My cancer story - Chime

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61817

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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N150

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

VICTORIOUS EAGLES RETURN

Jonathan splashes cash, land, honours on Super Eagles •Keshi N10m, Assistant coaches, players N5m each

BY FINTAN IBEGWAM

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EAGLES ARRIVE—Scenes fron the Super Eagles arrival at Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Olamikan Gbemiga.

RESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, yester day night rewarded the players and officials of the Super Eagles for lifting the Africa Cup of Nations. with cash, land and national honors during a reception in Abuja Head Coach of the team, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, got N10 million while the assistant coaches and the players got N5 million each. The team’s technical officials are to receive N2 million cash award each.

In addition to the cash award, the players and officials will get a plot of land each in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. While Keshi was conferred with the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, his assistants – Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorunmu – and team captain, Joseph Yobo, were awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR Other players were conferred with the award of the Member of the Order of the Niger, MON.

My cancer story COLUMNISTS:

•P.17

DEAR BUNMI •P.35

ROTIMI FASAN •P.19 C M Y K

— Chime JAJI BOMBING: Maj.Gen. Isah to face court martial •Pg.8

E

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—GOVER NOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Monday night, told the story of what led to his long vacation that

sparked off controversy, saying he was actually hit by cancer of the nose, which treatment and healing period lasted for four and a half months.

Chime, broke his silence on his prolonged Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013— —3

C M Y K

4— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

APC—Governors briefing newsmen after All Progressives Congress (APC) meeting in Abuja, yesterday. Olamikan Gbemiga.

My cancer story — Chime Continues from page 1 absence while speaking with some newsmen at the Governor’s Lodge, Enugu. He said those who tried to fuel crisis in the state on account of his vacation failed woefully because they were acting in ignorance, adding that he owed nobody any apology for what he did because he observed the laid down principles before travelling out of the country.

Describing his critics and their vituperations as unfair, Chime said he believed he was not under any obligation to tell the public about his ailment before he travelled and even while undergoing treatment as, according to him, he was free to do anything personal

during his vacation more so when he had duly handed over governance to his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi and could stay outside for as long as he wanted.

He declared that having been successfully treated of cancer, which he first noticed through a growth on the right side of his neck in August last year, he was now fit to pilot the affairs of the state and commended his deputy and other functionaries for effectively sustaining the activities of the government in his absence.

Chime, however, did not spare the Nigerian media especially the print on their reportage of his ailment, saying most of the publications about him were false,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Men ought to be disciplined and do things in a consistent way that overtime will make the impossible possible in their lives.

TAKE HEART

S

BY ELLA RANDLE

OMETIMES people measure their progress in life by their income or clothing size, yet what truly matters is how much you have loved during your time here...this is all that really counts— Doreen Virtue Everything that you need is available to you right now; life is a storehouse that provides all you need.

When you contemplate a desire, this store house goes to work in preparation on your order, as long as you keep your thoughts positive and have first hand trust that life will bring to you the desires that you need and not necessary what you want.

First, you need to determine what it is you desire and have faith that it will come to you, and you have to give your talents more than the best of your ability and when you really love what you do, you’ll naturally excel at it.

Doreen Virtue sums aptly: “When you request that your need be met, there is still an abundant store left over, so your receiving goods could never take away from anyone.” You deserve to have your wish fulfilled, just as all God’s children do, that which life gives to you is in abundant supply and there is plenty for everyone.

embarrassing and entertaining. He said it was most unfair for anybody to claim that he died in India when in actual fact he never travelled to India throughout his stay overseas.

The governor declared that he had no apologies for what he did as, according to him, he would do same in future if the opportunity calls.

My Story He said: “Let me say first and foremost that it is heartwarming to be in your midst today after exactly four and a half months outside the country. I decided to call this meeting for us to have the opportunity to clarify a few issues because while I was away, I read so many embarrassing publications from the print media. Most of them conflicting, almost all of them false and it was so embarrassing not to my person, personally, but for those of you who know me, such things don’t embarrass me, I am not interested, you can write anything provided it doesn’t bother on defamation.

"But I decided to call this (media briefing) may be to clear the air for the interest of our people because I noticed that it generated a lot of interests. So many people became interested. People who did not know of my existence; when I came back I got all sorts of text messages from strange people thanking God for my return. Because of the interest it generated, I felt there is need for us to come together in the hope that after today we will put to

rest everything that bothers on rumour and falsehood regarding my leave.

