country had, as expected, been brought to book, one would have understood what those lousy books contained. But never! Big for nothing books containing nothing!

Even journalists who pride themselves as investigative know nothing. Too many things are unknown in Nigeria including unknown gunmen, unknown assailants, unknown rapists and unknown bombers.

Poor Fela Anikulapo-Kuti! He lived in the analogue

age. So he knew only of unknown soldiers, unknown police, unknown civilians which were all equal to unknown government. In this digital age, unknown entities rule the oil fields.

It is my regret, however, that I would miss the youths who rule the hi-tech world. I admire their resilience, creativity and ingenuity especially at inventing iconic mobile cheating devices for their WAEC, NECO and JAMB exams. As I covet the high-riding Slippers IPad for boys, I scooped from unknown sources the girls are already perfecting their own version – the invisible Breastberry smart phone, to be cleverly concealed in the cleavages of their boobs.

As a way of compensating them, I have packaged some goody-goody which is in the pipeline. And they shall surely have it, provided unknown youths, riding on the back of protection of sacred cows, refrain from vandalising the pipeline before it is fully done.

Concluded

*Mr. Akinola, a public affairs commentator, from Lagos.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 BUDGET defences give us rare opportunity to behold wastes in government. Possibly worse is the adamancy of government officials in defending their preferences for their comfort at our collective expense.

An expenditure of N9 billion to furnish the palace of the Vice President should not pass.

Low as various governments have rendered the value of the Naira, N9 billion today is about $52.25 million. How could anyone spend that type of money in this economy to furnish a house? The construction of the same house cost N7 billion. Ironically, it is cheaper to build the residence than to furnish it. The total cost would top N16 billion about $100 million.

Other components of the waste would soon be obvious. If we use N9 billion to furnish the residence, we may require not less than N1 billion to maintain it annually.

By whatever calculation, N9 billion is a lot of money. The Presidency knows so, and it applied similar sum to a seemingly wiser expenditure only two years ago. When it decided to build six new universities, the total allocation was a paltry N10 billion. In other words, the furnishing of the Vice President’s

Sheer W as Was asttes, Sure Wants residence is slightly cheaper than building six new federal universities.

In 2010, N9 billion was the entire capital vote of the House of Representatives. Today, we are considering the adequacy of the sum for the furnishing of a residence for the Vice President.

Our neighbour Ghana built a controversial presidential palace (offices and residence for the president) for about $30 million in 2008 – it included furnishing. Late President John Atta-Mills on succeeding John Kufuor refused to use the facility which he considered a waste!

What we really have in our hand is a scandal.

Other obnoxious expenditures like the proposed N2.2 billion banquet hall (with capacity for only 150 people) all raise alarm, not only about wastes, but the myopic thinking in government. Why does anyone need another banquet hall, moreso, when it is too small to accommodate only presidential aides? Does government realise that these wastes are guaranteeing a country that would remain in poverty since it is frittering away its resources?

Sadly, the National Assembly is in league with the Presidency in this waste. Its public posture on the needless expenditure on the comfort of the Executive is matched by its own profligacy. We therefore have both conspiring against the future of Nigeria by wantonly wagering its resources, at a time of withering economic conditions that government remains clueless about countering.

The National Assembly should approve N1 billion for the furnishing, the rest of the money should be deployed to improve Abuja’s infrastructure, particularly in the surrounding villages.

OPINION

BY CHIKE OKEKE

T

HE International Community marked the International Day for persons with Disabilities on Monday 3, 2012. The theme of the day’s event was “Removing Barriers to create an inclusive and an accessible society for all” The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) organised an elaborate event to mark the occasion the following day Tuesday December 4, 2012 at its National Secretariat in Abuja.

The National Woman Leader of the Party, Ambassador Kema Chikwe who a few months ago organised an e-programme for Nigerian Women brought together a large number of disabled persons from all over the country in a workshop to discuss Ways and Means of improving their lot. The programme which was held in partnership with the International Republican Institute (IRI) discussed the problems the disabled encounter in Nigeria. She assured them that the PDP, in keeping with the tenets of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which proclaims that “All Human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”, will ensure that discrimination against disabled persons in Nigeria is brought to the barest minimum.

They were there in their numbers – the

PDP: Partnering with the Disabled blind, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, and others with various forms of disability.

They attended the event under the auspices of their national organisation, the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPID). The Leadership of JONAPID which comprised very highly educated Nigerians, some with doctorate degrees, from their impressive articulation and suggestions of what the PDP Government in Nigeria could do to improve their welfare clearly illustrates that indeed there is ability in disability.

In her keynote address, Dr. Chikwe explained that the workshop was organised mainly to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on equal basis with others, directly or through fully chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected. She implored them to use their leadership skills and organise themselves effectively in the wards, local governments and states in order to use their knowledge and strength to influence events in the country.

The lead paper at the workshop was

presented by Ekaete Judith Umoh, Vice President Rehabilitation International Africa, Executive Director, Family Centred Initiative for Challenged Persons (FACIP), and National Women Leader JONAPID. She stated that rather than perceiving persons with disabilities as objects of charity, the United Nations recognises them as holders of rights, able to claim these rights and to live in dignity and autonomy as active members of society. She lamented that in Nigeria, there is no legal framework for the protection of persons with disabilities, so they remain “largely marginalized, disproportionately poorer, frequently unemployed and have higher rate of mortality. Furthermore, they are excluded from civil and political processes and are overwhelmingly voiceless in matters that effect them in their society”.

Ekaete Judith Umoh is in deed a pride to Nigeria, and can definitely hold her own anywhere in the world.

A

number of the participants spoke on the various problems the disabled encounter in Nigeria and it was agreed that the first major step to address their problems is that the PDP should do every

thing possible to ensure the passage of the Disability Bill now in the National Assembly. They also requested that the disabled in Nigeria should be represented at the Federal and State Executive Councils. After all, if our women can have 30 percent representation in these councils why should the disabled in Nigeria not have same or even more representation?

The National Leadership of the Party was represented at the workshop by some of their members including the Deputy National Chairman Dr. Sam Sam Jaja and the National Auditor Dr. Bala Ka’oje.

The Peoples Democratic Party, in partnering with the Disabled in Nigeria is, apart from enhancing its followership through a major chunck of the Nigerian Society is fulfilling one of the major functions of a political party – mobilising the citizenry towards improving their welfare. Doing so especially for the handicapped is indeed a worthy and noble cause. Other political parties should emulate this good example.

*Mr. Okeke, a political analyst , wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012— —19

, S

ANUSI Lamido Sanusi, governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, revels in controversy- or so it appears.

From one controversial step to another Sanusi luxuriates in his loudmouth image. But if sometimes Sanusi seems mad, in manner of speaking, there is no doubt method to his madness.

The last time Sanusi ruffled national feathers before his latest act which I’ll come to shortly- the last time he got many Nigerians sniffing for his blood was when, a few weeks back, he stubbornly stuck to his decision to introduce 5,000 Naira bill into the economy. Sanusi determinedly went ahead with his plans in spite of the insistence of many Nigerians that such a move was both wrongheaded and contrary to CBN’s goal for a so-called cashless economy. It would take the personal intervention of the President who had apparently bought into the Sanusi 5,000 Naira move before he backed down. Not only was Sanusi stubborn in his insistence, he was both arrogant and appeared

totally unmoved by the feelings of the vast majority of Nigerians.

It is this streak of arrogance that very often colours people’s perception of the CBN governor.

It makes it difficult, it seems, for them to weigh his actions dispassionately. But there’s nobody to blame for this but Sanusi himself. He must stop acting like an oracle whose words are incontrovertible.

Otherwise, the baby of some of his thoughtful remarks would be thrown out with the bath water of his arrogant disposition.

Sanusi’s arrogant public image is the reason many Nigerians were blinded to his proposition that government needs to cut down its workforce by half for the economy to be healthy. What Sanusi has so disagreeably proposed is the same thing that many have said before him and have continued to say since his comment, that cost of governance is irrationally high.

But without qualifying his statement Sanusi has simply called for the retrenchment of half of the country ’s public

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servants. The other side of his proposition that elected public officers gulp too much of the national revenue, or to put it differently, account for too much of our recurrent expenditure was almost ignored as both organised labour and the so-called elected representatives of the people were united in their condemnation of the CBN governor.

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ut the truth must be out! If indeed the public service including the elected leeches and their cronies who rigged their way into power spend 70 Kobo of every one Naira the government earns, then there is urgent need to reconsider how we spend our earnings. We cannot and shouldn’t wait until we fall off our own ‘fiscal cliff ’ like Greece before we start making adjustment. For one, it must be recognised that perhaps half of the estimated national workforce exist only on paper. All over the country, there is incontrovertible evidence that all sorts of corrupt acts which border on criminality abound. Non-existent persons populate public staff rolls as they do our voters’ registers. In other words, the ghost of ghost workers

Rebuilding our schools brick by brick COLUMNIST in our beleaguered on the adage — Knowledge is Light, nation is a frustrated citizen. She tries Knowledge for Service, Knowledge and A in vain to oblige the government’s spokesmen and not “heat up the polity” with yet another lament of our unending woes. How pleasantly surprised I was, then, to find a cheerful subject for a change! No, it is not as my good friend, Maero Ozako, playfully teased — that I had “hammered,” being the guest of my state government which had organised a literary matinee at which I was the featured writer; an event I hope signals a tradition-in-the-making. It was, instead, the concrete evidence that I saw in Asaba of an awareness of the crying need to rebuild our schools from the rubble of their total collapse.

To greet Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan before my poetry reading the next day, the only option permitted by his schedule was to meet him at St Patrick’s College where he was inspecting a new block of thirty classrooms. The inspection train had just completed its rounds of the classrooms and was heading for the nearby model primary school when I arrived in the company of Oma Djebah, senior adviser on foreign relations to Uduaghan and co-ordinator of the event that brought me to my state’s capital. I stayed behind to inspect every room before joining the party at the primary school. What I saw, the details of which come at the end, inspired the following reflections.

Knowledge is power, says the old aphorism and motto of countless schools across the country. In the heraldry of such schools, the words occupy the base of badges stitched onto or pinned to the breast pockets of the boys’ shirts and the girls’ pinafores or blouses. Every variation

C M Y K

Truth — retains the emphasis on knowledge. Its truth and power is apparent to the illiterate and the sophisticate, philosopher and philistine, alike. Which is why not too long ago, parents would starve, sell or mortgage land and any valuable, just to send the promising son (invariably) to school. It helped, of course, that after independence power, literally speaking, became the exclusive preserve of the educated. Then, our schools reflected the seriousness with which we viewed education. They never lacked in any substantive sense. If they could not boast of impressive buildings laid out on well-tended grounds, they could point to well-trained, dedicated and resourceful teachers. The elite schools — King’s College and Queen’s College in Lagos, the government colleges at Umuahia, Ibadan, Ughelli and the “Unity” schools — were the equal of any secondary school in the world. The many outstanding intellects they produced, some still among us, testify as much.

By the time I entered Federal Government College, Warri, in 1978, the cry of “the good old days” was already in the air. Yet, for all the teeth-gnashing, FGCW proved to be a fabulous place of learning. Admittedly, there were, even then, incipient signs of the decay that would later devastate every public school in the land; more noticeably in the already decrepit language lab and hostels straining to accommodate a student population far larger than was originally intended. Yet, compared to what came after, I attended an aristocratic prep school!

(forgive the pun) has not been finally laid to rest. It is understandable for workers to rise with one voice against Sanusi’s pronouncement. Don’t we all know that the unemployment rate in Nigeria is at the best of time scandalous?

Nigerian youths are longsuffering and must rank among the most abused of their demographics in the world. They are educated, far better in many cases (again don’t mind the unemployable ones whose cases tend to get human resource experts groaning about the poor state of our education system) than their parents. But after the grinding ordeal of surviving their days in school, they graduate into joblessness at the end of it all.

They are left to depend as adults on the same parents who had worked off their backsides to see them through school. Sanusi himself recognised this point during a lecture he recently delivered at the University of Calabar. He could therefore not be calling for the mass sack of people in suck stark terms. But as I was saying, there is no way any right thinking person can believe that Nigeria has such huge number of its population in the work force as the national wage bill suggests. The point therefore is that our workforce is grossly bloated. There are too many dead, retired and nonexistent people drawing pay from the national purse. They are the reason the wage bill is incredibly high. And that is one reason we would continue to rank high on the global corruption perception index in spite of our protestations as is happening with the latest Transparency International index.

The other reason for our huge

This is the backdrop of my delight as I saw in turns the c h e m i s t r y, physics and biology labs, the h o m e economics kitchen, regular classrooms, the library, sick bay and the administrative offices. There

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Sanusi’s panacea for the economy

From Aso Villa to the National Assembly, the state governments down to the local governments, the Nigerian economy bleeds from multiple injuries

The big question is whether five to ten years hence, the classrooms that I praise today will have succumbed to the great Nigerian disease and been reduced to empty tool sheds

,

was even an information technology room, complete with whiteboard and a large television monitor. The only thing missing, and which I hope will be installed, was an overhead projector together with a retractable screen. All the books for the library and most of the laboratory equipment and reagents were still in boxes, but there was no mistaking the intent.

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t the model primary school, I was elated to see a functional building designed with the comfort and security of the pupils in mind. Why, there was also an ICT room and a hall! The toilets, I was

wage bill is the fact of corruption in high places, among the legislature and executive, socalled elected representatives of the people. From Aso Villa to the National Assembly, the state governments down to the local governments, not forgetting government departments, agencies and parastatals- the Nigerian economy bleeds from multiple injuries. How it continues to survive is testimony to how God hasn’t forsaken us to ourselves. We know how many billions go to titillate presidential palates even when we hear stories of fish pepper soup and cassava bread. We know our presidential fleet of aircraft in a country that has no national carrier dwarfs that of the UK and South Africa combined. We know of governors who spend hundreds of millions of dollars on aircraft while flood sacks villages and towns populated by people they purportedly serve- we also know of planes bought apparently at public expense, flown and crashed by governors whose people are ravaged by diseases and children are out of school.

We know all of this and more.

Just last week, Adams Oshiomole, governor of Edo State, itemised some of the ways public officers including himself deplete the national purse. He spoke of directors and different cadre officers of the public service who overflow first class cabins of foreign airlines.

Nigerians are aware of the array of staff, often composed of family members and cronies, of people who are themselves aides of public officers. You hear of an adviser of a local council chair who has his own personal assistants and advisers- all drawing on the public purse.

sad to note, lacked proper counter-tops, soap for washing hands, electric handdryers or paper towels. The absence of a play-scape, of any sporting facility other than a football field, does not show sufficient appreciation of the value of physical education. I would have loved a more robust commitment to the greening of the premises beyond the formulaic hedges — trees along the perimeter of the school and more shrubbery within the grounds, for instance. And the finishing, as indeed the aesthetics of our public buildings generally, could be better. There and at St Patricks I wished that more durable materials, such as fired bricks or granite, had been used for walls and exteriors, especially as they age well and fare better than sand-and-cement blocks and paint, moreso in a harsh climate. But given the state of our public schools, these are mere quibbles and the big question is whether five to ten years hence, the classrooms that I praise today will have succumbed to the great Nigerian disease and been reduced to empty tool sheds.

Still, across the country, there appears to be a growing commitment to the rebuilding of our schools brick by brick, book by book, microscope by math set. This must go on side by side with the retraining of old teachers and the training of new ones for the knowledge demands of the 21st Century.

Really, the only option if we wish to contend with countries that take themselves seriously.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Debate of the masses

Storm over Sanusi’s call for sack of workers

BY EBELE ORAKPO

“W •Physically challenged persons ... seek more recognition

Lamentations of the physically challenged •Want govt to implement existing laws on disabilities

A

S the United Nations marked the world’s day for persons with disabilities, Nigerians have been urged not to treat those with physical challenges as outcasts but to make the environment a friendly one for them.

Speaking at a social dialogue whose aim was how to remove all barriers and create an inclusive and accessible society for all, Ms Abimbola Ajayi, an architect and who is the immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Institute of Architects, NIA, said it was a shame that disabled people who struggle to get educated in spite of their challenges cannot get a job in the country.

She said that physically challenged people have the potential to excel in any field, even as businessmen and women with adequate motivation.

Ajayi added that employers across the country are usually unfair to physically challenged people during recruitment processes.

She appealed that every organisation should employ at least three disabled person out of ten staff who are qualified to do the job in their

companies. Ajayi, said that if they are employed, they too can become employers of labour. Continuing, she said the disability laws in Nigeria are disregarded because people don’t get sanctioned for disobeying them, just as she condemned the attitude of Nigerians towards the existing laws on

,

BY ONOZURE DANIA

walks in the environment are poorly maintained and many of them have at many times fallen into ditches. ”Some of our colleagues who move with the assistance of wheel chairs face difficulties accessing banking halls due to the security doors placed at

Every organisation should employ at least three disabled person out of ten staff who are qualified to do the job in their companies

disabilities.

The disabled persons who participated at the event used the opportunity to appeal to government to address the shortcomings in the implementation of the disability laws in order to make life conducive for them. A visually impaired person, Mohammed Afegbua, said that the design of many public places precluded disabled persons from accessing social services in the society.

He said the environment is not friendly to us in many aspects as available road

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the entrance and these banks have failed to address these challenges,” he said, adding: “ Many people shun us at overcrowded bus stops, especially when we want to cross busy roads.

This attitude makes life more difficult for us.”

Another disabled person Adegoke Adeola, who is visually-challenged, said the unemployment situation in the country was taking a great toll on them. She said: “Many of us struggled to acquire education and skills in

order to break away from the vicious circle of poverty but today our dreams and aspirations have been shattered as we can’t find any suitable employment to sustain us. ”Accessing loans to set up small scale businesses is even a difficulty.

Government at all levels needs to address this unemployment situation and make us heave a sigh of relief.”

Mary Adedokun, a visually impaired student said the visually impaired persons usually have difficulties in getting the results of public examinations they sit for.

She said, their results are usually delayed and that they also have difficulties in accessing their results in public examinations like JAMB, WAEC and N E C O .

She also added that the materials they use, are very expensive and after which they will still not get their results, making them retake one exam for three to five years after which they will still not have complete result. ”As a result of this we wait many months after able bodied examination candidates might have accessed their results. This is usually very frustrating and I think it should be addressed.”

HY is the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi always in the eye of the storm? Always courting trouble?” asked Eze, a commuter in the CMS-bound commercial bus, as the controversy over the CBN Governor’s suggested solution to our national problems.

“I no understand the guy at all. Today, he will talk sense and the very next day, he will talk nonsense. Just blowing hot and cold. You can’t say this is exactly where he stands, whether for the masses or for the oppressors,” noted John.

“I beg to disagree with you Bros. The man means well for the nation. He has been consistent in his actions without caring whose ox is gored,” said Tonia.

“What has he said that is so terrible that they are calling for his head? They should be calling for the heads of all the thieving politicians and their cohorts,” stated Abe. “Beg your pardon! He should be sacked. Is it fair in your heart of hearts for him to be calling for the sack of 50 per cent of the civil servants who are part of the suffering masses? I assure you, if they agree to heed his advice, the casualties will be mostly those who earn peanuts in the name of salary; those they pay N8,000 monthly, leaving those in the higher cadres where the bulk of our money goes,” said Eze. “O boy, they don sack you? You speak as if the 50 per cent have been sacked already. Before we crucify the man, what value exactly are the civil servants adding to the nation? Let’s be truthful to ourselves, leave sentiments aside and call a spade a spade, not a farm implement,” admonished Abe. “A friend told me how he lost a job in Norway because he could not produce his certificate as required.

He was only able to submit his statement of result,” narrated Tonia.

“What happened? He lost his certificate?” asked John to which Tonia replied thus: “For where! He did not have one.”

“How come? Is he a fresh graduate?” asked John again.

“No, he graduated over seven years earlier and the school has not been able to produce their certificates,” replied Tonia.

“What? And what did they do?” asked Eze. “What will they do? Just be patient, wait and watch and pray for God’s intervention,” answered Tonia.

“Wait and watch while your future is being destroyed by people paid with tax payers’ sweat who fail to do their job? It’s only in Nigeria that such a thing can happen. Those are your precious civil servants, receiving salaries every month for doing absolutely nothing! We are too docile as a people,” lamented Eze. Continuing he said; “We have PhD in docility. Always resigning to fate and waiting for God to do something that He expects us to do. What sparked off the Arab spring? One man who dared to do something to stop the oppressors.”

“Exactly my point! So instead of calling for Sanusi’s head, we should rise up and see how we can salvage this nation. He made a suggestion which we should look into. A nation that spends almost all its resources in paying the salaries of a few is dead if you ask me,” concluded Tonia.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 21

NIMC pledges to deliver irrefutable, secure national ID database T

HE National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has assured Nigerians of the Commission’s commitment to deliver reliable, irrefutable and secured National identity of Nigerians and Legal residents.

Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Mr Chris Onyemenam, stated this in Enugu, while presenting a paper entitled “National Identity Management System (NIMS): How the System will Work and How it will Benefit You and the Government” during an interactive session with stakeholders.

Onyemenam highlighted some key issues that led to the current insecurity challenges facing Nigeria today. He stated that an average Nigerian parades multiple and unreliable identities.

He further stated that this has led to over 75 percent fake and counterfeits identities in Nigeria. Barr Onyemenam also added that the problem has further been compounded by excessive focus on ID card issuance without ID Authentication and Verification Services.

He noted that over 100 million Nigerians have no official identities, adding: “Seventy five per cent of identity documents are fake and self issued, no timely means of authenticating the documents, less than 20 percent of the Nigeria population have

access to financial services and that actual total bank cards were less than 10 percent of the population’’

Onyemenam also stated that the solution to all this is a paradigm shift from ID card issuance to Identity Manage-

ment System that NIMC was set-up to establish. He further explained that the NIMS project is in five components:

the establishment of reliable, secured and accurate National Database, assigning of National Identification Number (NIN), issuance of Multipurpose cards (GMPC), provision of infrastructure that will be used for verification and confirmation of identity, and harmonisation of all existing government Agencies’ databases in Nigeria.

Halt impor importt of lubricants — Ammasco boss tells FG

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

C

From right: Chairperson, second Capital Market Committee (CMC) Retreat Organising Committee and Managing Director, UBA Trustees, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni presenting Conference Publications to CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, and Executive Director, Operations, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo, during the visit of the committee to the NSE for the symbolic bell ringing, in Lagos.

Chinese investment in Nigeria reaches $10bn

T

HE Chinese accumulated investment in Nigeria is expected to exceed US$10 billion by the end of December 2012 just as the trade volume between the two countries is currently more than US$8 billion as at October 2012. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Deng Boqing, who disclosed this de-0.1 velopment in an inter142.0 view with the Economic 2,490.00 -1.00 Confidential, said the economic intelligent magazine added that 18.76 -0.45 the two economies are highly complementary, and the cooperative re107.89 +0.87 lations have huge potential and broad pros86.20 +0.27 pect.

He further disclosed CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING that “China’s wide range investment covers secDOLLAR 154.76 155.26 155.76 STERLING 248.5446 249.3476 250.1506 tors such as petroleum, EURO 199.8106 200.4562 201.1017 free trade zone, iron and FRANC 165.5364 166.0712 166.6061 steel, agriculture, YEN 1.8791 1.8851 1.8912 manufacturing, pharCFA 0.2894 0.2994 0.3094 macy and mining. The WAUA 237.2954 238.062 238.8287 RENMINBI 24.8402 24.9209 25.0016 economic assistance to RIYA 41.266 41.3994 41.5327 Nigeria provided by KRONA 26.7746 26.8611 26.9476 China played an imporSDR 237.0149 237.7807 238.5464 tant role in bilateral coCBN Exchange rate as at 11/12/20127 operation, and some

projects in the areas of health, education, human resource training and infrastructural development.”

Rather than crude oil as major exportable product from Nigeria to China, agricultural products are major earners in the Asian country. Amb. Boqing said: Nigeria is one of the top crude oil producers and exporters in the world.

This also shapes Nigeria’s export to China. However, compared with Nigeria’s other trading partners, the amount of crude exported to China is relatively lower, which only constitutes one to two percent of Nigeria’s total crude export. “The two countries managed to diversify the trade relations. Last August, Nigeria farmers exported 1.1million metric ton of Cassava chips to China. We shall continue to encourage more import of non-oil items from Nigeria, especially agriculture products.”

The Chinese Ambassador described the Nigeria’s economy as promising while highlighting Nigeria’s potentials for greatness as most populace country in Africa. He

said: “Nigeria’s economy has been performing well in the past 11 months. The GDP grows at a rate of over six percent; the crude production stays at around 2.4million barrel per day and your foreign reserve increased to $45 billion. All of these achievements impressed me a lot. These are more than figures. Nigeria is a leading nation in Africa and has been playing a significant role in resolving Mali and Guinea-Bissau crisis. Nigeria is a country with many natural endowments and abundant human resources, which give your economy the potential to thrive.”

The Economic Confidential also learnt that Abuja rail project would soon be completed by Chinese companies handling it. The ambassador said: “Abuja light rail, funded with the concession loan of USD 500 million from China Exim Bank, is a major project which will bring convenience to dwellers in Abuja once completed. I am confident that, with the joint efforts of both sides, the project will be completed within the stipulated time period.”

HAIRMAN of Ammasco International Limited, lubricant manufacturers, Mustapha Ado, has called on the federal government to halt the importation of lubricants into the country, as well as to reduce import duties on goods to make Nigerian ports active.