"I don’t know whether I should just tell a smooth story of how I proceeded on leave before the barrage of publications started coming or I should go ahead and attempt to address some of the issues that I felt should be addressed in the sense that some bothered on constitutionality, others bothered on morality and so many things. I think I will go for the first one - let me tell the story of what actually happened. "

How it all started Chime Continued: "Late August or early September, last year, I am not sure again of the dates, but it is about that time. I was privileged to be one of those nominated by the Nigeria Governors Forum to go to Germany to understudy their federal system. A Governor was picked from each of the six geopolitical zones. I represented the South-East and of course, we were led by our Chairman, Rotimi Amaechi.

"On our way to Germany, I decided to go a little bit earlier, passing through London to do my medicals because of what I will call lack of our time. We do not have time here. So, I decided to take that opportunity, got to London and did my medicals and was certified fit. I was given a clean bill of health. But I had a little growth here (pointing at the right side of his neck) that was not visible to anybody. I am a very observ-

ant person. I noticed it, showed it to my doctor and he touched it and said he didn’t feel it is anything serious, that I should just try and forget it.

"So, I thought they would have seen anything if there was anything wrong when they were doing the general scanning and screening, but nothing was found.

So, I just singled it and said, please, this particular thing, I will like it to be investigated. I was referred to GB who after examining me and asking me questions, because I told him, no symptoms, no pains, no discomfort from anywhere. He said as far as he was concerned, there was nothing wrong but as a professional advised me to investigate it further because I was almost running out of time, short of time.

"I made arrangements with them to help me set up appointments for closer examination of the growth. So the next day I left for Germany to join my colleagues. On that trip was my Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Jude Akubuilo and my SSA Investment. They were already in Germany waiting for me and so, I joined them. At the end of the day, about a week after they had set up the arrangement, I left Germany. I left my colleagues. I told them where I was going, went back to London and did the proper screening of that particular growth.

They did biopsies and all that. So, in the process it was discovered that it was cancerous. The growth was cancerous."

Diagnostic result showed Cancer of the Nose "Further investigation revealed that the main tumour, because this ac-

tually turned out to be the lymph node, but the main tumour was behind my nose. It actually turned out to be what they called nasopharyngeal cancer- that is cancer of the nose. At that stage when you hear cancer, you will declare yourself dead before any further examination. Then I asked them what should be done, they told me straight away that they will subject me to further screening to know if it had spread.

So luckily it hadn’t spread, it is just only in those two places.

"They said the good news is that it was curable and not manageable. It was curable, that was when I became interested. And they said as soon as I was ready, they would commence treatment. Originally we had planned to go from Germany to Lebanon on our way back to Nigeria but I cancelled that trip, went back to Germany, informed my people I went with, came down to London with the Commissioner. The SSA hadn’t UK Visa then, so he traveled back to Nigeria from Germany. In London we made arrangement and agreed on when to come.

I wrote a letter to Speaker of House of Assembly "So we came back to Nigeria and within the two weeks, I was able to make arrangements for transition. I wrote a letter to the Speaker of the House of Assembly in accordance with the constitution, informing him of my decision to proceed on leave and of course sought his cooperation to work very well with the Deputy Governor, who would work as governor in my absence.

Within the two weeks, we held two exco meetings,

Continues on Page 10

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Missing girl found dead with eyes, genitals removed

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — OHANZE community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State was, yesterday, thrown into mourning following the discovery of the body of a three-yearold Miss Chigozie Ufomba with her eyes and genital organs removed.

The body was found in a bush behind Community Secondary School, Ohanze, three days after she was declared missing by her mother.

The victim was allegedly abducted with her younger brother, Chidozie Ufomba, by one Mrs. Ucheoma Jombo of Umueke village on Friday on their way to school.

The prime suspect, Ucheoma Jumbo, has been arrested by the Police and is now at the Eastern Ngwa Police Division, Umuobiakwa, with four other suspects. She was said to have been arrested following information said to have been volunteered by a JSS 3 student in the area who saw her with the children.

On interrogation, the suspect was said to have told the police that she sold little Chigozie to somebody who lives in Port Harcourt but that the little brother, Chidozie Ufomba, was sold to somebody at Ndiakata Community, seven kilometres from Ohanze.

Based on this information, the police stormed the place and rescued the little boy alive, but her sister was found dead with her eyes and private parts removed.

Vanguard learnt that among the suspects currently held by police include the husband of the prime suspect and a native doctor who hails from a nearby village.

Former Rep escapes assassination

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — A FORMER member of the National Assembly, Mr. Patrick Ndubueze, narrowly cheated death when a twomember gang of suspected assassins attacked him in Okigwe.

Vanguard investigations revealed that Ndubueze arrived his residence along Okpara Road, Okigwe, alighted from his vehicle and was about knocking at the gate when the armed hoodlums surfaced.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the hoodlums were operating on a motorcycle, adding that only the supposed passenger was armed.

“The gangster shot at the former lawmaker but miraculously missed his target. The man (Nwabueze) quickly pounced on the suspected assassin and a scuffle ensued,” the eyewitness said.

According to the eyewitness, the hoodlum managed to extricate himself from the grip of the lawmaker and quickly jumped into the waiting motorcycle manned by his colleague in crime.

When journalists contacted the former lawmaker, he wondered why anybody or group of persons would want to eliminate him.

“What have I done to anybody? Why would anybody or group of persons want to eliminate me? The whole thing sounds like a fairy tale but it is true. I thank God I am alive to tell the tale of my life,” Nwabueze said.

Court denies suspects bail over Arepo vandalisation

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — A FEDERAL High Court in Lagos, yesterday, said the six accused persons charged with willful damage of oil pipeline in Arepo, Ogun State, and murder of three Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, engineers would remain in custody.

Justice Mohammed Idris, in his ruling on the defendants' bail application, held that the affidavit in support of the bail application contravened section 115 of the Evidence Act. The judge said: “And when the affidavit is bare, it renders the application bare and liable to be struck out and is hereby struck out,” and subsequently adjourned to March 13 and 14 for hearing.

The six accused persons standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on pipeline vandalisation and murder of three engineers are: Joel Inerepamu (25), Reuben Oluwole (60), John Isaiah (28), Ineye Okposa (40), Timi Gunugunu (22), and Olisa Saheed (25).

JTF impounds two oil vessels, Apprehends kidnap kingpin in Delta

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA & FESTUS AHON

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ENAGOA — THE Joint Task Force, JTF, code named Operation Pulo Shield, yesterday, impounded two oil vessels and barges along the Akassa waterways in Otokolomobio near Oloma and Bonny Island of Bayelsa and Rivers States.

Also raided were 23 illegal refineries located along the Ughoton River in Okpe and Saghara pipeline inlet channels of Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

No fewer than 52 suspects allegedly involved in various oil related crimes were arrested and are undergoing preliminary investigation.

The Joint Task Force in a statement, yesterday, in Yenagoa by the Head of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt-Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, said the oil vessels identified as MT Sophia and MT Everest 1 were intercepted while carrying out illegal oil bunkering activities in the region.

The vessels are currently

One of the vessels arrested during anti-illegal oil bunkering raid by J

anchored at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Jetty, Bonny Island, Rivers State under the close watch of the military personnel.

According to Onyeama,”a similar raid was also carried out along Ughoton River in Okpe

and Saghara pipeline Inlet Channel in Warri South, Delta State where 23 illegal oil refineries were destroyed.

“The JTF also arrested five wooden barges, popularly known as Cotonu boats, conveying stolen petroleum

Crime fighting: Police raise bar for college entrants

BY EVELYN USMAN

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ANO— MINISTER of Police Affairs, Mr. Caleb Olubolade, has said that henceforth, sound academic qualification and character would be the major conditions for admission into the Nigeria Police Academy, as part of effort to restructure the Force.

Olubolade, who made this known during his visit to the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, weekend, said the era where people maneouvered their ways into the Police academy was gone, even as he gave contractors handling building projects at the academy a 12-day ultimatum to complete them.

The minister who was accompanied by the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar , stated that prospective candidates into the academy must be Nigerian citizens between 18 and 22 years old and must not be less than 5.6ft for males and 4.4 ft for females.

Such candidates, he said, must possess a minimum of six credits in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO) at not more

than two sittings, including a credit in English and Mathematics, with subjects relevant to the candidate’s chosen field of study.

He stated that results obtained earlier than 2007 would not be accepted, adding that prospective candidates must also obtain satisfactory scores in written examination and oral interview.

This, he explained, was aimed at ensuring that the academy graduated only qualified students that would project the image of the force in a positive light.

While inspecting on-going projects at the academy, he

directed that the projects be completed before the end of February to accommodate fresh cadets whose selection he said was near completion.