Ado’s argument is that the importation of lubricants into the country is affecting local lubricant producing industries. Among other things, the Chairman of Ammasco International requested government to build more refineries in the country to give room for increased port activities.

Ado said that the importation of lubricants has become a thorn on the flesh of local manufacturers and has led to the death of several other small and medium enterprise companies in the country.

Ado made this assertion at the 2012 customer forum of the company where he said that most raw materials used in Nigeria were imported from other countries like Europe and Russia, adding that the federal government should build new refineries so that Nigeria can refine its own materials. “This will boost employment for the teeming youths in the country,” he noted.

Commenting on the rate of unemployment in the country, the Managing Director, Ammasco International, Babalola Oyeyemi, said, “University graduates in Nigeria are only trained to rely on government for job rather than being trained for self reliance.

Oyeyemi advised the youths to abandon white collar jobs and take advantage of the population of the country and forge ahead.

“Our youths can group themselves together and participate in programmes organised by SMEDAN and some other government programmes that will help them to position themselves in the society, Oyeyemi advised.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Stock market recovery: NSE, SEC harp on balanced information

By NKIRUKANNOROM

B

ALANCED and accurate information on state of the stock market have been identified as necessary ingredients that would engender faster and sustained recovery of the capital market.

This was the position of the Ms. Arunma Oteh, DirectorGeneral, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC and Mr Oscar Onyema, DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE in their keynote addresses delivered at the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CAMCAN’s workshop last week.

Speaking through Mrs Uche Molokwu, a SEC director, Ms Arunma Oteh said “One obvious lesson from the stock market crash is that misinformation can be extremely detrimental to the market. From private placement activities, pricing of new issues and transactions on the floor of the Exchange, misinformation thrived unchecked and vested the market with a huge soft under-belly. The burst of the bubble brought sobering realisation to all players in the market.”

“Capital markets are generally information driven; a recovering capital market is hyper sensitive, particularly distorted information or downright falsehood. As such, all hands must be on deck to ensure sustained transparency, full disclosure and enlightenment predicated on accurate capture and rendering of material information at all times.

To this end, she said that fi-

nancial journalists have a critical role to play by ensuring that information they make available to the public is well processed and analysed.

She said, “As capital market journalists, you have the important role of gathering complete and correct information, processing this to make it readily assimilable through the right choice of words and sentence structure, thereby providing motivation and appropriate change in attitude of your readers.”

She, therefore, assured that the Commission would

play its part in provision and clarification of information in a timely manner to enable effective reporting of the market.

Also speaking, Bola Adeeko, Chief of Staff and Head of Corporate Division, NSE, who represented Oscar Onyema, NSE’s CEO, observed that the theme of the workshop, ‘Effective Reporting of a Recovering Capital Market’, was influenced by critical need to ensure that investors are better educated and have access to quality information they can base investment decisions on.

“It goes without saying that

information is the lifeline of any vibrant market and the effective reporting of a recovering capital market is a germane ingredient in achieving the desired growth.

“Information and education is the way out of the on-going confidence crisis in the capital market. Whether the market is flourishing, crashing, or recovering, information that is fair, balanced and true is key.

“There are several propositions about what exactly it is that causes stock markets to crash. Many of the triggers are economic, but most analysts agree that there are also psychological elements.

From left: Managing Director/CEO, Finatrust Microfinance Bank, Mr. Deji Popoola; Ag. Managing Director, Mayfield Microfinance Bank Ltd, Mrs. Florence Nwabuisi; Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr.. Razack Adeyemi Adeola and Managing Director/CEO, Parallex Microfinance Bank, Mr. Femi Otenigbagbe, at the Sterling Bank Customers’ Forum, in Lagos.

Fidson boss emerges Pearl Outstanding CEO of the Year M

ANAGING Director of Fidson Healthcare Plc, a quoted company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Dr. Fidelis Ayebae was awarded Outstanding CEO of the Year, in the recently held Pearl Nigeria Awards in Lagos.

Dr Ayebae, founder of the leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, was presented with the prestigious award by the former Commissioner for Information, Sir Alex Akinyele, in recognition of his outstanding leadership qualities, astute managerial competence and Fidson’s excellent performance in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry, as well as the Nigerian Stock exchange under his leadership.

Fidson Healthcare Plc, under Dr. Ayebae’s leadership, has recorded remarkable turnover growth of about 39 percent from N5.1billion in 2010 to N7.1billion in 2011. The Company’s Net C M Y K

Current Asset also increased tremendously by about 538 percent from N312.8million in 2010 to N1.9billion in 2011 (one of the highest recorded by any quoted company in Nigeria).

It is in recognition of this remarkable performance that Dr Ayebae is being honoured with the Prestigious Award of the 2011 PEARL Most Outstanding CEO of the Year.

The visionary leader and astute businessman expressed delight while receiving the awards and also thanked the organisers of the Awards ceremony for recognising the company’s performance and considering him worthy of the honour. He however maintained that the award is not for him, but for the exceptional performance of his management team.

According to Dr Ayebae, “this award is for every member of management and staff of Fidson Healthcare Plc, for

their resilience in ensuring that the company continues to grow every day, both in terms of our financial performance and in our quest to adding value to the lives of Nigerians through the delivery of quality healthcare solutions to our esteemed customers.,” he said.

His recognition by the Pearl Awards Nigeria as the Outstanding CEO of the Year is a justification of his leadership qualities and the cerebral approach, with which he has led a management team of professional, to grow a Fidson Healthcare PLC that is now a leading player in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry.

The PEARL Awards since birth in 1995, is according to the organisers, the only award in this part of the world that identifies and rewards Performance, Earnings and Returns Leadership by companies quoted on the Stock Exchange.

…..BRIEF……

Italian bonds hit by Monti exit

I

T was too good to last.

A week ago, Italy ’s government borrowing costs hit a two-year low; Italian share prices were 30 per cent higher than in July.

Investors saw the country reaping benefits of economic and fiscal reforms, its prospects The mood snapped on Monday. An announcement at the weekend by Mario Monti that he would resign as prime minister – and confirmation that Silvio Berlusconi, his predecessor, was attempting to return to office on an anti-austerity platform – led to a sharp sell-off across Italian markets.

The FTSE MIB Italian share index was down almost 4 per cent at one point, before closing down 2.2 per cent. Banks were the biggest fallers. Italian 10-year bond yields, which trade inversely to prices, ended the day up 29 basis points at 4.8 per cent, the highest for more than two weeks.

The sudden turnaround “is a reminder that political risk is never far away from the eurozone”, says Julian Callow, senior economist at Barclays.

Like much of southern Europe, Italy is deep in recession, with economic indicators providing scant evidence of any early recovery. The country’s unemployment rate, at 11.1 per cent, remains below the eurozone average – but is increasing rapidly.

“Markets are wondering whether the current streak of pro-austerity electoral mandates – in Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain, as well as in Italy – might end in 2013,” adds Mr Callow.

So far, however, the market shift appears to be more a correction after a post-summer rally on the back of increased political uncertainty in Italy than a fundamental reappraisal of eurozone threats.

“This is more the discounting of some bad news that has been hidden in all the optimism rather than a panicky mood,” says Silvio Peruzzo, European economist at Nomura.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—23

DIARY Select ICT events zCeBIT Bilisim Eurasia 2012.

Holds 29 Nov2 Dec 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

zMiddle East Telco World Summit 2012. Holds 4-5 Dec 2012 in Dubai, UAE. zOpportunities in the Evolving Cloud Dynamics. Holds 45 December 2012 @ Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE. zDigital TV Summit 2012. Holds 4th – 5th December 2012 in London UK.

,

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

New airconditioner repels mosquitoes

DIGITAL DIALOGUE NIGERIA 2012: From left, Director-General of the national Broadcast Commission, Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, Managing Director of Multichoice Nigeria, Mr John Ugbe, Mr jenkins Alumona, CEO, Strategic Outcomes, Efere Ozako, lawyer, and Mrs Amaka Igwe, CEO of Amaka Igwe Studios at the Digital Dialogue Conference which held in Lagos last week.

D I G I T A L M I G R A T I O N:

Hurdles Nigeria must cross in 30 months zAs conference lists digitization options for Nigeria

BY ADEKUNLE ADEKOYA

A new Anti-Mosquito Air Conditioner able to cool the air and repel mosquitos was specifically tailored for the African market, where it could help to save lives.

The air conditioner uses ultrasonic wave technology to repel mosquitos, and was able to repel 82 percent of female Anopheles mosquitos in a 24-hour period.

The device features the Tropical Compressor, which is designed for hot climates, and includes a Super Automatic Voltage Switcher to help protect the compressor from the frequent power blackouts and surges common in the region.

I N S I D E C M Y K

Are we already a digital colony?

general elections that would have held in April. Imagine that just 19 days after a new federal administration would have been in office, majority of Nigerians could no longer see their leaders on TV. If that was bad enough, the same majority could no longer receive signals on their TV sets from their favourite local stations — AIT, Channels, Silverbird, and the 34 state TV sta-

,

T

ODAY is We d n e s d a y, December 12, 2012. We are all looking forward to the peak of the festive season — Christmas — which comes up in another 13 days. Part of the efforts to celebrate Christmas in a grand style, by many families is the purchase of new television sets, and for those with a little more empowerment, subscription with a pay-TV ser vice provider, all with one goal in mind — entertainment, information, and education, all at the press of a button on the remote commander. Good!

Fast-forward to June 17, 2015. 19 days earlier, on May 29, another set of political office holders would have been sworn-in, after

tions. Even the broadcast behemoth, NTA, and its 58 channels are off air!

What is happening?

What has happened?

Very likely, Nigerians would reach for their handsets and start calling friends and acquaintances.

“Ol’boy, your TV dey work? My own no dey work o!”

“Na so I see am o! My own too no work, even my neighbour own sef.

Wetin dey happen?”

Conversations like this

In digital transmission, broadcasting companies will only have the role of content providers while government through contracted parties will undertake the job to distribute the content

New app prepares travelers for holiday rush

would dominate the airwaves from June 17, 2015, if the Nigerian government and stakeholders in the broadcast industry do not gird their loins and spring into action immediately.

What will happen on June 17, 2015

On this day and date, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will effect a switch-off of all analogue broadcast signals worldwide. In 2006, Nigeria, and other countries of the world signed a treaty agreement at the conclusion of ITU’s Regional Radiocommunication Conference (RRC-06) in Geneva, which treaty heralded development of all digital terrestrial broad-

Technology is way out for NIPOST, says PM-G

cast services for sound and television. What this means is that worldwide, every nation is expected to complete a migration, or transition, as NBC D-G, Yomi Bolariwa said, from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The implications of this movement for Nigeria was the subject of a two-day Digital Dialogue Nigeria 2012 conference which held in Lagos last week, powered by global pay TV leader, Multichoice.

The Nigeria version of the Digital Dialogue conference was a follow-up to an earlier one which held in Johannesburg, South Africa in October.

Majority of the participants at the South African conference did not think African nations can meet the June 2015 deadline, given the plethora of issues begging attention, about most of which very little or nothing has been done in many African countries.

For the average Nigerian

The problem is that Adamu or Ebere or Sola or Owei, not to talk of Odion and their compatriots know very little if nothing about this development. For the or-

Continues on page 25

Cloud computing: Myths and realities

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 12, 2012

Are we already a digital colony?

P

EOPLE in the ICT sector definitely must know Chris Uwaje, CEO of Connect Technologies and President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON. Uwaje is the author of of a book, eKnowledge: Time is Running Out, launched some two years ago. He is the man popularly called the “Oracle”of the Nigerian IT industry.

At every forum, Uwaje never wastes time to tell whoever is listening, and he has spoken to countless five-star audiences, that if care is not taken, Nigeria risks becoming a digital colony very soon. When I first heard the words, digital colony, from Uwaje, my mind went into a swirl.

How does a nation become a digital colony?

However, looking around our home environment in this day and age of information and communication technology, it is not difficult to discern that our society has the distinct markings of a digital colony.

Everywhere you turn, you see ICT products from other countries, both used, and as we like to say, “tear rubber”, with very little or nothing to show by way of competition as in locally made alternatives.

Last week I attended a Digital Dialogue conference which held here in Lagos, whose intent, according to the organizers, was to “kick-start the information and education aspects of digital migration in Nigeria as well as provide an opportunity to interrogate Nigeria’s preparation for Digital Migration in 2015.”

On the sidelines of the conference, a Nollywood personality was having a conversation with another attendee at the conference. Their conversation bordered on the fact that we really cannot play catch-up in these days of ICT, and that when digital migration is achieved

in the broadcast arena, we may have to contend with foreign content to fill the airtime that will be generated as content will be a major issue. Earlier, a speaker had informed the audience that no less that 4,380,000 hours of content will be generated by digitization.

Then the Nollywood personality informed the other party that our worst fears may already be underway, as Chinese producers are already in the country, with cheap funds and top grade technology, seeking producers with content they can bankroll!

What this portends is that by 2015 when we have so much hours of content that we cannot fill, foreigners will easily step in with content they have produced and give to our broadcast carriers to air.

If the Chinese are already at it, then so are Europeans, Americans, Cambodians, Russians, Japanese, Koreans, and other nations who have always seen Nigeria as the dumping ground for their products.

If that is bad enough for the broadcast industry, what becomes of our culture? Are the words of the Oracle coming to pass?

Are we not fast becoming a digital colony?

To use a time worn cliche, Nero fiddles as Rome burns!

In the national interest, whoever is holding on to the white paper on digitization should release it.

Further, relevant committees of the National Assembly, as well as the executive should go into overdrive and give us the necessary laws so that the industry can be restructured for digital transition.

We have less than 30 months left to June 17, 2015, and it will be difficult to achieve in that period what took the UK some 12 years to do. To avoid national embarrassment and a digital blackout, action is needed in the desired direction, and time for the action is NOW!

We have less than 30 months left to June 17, 2015, and it will be difficult to achieve in that period what took the UK some 12 years to do

C M Y K

,

New app prepares travellers for holiday rush C ROWDED airports and delayed flights are unavoidable hallmarks of holiday travel, but a new app aims to make the experience more navigable. TravelNerd is designed to alleviate the stumbling blocks that can arise during air travel, such as finding amenities, or figuring out the most costeffective form of transportation to and from the airport.

"We try to encompass the entire airport experience," said Alice Jao, vice president of travel media for San-Franciscobased company NerdWallet, which developed the app.

During the holiday rush, transportation to and from the airport and finding parking can be a

hassle and expensive.

"You can spend a fair amount of money unconsciously paying for parking or transportation when you're not aware of what other lower cost options you might have," Jao explained.

To help consumers find the most suitable option, the app provides a rundown of ground transportation options available, including shuttles, taxis and public transit, along with their estimated cost and travel time to destination points within a city.

"If you're not in a rush and you're going for a vacation you might just want the cheapest option," Jao added.

The app also allows users to book shuttles and taxis online where

possible.

For drivers, there is a detailed list of parking venues nearby along with price, contact information and other details such as whether the lot is open 24-hours and has valet service.

"There are lots of parking lots available, especially ones away from the airport that are a lot cheaper and just a mile or two from the airport," Jao said.

During the holiday season it is important to be well-prepared when traveling with children.

The app can help families find nurseries, childfriendly restaurants and kid-play areas.

And for users looking for a last-minute gift there is a list of shops at the terminal.

"We typically don't spend a lot of shopping time in the airports," she said. "But the trends are worldwide that more and more people are shopping within the airport - particularly for the holidays and for last minute gifts."

More than 50 major airports around the globe are included in the app, which is available worldwide in English for iPhone and iPad. The company also plans to release an Android app.

A similar app called GateGuru is available for both iPhone and Android. It allows users to track flight departures and provides details and ratings on amenities such as eateries, shops and services. — REUTERS

BuyRight Africa unveils digital scheme for workers

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

I

N a bid to actualize its dream of empowering all Nigerian worker with digital knowledge, Buyright Africa has introduced a Nigerian Employee Digital Well fare Scheme, NEDWS into the Nigerian market. Unveiling the project, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said the scheme was special to him as it touches on the need and well fare of Nigerian workers.

Commending the initiative, which he said would enable Nigerian employees to mown without difficulty, genuine equipment and tools, and other household appliances, the Edo state governor said ownership of ICT devices by Nigeria workers is crucial since the level of development of a nations and quality of life their citizens enjoy is now partly defined by the level of penetration and usage, including the cost of manufacturing the ICT hardware and software. ‘‘This occasion is special for me, as it touches on the very issue that is very dear to my heart. The Nigerian Employee Digital Welfare Scheme , would enable Nigerian employees to wn genuine ICT equipments and tools without difficulty. We live in what is now called digital age, a historic phase of development in which ICT is one of the key drivers of

From left, Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC President; Chief Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives; Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; ComTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, and Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Buyright Africa unveiling the symbol of the Nigerian Employees Digital Welfare Scheme, NEDWS, at the launch of the product in Abuja. Photo: Emmanuel Elebeke. development process.,’’ he said.

Also underscoring the importance of the scheme, the governor said although, mass production of ICT hardware and software has driven down cost of prices considerably over the years, it is also a reality of Nigerian condition that the income of most employees in the public and private sectors, in particular their monthly take-home is such that they could not afford theses ICT products, while also meeting their basic needs. ‘‘It is against this background that we can appreciate the wisdom of designing a scheme that would enable all employees in the public and private sectors to afford such digital technologies fore themselves and their fam-

ilies, he stated, adding that the scheme would also go further to deepening ICT penetration in Nigeria and bridge the digital gap and build capacity of employees As well as improve productivity right across the board,’’ he said.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha said the initiative was laudable and should be sustained as it would help in closing the gap that has existed in the past. Pledging support of the National Assembly towards building a digital economy, the Deputy Speaker said the NASS would buy into the scheme to make it work.

Minister of Communications and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and Abdulwaheed Omar,

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress were also among those who commended the initiative and called for its sustenance.

Earlier in his remark, the Chairman of the company, Leo Stan Ekeh, said the NEDWS launch lived up to its pre-launch expectations as Digital entrepreneur extraordinaire.

He shared some of the factors that informed the launch as the need to avoid debt as much as possible when building a business; as an entrepreneur your integrity must serve as your greatest collateral; avoid status living – the temptation to live a false life; all entrepreneurs must be guided by the fear of God in their businesses; insulation for hard times must be achieved through investment in property.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—25

Digital broadcasting: Hurdles Nigeria must cross in 30 months lic, which the DirectorContinues from page 23

dinary Nigerian, there are a few rivers to cross if he/she is to continue to access the broadcast media for information, education, and entertainment. Thirty months or so from now, every television set, or every household at least, will need a set-top box (STB), or decoder to receive digitized broadcast signals. There is little to worry about if you already subscribe to a pay-TV service provider. But that’s the good side of it. The really scary part is that Nigeria may become a colony of other countries’ media products if the necessary legal and regulatory mechanisms are not in place to ensure a seamless transition.

For the broadcast industry The transition to dig-

C M Y K

ital broadcasting is expected to free up frequency spectrums.

When this is done, and as Mrs Amaka Igwe, top writer, producer and studio operator said, “in digital transmission, b r o a d c a s t i n g companies will only have the role of content providers while government through contracted parties will undertake the job to distribute the content.

“The Nigerian Federal Government intends to licence a minimum of two and maximum of three broadcasting signal distributors, to facilitate transition and service delivery processes. January 2015 deadline had been set for a complete migration to digital broadcasting in Nigeria.”

Further, Mrs Igwe noted that this means NTA’s 58 channels, the 34 state channels, 22 private channels, and 34 cable operators in the

country can all be on one carrier, and can be seen by all who have the set top boxes wherever they are.

The most profound revelation from Mrs Igwe who presented a paper at the Digital Dialogue conference, titled Dynamics of Content Development in a Digital Broadcast Environment is that only two choices exist for broadcast organizations with digitization: be a carrier or be carried, or remain a content provider.

For ment

gover n-

As is usual on these shores, most of what needs be done, especially provision of the enabling environment for seamless digitization resides with government. First is the problem of awareness by the pub-

general of the National Broadcast Commission, Yomi Bolarinwa admitted is low, and tasked the media to take action on this. As far back as 2008, the Federal Government had set up a Presidential Advisory Committee on Digital Broadcasting, which had done its work on how the nation should migrate. It came to light at the conference that government had produced a white paper from the committee’s work, but the paper is yet to be released. In his presentation, Professor Emevwo Biakolo, Dean of the School of Media & Communications Studies of the Pan African University tasked the media get into investigative mode to unearth the white paper. He further urged the media to explore national security implications in the

event that we fail the ITU deadline.

Efere Uzako, a lawyer with interest in the creative arts tasked government to fast track action in the legal arena. As he said, there will be need for laws setting up content licensees and signal carriers, while the laws setting up companies like NTA need urgent review. In addition, Uzako said we need to develop policies on ewaste, switch-on and switch-off periods, frequency issues, as well as rates for signal carriers. Though government had fixed January 2015 as the mar-up date for completion of digitization in Nigeria, months ahead of the ITU deadline, Uzako urged that by December 31, 2014, the following should have been achieved: zLaws , Regulations and Polices are in place z Content Licensees and Signal Distributors have been appointed zAll the required and standard infrastructure has been manufactured, procured and installed by all licensees. z The modalities for the manufacture and/or procurement of Set Top

boxes have been settled. zHopefully, there is adequate programming in place to fill all the hours . zAll hitches, technical or regulatory, teething problems , etc , have been addressed or are being addressed.

Way forward

Jenkins Alumona, a digital communications expert and supremo of Strategic Outcomes Ltd said stakeholders, rather than wait for the government to release the white paper should take action to save the nation embarrassment by taking necessary action in their areas of operation towards digitization. His words: “There is hope that Nigeria will migrate on the set date but only if we start work immediately. Nigerians deserve to know what the government is doing in the direction of migration. There is a danger that if the people do not know what is happening the repercussions of an unannounced blackout can be devastating."

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 2012

Looking for subscribers interest in telecom promo ban

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

D ESPITE the clamp down on telecom promos by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), November 8, 2012, quality of service of the network operators are still far from what it should be.

As a result, quite a number of subscribers and industry stakeholders had been reflecting on the import of the decision. Clearly, NCC acted in good spirit in the face of the huge complaints by subscribers across all networks who were experiencing difficulties in completing their calls or assessing data platforms From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Omatek Limited, Engr. Florence Seriki; without stress.

While announcing the Director of Works and Services, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Engr.

Olatunde Adegbola; MD, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Evelyn Oputu and MD, Emzor Phamaceutical blanket ban, NCC’s Direc- Limited, Mrs. Stella Okoli during a tour of Omatek's new factory in Lagos. tor, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo had explained: “The commission carefully evaluated the southeast (59 per cent) and fourth in best operator for good quality of service complaints received especially against north central (78 per cent), south south based on the NCC’s Audit Report for the backdrop of sustaining the integrity (78 per cent) and northeast (53 per cent).

March and April 2012, despite the trouof the networks, the general interest of In order to promote the spirit of bles it had experienced since it started the consumers, the socio-economic competition, which will in the end prooperation in Nigeria at the commenceimpact of the promotions on operators mote customer satisfaction, a section of ment of the GSM revolution 11 years and other relevant stakeholders, before GSM subscribers and consumer rights ago. concluding on the ban.” Ojobo explained activists believe that NCC should have In addition to that, NCC also that the ban would affect all proposed applied its own reports in coming to the embarked on the first of its kind – a and approved promotions and lotteries rescue of the consumers given the Nationwide Benchmark Drive Test – on which the commission had given network congestion that led to the ban. between July and September this year, approval further to the memorandum of Mr Atilola Olanipekun, a financial which falls within the period the understanding (MOU) entered into with analyst, said that the blanket ban would consumer promotions were heavy on the the National Lottery Regulatory Combring about huge challenges in the busivarious networks. That survey concenmission (NLRC). He said the ban ness environment and even for the trated on Call Completion Rate, which remains in force until such a time as may consumer who the NCC seeks to protect. encompasses the major network KPI (call be determined by the commission.

According to him, healthy rivalry and drop and congestion), involving MTN, However, the implication of the ban is competition foster customer satisfaction.

Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat. The servbeginning to hit home. The subscribers, ice providers were ranked in Lagos and for instance are already expressing Unintended the six geo-political zones of southwest, concern that they are now been denied signals southeast, south south, north central, the freebies and discounts offered by the northeast and northwest. network operators, while the quality of The NCC ban may be sending the According to the Drive Test report, service has not improved despite the unintended signals to potential investors Airtel again ranked No 1 in the three absence of promotions and lotteries on in the sector – that the agency can undo regions of south south (88 per cent), those platforms. their marketing plans and their business southwest (88 per cent) and northeast goals in the long term as sales drive sus(78 per cent). In the other regions, Airtel Absence of tain revenue, from which these investors came second – Lagos (88 per cent), north promotions pay huge taxes and fees to all levels of central (92 per cent), northwest (82 per governments. cent) and southeast (75 per cent).