Although the contractors attributed the slow pace of work to lack of funds, the minister assured that funds would be made available as long as they (contractors) were ready to work.

The Inspector-General of Police, on his part, acknowledged effort by the Police Affairs Ministry to improve the quality of officers produced by the academy, assuring that the police management team would do everything to support the minister to achieve this goal.

Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade (right); Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar (middle) and other senior staff of the ministry, during the inspection of the uncompleted projects at the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—7

barges in Bayelsa

Six cops, LASTMA official arrested over extortion

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS — IN a bid to curb the excesses of policemen in the Lagos State Police Command, six policemen were, weekend, arrested by operatives of the Commissioner of Police X Squad for extortion.

Also arrested were two impersonators who wore Police uniform to escort a lorry and an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA for allegedly extorting money from a motorist.

Vanguard gathered that the policemen were arrested at Oyingbo and Gbagada areas of the state while allegedly extorting money from motorcycle and commercial bus operators.

Police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operatives who were ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to rid the state of corrupt policemen, stormed Oyingbo, where they caught two Traffic Wardens and a conventional policeman attached to Area ‘C’ Command, at Oyingbo Bus-Stop, extorting money from commercial buses and lorry operators.

Three other policemen were caught allegedly extorting money from motorcycle riders within streets of Gbagada.

JTF troops.

Lorry crushes teacher, 2 others in Onitsha

By VINCENT UJUMADU

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One of the wooden barges popularly called Cotonou boats impounded by JTF troops during the recent anti-illegal oil bunkering raid.

products. The boats were arrested along Ugbokoto community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State and Obi Creek at Ikomogbemi, Otua, Tebidaba and Akassa communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“During these raids, which were carried out between January 19 and February 8, 2013, 52 suspects involved in various oil related crimes were arrested and are currently undergoing preliminary investigation before being handed over to prosecuting agencies.

2 JTF operatives killed “Within this period also, four JTF soldiers on escort duty on board Sterling Global Oil were attacked in an ambush by suspected sea robbers on February 5, 2013. Two JTF operatives were killed in action in the fire fight that ensued while two sustained injuries. The JTF is presently carrying out cordon and search of suspected hideouts to fish out the perpetrators.”

JTF nabs kidnap kingpin Meantime, Joint Military Task Force, JTF, Monday, apprehended one suspected notorious kingpin of a kidnap gang terrorizing Ughelli and its environs in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

The suspected kingpin identified as Kennedy Itoje, 37, a native of Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state was arrested by men of the JTF who were on a routine stop and check at Ogor along the East/ West road at about 6pm in a Mazda car on his way to Yenagoa.

According to a dependable source, the kidnap kingpin and his group were responsible for many of the kidnap cases in the area. The group was also allegedly responsible for the kidnap of Mrs Kate Okogu, Mrs Ighoroje, Madam Ovibi, Rev Israel Unutame and other high profile personalities in the area.

Briefing newsmen on the arrest, Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Ughelli, Lt Col Attahiru Rasheed said the suspect, Kennedy Itoje, had been on their wanted list and had been evading arrest.

WKA — THREE persons were killed yesterday when a lorry lost control and crushed a commercial motorcycle carrying a school teacher along the Onitsha-Enugu expressway near the Building Materials Market in Onitsha.

The motorcyclist, the school teacher and the conductor of the tipper lorry died on the spot.

According to an eye witness, the tipper lorry, with number plate ENUGU YG 702 ENU tried to avoid hitting an oncoming Golf car, but lost control and crushed the motorcycle. The tipper somersaulted severally and eventually hit the concrete slab dropped by the construction company handling the road project.

Man to spend a year in jail for stabbing 16-yr-old boy

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BEOKUTA — A MAGISTRATES’ Court in Abeokuta, yesterday, sentenced a 20year-old man, Bidemi Jayeola, to one year imprisonment for stabbing a 16-year-old boy.

The Magistrate, Mr Matins Akinyemi, sentenced Jayeola after he pleaded guilty to the charge of assault filed against him.

Akinyemi, who did not give the convict an option of fine, said the sentence was with hard labour. The magistrate said the offence was classified as a violent crime.

He said Jayeola inflicted “serious bodily injury” on another person, therefore, he had to go to jail and think about his actions.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the offence was committed on December 24, 2012, at about 8 p.m. at Olorunda village in Abeokuta.

He said that the convict stabbed one Yusuf Ojubanire on his neck, hand and ribs while on his way to church, adding: “The young boy and his brothers were on their way to church, when Jayeola accosted them and threatened to collect their belongings."

He also added that the arrested policemen will be tried by the provost department of the Command, while the impersonators will be charged to court. “ We have handed over the LASTMA official and the money we caught him with to LASTMA authority for prosecution and we will charge the impersonators to court. But the six policemen will have to stand trial at the Provost Department with 17 others and if they are found guilty, they may be discharged from the service," the source said.

29-yr-old guard jailed 2 months over ATM theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A 29-YEAR-OLD security guard, Benjamin Nyiynogo, was yesterday, sentenced to two months imprisonment by an Ikeja Magistrate Court, for stealing N76,000 through an Automated Teller Machine, ATM. According to the magistrate, Mrs Dan Oni, “you are hereby sentenced to a two-month imprisonment with hard labour and without an option of fine for pleading guilty to the charge against you.

“You are to pay the N76,000 to the complainant upon your return from prison.”

The Police Prosecutor Edet Okoi had told the court that the defendant stole the money belonging to one Mr Jimoh Aliu, his supervisor at work.

He said the complainant gave his FirstBank ATM card with the PIN no to Nyiynogo to help him withdraw N40,000 from his account but when he got to the bank, he withdrew N76,000 from the account and absconded with the money.

Gunmen kill 6 persons in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS— THREE farmers were gunned down at Kassa village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State when attackers opened fire on them as they worked on their farm.

About 23 cows were also killed during the attack, while nine were injured and five declared missing.

However, two of the attackers were also killed by members of the Special Task Force, STF, who moved promptly to the scene and engaged them in a shoot out.

Media Officer of the STF, Captain Salisu Mustapha, who confirmed the attack in a statement, said four of the attackers were arrested with arms and ammunition seized from them.

He said three AK-47 rifles, one locally made rifle, 45 rounds of 7 .62mm special and 31 cartridges were recovered from the assailants.

He urged the people of the state to remain vigilant and warned that those bent on threatening the peace of the state would be treated as enemies of the state.

Meantime, three people were again shot dead in Plateau State as gunmen attacked the premises of the West African Milk Company Limited, WAMCO, Monday night, killing the three securitymen on duty.

The assailants, according to eyewitnesses, struck at about 10 p.m. at the company’s premises at Kaduna-Vom in Jos South LGA. It was not clear whether they were robbers or had another mission.

Men of the Special Task Force, STF, responded swiftly and succeeded in killing two of the attackers while others escaped.

8—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Polio workers killing: 2 Wazobia FM presenters, one other arraigned

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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ANO—TWO members of staff of Wazobia FM, Yakubu Musa Fagge and Malam Mubaraq were yesterday arraigned before a magistrate court on a fivecount charge over a radio programme that allegedly repeated conspiracy theories about polio vaccinations few days before 10 female health immunisation workers were killed by gunmen.

Gunmen attacked two polio clinics in the northern city of Kano on February 8, killing at least 10 people, after Wazobia FM broadcast a story allegedly reviving claims that the vaccines are part of a Western plot to harm Muslims.

Also arraigned with the presenter and a reporter of a popular mix grilled programme called “Sanda Girma” was the former Chairman, Kano Film Censorship Board, Alhaji Rabo Abubakar.

The trio are standing trial on alleged criminal conspiracy and intentional insult.

Other charges includes defamation of character, obstruction of public servant in discharging his duties, injurious falsehood and inciting disturbance The three accused pleaded not guilty when the FIR was read to them by the Police Prosecution officer, Sergeant Sadiq Na’aba.

The Defence lawyer, Musa Adam Aliyu thereafter sought for bail for the three accused persons, citing relevant sections of the law that guarantee their right to freedom.

However, Police counsel Sergeant Sadiq Na 'aba objected to the bail application, arguing that there are clear indications that the accused might interfere in the course of investigation if they are released on bail.

In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Ibrahim Bello ordered that the three accused should be kept in police custody till tomorrow to enable the court look at the merit of the bail application.

The magistrate further directed the police to ensure that the suspects have unimpeded access to their lawyers and families while in their custody.

Jaji bombing: Maj-Gen. Isah to face court martial Over negligence of duty

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—INDICATIONS emerged yesterday that indicted former Commandant Infantry Centre Jaji, Major General M.D. Isah who is currently retired, may be recalled and made to face a court martial over negligence of duty that led to bombing of the Military Protestant Church in Jaji which killed over 20 people, including two Generals.