According to Mrs Ebele Nwachukwu, For telecoms operators, under the aegis Etisalat, the latest GSM operator with a marketing communications consultant a four-year experience in the Nigerian of Association of Licensed Telecoms based in Lagos, NCC should have made market, which had been rated best teleOperators of Nigeria (ALTON), the rethe spirited effort to assess the network communications service provider for cent network congestion should not be operators individually and determine good quality of service by the NCC blamed on consumer promotions and their capability to handle consumer based on the Quality of Service Key Perlotteries on the networks. According to promotions. “It is in the spirit of liberal- formance Indicator audit report released the ALTON Chairman, Mr. Gbenga isation to promote healthy competition. in February 2012. In the Benchmark Adebayo, network congestion should be We cannot be asking for foreign or local Drive Test, Etisalat came second behind blamed natural and man-made disasters. investors are yet be introducing policies Airtel in south south having recorded According to him, the major cause of poor that would stifle the business growth and 86 per cent, southwest (82 per cent) and quality of service across networks should fairness,” she said. be blamed on natural and man-made northeast (67 per cent). It also recorded Indeed, the arguments for economic first position in the other regions – north disasters, rather than on promotions and liberalisation include greater efficiency central (94 per cent), Lagos (92 per cent), lotteries. and effectiveness that would translate northwest (90 per cent) and southeast He added that the unprecedented flood to a "bigger pie" for everybody. Thus, (85 per cent) – with Airtel coming second in some parts of the country destroyed liberalisation in short refers to "the re- in each of these areas.

Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) along its moval of controls", to encourage path, leading to significant service On its part, MTN finished third in economic development. disruption in the affected areas, with north central (74 per cent), south south Nigeria has always clamoured for (71 per cent), and northeast (58 per cent); consequential impact on service foreign investors. But analysts say it is and fourth in the other zones – Lagos availability in some other parts that were one thing to seek foreign investors, it is (72 per cent), southwest (72 per cent), not affected by the flood. “Other than another to encourage them to invest northwest (59 per cent) and southeast disruption to services, our members have more in an economy. lost equipment worth several billions of (53 per cent).

Periodically, NCC conducts checks on Naira to the flood disaster across the According to the report, Glo came third the quality of service by the network in Lagos (88 per cent), southwest (79 country, as over additional 300 BTS sites operators as part of its regulatory func- per cent), northwest (78 per cent) and were affected by the flood.” tions. Airtel, for instance, was rated the

Reduce cost of broadband access, Seriki tasks FG

BY EMEKA AGINAM

A

T the just concluded tour of its new factory in Oregun, Lagos, the Managing Director of Omatek Computers, Engr. Florence Seriki has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to reduce the cost of broadband access to encourage people to acquire computers and other digital devices. According to Seriki, if cost of broadband access was reduced to the barest minimum, both local and foreign ICT vendors will make more sales.

Speaking on the company's solution, she assured that solar hybrid is an alternative power solutions with the use of LED bulbs together with street lights and alternative power solution using solar and LED technology.

With optimism, she told industry leaders at the event that Omatek solar power solutions combine the benefits of the solar system and those of the LED technology to proffer solutions that reduce energy consumption considerably while saving costs by 60-85% whilst providing 24-hour lighting solution. The use of our solar/LED solution, she added can result in significant operational and maintenance cost savings for schools, public offices, hospitals, hotels, street lighting implementation, rural electrification and rural water system According to her, research showed that Nigeria’s power problem was not just power generation and distribution but also of power consumption, so a solution to this problem was informed “We have designed power saving fluorescents that consume 18W instead of the normal 42W and other power consumers from which 85% saving is already being made on power consumption. Combining the power saving bulbs with the solar solution gives a 24 hour power solution even when public power is absent.

Alcatel-Lucent to build Airtel's network backbone across Africa

A

LCATEL-Lucent has sealed and agreement with Bharti Airtel to meet rapidly growing demand for mobile broadband services across s Africa by supplying advanced new IP (Internet Protocol)based networking technology to support the delivery of new mobile broadband data and video services.

Already, rising smartphone ownership in Africa is driving demand for high-bandwidth mobile data services such as video calling and online gaming.

To satisfy this demand and meet continued expansion, Alcatel-Lucent will evolve Airtel Africa’s data transport and mobile backhaul1 networks using its IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching, (IP/MPLS) technology. This new backbone network, according to Alcatel would support all mobile broadband services to Airtel’s 17 affiliates across Africa serving 60 million customers as well as a much more robust interconnection to global networks including the UK. The single international network would offer a more simple structure to improve performance, reliability, capacity convergence and interoperable mechanisms for faster service recovery.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—27

CR2 offers cardless access to ATMs

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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HE banking land scape in Nigeria has been subjected to significant changes in the past years. Notably, the Central Bank of Nigeria , (CBN) has launched the Cashless Lagos Project to reduce cash handling costs and combat related fraud activity in the system.

To support the CBN initiative, Martin Dolan, the Chief Executive Officer of CR2, the leading global provider in selfservice banking software solutions in a recent fo-

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rum in partnership with Global InfoSwift Nigeria while announcing a secured self-service banking channels in the country told IT Journalists in an interview that they would provide users with card less access to ATM. According to him, their solution would supplement the card, rather than replace it.

Excerpts: Will the self-service banking ride on existing ATM or it will require new ones?

This is a great question because all ATM that are supplied today come with

what drives the screen as a powerful PC. So we have a significantly bigger PC inside the ATM. So we take that same PC and we unleash the power to drive 50 transactions and to interact with other channels like the internet and mobile, and to make it more secure. So in a nutshell, what we are doing is to take a standard ATM and unleash the potential that is driven by technological advantage to exploit devices that doesn’t happen today in most ATM. We actually write our own software for the ATM and we have made

sure that software talks to our central controller in a very powerful way. We make that much bigger so you can send richer data, which support more transactions, more advertisements and a totally different local view.

Replacing the ATM card with your card less transactions, are you considering advantages of the cards?

We are not trying to phase out the cards. What we are saying is today you have Chip & PIN cards in Nigeria. Chip cards are expensive to produce. If you want to

zMartin Dolan, the Chief Executive Officer of CR2 provide service to the unbanked, they can’t afford the charges for card, it may be too expensive for them. So you need an alternative. So we would use the card for customers who can afford them to process transactions, but for customers who wouldn’t necessarily be

able to afford the cost of the card, we can provide card less access to the ATM. So we are supplementing the card, rather than replacing it.

A lot of people remained unbanked in Nigeria, how do you intend to work with Nigerian banks to carry these people along?

One of our major works is to help the unbanked. I was having this discussion with Central Bank this morning. There there was a study done in South America and it is said that 1.5 trillion dollars held by the unbanked are kept under their mattress across ten countries in South America. I am sure that it will not be too different in Nigeria. People save for their funerals They keep it inside a box under their bed for whatever. IF that money makes its way into the economy into the banking system, then the bank takes a trillion dollars and can loan it out for more productive purposes. It’s in a thin box, it’s not useful for anybody and it’s not productive. So enabling people have the virtual account; a low cost account is what we do. The whole idea is to effectively make it easy for banks to acquire customers at low cost, and not charging those customers money that they couldn’t afford at the first place.

Don’t you think the idea of banks opening their echannels to non-customers in order to generate more revenue will throw up security challenge, bearing in mind that these banks don’t have the KYC of those customers coming in?

That is a very good question because the KYC issue is a big issue. From my point of view, that is the biggest problem. I have been studying the whole idea of mobile banking for a long time. I interviewed people from banking in South Africa, and the biggest issue for a lot of mobile banking people is to get the customer in the first place. So, what we do is, we enable the customer receive the payment, so long as it stays below the limits that the Central Banks specified for the KYC. But the whole idea is to make the barrier to entry very low Continues on Page 28

28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Etisalat appointed first GSM Apple authorised reseller in Nigeria

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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ITH the growing demand for Apple products in Nigeria, especially the iPad and iPhone range of smartphones, innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria has en tered into a deal with Core Group Africa, the Apple authorized distributor for Nigeria, to make its products readily available across the country.

The deal makes Etisalat the first mobile network

operator to become an authorised resel ler of various Apple iPads and accessories in Nigeria.

Announcing this in Lagos, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Wael Ammar said that with the signing of the agreement between the two companies, Etisalat will be the first telecommunications operator permitted to sell Apple’s iPad in selected retail outlets spread across the country, while offering a two-year warranty cover on all iPad

devices sold.

In addition, he announced, the company will also be offering customers who purchase the products at its Experience Centres with an unbeatable 12-month free internet data access on its easy blaze product. According to Ammar, “as part of our promise to provide our customers with value added propositions, Etisalat as the first mobile network operator to be an official Reseller for Apple in Nigeria, will also be of-

fering our customers 12 months free data on all iPads purchased at our Experience Centres and sales outlets, and the products come with a twoyear warranty”.

He however pointed out that the two-year warranty will only apply once the subscriber registers the iPad purchased from Etisalat on www.isocietynigeria.com.

He assured that the company is ready and well positioned to provide its customers with best

BY TOMI DAVIES

INTRODUCTION loud computing is currently making information and communications technology headlines, and vendors are aggressively promoting the many benefits it can provide organizations. These benefits appear so compelling that on the surface it seems all ICTs can and should be moved “into the cloud”.

On closer inspection, however, for every benefit cited, questions can also be raised. This article addresses the claims and questions that are often raised in relation to cloud computing and provides a clear view of what the cloud can—and can’t—deliver in today’s reality.

Claim 1: Cloud Computing technology is revolutionary!

Cloud computing itself is not a technology. It is the combination and integration of a number of technologies, none of which are new. Rather, cloud computing can be considered an evolutionary stage based on the maturity of a number of technologies. Key technologies that have facilitated cloud computing include: zHigh-speed networks z Extremely powerful and low-cost compute power and memory zVirtualisation technology—processors, memory and networks zSoftware that manages large-scale virtualised systems zStability and wide acceptance of the Internet, including mobile Internet usage The progress of these technologies has coincided with a period where global economic conditions have forced organisations to streamline and maximise cost efficiencies; therefore, business needs have driven the evolution of ICT delivery into what is now called cloud computing rather than it being a new revolutionary technology.

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Cloud computing: Myths and realities Cloud computing itself is not a technology. It is the combination and integration of a number of technologies, none of which are new

,

Claim 2: All software applications delivered over the internet are cloud computing Software applications have been delivered over the internet for years by vendors known as Application Service Providers (ASP) whose customers benefit from reduced onpremises IT infrastructure and administrative support with features: z Software runs on a fixed-capacity server that can experience overload during periods of high usage zProvisioning requires dialogue with sales representatives and a commissioning period before software is available zPayment model is typically an annual license based on a fixed number of users Cloud computing delivers software across the internet. The term for this is Software as a Service (SaaS). But SaaS is very different from ASP and has a number of key characteristics that distinguish it from ASP implementations, including: z SaaS is instantaneously self-provisioned— no setup is required, the software is immediately available z SaaS is elastically scalable—capacity will automatically adjust in response to varying loads zSaaS is payment mod-

el proportional to usage, although some SaaS is free to use, e.g., Google Apps Claim 3: Cloud computing removes the need for an internal IT department To consider cost reduction by cloud computing in detail requires examination of which IT services can be delivered via the cloud. Earlier, we defined SaaS and in addition to SaaS, computing platforms can also be delivered from the cloud.

Platforms incorporate the execution environment for applications as well as the tools used to develop the applications. A typical platform may be comprised of an operating system, a database, server software and application software. The delivery model for this type of service is known as Platform as a Service (PaaS), and examples include Microsoft Azure and the Google App Engine.

The cloud can also deliver Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). With IaaS, servers, networks and load balancers can be instantaneously self-provisioned from the cloud on a pay-per-use basis. An example of this kind of provider is Amazon. IaaS requires on-premises network and development machines, and the administrative tasks are similar

to on-premises hosting.

The only difference is the physical hardware being administered is off premises. Whether or not an organisation can reduce its IT department depends on the level of services being used from the cloud. SaaS—requires on-premises networks and low-power, low-cost machines; PaaS—requires on-premises network and development machines, and fewer administrative server tasks.

In summary, the requirements placed on the IT department and any associated administrative support depends on the types of services being leveraged from the cloud.

One thing that is clear, however, is that the IT department cannot be completely eliminated.

Claim 4: Applications can be moved to the cloud without change A common misconception is that in-house applications can be moved without change to the cloud. This is potentially possible, but depends on the motivation for the migration. Objectives for transferring an onpremises hosted application to the cloud include: zReducing applicationhosting costs z Making use of the transparent scalability of the cloud zLeveraging the scalable storage of the cloud All of these can be achieved through appropriate deployment of IaaS or PaaS. Reducing application-hosting costs is achievable without application modification as long as a cloud vendor

support services and support on iPad in Nigeria.

He said that with the deal, Nigerians are now able to purchase authentic iPad products in Nigeria with the peace of mind that this will be fully supported locally. The new

iPad which was officially launched in Nigeria by Core Group Africa, redefines the category which Apple created a few years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology.

Cardless access to ATMs Continues from Page 27 to encourage people enter the system, and once they get in, they will later get confidence to give their credentials.

Don’t you think poor quality network experienced by Nigerians most of the time using the ATM will not affect the efficiency of this Self-Service Banking?

The Network challenges are infrastructure within the country. But a lot of provides server images that can host the application. As an example, consider a Microsoft .NET Web application using a SQL Server database.

This could be moved to Amazon EC2, which provides self-provisioned servers that can execute such applications. In such a case, the application can be moved without modification. This is similar to outsourcing applicationhosting to a third-party provider but with the major advantage that the server(s) can be instantaneously provisioned and payment is by CPU hour compared to a provisioning time (typically one or two days) and an annual contract.

A cloud environment can also be configured to make use of the elastic scalability of the cloud, with more servers being added and removed automatically to meet variations in application load and satisfying objective B. Objective C requires modification to the application code base and possibly the underlying architecture. Major global vendors including Amazon, Google and Microsoft all provide scalable storage solutions that require using the vendorspecific APIs and only run on the vendor ’s own cloud. When exploiting PaaS, an application must be modified or specifically developed for that platform. Microsoft with Azure and Google with the App Engine, for example, have specific requirements detailing how applications must be packaged and what the code can do, so an existing code base may require modification to meet these requirements.

For instance, moving a .NET Web application to Microsoft Azure requires the code to be packaged as Web roles, which will then execute in the Azure cloud. zTO BE CONTINUED.

Tomi Davies is CEO of TechnoVision Communications.

banks are beginning to understand the critical importance of these devices, and so what they will be doing is putting the use of mobile system as a backup to the normal connections they have. So the combination of using the mobile connection with the existing connection is really a good one.

What has been the level of campaign so far for the Self-Service Banking in Nigeria?

Yes! I think the first step is to come and show the banks what is possible.

The second stage is to probably go and show the system specifically to the CBN because they are taking a lead role in the whole modernization of the banking system, so we think that if we can communicate with the central bank, their leadership position in the market will make it more known to the general population. I think banks are often very careful not to do something that the central banks are not in support of.

Secure self service banking, the secure part is very important to self service because what we see today is that fraudsters are full time on trying to crack the security and some of them are very clever, so it’s a very important aspect of the solution.

But the big issue that we address in a market place like this is that we see that what’s happening is that banks are trying to get transactions more convenient to their customers and what we are finding is that migrating the transaction out of the branch to some other device is becoming a challenge because your standard ATM only has nine transactions and so a branch does 50 transactions, so you can migrate 50 transactions to a device.In Europe we talk about migrating the people to the internet, but the central bank today gave me some very interesting statistics, more that 95% of the transaction done today in Nigeria are on the ATM that probably unique knowing that ATM have high usage, it offers a good opportunity for banks to migrate transactions because what you saw today and what you see this afternoon is that instead of nine transitions we have made 50 transactions available on the ATM because we specialized in Africa as a market.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 29

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Technology is way out for NIPOST, says PM-G

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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OSTMASTER-Gen eral of Nigerian Postal Services, Ibrahim Baba-Mori has stated that the advancement in technology has opened a new vista of opportunities for the survival of the Nigerian postal services. The Post Master General stated this yesterday at the occasion of NIPOST Headquarters’ Merit Awards 2011 held in Abuja.

Ibrahim Baba-Mori said that with the emergence of technology and

the transformational developments going on in the sector, has ushered in cheaper and faster means of communication which are already threatening the traditional duties of the post by reducing the jobs and traditional functions of the post office over the years. ‘‘There has been a great shift in the demand for postal products by the customers. The volume of physical mail is declining.

The demand for financial and electronic services is increasing. The post, globally are therefore turning

to electronic and financial services as their new source of revenue. ‘‘Indeed, ICT has brought about tremendous increase in global commerce with a corresponding increase in the demand for logistic services, which is the main business of the post,’’ he added.

In meeting with the new and changing customer demands, he said that NIPOST is leveraging on the opportunities provided by technology to survive by abandoning the old ways of doing things

and embrace international best practices that would ensure the satisfaction of its customers, adding that NIPOST is currently engaging in the adoption of the relevant ICT in all its post offices across the country.

He said that NIPOST remains a very vital social infrastructure which serve s as catalyst for the development of the nation’s economy and as such should not be underestimated. ‘‘Post office remains the closest government amenity to the common man in

zAlhaji Ibrahim Mori Baba the rural area. The post can be positively packaged to serve as a tool for social-economic development,’’ he said, adding that its wide reach can also be harnessed to stimulate

improvement in the living standards of the people.

The upgrade when completed, according to him, will serve as a one-stop eshop where public interest services are provided.

In addition, he said that the post office can be used as an avenue for provision of financial and digital inclusion for the vast rural populace, noting that one of the most important challenges of the organization is to attain financial independence.

This he said remains the only guarantee for creating the needed excellent conditions of service that he desires, describing their independence on government for funding as being responsible for their inability to identify and harness their enormous economic potentials. He however, assured on the commitment of the agency to improve on the quality of service in line with global best practices.

Google top executive forced off Twitter

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ORKING at Goog le has its benefits — for one thing, the company’s reputation as an innovator is nearly unmatched — however things aren’t always as simple as they look. After making a joke on Twitter about Microsoft and Nokia’s Windows Phone partnership, Google’s senior vice president of engineering Vic Gundotra was told to stop using the micro-blogging site. Gundotra had been using the social network since December 2007 and suddenly stopped in July 2011. It had been previously speculated that Google CEO Larry Page had told the executive to stop, however nothing had been confirmed until now. While speaking at the SMX Social Media Marketing conference on Thursday, Gundotra confirmed that his “boss” had asked him to stop using the service.

“I was asked not to do that by my boss,” he said, according to TheNextWeb. “I tweeted a tweet about two companies that went viral, went very very viral and made a lot of headline news. And honestly, I didn’t anticipate that my comments would be interpreted in the way they were interpreted.”

The tweet in question was posted on February 11th 2011 and quipped that “two turkeys do not make an Eagle,” a shot at Microsoft (MSFT) and Nokia (NOK) joining to release a new wave of Windows Phones.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 31

32— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

MEMORIES OF EKO 2012...MEMORIES OF EKO 2012...MEMORIES OF EKO 2012

Eko 2012 : A celebration of Nigerian music STORIES BY JACOB AJOM

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he closing ceremony of the 18th National Sports Festival, Eko 2012 was momentous. The ceremony was an occasion that bridged the generational gap among the hordes of spectators on the stands and TV audiences across the country. It was a party, a jamboree of class and panache. The organisers put up a near perfect show that reaffirmed the belief that with unity of purpose, Nigerians can achieve whatever they set out to achieve.

When the party started after the numerous speeches, no one could hold back. Both the youth and grand Pas were on their feet releasing the tension of days of competition and hardwork. It was party time indeed.

When TY Savage took to the stage, her renditions were electrifying. The dexterity of the over a hundred dancers on the stage with her added colour to the engaging atmosphere. “What a way to end it all,” a fellow journalist told this reporter, as the artiste reeled out one performance after another.

She left the stage when spectators were yearning for more.

And more was still on offer.

The emergence of the mercurial Wande Cole, the famous Mushin boy whose exploits are known internationally was welcomed with a wild roar. The roar was even louder when he began to sing his monster tune, Bumper to Bumper. Here, the youth on the stands were in command. Most of the boys ripped open their tops leaving their chests bare. The girls responded with fine footwork and, at times, very suggestive gestures that translated the lyrics of the song. There was chemistry as the men moved swiftly not to be outdone by their women.

If Wande Cole was a joy to watch, Nigerian kid-star, rightly named Whizzkid was something else. He did justice to his popularity after holding the audience spellbound for close to one hour.

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His renditions were captivating and his stage craft was second to none.

Then entered Seun Kuti, son of the Legend of our time, Fela Anikulapo Kuti who was a near-perfect imitation of his iconic father. Seun’s delivery was awesome. His stage craft, his Fela-like look and gestures brought back the memories of his late dad.

The power behind the voice was, no doubt Fela’s and the stands erupted.

My boss, Onochie Anibeze and other senior colleagues like Gbenga Okegbenro, Yomi Okpakunle, Andrew Ekejuba, among many others could not hold back as they danced from Teacher don’t teach me nonesense to Dem all crazy.

However, it must be noted that Seun’s hardwork was almost marred by the poor sound engineering work.

2Face Idibia was the last act and it would only have been better to be there to witness the performance of this Nigerian music ambassador. He brought back life into the show and deservedly closed the night on a high. It was a night to remember, a closing ceremony that will linger in the memories of many for a very long time to come..

The event was a huge vote for

RUMBA DANCE . . . Dancers of Seun Kuti’s band digging it out at the end of Eko 2012 National Sports Festival in Lagos.

Nigerian music and hope for the future of the Nigerian youth.

Some years back, millions of Naira would have been spent to ship in international artistes from America or Europe to perform.

The show was another big plus for Eko 2012.

UP TO IT . . . Team Delta long jumper taking his turn during the track and field event at the National Stadium Lagos

Highs and lows of The 18th National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 has no doubt given Nigerians a lot to cheer about, depending on how one looks at it. The sports fiesta was one that rekindled hope in Nigeria in terms of orgnisation and competition. Although not without its hiccups, the majority would agree to the fact that “Lagos really tried.”

From the historic opening ceremony, where culture, dance and history were on display to the vital aspects of accommodation, feeding arrangements, transportation to the seamless transition of events, it would be safe for one to say that the Local Organising Committee delivered.

In the words of the chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Dr Patrick Ekeji, “Lagos delivered on their promise to give Nigerians the best sports festival ever.”

Ekeji who has seen it from the beginning in 1973 proclaimed, “Since inception 39 years ago, we have gradually built on that experience to near perfection. Eko 2012 was a success.”

Executive Chairman, Delta State Sports Council, Pinnick Amaju, shared the same opinion. Said he, “Lagos has done well. They did it their own way and I think they put up a good show.”

Amaju said the financial burden on host states should be shared with the federal government.

“Lagos may have spent about N4-5 billion. That is some good money a state could use to build more than three schools. How many states can afford that kind of money?” he asked, pointing out that “very soon, states will be running away from biding to host the festival.”

He said although there were some teething problems, the LOC overcame them and presented a decent festival on the whole. “Lagos

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 33

MEMORIES OF EKO 2012...MEMORIES OF EKO 2012...MEMORIES OF EKO 2012

Boxing lived up to its thrills and controversies A

lthough the boxing event of the 18 th National Sports Festival (NSF) ended on Dec. 7, the sport provided some

memorable showdowns that will dominate national discourse for some time to come, as Nigerians appraise the just-concluded biennial Games.

The event featured many colourful boxers from various states across the federation, particularly Apampa Muri from Borno and Gabriel Francis of Lagos.

Apampa won most of his bouts via knock outs until the finals, where he lost his match to Ademola Najeem of Ogun in a tough encounter that lived up to its top rating.

Francis, on the other hand, another tough fighter, who was quick with his deadly punches, never dropped his guard until he settled for the ultimate prize – the gold medal.

In all, however, Lagos State boxers proved hard nuts to crack as they remained the team to beat as the team notched up eight gold medals in both the men and women’s categories, at the finals.

Ogun was adjudged the

second best to Lagos after winning seven gold and two silver medals, to stamp their strength and technical prowess in the competition.

Above all, some of the bouts were, however, hit by brick bats of controversies as spectators and team officials expressed disappointment at

some ‘controversial’ decisions of some judges in the course of the competition.

Looking back at the competition, Hakeem Idris, a spectator, expressed his displeasure at some of the final decisions, saying that some of the decisions could not have been the true

reflection of what the outcomes of the bouts actually were.

“It is sad that an event like this can be marred by questionable decisions. Some of the bouts were indeed thrilling, no doubt, but the balance of fair play was largely missing in some of the bouts,” he said.

Balotelli is not for sale — Mancini

Eko 2012 has raised the bar,” Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission observed.

Despite the plaudits, Eko 2012 had its down sides, as well. On the opening day, the near perfect performances of artistes, dancers and the entire set up was marred by the poor spectator turn out. The highhandedness of security personnel went overboard, particularly on that opening day. While there were more people outside wanting to enter the stadium, the stands were near empty.

It was a problem organisers had difficulty in grappling with, even when athletics events began. One time African Queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi noted with disappointment.

“The poor attendance of spectators did not do the athletes any good. It is a different situation when you are running in a jam-packed stadium. I did not see that here,” she said on the closing day. The win at all cost syndrome rared its ugly head at Eko 2012.

Reports from boxing, weightlifting and a few other sports said some states employed foreign mercenaries to compete for them. Eagle eyed officials were able to fish them out and necessary action applied in each case. Perhaps, the most significant aspect of Eko 2012 Sports Festival was the level playing field presented by host government to all participating states.

SUCKER PUNCH . . .

Team Lagos’ pugilist, Fijabi ( R ) lands a right hooker punch on his opponent.

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•Balotelli

anchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists Mario Balotelli is not for sale, despite his stern words for the striker after Sunday’s Manchester derby.

Balotelli was selected ahead of Carlos Tevez to start up front in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United but produced an anonymous display and was replaced by the Argentinian early in the second half.

That led Mancini to say “ when you have a player that has Mario’s quality, you cannot understand why he continues to throw it out of the window”.

Those remarks in turn fed speculation over Balotelli’s future at the Etihad Stadium, with reports the former Inter Milan frontman could return to the San Siro in a loan move to AC Milan, but Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Balotelli has enormous quality, he is not for sale.”

He added: “He is a player of 22 years

old who has the quality to change a game at any time. I hope this moment will come soon.”

Mancini also played down suggestions City could move for a host of Serie A players in January.

The Italian has no intention of resurrecting his summer approach for Roma’s Daniele de Rossi and also denied any interest in Wesley Sneijder, who is out of favour at Inter Milan amid a contract dispute.

AC Milan’s Stephane El Shaarawy, Serie A’s top scorer, was another name mentioned, but Mancini said: “I do not think we can take him, Milan have found a great champion for the future.

“We tried to take De Rossi in the summer, the deal is not going anywhere and the story is over. I think De Rossi remains at Rome, I do not think he will leave.

Van Persie hungry for titles at Man Utd

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atrice Evra knew from the moment Robin van Persie said sorry at Southampton that Manchester United had signed a class act.

Van Persie’s injury-time free-kick at Manchester City on Sunday repaid another chunk of the £24million Sir Alex Ferguson invested in the striker last summer.

With 14 goals to his name already - 11 in the league -

Ferguson’s judgement has already been proved sound, but it was at St Mary ’s in August, in the aftermath of a 3-2 win in which Van Persie had scored a hat-trick, that Evra discovered the forward’s stamp of class. “Robin is perfect for Manchester United,” Evra told TalkSPORT. “When he scored the hat-trick at Southampton he also missed a penalty.

“The first thing he said when

he came back to the dressing room was that he was really sorry for missing the penalty.

That shows the hunger, humility and personality he has to win trophies. “He is not just scoring for himself. He really wants the team to win something.” While Ferguson has been effusive about Van Persie’s impact, he has tended to keep plaudits for Wayne Rooney to a minimum.

•Van Persie

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34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Skye Bank increases financial support to agriculture ... Lifts Imo Hill Farm

By PETER EGWUATU

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kye Bank Plc has indicated that it would drive top-line performance and profitability by expanding support for growth sectors of the Nigerian economy such as agriculture while minimizing costs through low-cost deposits.

The Bank cited the Imo Hill Farm as a case study of what the bank has been doing in recent times to ease access to finance to farmers and support them all through to meet the peculiarities of their operations.

Recent reports have shown considerable lending to customers, in spite of the general lackluster lending situation in the banking industry. Audited report and accounts of Skye Bank for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed that total assets rose from N705.86 billion in 2010 to N927.10 billion. Loans and advances to customers increased from N385.6 billion to N490.7 billion.

The third quarter report for 2012 indicated that loans and advances has risen to N537.45 billion just as total assets crossed the trillion Naira mark to N1.09 trillion by September 2012.

Shareholders’ funds increased to N120.55 billion.

Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the bank would focus on growing businesses that would develop into stable long-term banking relationships.

According to him, Skye Bank is increasing its financial supports for agriculture with the establishment of a suite of customer-centric agricultural products and services aimed at not only providing finance but also other major success factors such as financial management services, advisory services, guarantees, information services, local and international liaison and other products and services that may be specially needed to enhance the success of the farmer.

He said that the extensive agriculture support desk of the bank reinforced Skye Bank’s long-standing role as a key player in agricultural project financing with its project financing portfolio in the agricultural sector covering the entire nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

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As an indication of the bank’s extensive support to farmers, Oguntayo cited the Imo Hill Farm as a case study of what the bank has been doing in recent times to ease access to finance to farmers and support them all through to meet the peculiarities of their operations.

The Imo Hill Farm is an integrated farm project in the

South Western part of the Nigeria which covers poultry, piggery, feed mill and meat processing. The farm has engaged MP Farms, a German agric firm known as one of leading names in Europe, as its technical partners.

MP Farms would help to oversee the management of the whole farm, with

experienced managers in poultry and piggery management already hired to manage each division. The processing unit is to be run by top class professionals from Germany with over 20 years experience in meat processing and food technology.

With support from Skye Bank, the Imo Hill Farm

promises to be a case study in agricultural innovation and livestock development in subSaharan Africa.

Oguntayo noted that Skye Bank has through its branch network strategically located across the country, played and still plays a catalyst’s role in the growth and development of its clients’ businesses and projects.

Global Microfinance funding hits $25bn in 2011 —Report PROVIDENCE OBUH

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From left: Head, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Starcomms, Bosun Hambolu; Interim CEO of Starcomms, Olusola Oladokun and CEO Designate of New Starcomms, Demola Eleso at a press conference to announce Starcomms Capcom Corporate Transactions, in Lagos.

PHOTO: LAMIDI BAMIDELE

Six Co-operative societies to benefit from N600bn NIRSAL fund

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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HE National Association of Microfinance Banks, NAMB, South West zone, has short listed sixCooperative Societies that would benefit from the N600 billion Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Fund.

The names include: Livestock Farmers Association, Tractor Hiring Farmers’ Cooperatives, Fish Farmers Cooperatives, Agro Input Farmers’ Cooperative, Agro Processing Farmers’ Cooperative and the Cocoa Farmers’ Cooperative.

Olufemi Babajide, NAMB South West Zone Chairman, told Vanguard that the six cooperative societies were carefully chosen.

According to Babajide, “We are now in the pairing stage where we will pair these farmers with Micro Finance Banks (MfBs). This means that Microfinance banks in a particular area will be paired with all the identified groups in their area,

so as to disburse the funds to them directly.

“Over the years, government has been setting aside special fund for farmers and those funds never get to them. MfBs were just funding farmers with their own resources which were not adequate but with this brilliant initiative from the authorities, modalities are now being put in place to ensure the Fund gets to the farmers.

“To get to the level of disbursement of the fund, it will take a lot of processes, we have sent list of our banks with interest and the national secretariat will recommend. Is not just a question of come and take money, there is going to be training in that area, hence it is not something that is going to be achieved in a day.

“Interested farmers who are not members but in need of the fund can meet any of the aforementioned societies for recommendations,” he explained.

survey report has shown that the global funding for microfinance grew to US$25 billion in 2011.

According to the CGAP’s Cross-Border Funder Survey, “The total amount committed continues to increase, though at a slower rate in the past two years; average annualised growth decreased from 17 percent per year between 2007 and 2009 to six percent per year between 2009 and 2011, said the report.

Further, the report said, “The slower growth can be explained by the fact that funders committed the same amount of funding in new projects in 2011 compared to 2009, and at the same time more projects closed in the past two years.”

Despite the slowdown of growth in commitments during the past two years, cross-border funders expect microfinance to remain important to their development agendas and are committed to pushing the frontier to expand financial services for the poor. Survey respondents say that agricultural finance, rural finance, branchless and mobile banking, and responsible finance are all priorities for the next five years.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 35

36—Vanguard , WEDNRSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Beere Aderisola Osoba turns 61

From left: Hon. Derin Disu; Chief Bisi Abiola, wife of late Chief MKO Abiola; Beere Derin Osoba and Mrs .Folake Lapite.

When Beere Aderinsola Osoba, wife of former Governor Of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, turned 61 on Sunday December 9, she had a very small open house for few friends at her Bourdillon Road Ikoyi residence, Lagos. L-r: Mr. Tobi Osoba, son; Aremo Segun Osoba, husband; Beere Aderinsola Osoba, celebrant; Hon. Olumide Osoba and his wife Rositta, at the occasion. Pix: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

Mr. Donald Duke, former Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba and his wife of Cross Rivers State congratulating Derinsola, dancing.

Beere Derin Osoba.

From left: Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Mr. Sami Omai and Hon. Olumide Osoba.

Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former governor of Ekiti State and Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

From left: Beere Derin Osoba; Chief Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc; and Aremu Olusegun Osoba.

Ms. Ama Pepple, Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development handling over keys to a beneficiary of a 3-bedroom house, after the official commissioning of the 200 units of the first phase of 610 Housing Units of ASO Savings and Cross River State Government’s Public Servants Housing Scheme, CROSPIL Estate, in Akpabuyo Local Government, Cross River State.

C M Y K

From left: Dr. Eunice Anuforom, DG, NIMET's wife; Dr. Anthony Anuforo, DG,NIMET; Prof. Chigozie Cyril Asiabaka, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Dr. I.P. Asiabaka, the VC's wife and Director, Centre for Women. Gender & Development Studies, FUTO, during the presentation of memento to Dr. Asiabaka by FUTO VC.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBERE 12, 2012—37

Day Wizkid thrilled fans at Legend Real Deal nite E

ME’s “baddest boy”, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, was in his elements at the last 2012 edition of the Legend ‘Real Deal Nite’ event which took place at Ojez, National Stadium Surulere,

Lagos.

The multiple-award winning ‘Pakurumo’ crooner sent the audience in wild frenzy as he gave a rendition of one hit song after another. The ambience at the event was

Fans lambast Jackie Appiah over movie role

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

Wizkid

F

Beyonce signs £30m Pepsi deal S oft drinks giant Pepsi has announced Beyoncé as the $50million (£30m) face of its global campaign.

As part of her lucrative deal, the Single Ladies hitmaker will appear in adverts for the soft drink, and in a company first, her face will also feature on Pepsi cans and other products.

Pepsi will also be sponsoring the singer ’s tour next year and she will star in a TV ad, to be released in early 2013.

Announcing the deal, the mother-of-one said: “Pepsi embraces creativity and understands that artists evolve.

“As a businesswoman, this allows me to work with a lifestyle brand with no compromise and without sacrificing my creativity.”

The 31-year-old singer, who is married to rapper Jay Z, has also made sure that Pepsi invests in projects that she wants to support as a critical part of the collaboration.

Pepsi has included a Creative Development Fund that will go toward creating content, and will allow Queen B to be very hands-on as a brand ambassador.

Speaking about the endorsement Brad Jakeman, president of Pepsi’s global beverage group said: “Consumers are seeking a much greater authenticity in marketing from brands they love.

“It’s caused a shift in the

way we think about deals with artists, from a transactional deal to mutually beneficial collaboration.”

Beyonce’s deal with Pepsi comes just months after the company announced a partnership with American Idol judge Nicki Minaj.

Similar to the Young Money rapper, Beyoncé will star in a new ‘Live For Now’ global television commercial and Pepsi will also sponsor the singer ’s concert next year.

The limited edition cans featuring Beyoncé’s face will be released in March and sold worldwide, including the UK.

Beyonce

ollowing a ‘graphic’ sex scene she acted in a 2011 movie, ‘Death After Birth’,award-winning Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah is currently trailed by a barrage of accusations, among which is infidelity.

The movie which had her engage in a sex sceen at the back of a car with a certain men in the movie, has made fans raise their eye brow even as she has pushed back on the allegations previously and assured movie fans that nothing obscene happened in the scene.

The actress described fans reactions as ‘baseless and malicious rumors.’ According to her, all that happened in the movie was indeed graphic which doesn’t warrant quick accusations on her character and person.

Jackie Appiah But even after she’d cleared the air, fans find it a bitter pill to swallow, posing the question; to what extent should actors/actresses go in interpreting a role in a movie?

simply euphoric as the audience pleaded for more from Wizkid.

It would be recalled that during the course of the year, the “Real Deal Nite” platform, provided consumers a much needed opportunity to interact and feel the uniqueness and spirit of the Legend brand.

The ‘Real Deal Nite’ event started in March 2011.

Through the fusion of exciting music and comedy from top rated entertainers, revelers always anticipated each ‘Real Deal Nite’ with gusto.

Subsequently, the brand decided to take the event beyond Lagos state, its original base where it held every last Friday of the month, to other parts of the country based on the yearnings of consumers.

Entertainers such as J. Martins, Flavour Nabania, Terry G, Mike Okri, Ras Kimono, Basketmouth, Seyi Law, Jovi, Wizkid, Duncan Mighty and much more have graced the ‘Real Deal Nite’ stage.

In the words of Funso Ayeni, Senior Brand Manager, Legend Extra Stout, “the relevance of the Real Deal Nite is to create an atmosphere where the brand bonds with its consumers and to make them understand the brand essence.”

Cheryl Cole denies plan to return to X Factor

C

heryl Cole says she has no plans to return to X Factor, despite Simon Cowell’s reported incessant offers.

With X Factor 2012 just finished reports are already spreading that the judging panel could be in-line for a shake-up. But Cheryl Cole says she will not be going back: A source close to the Girls Aloud star told The Sun that Cheryl has ‘moved on’ since leaving the show two years ago.

The friend said: “Cheryl really enjoyed her time on the show but she has moved on.

She had three really good years and wants to leave it there.”

The singer ’s spokesman confirmed: “Cheryl has no plans to return.”

“Honestly, after all the rumours of an X Factor shake up and those pictures of Cheryl round Simon’s last week, we really thought a return was on the cards.”

However, it’s believed Chezza wants to work on her music career, and plus, it probably would have bit a bit awkward to return at this very moment in time...

Cheryl is currently in the midst of a £1.4m lawsuit against the US show after she was unfairly sacked and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger last year.

Chezza also says in her autobiography how let down and shocked she felt by the whole incident.

Yeah, so we probably should have seen this coming to be honest.

Cheryl Cole

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

• Studies have shown that Telehealth technologies can demonstrate a 45 percent reduction in mortality rates, 15 percent reduction in A&E visits, a 20 percent reduction in emergency admissions amongsts others.

Why Nigeria needs a National eHealth Policy M

R. Job Agbo, not (real name) recently visited his doctor with chronic kneel pain.

The condition was not severe enough to require a visit to the emergency department, but it kept him awake all night and interfered with his daily activities.

He was given a hand-written referral to review previous films and treat according to recommendation in the report” He took his hand-written referral and booked for an “urgent kneel procedure” with the radiology staff of the hospital and came few days after for the procedure. But no one could trace his previous films or reports.

Efforts to contact his doctor proved abortive as he was said to have gone on vacation. Job was unable to have the procedure done because no one knew the details of his current clinical problem and there was no referral to perform any sort of repeat xray or CT scan to determine the type of treatment that will alleviate his symptoms.

Many patients are faced with similar problem in Nigeria today.

Advancement in medicine have shown that Electronic Health, eHealth, would have made a significant difference to this real life situation. With eHealth, the doctor would have been able to submit the request electronically and the Radiology reception staff would be able to retrieve Mr. Job’s electronic health record instantaneously, including the previous reports. Instead of spending the whole day at the health facility, an estimated 20 minutes would have been enough for the required procedure.

Findings have shown that availability of electronic health

and mobile health services plays a major role in the delivery of public health services around the world.

In Nigeria today, cases of negligence in the course of healthcare service provision in most hospitals abounds.

Medical tourism has become the order of the day. Reports have it that no fewer than N78 billion are spent by Nigerians annually on medical tourism.

While countries like India earn about $260 million from medical tourism.

No thanks to the fact that most Nigerians have lost confidence in the country’s healthcare system. The situation is so bad that many Nigerians travel to countries like India and Ghana even for common illnesses like malaria. Unconfirmed reports revealed that no fewer than 3000 Nigerians travel to India annually for various medical reasons.

eHealth benefits To strengthen the country’s health system as well as make the country a medical tourism destination of choice, Health Watchers say paying more attention to e-health and telemedicine by developing a national eHealth Strategy will ensure that Nigerians get the right treatment and the right medication in the right place and time. The story of Job aptly describes the difference eHealth will make to patients and providers. The World Health Organisation, WHO, has identified eHealth as a veritable tool to deliver health information for health

professionals and health consumers, through the Internet and telecommunications as well as using Information Technology, IT, to improve public health services through education and training of health workers.

Health analysts are of the view that eHealth has not only helped health economists focus on a host of inexpensive clinical applications such as teleneonatology, tele-paediatrics, it has become an essential tool to administer healthcare needs in developed nations.

Absence of National eHealth policy In the views of a Senior Strategic Advisor, International Development Research Centre/

,

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

systematic, coherent and sustainable implementation of telemedicine and eHealth in the country. With some medical institutions in the country embracing eHealth, the absence of the national e-health policy has made the development of eHealth and integration into the nation’s healthcare delivery system difficult.

Experts are of the view that telemedicine and eHealth should be integrated into the curriculum of medical/health training institutions in the country, they believe that the Federal Government should promote advocacy to get the three tiers of government involved in the development of eHealth strategy, with active participation of all major stakeholders —

Paying more attention to e-health and telemedicine by developing a National Health Strategy will ensure that Nigerians get the right treatment , right medication in the right place and time

Nigeria Evidence-Base Health Systems Strengthening Initiative, Dr. Muhammed Lecky, there have been worldwide recognition and interest in eHealth as an enabler of national health systems. According to Lecky, although Nigerian Government has sought to pay more attention to this important emerging field, every attempt to achieve coherence in the form of an articulated policy framework regarding telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria had hitherto proven abortive.

This may not be unconnected with the absence of a national ehealth strategy to facilitate a

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private sector academia/ universities, NGOs in health, development partners, professional bodies and associations, etc.

At the 17th International Conference on Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH), organised by Society for Telemedicine and eHealth in Nigeria (SfTeHIN), the National Representative member of ISfTeH, in Abuja recently, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, former Minister of Health, admitted that the implementation of eHealth in the country has been largely piecemeal and uncoordinated as existing pilots were rarely scaled-up.”

Lambo who regretted the absence of a comprehensive national eHealth strategy, identified lack of policy and an eHealth legislative framework, power problems, lack of political will, absence of a robust ICT infrastructure, poor funding of the health sector as major challenges. “eHealth would provide efficient and cost effective healthcare services for people in remote areas through early diagnostics, logistics and supplies as well as help individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Beneficiaries of eHealth include patients, healthcare professionals and providers, government bodies, policymakers, healthcare educators and students.”

He explained that the National Health Policy and the National Strategic Health Development Plan Framework (2009 – 2015), developed by the Federal Ministry of Health were key documents upon which any work towards developing the eHealth policy should be based upon.

Lambo explained that developing a national eHealth Strategy involves a multi stakeholder participatory approach and a credible strategy development process, by which the eHealth strategy would be aligned to the strategic priorities of the health sector.

Action “The Federal Ministry of Health should facilitate a coherent and sustainable implementation of eHealth in Nigeria, get every level of government involved and provide enabling environment for implementation with a national eHealth steering committee.

Available information have shown that until 1999, ICT use in Nigeria was next to nothing until development of ICT policies for the telecommunications sector in 2000 and the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to formulate a National Policy for ICT in Nigeria in 2003. With the adoption of District Health Information System (DHIS) as a national tool for reporting aggregate data from the lowest to the highest levels, the need for a comprehensive situational analysis as a precondition for the development of a comprehensive national eHealth strategy cannot be overemphasised.

President, SfTeHIN, Mr. Olajide Adebola said: "A comprehensive situational analysis of the implementation of telemedicine and eHealth initiatives should be undertaken to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the current efforts. The eHealth strategy should address local needs and should involve locally driven solutions.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 39

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Statecraft in the African Renaissance amidst regime change (2) This is the second part of the paper delivered by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, at the 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa held at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island USA on Friday December 7, 2012

BAB ATUNDE F ASHOLA ABA FASHOLA

the same.

It is about humanity. Protecting people, securing your environment, saving lives, providing economic opportunities which in a simple word means jobs, providing education, healthcare, protecting rights and so on and so forth. What differs is the complexity of the same problem, from place to place, depending on the level of development or lack of it. The accepted global model for conducting these affairs, which is democracy, has been tested, but is now in my view, technologically

challenged. By this I mean that with globalization many more people are involved in the process and they influence decision making for good or bad.

Chinua Achebe What newspapers could by editorial decision delay or refuse to pub- ment and consultation will be the biglish while a decision of Government is gest tools for successful statecraft in the under consideration is now instantly avail- 21st Century. A leader in the 21st Centuable on the social media without any con- ry must be a repository of knowledge; it sideration for its possible adverse or bene- must interest him to know many things ficial effect. Very recently, I told my col- such that whatever he chooses not to know leagues that this is not a good time to be a must be clearly unimportant. leader, although I have always asked myIn a technologically driven world, where self if there was ever a time in human his- the primary objective of statecraft centres tory that it was good to lead. around the human civilization, data posThat is why I salute the leaders of many session, processing, understanding and centuries past, especially those of the ear- management are a sine qua non to sucly 20th Century who led our world through cessful statecraft in the 21st Century. In many technological breakthroughs such as the last five and half years that I have spent electricity, the telephone, the airplane and in office, I have paid unrelenting attenprotected our planet amidst the threat of tion to data. The importance coincides with two world wars. I draw a lot of inspiration the cliché that you cannot manage a thing, from their courage and refusal to give up. if you cannot measure it. A few quick exThis is the least that is expected of every amples will suffice to demonstrate the leader today in any part of the world if we point. are to save this planet from peril. This is Speed survey shows that the average speed the challenge of within the vicinity (Agege Motor Road) had statecraft. Regrettably, democracy does increased by 300 per cent from 10km/hr not concern itself measured while developing the Strategic about this. It is only Transport Master Plan in 2008 to an average concerned about the emergence of the of 40km/hr in spite of increased traffic flow leader by popular mandate in an open process. Democracy does not guarantee that the leader will be Security competent as we have seen in some jurisOn assumption of office in 2007, the first dictions. It makes no guarantee that he inquiry I made was about the number of will be compassionate or God fearing or Policemen in the State that was available that he will be passionate about the to help me protect the 17,552,000 people job. Indeed, the democratic process on its that our 2006 headcount showed that we own cannot help the electorate determine had living in Lagos. Over the years data beforehand, whether the prospective leader management has become invaluable in our who seeks their vote is interested in the crime prevention strategy and has made office or in the job. our state easily the safest in the country.

We are able to monitor trends by analysCompetence of ing reports at monthly security meetings prospective leaders which I chair and by so doing we deploy the necessary logistics, either of more men, It is other processes that provide this more patrol vehicles, more boats, more guide, and as I have argued, debates dur- communication equipment or extra hours ing campaigns become most critical tools or a combination of any of them as the crime for assisting the electorate to have at least data reports suggests. an insight as to the competence of the prospective leaders, their knowledge of their Revenue society, their present and previous posiIn order to raise money to fund our oblitions on social, economic and religious is- gations, I sought to know how many propsues which will one way or the other be erties we had registered on our data base indicative of how well they will act or con- and found out that we had registered only duct the affairs of State.

26,000. We invested in the property enuIn the event, education of the highest meration exercise and today we have regquality, which is the acquisition of skills istered 640,000 and still counting. Of and tools of communication and knowl- course I need not say that receipts from edge, which is the individual quest for self- Property taxes jumped in many folds. I development, inquisitiveness, discern- also sought to know how many citizens

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I

N some parts of West Africa, political change and possibly the quest for a better life, has acquired a new image. It is now anchored on Islam, by the group now classified as the Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb. As we speak, the West African nations are contributing troops to go into Mali in a coalition to dislodge them because of the political danger they pose to the entire region. But beyond guns and live ammunition, their pursuit for power is fired by a stronger ammunition, one which does not attack the body but instead strikes the mind. Religion.

This will be difficult to defend against or to attack. Its range is limitless, its fuel supply is not science; on the contrary, it is passion driven by unquestioning faith. That fuel rarely runs out of supply and it does not tolerate reason but commands only unquestioning faith and belief. This is the newest and biggest threat and it is on both sides of the two popular religions, christianity and islam, both of which incidentally and interestingly owe their origins to the same region, the Middle East.

Perhaps the closest in history to what we experience today are the ecclesiastical wars in advent of Christianity. It is against the background of these complexities that I intend to examine the role of statecraft in the 21st Century.

For my definition of ‘statecraft’, I choose “the art of conducting the affairs of state or conducting government affairs”. I think it is fair to say that at whatever level one is involved it is not an easy affair. Whether you are a President, Prime Minister, State Governor, City Mayor or whatever designation you operate at, the problems are

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were issued with tax cards as proof of payment of personal income tax, and I was told it was only 500,000.

We embarked on massive tax awareness campaigns and invested in printing and issuance of tax cards and today we have 2,530,744 tax payers on our data base. This accounts in part for why we are the only state that may survive without oil proceeds, because about 70 per cent of our annual expenditure comes from internally generated funds We also conducted a registration of existing businesses in the State and our version of the Lagos Yellow pages, a directory of small businesses shows that we have 158,720 businesses in our State as at 2011 with significant increases expected in 2012.

Traffic Management When we resolved to clean up Oshodi, a very congested part of Lagos that prevented access and thoroughfare through Agege Motor Road because street traders had taken over the road, our first task was to enumerate the number of street traders in order to plan their re-settlement. Their new market is now finished and awaiting hand over. Subsequent to the cleanup, our monitoring and data collection revealed that it was a well-considered effort and money wisely spent because:•Speed survey shows that the average speed within the vicinity (Agege Motor Road) had increased by 300 per cent from 10km/hr measured while developing the Strategic Transport Master Plan in 2008 to an average of 40km/hr in spite of increased traffic flow arising from traffic diverting (to Agege Motor Road) from Ikorodu Road and Apapa-Oworonsoki expressway. The fact that vehicles now have effective use of two clear traffic lanes is a contributory factor to this development.

•Travel conditions has also improved along Ikorodu Road where traffic volumes have reduced by four per cent as Agege Motor Road now serves as an effective alternative for north to south movements in Mainland Lagos. Traffic speeds have consequently increased by 10 per cent.

•Overall, our data analysis showed that the Oshodi clean up measures will lead to travel time savings of 252 million hours, equivalent to 112,500 man years savings leading to productivity gains in the Lagos Economy.

Continues on page 41

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—41

here today not in person but by virtue of my office as Governor of Lagos State. The invitation from Professor Chinua Achebe to me is, therefore, an honour to the people of Lagos and on their behalf I thank him. My first invitation was actually to speak here in December 2011 but previous commitments made that impossible.

When I suggested to Professor Achebe that I will write the speech and have somebody deliver it he was emphatic in saying that he would rather wait for a year until 2012. Sometime early this year, I wrote to confirm my acceptance and my attendance. I am Yoruba and interestingly a product of his seminal work Things Fall Apart as student of literature in a Nigerian Secondary School. You cannot imagine my excitement as I prepared for this occasion sometime in August this year, when I heard of his new book.

Checking the online news

Statecraft in the African Renaissance amidst regime change (2) Continues from page 40 •Indeed the traffic improvements translate to an annual benefit within the Oshodi vicinity of around N10bn. The wider benefit to the Lagos Economy is far bigger and could reach N120 billion. •As a result of the increase in travel speed from an average of 10km/hr to 40km/hr, the amount of carbon emitted by vehicles has reduced by 48 per cent to 76g/km. •The noise level has also decreased from 73.73 dBA recorded in 2008 to an average of 65 dBA. This is a reduction of 12 per cent in noise pollution.

•The cost of developing other measures such as building a 1km bridge to by-pass the troubled area of Oshodi and to achieve the result currently being experienced now in Oshodi will cost the Government N16.6 billion as opposed to under N300 million spent on relocating the traders and mobilizing enforcement to ensure the area remains clear. • This leaves a surplus of just over N16.3 billion for more pressing infrastructure needs of the State

Reduction of road traffic accidents Since August 2012 when we introduced a new traffic law to increase safety and reduce road traffic accidents, I was recently able to report to citizens the results of our monitoring of the impact of the implementation of the law as follows: From the 25 General hospitals, the reports of accidents from motorcycles dropped from 646 to 525 cases in September; an 18.73 per cent reduction, while deaths recorded between the same period dropped from 14 to 8, a 42.86 per cent reduction.

In terms of the impact of the law and our advocacy on healthcare, our recent monitoring and evaluation assessment report reveals that: a. 65 per cent of people sampled after the law want to reduce alcohol intake as against 30 per cent before; b. 93 per cent now want to reduce drugs as against 71 per cent before the law; c. 77 per cent are now convinced that alcohol is a danger to them and their passengers if they drink and drive, as against 10 per cent before the law; and

Only 4 per cent now say they can still purchase alcohol within the motor park after the law, as against 58 per cent before the law.

Budget Similarly we have taken data and budget statistics very seriously as our critical tool for planning and service delivery. We hold quarterly budget sessions year on year, we monitor performance vigorously and we have never performed below 70 per cent of our budget commitments even though this is below our target of 90 per cent.

Education Data has proved quite useful in education management, just as in other sectors. Although we started an emergency school repair and construction programme, data collection has helped us identify areas of more classroom needs and this has helped us allocate resources more judiciously. It has helped us to remain focused on the long gestation that education renaissance requires because we are seeing consistent upward results in the performance of students in their final examinations as a result of our many initiatives.

For example, from the results in the final West Africa Examinations Council secondary school leaving results showed that 7 per cent of students passed with five credits in one sitting with English and Mathematics in 2007. The result went up to 11 per cent in 2008, 18 per cent in 2009, 21 per cent in 2010, and dropped to 19 per cent in 2011.

O

ur detailed analysis of data of stu dents performances at monthly education meetings that I inaugurated in 2011 and which I chair, resulted in the deployment of a cocktail of solutions, such as younger teachers, review of class promotion grades, involvement of parents, injection of funds and extra lessons.

Our 2012 students performance in the same examination, showed a 39.8 per cent pass result. This is not where we want to be, but it points to the direction our public education renaissance is heading. It is eloquent testimony of a departure from quick fixes, and a committment to planning. Clearly, therefore, apart from the

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Oshodi in Lagos...before the transformation

I ordered a copy online and requested that it be delivered to me in London in October whilst I was attending an event there. I was halfway through the book usefulness of data for resolving social and when I checked the local news online and economic issues as a pre-requisite for state- saw that things were no longer at ease craft, it is an instructive necessity for con- back home in Nigeria. Some leaders of flict resolution in West Africa, and its need my ethnic group had very strong views is the more eloquently spoken to, by the about parts of the book. Professor Achebe debilitating impact conflicts both resolved is from the Igbo ethnic group. As you can and yet unresolved that we have had on also expect, there were spirited responsthe West African sub-region. es from leaders of opinion from his own From Liberia to Sierra Leone, Ivory ethnic group.

Coast, Mali and the threat of Boko My thoughts were to write to Professor Haram in the homeland in Nigeria.

Achebe to decline the invitation and profPerhaps at this point it will be remiss of fer some excuse. I wonder if it crossed me and dangerously ominous not to take his mind to find a reason to ask me not to a position about the still raging controver- bother to come. But I resolved that a comsy back home, at least by the accounts in mitment I had made in honour to attend the local papers as of the last was more important than what anybody weekend. My host, Professor Chinua might say or feel. Those were the values Achebe had chosen to document his ac- on which I was raised. More importantcount of an indelible personal experience ly, this was a generational disagreement in a new book titled, “There was a coun- between the principal parties of the events try – a personal history of Biafra” . that took place when I was barely four It received and continues to receive years old. As I said, the management of mixed and in some cases hostile recep- the National Archives and the publication tion. In fact some commentators suggest- of what really happened at that time will certainly help to Indeed the traffic ensure that nobody creates his improvements translate to an anown facts. nual benefit within the Oshodi viBut beyond that, my own generacinity of around N10bn. The wider tion has moved on.

We see our counbenefit to the Lagos Economy is far try differently. It bigger and could reach N120 billion also seems to me that many years ed that the work had contributed to re- after the conflict, that some of the princistoring old tensions and brewing new pal actors in the conflict such as Chief hostilities, prefacing possible inter-ethnic Obafemi Awolowo, the Yoruba leader and conflict. Wherever your personal view Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu had decided may lie, we cannot but observe, from the to move on. This was what Ojukwu said tone of the commentary, that our national when Chief Awolowo passed on in the late governments continue to fail us in the cru- 1980s:- “the best President that Nigeria cial duty of being repositories of informa- never had”.

It might interest you to also know that tion, data, records and archives as historical records are indispensable tools for one of the active military leaders of the time, a Yoruba General, did not object to policy development.

Certainly the discourse would have been his daughter subsequently marrying an richer, less acrimonious and not predes- Igbo man.

My own aunt, a Yoruba Muslim, had a tined for tension if institutional national archiving and information disclosure was son for an Igbo Christian man and he is responsibly discharged by the Federal as much my cousin as the others are. ToGovernment of Nigeria. I am sure there day, the story of our progress in Lagos are other examples across the West Afri- State cannot be complete without acknowlcan sub-region. States must begin to see edging the role of Ben Akabueze, an Igbo the connection between information man- man from Anambra State, who has been agement and inter-religious, ethnic and my Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning for the last 5 (Five) years. sectional tension across Africa.

That publication has put me in some To be concluded difficult straits and I will explain. I speak

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42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Cat and mouse: Anenih and Atiku again The relationship between Atiku Abubakar and Anthony Anenih since the death of their political leader, Shehu Yar‘adua has largely been likened to the mutual distrust between two siblings in contention for their father’s jewel. Anenih’s denouncement of the patronage of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM on Monday raises the issue once again.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

T

HE renunciation was unambiguous. In a statement released on his behalf on Monday, Chief Anthony Anenih, the erstwhile chairman of the board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP delinked himself to the news report of his appointment as chairman of the Elders Committee of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM. “Chief Anenih was not in Abuja when the meeting was held.

If such decision was reached, those who took the decision would have either consulted with him prior to the decision or briefed him after the decision was taken,” the statement issued by his personal assistant, Barrister Peter Abulu revealed.

The PDM is the political platform framed by the late political master strategist, Major_General Shehu Musa Yar‘adua which was also the biggest political organ that metamorphosed into the PDP. Among its leading chieftains at the onset of the fourth republic were Anenih, Atiku Abubakar, the late Chuba Okadigbo, Roland Owie and several others who became leading

T

he loneliness of a man out of political power was conveyed to your correspondent some three years or so years ago at the sight of His Excellency, Victor Attah, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State carrying a plate to serve himself in one of the restaurants of the Hilton Hotel in Abuja .Without the hangers on that just two or so years ago looked up to him like a god, His Excellency, was his cool self, natural and jovial as he exchanged banters with a few who recognised him.

The memory of that morning and the false contraption of omniscience and bravado that surrounds high ranking political office holders is one that remains an irony. Only few like Obong Attah could easily have adjusted to living as an ordinary citizen without the trappings of a false life that many of our political office holders are as-

*Anenih: Denies role in PDM Elders Committee

*Atiku: Mobilising PDM activists for 2015

lights of the PDP after the party’s triumphant run in the 1999 elections.

The unity of the group, however, took a battering upon the discord between President Olusegun Obasanjo and his then deputy and the acclaimed successor to Shehu Yar‘Adua, Atiku Abubakar.

sided with the former president in the battle against his vice_president.

As Anenih became Obasanjo’s Man Friday, the coerciveness that the PDM was once famed for inevitably burst leading to its members going their separate ways.

Though several loyalists of

Several elements in the group stuck with Atiku and many of them suffered on account of that relationship. Chief Anenih, however, who could not ordinarily be said to be a political protégée of Atiku, however, took another path. At the heat of the battle with Atiku, Anenih was reported to have

POLITICAL METABOLISM

sociate d with with.

EMMANUEL AZIKEN I have detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com heard it said of SMS 08052201189 a former governor from the Southeast who now switched over to Akpalost an election but was still bio were overdoing one anothcarrying on as a governor with er to pour encomiums on Aka convoy of vehicles following pabio who in their view is the him all about. The former gov- initiator of the uncommon ernor I also heard, had the te- transformation in Akwa Ibom. merity to be shouting on his I confess, I have not been to former aides as if he still Akwa Ibom since the advent called the shots until one day of the Akpabio era even one of the associates had to though what I hear is that of tell him, “You are no longer infrastructural transformation Your Excellency.” of the landscape. But I still It is with the background shudder at the epithets some of such contradictions that I of his lieutenants use in hailviewed with some suspicion, ing him. A man that is not the outpouring of felicitations easily proud will under the towards His Excellency, God- same situation be transformed swill Akpabio on the occasion into a little god. of his 50th birthday last weekIf the case of Akpabio and end. Almost the same crowd Attah are not enough, just who were with Attah and have across from Akwa Ibom is the

No condition is permanent

ironic transformation of a one time ‘looked down upon’ deputy governor in Bayelsa State . At the height of the Dipereye Alamieyeseigha suzerainty over Bayelsa, those in the know

claim that the erstwhile deputy governor like his colleagues all over the country was an inconsequential presence in government. In the case of Bayelsa at that time, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s office could not be better described than as the boy ’s quarters adjoining the Executive Chambers.

It could as such not have been more ironical that the former suzerain, the governor-general of the Ijaw nation, Alamieyeseigha was the same that last Monday at a meeting of elders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Yenogoa moved the motion for Jonathan to become the PDP

Atiku remained faithful to him and moved with him in the course of his political adventures through the Action Congress and back to the PDP, a few others remained in the PDP. Given the once famed

Continues on page 43

leader of Bayelsa State.

What that means I really don’t know, but the irony is not lost on how positions have changed and changed so dramatically. It is remembered that at the height of his domination of the polity, the PDP machinery recast President Olusegun Obasanjo as the “founder and maker of modern Nigeria .” There is no guessing now of what the present holders of power regard the same founder and maker of modern Nigeria .

If the men are able to adjust to their changing positions, I really wonder how their wives, the first ladies with all the pettiness that usually come with some ladies, are able to adjust after office.

Nigerians were only recently treated to the nauseating media war between Dame Patience Jonathan and Hajiya Turai Yar‘adua over the ownership of a prime piece of land in Abuja !

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—43

We are one in Delta— Macaulay, SSG

BY GBENGA OKE

I

t was a colourful weekend for Isoko indigenes in La gos last weekend when they converged at Regency Hall, Ikeja to discuss ways to move the Isoko nation forward.

The Isoko gathering under the auspices of the Mr. Mike Ogwah led Isoko Advancement Network, (IAN) gathered for a programme tagged “Isoko Interacts”. It was an avenue for the sons and daughters of Isoko extraction in the government of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and at the Federal level to tell their people what they have been doing.

Among the personalities were Secretary to Delta state Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, former Delta state commissioner for Information, Oma Djebah, Hon Tebite, High Chief S. Uredi, pioneer speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Okoro, Deputy Majority leader of the House of Representatives, Rep Leo Ogor, Delta state commissioner for Lands, Survey & Urban Development, Mr Patrick Ferife, Special adviser to Gov. Uduaghan on security, Rear Admiral Kpokpogri, Chief Solomon Ogba, Member Delta

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

Do you agree that the Nigerian Constitution hinders economic development?

No matter the type of Constitution you have, it depends on the operators and how focused they are. It is not just leaving some set of people to operate it. Infact, it is a problem of the system and not the Constitution alone. When we talk about development, it is for the Constitution to devolve power to a type of government that is closer to the people. That is the type of government we should be running.

Do you see state policing as a way of curbing crime?

The uniform alone on the street would be a deterrent to small criminals. Go to other countries, you will see state police that are particular to a thing. Don’t we have LASSMA, VIO and KAI on our roads; are they not particular to certain things? The same thing with a state police, with minimal power. Give them gun, walkie-talkie, communication gadgets.

Do you you support creation of more states at this time?

Well, the present states are not viable. I would support the creation of more states if the

state House of Assembly, Tim Owhefere, special assistant on media to Governor Uduaghan, Mr Felix Ofou, popular gospel artist, Sammie Okposo and the Ghetto soldier, Daddy Showkey.

Flagging off the event that day, Ogwah said: “We have come to the realization that where information is lacking, rumour is bound to thrive and today’s forum is to create an avenue for a regular flow of information between Isoko people in government and Isoko people at home and diaspora."

The high point of the event came when the popular gospel artist, Sammie Okposo took the stage to sing in the native Isoko language. His action sent the gathering into frenzy.

Subsequently, the session flowed into an interactive session during which the people freely asked questions from the government appointees and dignitaries in government.

Fielding questions from journalists during the event, Mr Macaulay maintained that Saturday’s event was a unique one because the meeting made him realize government needs to be closer to the people to enable them have an idea of

what government is doing.

His words, “One problem government continues to have is the fact that they distant themselves from people, so people are less informed about what government is doing. In Delta state, we have a town hall meeting that is being anchored by the governor at senatorial districts but today, we have decided to bring the meeting here to the Isokos in Lagos state to enable them know what the government is doing, we want them to have the feeling of government. The governor cannot be everywhere, but with meetings like this, we can hear from them what their feelings are and we will now tell them what government programmes are and I think that is the essence of government”.

On the alleged marginalisation of Isoko people which has been raising some questions, he said, “I am not keen in hearing anything about marginalisation. Today, Urhobo people will shout marginalisation, the Ijaws will shout, even the Itsekiri’s where the governor hails from will shout marginalisation, so it has become an order of the day. How are they marginalized? I am an Isoko son, what others are having, we

are also having, nobody can have everything, on that basis, they can say they did not have enough but everybody can say he is not having enough but not marginalization”. *Macaulay: No one is marginalised in Delta On his scorecard as the Secretary to Delta state government, he responded, “I am serving Delta state and not Isoko people alone. My duty is to ensure no part of Delta state is neglected, that is my work and duty. And it means that Isoko people will not be neglected as well”.

Speaking on the quest by the Isoko people for the governorship seat come 2015, he is of the opinion that Isoko people can be whatever they want to be if they speak with one voice.

“My idea on the quest by my people is that Isoko people can be whatever they wanted to be

in 2015. What I can do to position the Isoko people is what I am doing right now. What they want to be is left for them. My own is to continue to preach oneness, unity and for them to come together to speak with one voice. They should extend relationship to other ethnic nationalities in Delta as well because no matter what they want to be, only one ethnic nationality cannot do it alone except being supported by other nationalities. If they think they can plan it alone, they are only making a mistake and I am sure they are aware of that”.

Give more power to states— Pedro Lawal Pedro (SAN) is the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice. In this interview with Vanguard, he speaks about economic development in the country, creation of new states and stressed the need for state policing. Excerpts: federal government is willing to devolve power and ensure that the revenue allocation favours the states more than the federal government. The federal government should limit itself to its core jurisdiction such as international affairs, customs, aviation, maritime, finance, CBN, economic etc.

What is the federal government building road for, instead of giving the state the money to build its road and account for it? Most of the things the federal government is doing ought to have been done by the state. It is only when the federal government makes the state responsible, then I would

share the opinion of the people who want more states to be created.

What do you think should be the reason for creating new states?

Issue of development should be taken into consideration. Even some states do not have enough finance to survive and pay

salary without money from the federation account, what states are you then creating? The issue of state creation should go beyond issue of personality.

If federal government is willing to make it devolves power and resources, and allow the states themselves to control their resources, then there would be reason for creating more states.

Cat and mouse: Anenih and Atiku again Continued frompage 42 invincibility of the group it is not surprising that ahead of the 2015 presidential election that the group has now become the object of interest among political gladiators.

Atiku, it is reported, has been working hard to reactivate the PDM machinery across the country.

It was as such not surprising that the memorial lecture of the late Shehu Yar‘Adua in Abuja last weekend turned into an opportunity for members of the PDM to strategise ahead of the future.

An otherwise innocuous news

report on Monday had it that Anenih who was not at the Yar ‘adua memorial but in Otueke, Bayelsa State for the burial of President Goodluck Jonathan’s brother had been elected chairman of the Elders Committee of the PDM. The rapidity with which Anenih delinked himself from the position inevitably threw open his inclination towards the 2015 contest.

“I can tell you authoritatively that if any such decision was taken, he was not consulted on it; and as this official reaction is being made, Chief Anenih has already contacted those

who attended the meeting and they told him that no such decision was reached,” Anenih’s aide disclosed.

The swiftness with which the taciturn PDP chieftain dissociated himself from the PDM ‘elders committee’ was enough to tell anyone that he is not in the same ship with Atiku in the journey towards 2015.

Prince Tonye Princewill, chairman of the media committee of the PDM played down the issue in an SMS response to Vanguard saying: “I am not aware that we have an elders committee, but I am

aware of him as an elder and leader of the PDM.” Remarkably, Anenih has largely looked unperturbed towards media reports on his involvement in the contest for the chairmanship of the board of trustees of the PDP, a position he held until Obasanjo turned on him in 2007.

If truly Anenih is in keen contest for the chairmanship of the board of trustees of the PDP it would not be surprising for him to dissociate himself from Atiku given the pending showdown between Atiku and President Jonathan over the PDP ticket.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

A BOOK YOU MUST READ

Ile-Ife: City of 201 gods (2)

THE IMAGINED SACRED CITY HE Portuguese image of Ile Ife: The Europeans saw Ile-Ife as the preeminent citystate and as an important ceremonial centre in what was then often referred to as “the Negro world." The seafaring Portuguese, the first Europeans to explore the coast of West Africa, arrived in the fifteenth century. Although they had heard much about the city of Ile-Ife, their inability to access interior forested regions made contact very difficult. However, the Portuguese recorded their impressions of the importance of this ancient city, especially of its artistic and historical relationship and connection to the kingdom of Benin, with which the Portuguese had earlier contact.

Writing in his navigational guidebook Esmeraldo de Situ Orbis, the well-known Portuguese explorer Duarte Pacheco Pereira noted that to the east of the Benin Kingdom, about one hundred leagues (four hundred miles) inland, was a country with a king named Licasaguou, who was said to be lord of many people and to possess great power. Close by, Pereira explained, another great lord, Hooguanee, “is considered among the Negroes as the Pope is among us." Although the identity of the first king, Licasaguou, remains unknown, the “Pope of the Negroes” may refer to the Ooni of Ile-Ife, since the neighbouring Benin people commonly referred to this king as Hooguanee (Ogene).

Some of the earliest written records about Ile- Ife come from the Portuguese seafarers who traded with the Benin Kingdom. One such record was Da Asia, by Joao de Barros, which provided a detailed discussion of the political and ritual kinshiIp of Benin and Ile-Ife in the precolonial period. According to this interesting account, the

T

,

YESTERDAY Prof. Jacob Olupona began the story of the mysteries of Ile-Ife — the city of Yoruba gods

king of Portugal, Don Joao, learned from the ambassador of the king of Beny (Benin) and also from Joa Alfonso d’Aveiro that to the east of the Benin Kingdom, about a twenty moons’ journey (about 250 leagues), “there lived the most powerful monarch of these parts called Igane. Among the pagan chiefs of the territories of Beny [Benin], he was held in as great veneration as is the Supreme Pontiff with us." The informant also described a ritual link between Benin and Ile-Ife. In compliance with an ancient tradition, whenever a new king ascended the throne of Benin, the Benin sent ambassadors to the monarch to the east with many gifts to inform him that the new king of Benin had succeeded his deceased father and to request confirmation of his new status. As a sign of consent, Prince Ogene sent the new Benin king a “staff and a headpiece of shining brass, fashioned like a Spanish helmet in place of crown and scepter: He sent a brass cross to be worn around the neck, “a holy and religious emblem similar to that worn by the commendadores as of the Order of Saint John." for, “without these emblems, the people do not recognize him as the lawful ruler, nor can he call himself truly king."

De Barros reported that the ambassadors from Benin never saw the king himself, since he was always secluded behind a “curtain of silk." However, to authenticate the mission, just before the ambassadors departed from Ile-Ife, the king showed “a

firms its significance as a ceremonial center in cosmological, mythical, and ritual contexts.

The best-known European visitor to Ile-Ife was Leo Frobenius (1873-1973), a German ethnologist and researcher who visited the city between 1910 and 1912. Frobenius was the head of the German Inner African Exploration. At the time of his visit, the city’s population was over twenty-five thousand. His contribution to the West’s knowledge of Ile-Ife and of Africa in general was so significant that President Leopard Senghor wrote in a foreword to a book marking the centenary of Frobenius’s birth: “No one did more than Frobenius to reveal Africa to the world and the Africans to themselves." An essential part of this “revelation” consisted of the ancient Ife bronzes and terra-cotta pieces that Frobenius brought to the attention of the world. In spite of Senghor’s warm comments, Frobenius’s pioneering works are little read and appreciated.

The Ifa Temple on the Oke Itase, the sacred hill of Ifa

descriptions we have of Benin’s connection with Ile-Ife, illustrating the perception of Ile-Ife and the sacred kingship in Benin.

There have been several discussions about the historicity of this passage, especially regarding the authenticity of the Benin ambassadors and the gift of the cross. The passage supports the account of the modern Benin monarchy’s origin in Ife and the role of Oranmiyan (also named Oranyan), the son of Oduduwa, in the establishment of Be-

Although some traditional rituals have been modified or have disappeared in the contemporary Nigerian state, the coronation ceremony performed today for the Oba of Benin, whereby the Ooni of Ile-Ife sends a traditional gift to the new Oba, confirms the ancient connection between the two kingdoms described in the Portuguese sources

foot behind the curtains," indicating that he agreed to Benin’s request. The ambassadors were bestowed with gifts as compensation for the great journey to Ile-Ife. The gift to each ambassador consisted of a “small cross similar to that sent to the king, which is thrown round his neck to signify that he is free and exempt from all servitudes and is privileged in his native country, as the Commendadores are with us."

This is one of the most detailed

,

nin’s modern rule. It also establishes the ritual relationship between the two kingdoms in rites of coronation and burial.

Although some traditional rituals have been modified or have disappeared in the contemporary Nigerian state, the coronation ceremony performed today for the Oba of Benin, whereby the Ooni of Ile-Ife sends a traditional gift to the new Oba, confirms the ancient connection between the two kingdoms described in the Portuguese sourc-

es. Moreover, archaeological investigation in Ile-Ife reveals an ancient burial ground, called Orun Oba Ado (literally, “the heaven of Benin kings”) that holds only certain parts of the dead bodies of kings brought from Benin. Some scholars suggest that the Ile-Ife burial site reserved for the Benin kings shows their ancestral connection with the city of Ile-Ife. Because rituals are constantly reinvented in response to the contemporary social and political contexts in which they are performed, such customs often disappear gradually from practice. In my view, the significance of the Portuguese story does not lie in whether it is absolutely true. Even if it occurred only in the realm of the imagination, without the archaeological and ritual evidence that lends it credence, the story would still enable us to comprehend the enigma that lies behind Ile-Ife's preeminence in the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Portuguese accounts of explorations in the land of the “Negroes." I will return to these sources later in the chapter.

ILE-IFE IN THE ANNALS OF WESTERN EXPLORATION: A LEO FROBENIUS REVISITED Ile-Ife's preeminent status is based on archaeological and iconographic evidence that con-

Frobenius' Eurocentric views Why has Frobenius not achieved a status similar to that of William Bascom, the American anthropologist who worked thirty years in Ile-Ife after Leo Frobenius? The answer lies in Frobenius’s Eurocentric views and his racist remarks about the Ile-Ife people throughout his sojourn there. Frobenius was convinced of the superiority of the German race over other European groups in Africa, especially the British, and he frequently referred to German thoroughness, which for him far surpassed that of the British, as exemplified in their colonizing efforts in Ile-Ife. Frobenius’s goal was to discover artifacts more genuine in form and style than the “inferior” arts hitherto discovered by his English predecessors. Frobenius was both amazed by and envious of the British looting of Benin artifacts during the so-called punitive expedition against the Oba of Benin Kingdom in 1885. He reasoned that since Ile-Ife was older than Benin and, indeed, gave birth to Benin, the art objects “from Benin were nothing but the products of degenerate times, mere imitations of an older, more genuine and sincere art."

This was a point of contention that caused the British to work Continues on page 45

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—45

A BOOK YOU MUST READ Continues from page 44

ILE IFE AND THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF BENIN Ile-Ife gains further credibility as a sacred center because of its connection with the ancient kingdom of Benin. According to the Benin historian Jacob U. Egharevba, following a series of unsettled crises in Benin, the Owodo, the last of the Ogiso kings of the first dynasty, was deposed. The Edo (Benin) people then sent emissaries to IleIfe (Uhe), asking for a “wise prince” who would reign over them. Oduduwa, the Oba of Ife at that time, decided to test the sincerity and endurance of the Edo (Benin).

In response to their request, he sent lice to the chiefs of Benin with instructions that they were to care for the lice and return them to him after three years. The Benin chiefs took great care of these lice and returned them after three years to the Oba of Ife, who was impressed. Convinced that people who could, without question, take care of such minute pests as lice, could undoubtedly take good care of his son, he sent the Ife prince Oranmiyan, accompanied by palace servants, courtiers, and a native medicine man (ogiefa).

Oranmiyan and his entourage reached Benin after ‘an arduous journey that included a hazardous crossing of the Obie River. Upon his arrival in Benin, Oranmiyan met with resistance C M Y K

The high chiefs in the courtyard of the palace preparing for the Olojo festival

Ile-Ife: City of 201 gods (2) from one Ogiamwen, the son of Evinan, who had temporarily taken charge of Benin affairs during the interregnum, after the termination of the first dynasty. Oranmiyan triumphed over Ogiamwen, settled in Usama Palace, which had been built by the Benin chiefs, and married a woman named Erinmwinde, with whom he had a son. After a few years, he grew tired of Benin and the many crises with which he had to contend there. He called an assembly of the Benin people and relinquished the throne, after naming the city Ile-lbinu, “the land of anger;" from which Benin, the current name of the city, comes. He decreed that only someone born and brought up in Benin and properly schooled in its traditions and mysteries should be its king. Oranmiyan then installed his son Eweka as

in every third reign," was continued until very recently.

I am not concerned here with the historicity of the story or with its claim to truth. Rather, I regard it as an origin myth believed to be true by those who hold onto it as a part of their tradition. The story establishes the sacred origin of Benin kingship, projecting it as an extension of the Ife sacred kingship that was certainly in existence long before this period. It establishes a kinship relationship between the Ife and Benin kingdoms, although Benin later took on a more radical form of sacred kingship than that which exists in Ile-Ife. Benin became an absolute monarchy, with the first son of the reigning Oba named as the heir apparent, whereas in Ile-Ife the kingship rotates among four ruling lineages, so that the first son

Why did Oranmiyan call the city IleIbinu, the “land of anger," which then became Benin’s permanent name? Part of Benin’s continuing enigma is that the city’s secret cannot be unfolded, especially by outsiders, a dilemma that caused Oranmiyan (an outsider) to vacate the throne and replace himself with a son born of a Benin woman (an insider)

,

against the success of his mission. Frobenius’s ideas and theories represented the best in the European imagination of the African people during this period. Having read or heard of Ile-Ife in Europe, he concluded that it must be “the lost city of Atlantis” in black Africa, where remnants of the Greek culture that worshipped Poseidon lived. When Frobenius first saw two pieces of reddishbrown terra-cotta pottery in the sacred shrine of Olokun, he observed: “Here were the remains of a very ancient and fine type of art, infinitely nobler than the comparatively coarse stone images, not even well-preserved. These meagre relics were eloquent of a symmetry, a vitality, a delicacy of form directly reminiscent of ancient Greece and a proof that, once upon a time, a race, far superior in strain to the Negro, had been settled here." Frobenius acquired many terra-cotta heads, including the famous Olokun sculpture. He was convinced that the religion and culture of the ancient Greeks had been extensively disseminated, reaching even to Ile-Ife, and that the “Yoruba religion was not unique to the African people, that it is definitely linked to the perfected system of a primeval age.”

king in his stead and returned to Ile-Ife, his own native place, leaving the palace chiefs and medicine people to take care of the new king. On his way back to Ile-Ife, Oranmiyan stopped in Ugba (Okha) and Obboh, for three and two years, respectively, to ensure that his son reached maturity before he finally returned to Ile-Ife. Eweka was crowned at Usama, his father’s palace. When Eweka died, his remains were returned to IleIfe for burial. This tradition, in which “the remains of the Oba of Benin were taken to Ile-Ife

,

of a reigning king does not succeed his father and there is a strong system of checks and balances on the power of the reigning king.

Oranmiyan's role is an important one in this story, especially in the spread of religious ideas and political values, presumably from Ile-Ife to Benin.

Several traditions concerning Qranmiyan exist in Ile-Ife. One tradition refers to him as the son of Oduduwa, which is consistent with the Benin story. Another tradition refers to him as a great Ife warrior who left his

mark permanently on the Ife landscape in the mystery of the Staff of Oranmiyan (Oba Oranmiyan), a stone staff with iron marks that has become a tourist attraction, if not a pilgrimage site, in Ile-Ife. Several other traditions support this warrior ethos and connection, and Oranmiyan features prominently in the annual ritual of Ogun, also known as Olojo (the festival and ritual of kingship). Ogun, the Yoruba warrior god and god of iron, is equally important in Benin society and cosmology and possesses the same characteristics and features attributed to the deity by the Yoruba people in general.

The tradition of returning the body of the Benin Oba to IleIfe for interment symbolizes the return of the “stranger king” to his autochthonous place for burial, in keeping with the Yoruba and Benin tradition of burying kings and commoners in their ancestral place of origin.

Why did Oranmiyan call the city Ile Ibinu, the “land of anger," which then became Benin’s permanent name? Part of Benin’s continuing enigma is that the city’s secret cannot be unfolded, especially by outsiders, a dilemma that caused Oranmiyim (an outsider) to vacate the throne and replace himself with a son born of a Benin woman (an insider). The inherent tension in the “insider-outsider” conflict remains part of Benin’s identity today.

Three other significant cultural factors are alluded to in the Oranmiyan story: the mystical power of the Benin king; the importance of magic and medicine in sustaining the king’s power; and the burden of preserving, at all cost, the institution of kingship to ensure the survival and well-being of Benin society. The story places the burden of preserving kingship on the

community. According to Egharevba, Oranmiyan was not sent until Oduduwa had confirmed that the Benin people would take good care of their king and the institution of kingship.

Those who had demonstrated their ability to preserve lice would certainly guard very jealously the institution of sacred kingship, an equally delicate and onerous task, to which the Benin have devoted their full resources up to the modern era.

The institution of kingship needed to be guarded by powerful medicine and magical rituals. Oduduwa sent with Oranmiyan a medicine man to make potent magic for the sustenance of the king. This tradition remains part of the royal cult of Benin mysticism; indeed, more than any other kingship system in Nigeria, Benin rituals, arts, and ideology of kingship demonstrate the importance of sacred power for the preservation of kingship.

Despite revisionist theories, especially in the last ten years, aimed at disconnecting the linkages between Benin and IleIfe, suggested by Egharevba and Robert Bradbury, the above story supports the origin of Benin kingship in Ife tradition. As Kees Bolle points out, the central issue in myth is not “what is true” in the story but “What have societies, civilizations, communities found necessary to point to and preserve as centrally valued for their entire existence?” The story thus permanently establishes the sacredness and significance of IIe-Ife as an important ceremonial center and as an ancestral city to an equally powerful kingdom that lies to its east.

TOMORROW Evangelical offensive Members of the new Christian movements are targeting the sacred authority of the Ooni, and Ile -Ife civil religion more generally, because they realize that debunking the the legitimacy of the sacred canopy - the guardianship of religious pluralism- will make it possible to destroy all indigenous non-Christian Yoruba tradition.

46—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Dad doesn’t care much for my boyfriend

I often attract bad men Dear Bunmi, I’m an independent 28-yearold who doesn’t believe in marriage. My parents’ divorce 15 years ago was a shock as well as a let down and some of my friends’ marital experiences leave much to be desired.

Having said that, I would like to have kids. The problem is, I’ve never had a serious relationship. I always go for bad men and end up get-

ting hurt and used. Is there a way I could break this pattern?

Diane, by e-mail.

Dear Diane, So you’ve never had a serious relationship because you go for bad men, and by definition, bad men don’t have the serious relationships that you crave. So why go for them? Because you don’t want a serious relationship. Is it because you don’t want to be

bossed around by a man?

I think you avoid the kind of man who could give you permanence because you’re afraid of being dominated.

You don’t need to believe in marriage to believe in the possibility of a relationship where nobody is boss.

Once you accept that such equality is possible, you’ll stop looking for bad men and start looking for men who believe this too.

His sexual needs interfere with my work Dear Bunmi, I live with my partner and lately, he’s treating sex like a sort of competition. I work from home and I am very strict about the hours I work so I won’t mix business with pleasure. He’s currently on his annual leave and his first week at home, he went down on me under the desk. I didn’t mind.

I love him and it was fun.

I was engrossed in my favourite programme the next day when he came up to me, took out his penis and said it was my turn to make him happy. When I told him I didn’t feel like it, he said I was selfish and sulked.

I didn’t ask him to go down on me when he did, and don’t believe we have to match each other’s performance. How do I handle this?

Rachel, by e-mail.

Dear Rachel, Your partner is being unreasonable and childish. It was his idea to give you oral sex, not yours. Sulking because you can’t have what you want is a habit that should be grown out of, and has no place in an adult relationship.

A couple’s ‘sex account’ should be reviewed every

month or so, not every day.

The balance should be equal overall, not act for act, blow job for blow job.

That kind of accounting only

leads to petty, childish arguments because it is petty childish behaviour. Tell your man to grow up and leave him to work things out for himself.

He refuses infertility tests Dear Bunmi, I am in my mid-thirties and have been married for close to seven years. We tried for a baby before we got married but nothing happened.

I have since had series of tests and my doctor said there was no reason why I shouldn’t get pregnant.

He, however, wants my husband to come for a check up but he’s since told me that there is nothing wrong with him. That he fathered a child once who died at birth. How can I convince him to see the doctor?

Rita, by e-mail.

Dear Rita, Having a child might be the most natural thing in the world but about 8 percent of couples have trouble conceiving and men have their biological clocks ticking away just as women do.

According to Natural Fertility by Nikki Bradford, a 35year-old man usually takes twice as long to get his partner pregnant as a 25-year-old man. Tests have shown that after men have had a few drinks, their sperm appears too drunk to negotiate the fallopian tubes and a sudden burst of exercise can affect a man’s sperm count, an may keep it own for three months.

As for women, being under weight (by just l101bs or so) is one of the most common reasons why a healthy woman cannot conceive. So make sure all of these points are well taken care of whilst you do your best to encourage your man to see a doctor of your choice.

Alternatively, he could ejaculate into a container for the sperm count to be established at a lab almost immediately.

He can’t take his eyes of other girls Dear Bunmi, Every time we go out, my boyfriend stares at other girls as if he’s searching for eye contact— with me there beside him! Other than this, we have a trusting relationship as we’ve been an item for 10 months now and I love him.

Whenever I try to talk to him about this, he gets annoyed and says I’m overreacting. Do you think I am? Or am I right

to be furious?

Roli, by e-mail.

Dear Roli, It seems to me that it’s not his roving eye that’s the basic problem— it’s his reluctance to keep that roving eye in check, even though it upsets you. His overdoing the flirt look suggests his ego needs a little TLC (tender loving care).

Talk to him— not about what he does that makes you feel bad— but about what he does that makes you feel wonderful. Also, try explaining that it’s precisely because you love him that his ogling other women distresses you, and ask him to stop.

Be gentle and sincere, and don’t accuse. You want his understanding this time, not a quarrel.

Dear Bunmi, My dad always has a fairly lavish party for his birthday every year which friends and family attend with their partners. I have a boyfriend I’m very keen on but my dad took an instant dislike to him. He’s made it clear that my boyfriend is not welcome at his party as he believes he’s a waste of space and no good for me. lt’s so unfair because he’s quite a nice chap really and my other two sisters are allowed to bring their partners.

I don’t want to miss this party as it’s one of the few times I see all members of my family and our close relations, but I want my dad to accept my boyfriend.

How do you suggest I go about this?

Edna, by e-mail.

Dear Edna, I understand how you must

be feeling, but this time, you must put your family first. In the first place, it’s your parents’ house and they have a right to say who attends their party and who doesn’t. Secondly, creating a big fuss will definitely not help your case.

So why don’t you build bridges by going to your dad’s birthday alone, but early? You can then return to be with your boyfriend.

That should show your family he is not a threat, and he’s not going to damage your relationship with them. That way, they’re more likely to soften their hard stance towards him.

If your relationship goes from strength to strength over the months, then even your dad will start to approve of your boyfriend because it will be clear he makes you happy.

Hopefully, his next birthday party will include your boyfriend!

A couple’s ‘sex account’ should be reviewed every month or so, not every day.

The balance should be equal overall, not act for act, blow job for blow job He hid his other children from us Dear Bunmi, I’ve been married for 16 years and we have three children. I recently learnt from a family member that my husband had a secret family who lived close to her friend’s house— and that the woman had two children for my husband.

I didn’t really believe her because she’s naturally a vicious gossip. When I told my husband about what I learnt, I was expecting him to deny it. Instead, he confessed he’s had the affair running for over 10 years— barely six years after our marriage.

Naturally, I told our children and they were as shocked as I was. I’m worried about the effect on my children if we split up but I don’t really know how to handle this. Do you? I feel so betrayed.

Queen, by e-mail.

Dear Queen, Now that your husband’s secret is out, you’ll discover

that instead of the stability you once enjoyed in your marriage, you’ll be constantly worrying about where your husband is and who he is with.

Your husband doesn’t want to be separated from his first family. If he did, he would have let the cat out of the bag sooner than now. You have to decide what you want and work through your betrayal with your kids who are obviously resentful of their father’s behaviour.

I don’t think you can ever trust your husband but how does he feel about your finding out? Did he regret his action? Promise it would never happen again? How deep is his commitment to this other family of his? Time alone would sort out this nightmare of yours.

But at the end of the day, you alone can decide what to do, especially if there are chances of him cheating again with a succession of women.

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 Vanguard,,

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

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48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Anyaike bags award

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HE PRESIDENT, Coincichris Investment Nigerian Limited, Lolo Ezinne Ayaike, has emerged the winner of Leadtimes Biz Woman of the Year Award.

In a statement, Professor Buba S.Mshelia, Board Chairman, Leadtimes Africa Magazine said: “Lolo Ezinne Ayaike has singled herself out as the most outstanding businesswoman who has made so much impact on humanity. “ Chief Anyaike’s investiture will hold at this year’s 7th edition of Leadtimes Africa Summit on good governance.

TSR donates to school

A

S PART of her effort to contribute to the growth and development of Akwa Ibom State, a group The Situation Room, TSR, has executed and donated a mini-water scheme to the Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns in the state capital.

The water project aimed at tackling the sanitary challenges of the school, was commissioned by the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Eunice Thomas.

Mrs Thomas at the commisioning praised the efforts of TRS, saying their action has brought life to the school.

Lawmaker makes case for indigenous languages

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AGOS—THE Chair man, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Mr. Alawiye King has expressed worries over the inability of school children to communicate effectively in Nigerian languages.

King expressed this concern weekend during the Founder’s/ Cultural Day celebration of Loral International Schools, Lagos.

According to him, the preference of speaking in English or any other foreign language to Nigerian languages has become a major threat to the survival of indigenous languages.

King, who was represented at the event by the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Sultan Adeniji Adele, stressed the need to teach students the culture and traditions of their people.

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From left: Mr. Ola Akinnola of Brand and Communications, Ecobank; Ms. Dammy Oruwari, Regional Head, Island branches; and Tunde Kuponiyi, Head, Cards and eChannels, at the unavailing of Ecobank new brand campaign; The Future is Pan-African in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

From left: President, Oron Union, Lagos Branch, Mrs. Felicia Essang-Oludare; Prof. Eke Uwe, President-General, Oron Union, Women’s Wing and Sir Edet Amana, at the 12th annual cultural festival and grand reception of Oron living icons organised by the Oron Union, in Lagos.

Court sentences 72 motorists in Owerri

By CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—A mobile court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday, sentenced 72 motorists to varying fines for allegedly flouting traffic offences.

The trial magistrate, Mrs. Chinyere Okereke, found the

offenders guilty as charged and gave them fines ranging from N2,000 to N10,000.

The traffic offences ranged from overloading, dangerous driving, seat belt violation, light sign violation, as well as receiving calls while driving.

Speaking to journalists after the court session, the Sec-

tor Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Halilu Haliru, reiterated the determination of his command to make Imo State safe for motorists during this festive season.

He said: “The Command adopts the prosecution of traffic offenders as a last resort, especially when we come across

NDDC contractors pass confidence vote on Ogba, Komboye

A

By FESTUS AHON

SABA—DELTA State chapter of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Contractors Forum, has passed a confidence vote on Chief Solomon Ogba, Delta State Representative and Mr. Lambert Komboye, Executive Director, Finance

and Administration on NDDC board.

The contractors said that the vote of confidence was as a result of recent happenings in the commission intended to bring down the current board and management of the commission.

The contractors in a state-

ment by Mr Francis Yiki, Chairman and Mr Efe Olowu, Secretary, explained that formerly, the Niger Delta used to have militant warlords, who fought for the emancipation of the region, but its now newspapers warlords with no clear agenda like the Boko Haram that are coming up in the region.

Bomadi PDP lauds Uduaghan on appointment

M

EMBERS OF Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, have commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the appointment of credible persons into the council’s transition committee.

Bomadi council PDP chair-

man, Mr. Labo Pius, in a chat with journalists in Bomadi, noted that with the choice of Mr. Collins Olorogun as Chairman, Mr. Earnest Tobi as Vice and Mr. Abonema Obale Secretary, respectively, they would move Bomadi council to an enviable

height.

Labo noted that the elected National Assembly members from the council and the party’s executive and leaders were well pleased with the appointed transition committee members, describing them as a square pegs in square holes.

LG c’ttee chair canvasses support

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HE COMMITTEE chair man of Eithope West Lo-

Revival

W

ONDERFUL PRAYER Ministries, Lagos, will commence its three-day revival today and will end on Friday, December 14.

The event which will hold at No. 13-15, Kehinde Ogunnusi Street, off Yetunde Brown Street, Ifako Gbagada, starts by 6pm daily. It will precede the Church’s anniversary celebration coming up on Sunday, December 16, at 10am.

cal Government Area, Mr. Precious Ajaino, has solicited the support and cooperation of the Delta State forum of past councillors, Ethiope West chapter to enable him perfor m at maximum level Ajaino, who played host to the former councillors in his office at the council’s Secretariat in Ogharefe, headquarters of Ethiope West Council, said that with the degree of experience of the former councillors who

were his colleagues, he stands a better chance of delivering dividends of democracy.

He said he was particularly elated to receive his former colleagues in his office, saying that he will never betray the confidence reposed on him by the Governor of the State Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, urging the former councillors not stay far from him but to help offer useful suggestions that will move the local government forward.

recalcitrant drivers.

While urging drivers to think safety during this Christmas and New Year season, the Imo FRSC boss appealed to passengers to resist the temptation of putting undue pressure on drivers.

Prof Kamene Okonjo’s kidnap, bold criminality —Okonkwo

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AGOS—SENATOR An nie Okonkwo, has described the kidnap of Prof.

Mabel Kamene Okonjo, the 83years-old mother of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by unknown gunmen in broad day light at her residence in Ogwashi Uku, as a frightening dimension to the bold criminality festering the Nigerian Nation.

Okonkwo, president of C21, stated that this is one banditry that must not be allowed to stand, not just because she is the mother of a high ranking public officer, but for the huge psychological dismay to the ordinary man, evident in the damaging affront to the capacity of our security agencies to assuage our daily traumas.

He said: “We have had daily robberies on our roads including the ‘One Million’ robbers in Lagos, we have had escalating suicide terrorists and we appear to have adjusted to routine kidnappings that have left everyone to their own personal devices. What we must not allow is this audacious strike at the realm of authority, from where flows the stabilising essence of hope and confidence in the minimum order of government.”

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—51

Minister launches tech innovation programme

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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INISTER of Com munications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson has launched a technology innovation programme that is expected to accelerate software development in the country.

The software development programme, which is an initiative of the ministry, is largely driven by industry stakeholders, which include Accenture, Access Bank, First Bank, Chevron, Total, Exxon Mobile and Digital Jewels.

The minister inaugurated a 15- man steering committee on Technology Innovation Programme, TIP, that will drive the process of selecting and mentoring young software developers for the country.

Johnson said the essence was to mentor young software developers that would in turn develop software programmes for the financial and oil and gas sectors, with plans to extend it to other sectors like the telecommunications and health sectors.

Maku tasks media on FOI Act

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

BUJA— MINISTER of information, Mr. Labaran Maku has called on Nigerian media to maximize the opportunity provided by Freedom of Information Act to advance national development by adjusting to the provisions of the Act. The minister also urged the media to be introspective in the enforcement of the Act, in order not to implement it in breach.

Maku made the call, yesterday, at a workshop on the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 organised by the Ministry of Information in collaboration with the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Abuja.

He said until 1999, the Nigerian political space was dominated by the military government, which did not recognise the FOI but with its signing into law in May 2011 by President Jonathan, the law had provided Nigerian citizens a legal backing to seek relevant information that would help in advancing the fight against corruption and bad governance in the country.

From left: Chairman, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, Mr. Laolu Akinwunmi; Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi and Professional Fellow of APCON, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, during the installation of APCON Professional Fellow on Chief Idigbe, at the 2012 Advertising Lecture and Night of Fellows of APCON, at the Banquet Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Vitoria Island, Lagos.

FG incompetence to tackle insecurity — Falana zSays kidnap of Okonjo-Iweala’s mother, a big disgrace

BY GBENGA OKE

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AGOS lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday stated that until the Nigerian government addresses the social economic injustice, unemployment, culture of impunity and religious politics, the insecurity ravaging Nigeria would continue.

Falana also maintained that the incompetence of the Nigeria leadership has left this country in a quagmire that would continue to linger, adding that the concentration of the wealth of this nation in few hands will further increase insecurity.

Speaking at a lecture organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Lagos State council to commemorate its 2012 Press Week, tagged “Nigeria’s Democracy and Insecurity, the way forward”, Falana said the embarrassment being meted on Nigeria today has shown the world that assurances given by President Jonath-

an’s administration is empty.

“The question we need to ask ourselves is how we found ourselves in this situation when billions of Naira is voted for security in the budgetary allocation every year. The situation has shown that nobody is safe in this country anymore and the hypocritical reaction of this government is getting embarrassing by the day,” he added.

He also said the menace of kidnapping taking place across the nation by

the day is getting more worrisome, especially with the latest kidnapping of the Finance Minister’s mother in Delta State.

“The kidnap of Finance Minister’s mother is a big disgrace to this nation and unfortunately, no new approach or tactics has been put forward by the security operatives”.

He, however, stressed that the proposed dialogue by the Federal Government with Boko Haram leaders will not achieve any aim simply because the government

is weak and the enemies are unknown.

According to him, “If the Federal Government decides to dialogue with Boko Haram, I don’t see it achieving any desired results because for you to dialogue, there is need to identify the Boko Haram group before anything could be done”.

While maintaining that corruption is another major setback for Nigeria as a nation, he said “Those who should be standing trial by now are walking free on the streets while

our Central Bank has been turned to a charitable organization such that funds meant to be used in the development of the nation is now being donated by the CBN in different fora”.

He went further, “Lack of unemployment and the concentration of the wealth of Nigeria in few hands would only make the insecurity we are experiencing now get a boost simply because government has refused to listen to the yearnings of its citizens”.

He further explained that if Boko Haram can successfully launch an attack on the SARS office in Abuja and Jaji, it has further shown the incompetence of government in tackling the insecurity situation Nigeria is facing.

“The Boko Haram group has shown the inconsistency in our security situation in Nigeria and the Presidents approach to the issue has been too casual.

The problem of insecurity should be approached holistically and not seen as a Northern problem alone”.

He, however, said that the approach used by President Olusegun Obasanjo in the case of Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State is not the best way to tackle the Boko Haram problem.

His words, “I can authoritatively confirm that the military approach used by the Obasanjo administration in the case of Odi and Zaki Biam can be tagged genocide because the military intervention never achieved its aim because many of the people killed are innocent while the real culprit escaped”.

Vanguard Christian fellowship prayer session holds today

BY SAM EYOBOKA

T

HE corporate head quarters of Vanguard Media Ltd, Apapa, Lagos will today hold its 2012 edition of Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship end-of-year thanksgiving and prayer conference.

Arrangements have been completed for a hitch-free spiritual fiesta which has become the toast of all media houses in Lagos and beyond. The National Vice President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, South West Region, Bishop Francis Wale Oke will be chief guest speaker at this

year’s event.

In an interview last night, the co-ordinator of Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship, Elder Emmanuel Obuh said finishing touches have been concluded, adding that the theme of this year’s thanksgiving/prayer service is: ‘The Change: From Glory to Glory’ with inspiration from II Corinthians 3:18.

According to him, the programme scheduled for 12 noon at the company’s premises is expected to feature choir ministration by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Hope Centre, Jakande Estate, Mile Two

Extension, Lagos and special prayer sessions for the management and staff of the company.

It will be recalled that the Fellowship which was established 12 years ago, holds an annual spiritual revival with eminent clergymen ministering at the occasion. Last year, the National president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was the guest speaker while the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye preached at the 2010 edition.

Others who had ministered included the Gener-

al Overseer of Soul Winning Chapel, Ebute Metta, Rev. Moses Iloh, president/founder of Strong Tower Mission, proprietors of Little Saints Orphanages, Rev. (Mrs.) Dele George, Senior pastor of House on the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin and many other ministers of the gospel.

While Pastor Adeboye described Vanguard as one of three Nigerian newspapers he takes delight in reading, Pastor Oritsejafor was very emphatic, saying that Vanguard—the best read newspaper in the country was his number one choice.

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53 — Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Malian PM resigns as crisis deepens •EU pledges support for AFISMA

By HUGO ODIOGOR & VICTORIA OJEME, with agency reports

B

ARELY three weeks to the deployment of multinational peace keepers to Mali, the Prime Minister of the embattled West African country, Modibo Diarra announced his resignation yesterday, hours after being arrested by soldiers while trying to leave for France.

Diarra addressed the nation on national television saying: “Our country is living through a period of crisis. Men and women who are worried about the future of our nation are hoping for peace.”

He went on to declare that he was “resigning along with my entire government on this day, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. I apologize before the

entire population of Mali.”

This came as the European Union in Abuja said it will support the proposed African Union/ ECOWAS military intervention in crisesridden Mali with funding from its European Development Fund.

The EU in a statement which was made available to journalists in Abuja, said that Mali had become a haven for terrorists and pledged to assist in training for the military in the country.

Mali’s prime minister was getting ready to leave the country for France but it was unclear if the trip was planned, or if Diarra had gotten wind of the pending arrest and was trying to flee. Diarra had been appointed prime minister of an interim government in April after the military

•PM Modibo Diarra officially handed power back to civilians following the coup that shook the country a month earlier. Over the last few weeks, tensions between the leader and the army has risen in Mali.

The 60-year-old astrophysicist has backed plans to send a West African intervention force into the northern half of Mali which was seized after the coup.

West African leaders have agreed to dispatch more than 3000 soldiers to Mali under the African

Mandela responding to treatment

F

ORMER South African President Nelson Mandela, who is 94 and has been in hospital since Saturday for tests, has suffered a recurrence of a lung infection but is responding to treatment, the government said yesterday.

The revered antiapartheid leader and Nobel Peace laureate is spending his fourth day in hospital in the capital, Pretoria.

Known affectionately by

•Mandela his clan name “Madiba”, Mandela remains a hero to many of South Africa’s 52 million people and two brief stretches in hospital in the past two years made front page

news.

“Doctors have concluded the tests and these have revealed a recurrence of a previous lung infection, for which Madiba is receiving appropriate treatment and he is responding to the treatment,” the government said in a statement.

Mandela was admitted to the Pretoria military hospital on Saturday after being flown from his home village of Qunu in a remote part of the Eastern Cape province.

–led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA)”, to revamp the army and then support operations to retake the north from the Islamist rebels. But the UN is yet to approve a budget for AFISMA while many within Mali’s military are opposed to a foreign intervention, saying they need only financial and logistical support. France has led a push for an international military

operation to tackle the Islamist groups, including al Qaeda’s North African wing, AQIM. The EU said “In order to guarantee predictable and sustainable EU funding for African Peacekeeping operations , including the mission in Mali, the Council invites the Commission to identify additional funds from the 10th EDF which could be mobilized,” the EU

US blacklists main Syria’s rebel group

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HE US has designated the alNusra Front, an important fighting force in the Syrian’s opposition’s efforts, as a foreign t e r r o r i s t organisation, saying it was trying to hijack the uprising on behalf of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).

Officials in Wa s h i n g t o n s a i d yesterday that the group had claimed responsibility for carrying out nearly 600 attacks in major cities that have killed numerous innocent Syrians during the 20month uprising against

President Bashar alAssad.

“Through these attacks, al-Nusra has sought to portray itself as part of the legitimate Syrian opposition while it is, in fact, an attempt by AQI to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes,” US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, said in a statement.

Designating al-Nusra as a terrorist group means US authorities can freeze any assets the group or its members have in US jurisdictions.

It also prohibits US citizens from giving it

HE leader of the Cayman Islands was arrested yesterday on suspicion of corruption, officials in the British Caribbean territory said.

Prime Minister McKeeva Bush was arrested at his home in the West Bay section of Grand Cayman Island by officers from the financial unit of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, said spokeswoman Janet Dougall.

The 57-year-old Bush was detained “in connection with a number of ongoing police investigations,” Ms. Dougall said in a statement.

Those include probes

into suspected theft related to misuse of a government credit card and breach of trust for the alleged importation of unspecified explosive substances without valid permits.

T

HOUSANDS of progovernment and opposition protesters were holding rival rallies in Cairo for and against

a controversial constitutional referendum proposed by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Leftists, liberals

•Angry Egyptians protesting over the proposed referendum on the new constitution.

Italian leader warns against populism

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TALIAN Prime Minister Mario Monti has warned against a slide into populism yesterday as Silvio Berlusconi stepped up attacks on his

technocrat government, accusing it of following failed “Germano-centric” policies.

Financial markets have pushed Italy’s borrowing costs higher since Monti

any material support.

“They basically believe that not all al-Nusra Front fighters are necessarily al-Qaeda fighters and they do have the backing of Syrians,” he said from from Morocco’s Marrakesh, where a Friends of Syria meeting is to take place today.

Meanwhile, Syrian rebels clashed with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad near Damascus airport on Tuesday, battling for the capital’s outskirts after 20 months of conflict which the United Nations said has driven half a million people from the country.

Referendum: Rival Egyptian groups clash

Cayman Islands’ PM arrested over corruption

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stated.

The Council also expressed concern about “ the serious political and security crisis affecting Mali, in particular in the north of the country, marked by the emergence and consolidation of a safe haven for terrorists and organized crime that poses a grave threat to the Sahel region as well as West and North Africa and Europe.

said he would quit after Berlusconi’s party withdrew support for his administration.

Italy’s financial crisis has threatened the stabil-

ity of the euro zone and Monti’s European allies want it to continue with fiscal discipline and reforms they believe helped the zone’s third-biggest economy avoid a Greekstyle collapse.

and other opposition groups called for yesterday’s marches to the presidential palace to protest against the hastily arranged referendum planned for Saturday.

ReportS from the antiMorsi rally, said that thousands of protesters have joined the rally after at least six opposition marches taking place nearby joined the crowd.

Some of the protesters have managed to breach the concrete barriers intended to keep them away from the presidential palace.

“Most of them just walk right by the concrete barriers...and they ’re right by the walls of the palace,” said Tadros.

“The situation is still pretty calm - it’s actually quite a festive atmosphere,” said Tadros.

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 ,

2012

SHOCKING CONFESSION OF SUSPECTED PIRATES

Top government officials, politicians contract us

BY EVELYN USMAN T he

Task Force Team constituted by the Nigerian Maritime And Safety Administration Agency (NIMASA), to checkmate the menace of attacks on vessels on the nation’s waterways, recently arrested four suspected members of a dreaded gang of vessel hijackers on both the Nigeria waters and neighboring West African countries’ waters.

But to the great surprise is — the suspects displayed an unrepentant and nonchalant attitude towards their arrest, bragging instead.

In their confessional statement, it was observed that the war against illegal bunkering and attacks on vessels on the nation’s waterways by the federal government, may never be won unless urgent and stringent measures, beyond mere political statements are taken to checkmate this worrisome trend.

This is because two of the suspects identified as Bless Nube and Sola Sam, alleged that key players in the political and government corridors were their sponsors. Aside this alarming revelation is the temptation of the huge amount each member of the gang gets at the end of a successful vessel hijack.

According to the 27-year-old Bless, who claimed to be the commander of the dreaded syndicate, “ I have nothing to hide again. I am the gang’s commander and I am second to none in terms of hitting targets. Even Wazo, earlier arrested, is my boy and he can attest to what I am saying”...

He kept mute for a while and when he continued, he said, “ I can’t remember how many operations I have led, I have lost count of the number of vessels my gang hijacked”.

I made N10 Million from the last operation He confessed to have led his team to several operations some of which took place in the African continent’s territorial waters. One of such hijacks took place in Lome, the capital of Togo,involving the vessel, MT ENERGY CENTURION. Hear him: “ The last vessel we hijacked was in Lome, Togo and I made N10 Million from that operation”. To the amazement of all, he revealed, “ that particular operation was sponsored by some powerful people in Nigeria whose names I will not want to

Suspected Pirates mention... Some of them are even in the Presidency.

Government Officials are our informants He disclosed further that some top government officials usually gave his gang information on vessels before it struck. “ We do not work in isolation. We have a network of ministries’ workers. What they do is to give us information on the location and content of the vessels to be hijacked. After furnishing us with the information, they would make part payment and after the hijack, they would pay us the balance.

“Once we complete the assignment , we would inform the pointsmen who thereafter, contact the cabal that takes charge of the hijacked vessels.

We usually meet at a designated point on the high sea, from where they would offload the contents from the hijacked vessels and ther eafter, deposit them in various oil facilities for distribution by oil marketers. “ We are not directly involved in the sale of the product. We only assist to convey the product to the designated point by acting as escorts in case of any

We have a network of ministries workers, what they do is to give us information on the location and content of the vessels to be hijacked confrontation. My gang has about 3000 various weapons which are kept in different parts of the country”, he stated.

But he did not say where the weapons were precisely.

We kill during hijack He likened the operation on the high sea to a theatre of war, saying “at times our victims are killed in the process. This is usually when the crew members try to put up resistance”, he said, adding that sometimes,the crew members who were armed opened fire on the gang thereby leading to a shoot-out, during which some of them were killed. “ So far we have about 1250 trained pirates across the country. And the truth is, no successful vessel hijack operation takes place in Africa without the knowledge of my gang.’’

Piracy is a lucrative business Asked why he had not left the illicit business for a genuine one, he said he was carried away by the huge amount of money made on each operation which usually runs into several millions of naira.

“The code name for piracy is COJA and it is very lucrative just as it is dangerous because one may be confronted by security agents in the process, or even get arrested as I am now. But it will be difficult for the president to win the war.

If he must win, then he has to look inward. Lagos state for instance, is a major coastal place where we meet to discuss on our next target . So, government must first search its big men if it is serious in winning the war”.

I begged to be enlisted into the gang- Sam Also arrested was Sola Sam,

who claimed he was tempted to join the gang because of the huge amount of money they received.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Sam was initially the gang’s errand boy.

“But I had to plead with them to enlist me into vessel hijacking when I saw the money they made on each operation. Whenever they were sharing their loot, they would give me just a token. So, I begged them before Bless agreed to enlist me into the group”, recalling that “his first operation with the gang fetched him the sum of N2.7 million, out of which he bought a new car.”

I was deceived -Olu Ade On his part, the third suspect, 28-year-old Olu Ade, claimed he was deceived into joining the gang.

Hear him, “ It all happened in November 2011, when I was called to carry out repair on the engine of a vessel in Ondo state. But on reaching there, the gang members told me their plan and I could not go back because I was scared they would kill me.

“They took me into a vessel and I watched them arrest the crew members on board. We thereafter, discharged 2000 metric tons from the vessel named MT ROSTARS. After that, another vessel came to receive the product. The receiving vessel’s name was CLEAN. After the transaction, we moved to Ondo State and lodged at Wazo’s house to collect the money for the transaction and at the end I was paid N1.8 million” On receiving the money, Olu travelled to Lagos state from where he intended processing a visa to study in Ukraine. But he was reportedly swindled.

Crime Alert gathered that they were arrested in a hotel in Festac Town, while planning for another operation in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Arrested at last Bless and members of his gang have been having sway for a long time until they were arrested in a hotel in Festac Town in Amuwo Odofin Local Government area of Lagos.

Bless as gathered was in the company of some sex workers in the hotel when he was apprehended.

The gang as gathered, was at the final stage of its preparation for an attack on a vessel in Cotonou before they were arrested.

The first person to be arrested as gathered was Sam. He was reportedly lured to Lagos, on the pretext that there would be a meeting prior to the operation. Unknown to him, the call was made by a security operative. Next, was Mike, who reportedly called Sam on his mobile phone to know his whereabouts. He was again lured to a designated place in Lagos, only to fall into the arms of the security operatives and thereafter, Olu. The gang confessed that the foiled operation was contracted to them by a top player in the oil industry for the sum of N16 Million.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 , 2012—55

Lagos traffic laws turned me into a ‘pickpocket’ – Ex- Okada rider withdrawn money.

Asked how they were able to determine anyone with money, they revealed that for men, their pockets were usually bulky, while the women usually clung their bags in a manner that arouse suspicion.

The suspects as gathered, were handed over to policemen at Ajangbadi Police Division from where they were transferred to SCID. Sources at SCID said they would be charged to court soon.

Meanwhile the sum of N50,000 snatched from their victim, was r e p o r t e d l y recovered while the gang was at the verge of sharing it.

BY DONALD ARJI

2

4-year-old Ibrahim Shoheeb, is recently cooling his heels at the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) Yaba, Lagos, following his arrest by members of the Lagos State Neighborhood Watch at Oto Awori community .

Saheed, in the company of two others, reportedly attacked a customer who had gone to withdraw money from one of the second generation banks around Ojo area at the weekend.

The trio of Yusuf Ahmed(35), Chinedu Okafor (28), and Shoheeb reportedly positioned their motorbike opposite the bank and immediately they sighted their victim, report said they trailed him to Alaba International market and while he(victim), was about to board a bus, they snatched the money from him and zoomed off.

They reportedly ran into a hotel in Ojo community and booked for a room.

But unknown to them, a motorist said to have been chasing the motorcycle saw them entering into the hotel and alerted leader of the vigilante group who coincidentally lives on the same street the hotel is located, consequent upon which they were apprehended.

In his confessional statement, Shoheeb said, “ I knew it would result to this but I did not know it will be this soon. The new Lagos State Traffic Law pushed me into this because I had my motorcycle seized by the Lagos State Task Force. I made efforts to get it back but to no avail.

“Since then, I have been feeding from hand to mouth.

Do you know what it means for someone to beg before eating?

“Just when I was contemplating on what next to do, a member of the gang, Chinedu, introduced me into this. I hesitated at first. But when I went to beg him for money, he refused. Thus, I was tempted to join”, he stated His partners in crime on their parts,confessed to have been into the crime for three years. Their modus oparandi included, driving their motorbike along routes where banks are located. On sighting a customer coming out from the bank, they would reportedly trail him or her to a convenient place, from where they would snatch the

Suspects with recovered loot

Mother of two arrested over murder of boyfriend

BY EVELYN USMAN

O

peratives at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID), Yaba, Lagos, have arrested a 22 yearold married woman who allegedly sent some thugs to beat up her boyfriend, only for them to end up killing him in his apartment at 91 Arobadade, in Bariga area of Lagos.

Also arrested alongside the woman identified as Mrs Tawa Rawan were Joshua Damilola, Akintude Sodiq, and 17 year-old Ismaila Riliwan, alleged to have been sponsored by Mrs Rawan.

During investigation, the mother of two, simply stated that the deceased , Ganiu Akeem slapped her during a quarrel and also made away with her proceeds from bread sales.

She told operatives that she hired the services of four men to help retrieve her money from Ganiu, stating emphatically that she did not send them to kill him.

She however, admitted to have been in a clandestine relationship with the deceased. “ I swear I did not send them to kill him. I only said they should beat him and also collect my money from him, only to hear later that

he was killed in the process. Ah! Had I known I would have left everything to God”, said the Oyo state born bread seller.

Asked why Ganiu was killed, one of the suspects, Damilola said, “ We never intended to kill him. We were there to demand why he beat up a woman like that. Instead of responding, he grabbed a bottle by the corner of his room, smashed it on the wall and stabbed me.

Our intention was just to beat him as instructed by Mrs Ganiu. But when he stabbed me, I rushed to a nearby bakery and brought a cutlass. We had no choice than to use the cutlass on him”.

The late Ganiu as gathered, bled profusely following the matchet cuts inflicted all over his body. He was said to have been left in the pool of his own blood, without any help and later died

The Suspected hired thugs

following so much loss of blood.

Meanwhile, Ganiu’s family as gathered, is demanding for the release of his body for burial according to Muslim rites, while the police continues with their investigation. But the body as gathered, had been deposited at the Gbagada General Hospital Mortuary.

Sources at the SCID told Crime Alert that the suspects would be charged to court soon.

Mrs. Rawan

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

MIDWEEK SERMON

with SAM EYOBOKA sameyoboka@yahoo.com

*A cross section of cars and grinding machines on display at the 2011 Poverty Alleviation programme of Word Of Life Bible Church, Warri.

Spreading the love of God M

By SAM EYOBOKA

RS. Esther Esheti, 45, spent quality time with her seven children, putting in great effort and paying close attention needed to keep them out of trouble until the inevitable happened seven years ago, when her husband died. After that tragedy a new reality began to dawn on her as all friends, relations and erstwhile colleagues started avoiding their home as she was left to single handedly bring up seven children. When the hunger became un-bearable she had to take up a job as a cleaner.

Her earnings were not enough to feed eight mouths and every effort to raise capital to augment her income through an investment proved abortive as nobody was willing to lend her money. Somehow, she heard of an empowerment programme of her church, Word of Life Bible Church, Warri and immediately applied in the category of grinding machine. She won a grinding machine last year and started a small scale business with it.

“Since when I dey use this grinding machine, I never beg for one naira one day. I no sure say I don lack food one day, because when I close from work, I return home to use the machine. Now when I want to buy my children clothes or pay their school fees, I no longer weep thinking of how to raise the money,” Mrs. Esheti told our reporter.

According to her, she leases the grinding machine to a neighbour with whom they share profits at the end of everyday, and when she returns from work she takes over her machine. “I make about N3,000 or more every day now. Papa is a special man for me because when you look at me today I no look like widow any more.

“The way Papa dey empower poor people every year if all the governors can do the same for their people this country no go be like this. The way this man of God dey turn Warri and Delta around every year like this, where all the governors dey? When Papa no let widows to cry every year; e no let poor people to go to bed hungry every day what about you?" she added, praying God to "sustain dis man for us. Because of me, Baba will stay here for 500 years."

The case of Abraham Ohihena Audu, 26 from Owan East local government of Edo State is a little different. He was born a Muslim to a very large family but somewhere along the line he got pissed off by some fetish practices of the religion and decided to pull out and that was the beginning of a long period of exclusion through ostracism. “You say you are serving God and you are still going to traditional healers and cutting marks on your bodies,” he began, adding that he left home at the age of 19 in 2004 and moved to Warri to live with his brother, who soon threw him out and he

was actually on the street not knowing where the next meal would come from.

Life became brutish until he came to Word of Life Bible Church where one of the pastors offered him accommodation in one of the teaching centres. “Pastor Jimoh gave me a room in the teaching centre where I lived for two and half years, washing cars to survive and taking care of the church. He noted that the love extended to him culminated in his decision to remain in the church, until two years ago when I won a Hyundai Accent car which I now use as taxi cab in Warri.

According to him, Pastor Oritsejafor is a father, role model and a culmination of everything one can think off and a blessing to mankind especially to those who know him.

“I now have my own apartment where my younger brother is living with me. I have just been admitted into the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Warri to read chemical engineering. I really hope to become a presi-dent of this country some day,” he said.

Brother Audu plies his business as car hire and makes enough money to take care of his parents and other siblings while preparing ground for his dream of becoming a president of Nigeria some day.

P

astor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor is a renowned Christian evangelist with a worldwide reach that spans all the continents. In his over four decades of ministry, he has preached the gospel to over two million people in a single service and has continued to reach hundreds of millions through television, CDs, DVDs and webcasts.

Papa Ayo, as he is fondly called, took the Bible literally, when he received the divine mandate to Take His Word to the World, a commission to which he has passionately committed his life and ministry. He is the founder of the Eagle International Fellowship Ministries, which serves as a spiritual covering to over 500 churches spread across Africa, America, Europe and Asia.

Oritsejafor also founded the Eagle Flight Micro-Finance Bank (2005), with an asset base of over N1 billion for the econo-mic emancipation of the active poor in the society; Eagle Med-ical Centre (2007), Eagle Heights International Schools. In addition to this came Eagle Multi-Purpose Centre that houses the elderly, orphans, and vulnerable youths.

He is a dedicated philanthropist, who have given generous-ly of his time, expertise, and financial resources to make a difference in the lives of individuals. Besides providing well equipped shelter for elderly people, ministers of the gospel and orphans, he has also established an International Foundation, where scholar-ships have been awarded to over 105 indigent students in tertiary institutions across the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—57

SPECIAL REPORTS ON RCCG'S 2012 HOLY GHOST CONGRESS

RCCG's Holy Ghost Congress opens

By SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

T

HE General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has said God will restore the lost glory of Nigeria.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of this year's Holy Ghost Cong-ress at the Redemption

Camp, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, said God has begun a process of re-building the country, adding that God has lofty plans for the nation that it was sin that distorted God’s plan for Nigeria.

The programme began on Monday with the theme: “Signs and Wonders.”

In his words: “God is not only a

TODAY'S PROGRAMME AFTERNOON SESSION 4.00pm— 4.15pm Praise, Worship& Prayers 4.15pm—4.30pm Offering 4.30pm—5.30pm Talks & Discussions a. Marriage: Made in Heaven b. Innovations in Management c. Parenting in the Internet Age II d. Special Talk: (ministers only) EVENING SESSION 6.00pm—7.00pm Prayer & Intercession 7.00pm—8.00pm Praise, Worship & Choir 8.00pm —8.15pm Greetings & announcements 8.15pm—8.35pm Special Prayers One- “Prayers for the Education Sector” 8.35pm—9.10pm Talk One – “Wonders of Divine Deliver ance” 9.10pm—9.30pm Special Prayers Two –“The Singles, Widows & the Apparent Barren” 9.30pm—10.00pm Greetings 10.00pm—10.30pm Offering 10.30pm— 10.50pm Choir Ministration 10.50pm— 12.30am Talk Two- “Wonders of Reversing the Irreversible”

builder but an architect, He has good plans for Nigeria, but somewhere along the line sin tampered with these plans. Sin came in, the plan was distorted, but God being God in His infinite wisdom has decided to restore and rebuild the nation”.

In his first sermon tagged “Signs and Wonders of New Creature,” the cleric is of the opinion that the original plan of God for the country was that of multiplication, fruitful-ness, prosperity and be in control, then “signs and wonders” would follow."

It doesn't matter how terrible your past records has been the moment you give your life to Jesus Christ, your old records are wiped off and you are given a new one 1 John 1 v 7. The moment you become a new creature the original plan of God for your life begins to unfold. You will have dominion; you are no longer some-one who runs from demons.

Your minds set will change. Your ambition will chan-ge, it will be altered Collosians 3:3. Purity becomes very, very attractive to you.

You begin to pursue per-fection Giving the first talk entitled;

*Pastor Enoch Adeboye will be ministering.

“Wonders of Praise” during the wel-come service, the Presid-ent and Founder of The Sword of the Spirit, Bishop Wale Oke said the best way to start the congress was by praising the Lord. Highlighting some of the wonders of praise, the bishop said praise can usher one into a season of fruitfulness, increase, blessing of God, weapons of healing amongst others.

During the welcome service, delegates from US, Venezuela and Europe appreciated the leadership

of RCCG for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and impact-ing this generation. Some worshippers testified to the goodness of God that manifested in the past congresses. Notable Miracle: On Sunday, at the Redemption Camp, while GO was reviewing the music pre-sentation with the Choir, he prayed and a lame man touched where he was standing and he re-ceived his healing immediately.

The stone that the builder rejected

R

ECENTLY the Nigerian Press was awash with a deluge of criticisms about Pentecostal minist-ers buying jets and living in affluence. Beautiful!

This is the same Pente-costal movement that started as the church of the poor, the down-trodden, the strugglers, and the dregs of the earth. We were labeled as “poor church rats”, “mushroom churches”, “SU”, and with such ho-rrible, derogatory names. I personally remember being warned in 1975 to stop going to the church of “those who weep when they pray”. I was asked what problem I had that drove me to that kind of church, and that they were the poor and the never-do-wells.

Today the story has changed! We are being criticized for buying jets! But they forgot that before we started to buy jets, we were winning souls in thousands and millions, turning men and women from darkness to light. We were transforming lives, giving them beauty for ashes. We were emp-owering people, equipp-ing them with the revela-tion knowledge of God’s Word that lifts men out of the pit of poverty, to the pinnacle of grace and dominion!

We were empowering the poor, not only giving them fish to eat but also teaching them how to fish.

We were building schools that were giving quality education to the people, empowering them ment-ally to become prominent

Bishop Wale Oke

(these include those throwing stones at us now!) We were building universities. We were transforming our society, and changing our nation, one soul at a time.

Imagine what Nigeria would have been without the labours and the influence of the Church, particularly the Pentecost-als and the Charismat-ics! It would have been a living hell, if with all our positive, godly efforts, we are still in the mess that our nation is today!

Our critics fail to observe that we have not stopped doing those things that brought us into relevance and prominence. Though we have climbed the lad-der of grace to rise from the pit of poverty to the mountain top of affluence, we still genuinely reach down to the poor masses of the downtrodden daily, showing them the way to life, the way to abundance and dominion, the way to righteous-

ness and holin-ess, justice and equity, the way to God and glory, not only in the world to come but also in this present life. Our critics do not understand the way of God, that when someone sows, he or she must reap; that those who sow in tears shall reap with joy. If they were to cont-rol the harvest, they would have left us to continue to labour and languish all through our lives, from generation to generation, reaping noth-ing out of our field of labour.

They have seen a few jets. They ain’t seen nothing yet! More of us will yet buy and maintain our jets because, by the mercy of God, we have be-en given the wisdom to do so. And we are willing to teach the nation, if they will listen to us, rather than throw stones.

However, our critics should know that the jets mean nothing to us! They are just tools to do the work that God has given us in a more effective manner. Or how can an Adeboye who has churches in over 160 nations of the earth cope with his pastoral and apostolic responsibilities without some private jets! He does not need just one. He needs some! How can an Ayo Oritsejafor, who has to minister around the globe, pastor a very large congregation in Warri, and still attend to critical national matters in Abuja cope if he has to keep waiting at the airports, in a sys-

tem where nothing is predictable?

Our critics should please note that more of us are following the trail of the likes of Adeboye, whose wealth and affluence has never stopped him from being a true shepherd of the poor and downtrodden, in true humility, simplicity and godly sincerity, a shining example of true Pentecost-alism and Charismatic wisdom.

The nation should have turned to the Church for wisdom. How do you pro-vide electricity for your massive organizations and campsites and we have not been able to power the nation? How have you

ship and power in a way that make your huge organizations so stable and peaceful whereas our own political leaders are at each other’s throats?

Rather than blind, and sometimes irreverent, criticisms that flow out of a mixture of ignorance and envy, the Pentecostals should have been asked; how did you move from a people that were despised and rejected to becoming the jet owners, institution pioneers and nation build-ers that you are today?

We would have answer-ed them in this manner: We are the stones that the builders rejected, which More Pentecostal jets are become on the way, and we owe no have the heads of the house. This is apology about that the doing of the Lord and it is been able to maintain your jets for marvelous in our own eyes. Our years, and we don’t even have a only explanat-ion is, God’s grace national carrier? How do you make has lifted the poor out of the dust your schools, colleges and univer- and the beggars out of the dungsities such first class institutions hill. and ours are dilapidating, riddled I wish every Nigerian a violencewith cultism and violence in spite free, restful and beautiful Christof so much money we are pump- mas and a glorious 2013. More ing into them again and again? Pent-ecostal jets are on the way, How have you been able to truly and we owe no apology about live and accommodate yourselves that. Come along with us, and you in spite of coming from the North, too will soon become a solution, a South, East, and West and with job provider, a pioneer, and no such cultural divers-ities, where- more a part of our national rot, coras the nation is filled with mind- ruption and inefficiency. less viol-ence and hate, based on *Bishop Wale Oke is the Nationtribal sentiments and primordial jingoism? al Vice President, Pentecostal FelHow could you handle leader- lowship of Nigeria, South West.

,

By FRANCIS WALE OKE

,

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 59

C M Y K

60—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Non-indigenes and bottlenecks in property acquisition Dear Sir, THE dichotomy between indigenes and non indigenes in a particular state in Nigeria, if allowed to continue, will negatively affect investors especially those who are desirous of developing their landed property. This is informed by the manner land developers, especially those who are not from the area where their property is situated, find it extremely difficult to go ahead with their intended projects as a result of incessant harassment and molestation by youths who claim to be indigenes of the area. The youths go about scouting for buildings under constructions and if the owner is not an indigene, they would demand for a certain percentage of the amount used to buy the land. They also demand for what they call, marching ground which is usually outrageous and sometimes not immediately available to the property owner.

If these conditions are not met, the owners of the project and their workmen are usually beaten up.

In most cases, their building materials are carted away by the hoodlums, thereby halting the construction work at the site.

This heinous act to all intents and purposes, is repugnant to good taste and should be

stopped completely as it tends to slow down the pace of development in the country. If a buyer of a piece of land cannot develop his land because he is a non indigene, the land should not have been sold to him in the first place. People should be allowed to develop their estates as such would help in no small measure to minimize the problem of housing and unemployment in the country.

I thank the Rivers State Government under the able leadership of Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi for coming up with an edict which provides that land owners should be given the leeway to develop their lands and any person or group of persons found harassing them would be seriously dealt with.

This is a right step in the right direction. He should be more pragmatic in this regard by setting up a monitoring team to ensure that people comply with this directive as the ugly trend is still being witnessed in some areas in the state.

If a non indigene can be the Chairman of a local government area, there is no reason why a non indigene cannot develop his land unconditionally.

Nkemakolam Gabriel Port Harcourt, 08072257360

The Aregbesola train phenomenon Dear Sir, AS an indigene of Osogbo, who is resident in Lagos, I have for the last 10 years made it a habit to celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr back home. The festival was always attended by the hustle and bustle of festivities; meeting with friends and family both from home and abroad. It afforded an annual opportunity to renew old ties, check on relatives and generally unwind after a year of work-filled sojourn in stress-filled Lagos.

However, there was a new twist to this year’s Salah feast, which made an impression on me. From my place at Igbono area of town, I had gone to Owode-Ede on Thursday to see an old friend of mine — I had arrived by road early on that day. My goodnatured friend gave me a Salahbefore-Salah treat because he hadn’t seen me for a while. I decided to take my time to relax with him and his family. At sundown I finally took my leave

and headed home.

On getting to the Ola-Iya intersection, we ran into a heavy traffic that set tongues wagging regarding the cause of the traffic, which was unusually congested.

The question that dominated discussion was whether ‘Aregbe Train’ had arrived. Those with sufficient knowledge of its movement confirmed that the train had indeed arrived at the Old Garage Railway Station. At a point when I could no longer bear the traffic situation, I got down from the Korope bus I had boarded from Owode-Ede and headed on foot towards Old Garage. I discovered that the cause of the traffic was not the Aregbe Train as we were glibly led to believe. Rather, the traffic situation was occasioned by acts of lawlessness on the part of the commercial bus drivers who parked their vehicles right in the middle of the road to pick passengers.

But the traffic congestion did

Anonymous 08039901581

keen interest.

Mike writes in from Delta State

Okupe accuses Ribadu of negativism

THE floods have continued to unleash socio- economic holocaust and nightmares on Niger Deltans and beyond.

The President must be commended for the release of N17.6billion that will never get to the affected people. What happened to the ecological funds and what are the interventionists agencies doing? All hands must be on deck to salvage the situation.

Chief Benson Gbinije 08181877407

Still on FG to dialogue with Boko Harma

Northerners should not allow anybody to deceive them in the name of religion, tribe or section. It is only prayer that can save Nigerians from the menace. The fight against terrorism is not an easy war. Nigerians must unite and give maximum support and co- operation to the Federal Government in order to wipe- out terrorism completely from our society.

Hajia Farida 08175782081

Okupe’s comments on Ribadu report

The Senior Special Assistant

to the President on Public Affairs, Mr. Okupe is pouring all the bile on a report that he says government would still issue a white paper on. Would the white paper be different from Okupe’s tirade? It is unfortunate that government does not seem to know what it wants.

What did the Ribadu report say

,

FG’s donation to floods victims in Nigeria

Was Okupe aware that two task force member s, who stridently disassociated themselves from the report, Mr. Steve Oronsaye and Mr. Bernard Otti, were appointed into the board of the National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Steve Oronsaye was made an NNPC board member while Mr. Otti was appointed Director of Finance, in the course of their assignment? Could their loud protests not be related to their straddled position? Gov-

Government has wasted another opportunity to rev up the flagging war against corruption. The controversies taint the Ribadu report, rending it useless. The mainstay of the economy, should not be treated trivially by government that should protect it from thieves in different disguises

that is wrong? Does Okupe realise he cannot go on blaming the task force without noting that government must have had it reasons for choosing Ribadu for the assignment?

Nigerians are not fools; who did these report hurt so badly that government would expend so much effort discrediting it?

,

ernment has wasted another opportunity to rev up the flagging war against corruption.

The controversies taint the Ribadu report, rending it useless. The mainstay of the economy, should not be treated trivially by government that should protect it from thieves in different disguises. Nigerians are watching events with

Fuel subsidy probe

What is happening to those found guilty in the fuel subsidy probe? It is very apparent that Nigerians have no trust in reports by committees set up by the Federal Government. President Jonathan should take a bold step on the fuel subsidy probe and prosecute those found guilty.

Steadfast foundation 08158086822 Inflation in Nigeria President Jonathan should please come to our rescue because the current hike in fuel price has eventually skyrocket the price of commodities in the country. People cannot afford two square meals a day due to high prices of food stuffs. Soon people will start stealing just to feed.

Anonymous 07057006736

have something to do with the Aregbe Train; the passengers in question, whose presence occasioned the lawless conduct of the commercial bus drivers, were the people conveyed from Lagos to town by Aregbe Train.

And they were not few. In fact, it was the fact of their very large numbers that attracted commercial buses to the scene to convey them to their various destinations, for a fee of course!

I quickly recalled that the Aregbe Train was a free train ride launched earlier in the year without much fanfare. It surprised me that it could have become such a phenomenon within such a short time.

Ironically, most of the people that came by the train were actually not Osun indigenes, which Ogbeni had intended it for.

They were people from Ajase, Offa and other neighbouring towns in Kwara State. This in fact explains why commercial buses were able to cash in on the quick-profit opportunity, which would not have been available had the passengers been people from Osogbo and its environs.

The Aregbe Train had not only created Salah succour for passengers; it had also created money-making opportunity for bus drivers. Come next Salah, I might give a try myself. Coming by bus wasn’t cheap!

Lukman Adeyemi, Surulere, Lagos

Full implementation of budget

As long as the recurrent expenditure exceeds capital expenditure, full budget implementation remains impossible.

If this style of expensive democracy continues, Nigeria will never get to the promised land. Our overaged leaders should leave the scene for the younger generation to positively transform our country.

Kelly 07057006736

Greedy leaders and call for total change

Nigeria has more than enough to meet our needs as a people but that may not be enough soon. Due to our leaders’ greed, some leaders are bad examples to their followers, reaping what they didn’t sow. Our founding fathers and fallen heroes are weeping in their graves. We need a true peoples’ leader for a total change.

Kelly 07057006736

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.If you do not want lizards to visit you, do not bring home firewood that contain ants.

Francis Uzoaru(07025716475), Nitel Headquarter, Abuja, FCT Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard,WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012—61

Brazil visa types and requirements

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

N

IGERIAN applicants who are seeking various types of visa to visit Brazil for several intended reasons are directed by the Brazil Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fully acquaint themselves with the various types of visas as well as various stipulated requirements that are available at the visa section of the embassy.

Tourist visa: Applicants for a Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff tourist visa, which is a type of visa issued to people who are visiting Brazil for the purpose of either the authorized stay. Tourist visa holders meeting relatives or friends and or, to are allowed to stay in the Brazilian participate in a sponsored athletics, territory for a maximum of 180 days over artistic events or competitions, are a 12-month period. expected to provide an invitation letter Short-stay business visa: People from the sponsoring organization in wishing to visit Brazil for a short period Brazil. The rule here is also applicable for the purpose of meeting with to those who are visiting to participate business partners, attending trade fairs, in a sponsored scientific/academic speaking at conferences etc. are required seminar or conference. to apply for a short-stay business visa, Terms and Conditions applicable to and it is also valid for a stay of up to 90 applicants: Tourist visa holders are days. prohibited from engaging in business, Temporary residence visa/work visa: work, or academic activities in Brazil. Those who wish to live and work in For citizens of some countries, arrival Brazil are expected to apply for in Brazil must take place within 90 days temporary residence visa. And to obtain from the date the visa was issued. a temporary visa for the purpose of being This visa is most suitable for multiple employed, you will need to secure a job entries within the visa's duration. Even first from a Brazilian company or when the validity of the visa exceeds 90 government department, or a foreign days, authorized stays are for a company based in Brazil, and they in maximum of a 90-day period per visit. turn, are expected to apply to the If necessary, an extension may be Immigration Division of the Ministry of submitted to the Federal Police in Brazil, Labor on your behalf if requested prior to the expiration of To be concluded

Fresh guidelines on US visa

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

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HE US Consulate has directed that citizens wishing to travel to the U.S. during the holiday season who have not yet applied for the n e c e s s a r y documentation, should begin the process without delay. Those that need to renew their passports as well as prospective applicants for nonimmigrant visas (NIVs) to the United States have been provided some guidelines which will facilitate their travels.

U.S. citizens are reminded that all nonemergency U.S. Citizen Services such as U.S. passport renewal are provided by appointment only. Appointments for U.S. passport renewal as well as for all other nonemergency citizen services can be made by visiting the visa website of the US. C M Y K

They are encouraged to always plan as far ahead as possible because U.S. passports are printed in the United States and take up to two to three weeks to prepare.

All prospective NIV applicants must possess a valid passport and according to Immigration regulations of the United States, as well as those of many other countries, require that passports be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel. In other words, if your passport is due to expire within six months of your planned dates of travel, you are advised in your own interest to renew your passport before you make an appointment.

The NIV appointment system for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is managed by a third-party provider through the US

Travel Documents website and for this reason, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria strongly encourages prospective applicants to book appointments themselves and should not endorse the use of third-party services, including “touts” or “fixers,” to book or broker NIV appointments. The current wait time for an NIV appointment is under 10 days in both Lagos and Abuja.

To reschedule, expedite or cancel an appointment, the intended travelers are directed to visit and log in to the account they created when they made original appointment before the original appointment date. They are also to follow the instructions provided on that page and may as well contact the country-wide NIV appointment call centre by phone.

consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Henry Amike is Eket 2012 role model F

OLLOWING in the footsteps of Utit Ofon Nkantah, nee Ukoh, Gabriel Okon, Uduak Ekah, Aniefiok Udobong and most recently Mary Onyali, Henry Amike is the role model for this year’s Akwa Ibom State, NNPC/MPN Schools Athletics Championships which will come to a close on Saturday December 15 at the Eket Stadium, Eket.

Born 51 years ago in Lagos and of Edo origin, Henry Amike is one of Nigeria’s most decorated quarter milers, and his 48.50 secs national record set in Rome in 1987 which still stands, bears testimony to his enduring athletic prowess.

Amike’s track and field career started in 1978 when he came out fourth

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in a cross country race in a national schools sports competition in Calabar.

When he contested a year later in Ibadan, he ran out tops. By 1982 he had gained scholarship to study abroad and established himself to the point of competing in the American Collegiate Regional competition where he came out second in his chosen discipline of 400 metres hurdles.

Two years later, he took part in the same competition and maintained his second position. That same year he represented his country in the Los Angeless Olympic Games and considered his 8th position encouraging given his age and experience.

Eko 2012: How we overcame Delta — Rivers V/ball Coach

BY MMACHI ILECHUKWU

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•Amike The Olympics experience must have stood him in good stead when in the African Championships in Rabat Morocco in 1984, coasted home to silver in the 400 metres hurdles. At the World University Games In 1985 in Kobe Japan, Henry Amike missed the gold medal by the

whiskers.

Gold also eluded him at the African Championships in Cairo, Egypt in 1985, at the African Championships in Annaba Algeria in 1988 and at the world Cup in Barcelona in Spain in 1989 when he represented Africa.

HE successful campaign of the Rivers State female volley ball team at the just concluded Eko 2012 National Sports festival did not come as a surprise to Coach O’ Harry Opakiriba who guided the team to winning the gold medal back-to-back.

He disclosed that their victory was a carefully planned and well executed programme which began over a year ago.

He told Sports Vanguard that “after winning the gold medal in the Garden City Games, we did not go to sleep. We went through series of camping. The victory did not just come like that as we had a year-

long camp.”

He also said “ we monitored our opponents, particularly team Delta very well and studied them”.

The coach also attributed their success to Rivers state government, saying, “I give Kudos to Rivers Government, all states should emulate Governor Amaechi.” He added that discipline and team unity kept them going as a team.

He continued further “ Rivers state is the home of volley ball and not any other state.

“I am a very happy man but I am not completely happy because I was robbed by Lagos, they robbed us in the semi final but come Calabar 2014, we will go back to the drawing board and win our two gold medals”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012 — 63

Rio got hit... ha, ha, ha Fireworks continue in Delta

•Ashley Cole’s family gloat over Gov’s Cup Ferdinand coin attack •As LG champions emerge

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SHLEY Cole’s mum and brother sent Facebook messages LAUGHING over the coin attack which could have blinded Rio Ferdinand.

The pair, still fuming after Manchester United star Rio called Chelsea rival Ashley a “choc ice”, posted their comments moments after the defender left the pitch with blood pouring from a gash near his eye.

Ashley ’s brother Matthew, 30, scoffed: “So happy Rio got hit in the face today when he tried to give it kissing his badge!! Straight in the eye!! Made my day.”

A message posted in mum Sue’s name said: “Bloody missed that, ha ha ha . . . give the fan that threw it a medal!!!” Last night she denied sending the message.

Matthew, whose profile picture is of him and Ashley with the Premier League trophy, replied: “They ’ll show it on MOTD sooooo funny lol.”

Cops yesterday were hunting the yob who hurled the 2p coin at Ferdinand as he celebrated the goal that beat Manchester City on Sunday.

Another fan ran on to the pitch and was stopped

by City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Cole, 31, and

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•Rio Ferdinand, 34, have been at daggers drawn since last year when Chelsea captain John Terry was accused of racially abusing Rio’s brother Anton during a match against Queens Park Rangers.

Cole backed Terry and both Ferdinand brothers refused to shake the hand of Terry or Cole before games.

Maigari Continues from B/P committee member of CAF. According to CAF, two other candidates have been selected to compete for the race to replace Adamu the former CAF executive member that represented Nigeria at FIFA .

The election will hold early next year at the next CAF’s general assembly.

Other candidates for the West African slot include Benin Football Association Chairman, Anjorin Moucharafou and The Niger Football C M Y K

N continuation of the 2012 Delta State Governor ’s Cup for Secondary Schools, the Sapele Local Government champions will emerge today as Ogeide M/S/S, Ogeidi will lock horns with Ethiope M/S/S, Sapele at the Okotie-Eboh G/S Spaele. In other fixtures Isoko North LGA: Emoeni G/S, Ellu Vs Ofagbe Technical Coll, Ofagbe at Notre Dame College, Ozoro.

In Aniocha South LGA: Comprehensive S/ S, Ogwashi-uku Vs St Anthony S/S, Ubuluuku while in Udu LGA: Oghior S/S, Oghior Vs Otor-Udu S/S, OtorUdu @ Egini G/S, Egini M e a n w h i l e Champions from some Local Governments have emerged in the on-going Delta State

Association Chairman, Hima Souley.

The vacancy is for West Africa group ’B’, which includes Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger.

CAF president Issa H a y a t o u of Cameroun will run unopposed for his c u r r e n t slot during the general assembly while South Africa’s Danny Jordan will also try to get on the CAF board after he failed to do so previously.

Hayatou was first elected CAF boss in 1988.

NFF satisfied with NPL of the NPL congress organisation congress.

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed satisfaction with Tuesday ’s Nigeria Premier League (NPL) congress held in Abuja.

One of the three observers from the NFF, Emeka Inyama said he was content with the procedure and

He added that the NFF observing team, which included Shehu Adamu and Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, will report back to the football federation.

But he said the Premier League will forward all of its decisions to the NFF. “Well as an observer I don’t think I have much to say.

Continues from B/P the former Bayelsa United boss.

The secretariat headed by the executive secretary of the NPL Tunji Babalola has now been charged with the responsibility of running the affairs of the league, in place of the ousted board.

The congress also reversed the expulsion of Ocean Boys from the league, quashed the ban on NPL executive Akin Akinbobola and lifted the suspension of Okey Kpaloku of Sharks and Farouk Yarma of Gombe United.

The congress further

proposed February 16 as the kick-off date for the new season and directed that the annual preseason Super Four tournament be held in Kano.

Nineteen out of twenty Premier League clubs were present at the Prixair Hotel in Zone 6, Abuja, where the congress was held, with the exception of Niger Tornadoes.

The decisions made at the NPL congress in Abuja are subject to ratification by the NFF congress which will be held in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Baribote

Governor ’s Cup Football competition.

Technical College Issele-Uku emerged as Aniocha North Local Government champions while Ethiope West LGA has Orefe Secondary School, Oghara as champions, Isoko South LGA will be represented by St Michael’s College, Oleh while Ndokwa West will have Community Secondary School, Ogume as their flag bearers.

Oproza Grammer School will represent Patani LGA while Ugheli North LGA has Edjekota Secendary School, Sdjekota as

champions.

Other LGA champions are: St Georges G/S, Obinomba for Ukwuani LGA, Iwere College, Koko for War ri North LGA: while Don Domingos College, Warri; will represent Warri South LGA..Isaba G/School, Isaba to represent Warri S/W LGA:

Gov Uduaghan

Pillars Continues from B/P “It’s a good draw for us because we don’t have to travel too far. I’m confident we will qualify for the next round,” Afelokhai told supersport.com.

Enugu Rangers, the other Nigerian side in Africa’s premier club competition next year, were handed SC do Principe of Sao Tome and Principe.

The Nigerian clubs will play hosts to the first legs of the preliminary round on the weekend of February 15, 16 and 17 next year.

The return legs of both games will hold between March 1 and 3, 2013.

If Rangers win against their opponents from Sao Tome and Principe, they will face either Rwanda’s APR or Vital’O of Burundi in March and April over two legs in the first round.

However, Al Ahly have been drawn bye in the first round.

Seven other clubs have also been given byes and they include Djoliba, TP Mazembe, El Merreikh, Esperance, Al-Hilal, Stade Malien and ES Setif.

Ugbade Continues from B/P foreign sides to build a strong team,” he said over the telephone.

The coach added that 35 players had been penciled down for the task ahead, and that each player had to compete for a slot in the team.

“Through the friendly matches we have lined up, we should be able to select our final set of players to represent the country in Morocco next year.

“We want to use this championship to make

up for the disappointment of not qualifying for the last three editions,” Ugbade said.

Ugbade, who captained the 1985 Golden Eaglets squad that won the FIFA U-17 Championship in China, called on the Nigeria Football Federation to adequately support the team.

Nigeria will play in Group B alongside Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in the April 13 to April 27 championship.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012

Maigari guns for Adamu’s CAF position

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Golden Eaglets:

•Maigari

•Adamu

We'll bring back glory days — Ugbade N

DUKA Ugbade, the Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets, has said that the team’s technical crew will reorganise it for better performance.

Ugbade told NAN that the re-organisation would be carried out before the commencement of the 2013 African Youth Championship in Morocco.

He said the team would play some friendly matches with local and foreign teams to get the right balance.

“In fact, as part of the preparation and build up to the U-17 championship, we are already playing friendly matches with local and

Continues on page 63 TODAY'S

PUZZLE

Baribote removed PL congress has removed Rumson Baribote as chairman of the board and set a new date for the resumption of the League.

The congress cited the poor state of the League, executive rascality, gross incompetence and lack of sponsors as a reason for the removal of Continues on page 63

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Continues on page 63

Continues on page 63

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Pillars, Rangers get ACL hurdles I G E R I A N champions, Kano Pillars have been drawn to face Central African Republic’s Olympique de Bangui in the 2013 Caf Champions League.

Kano Pillars’ goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai, who was named best keeper of the season at the 2012 League Bloggers Awards (LBA), believes his side will progress to the next round.

HE president of Nigeria Football Federation Aminu Maigari will contest next year to replace Amos Adamu, at the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

CAF announced yesterday that Maigari will compete against two others in order to become an executive

GRITTY: Golden Eaglets forward Alhassan Ibrahim vies for the ball with a Malian defender in Calabar. Eaglets won 2-0.

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Tumble (4) 4 Tear (3) 6 Boulder (4) 9 Every (3) 10 Find (8) 11 Thought (4) 14 Mineral (3) 16 Existence (5) 19 Abandoned (8) 21 Cap (5) 23 Industrious (8) 24 Dissuade (5) 27 Consume (3) 31 Jetty (4) 33 Stirred (8) 34 Golf-peg (3) 35 Grasped (4) 36 Silence (3) 37 Whirlpool (4)

•Baribote

DOWN 2 Greedy (4) 3 Shortage (4) 4 Returned (8) 5 Saucy (4) 6 Elevate (5) 7 Elderly (3) 8 Unsoiled (5) 12 Bordered (5) 13 Advantage (5) 14 Sphere (3) 15 Weird (5) 17 Bury (5) 18 Circumference (5) 20 Postponing (8) 22 Bird (3) 25 Chosen (5) 26 Strayed (5) 28 Suspend (4) 29 Front (4) 30 Unite (4) 32 Fish (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Admit 7, Haste 8, Place 10, Other 12, Air 13, Alone 15, Meander 17, Defect 19, Sun 20, Tricked 23, Eyed 25, Deft 26, Retired 30, Can 31, Remote 34, Drooped 37, Cited 38, Rid 39, Drain 40, Holed 41, Death 42, Ebbed.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Cable 2, Atone 3, Detect 4, Item 5, Planned 6, Screw 9, Aid 11, Rescuer 13, Adder 14, Offer 16, Auk 18, Trained 21, Depot 22, Steed 24, Decoded 27, Tap 28, Decide 29, Error 32, Mined 33, Teeth 35, Lubricate 36, Drab.

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.

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