Vanguard gathered that the Board of Inquiry, BoI, in its report indicted the General for having prior knowledge of the bomb attack a day before the incident and he chose not to take any action to prevent it, neither did he give orders to his subordinates, but rather travelled for the Chief of Army Staff Conference in Asaba, Delta State, which made an enraged Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, to order him back to Jaji.

It will be recalled that the November 25, 2012 bombing claimed the lives of over 20 people, including an Air Commodore who was Director of the Airforce Faculty at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and an Army General (names withheld).

General Ihejirika had said on Monday that General Isah, who was already aware that his retirement date was due, asked for one year extension which was turned down. He (Isah) claimed that his reason for asking for an extension was that he still has an idea and experience on how to checkmate terrorist attacks.

Speaking on promotions in the army, he said, "it might interest Nigerians to note that in 2011, we promoted 25 officers to the rank of Major General. Five out of this 25, all came from Kano State because the promotion was based on merit.

“That will explain to you that under my watch, I could not stand any of the officers being dropped because they clearly deserve it.

With these few remarks I hope you have realized that when people talk about religious and ethnic considerations, these are issues that must be downplayed. It should not be brought into the army at all”.

He said that political scores should be settled elsewhere because the army is apolitical. Whoever becomes the president of the country becomes the Commander in Chief. So the military institution, particularly the army, needs to be protected.

“I spoke of my experience, as I sit here. I want to inform you that once in my career, I missed promotion. That was in 1998, promotion from the rank of Lt. Colonel to Colonel, at that particular time,

I had PSc+, having taught in Staff College. I had commanded a unit 12 Field Engineer Regiment at Ijebu Ode. Among all the engineering officers promoted, I was the only officer that has held such command. That same year I missed the promotion, I had re-

ceived commendation from the Chief of Army staff for the excellent performance of my unit in an exercise called "Exercise Eagle Ring One".

This, he said, was the very first time that the exercise was being held and during the exercise,

several bridges were declared blown by the enemy and under my supervision, we launched a medium cadre bridge that took heavy tanks across the bridge, hence I earned commendation by the Chief and in spite of all these, I missed my promotion.

Princess Stella Oduah, Minister of Aviation (right); Mr George Ureisi, Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, (2nd right), during inspection of on-going expansion project at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Pope's resignation: There 's no crisis in the church — CSN It's a lesson to all leaders — Methodist Prelate

BY SAM EYOBOKA & CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—THE announcement by the Pope Benedict XVI to bow out on February 28, due to poor health came as a shock not only to Catholic Church, but to the entire Christendom. The Catholic Church in Nigeria insisted that there is no crisis in the church, as the action is backed by the Cannon law even as President Goodluck Jonathan hailed the pope’s decision, saying he has demonstrated “exemplary wisdom and courage”.

The Director of Communication, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev Fr Raulph Madu who spoke to Vanguard, however, admonished Christians to pray fervently for the emergence of another God-fearing pope.

Madu said: “There is no crisis in the church. The Holy Father is expressing his freedom. The Cannon law which is the constitution of the church, Cannon 332 paragraph 2 gives the pontiff freedom to abdicate.

He added that “There is no vacuum, no confusion, no crisis, but it is a shock and surprise to us. It is what has happened many hundred years ago in the church, so

people don’t think of it. Our own generation has never seen a thing like that, so we cannot but see people shocked. But as I said there is no crisis in the church. It is just a call for people to pray for good and smooth transition”.

Asked if any Nigerian would be qualified to be in the Conclave that will elect a new Pope, he said the archbishop emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie and the archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan will be the only two cardinals qualified to vote and be voted for.

According to him, the only people qualified to elect a new pope must be cardinals who are below the age of 80.

Also speaking in an interview, Lagos Archdiocesan director of Social Communications, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu corroborated Madu’s position, saying that there is no big deal for the Pope to resign and it will therefore be out of place for anybody to assume that it is a sign of schism in the church.

Rev Osu said: “The Pope enjoys the right to resign at any point in his reign if he chooses.

He does not need the consent of the cardinals to do so,” adding that everybody would have to now

await the next move from the Vatican.

He added that there is “Roma locuta est, causa finita est” which means “Rome has spoken, case is closed,” noting that there is no need for any panic in any quarters.

Similarly, the Methodist Church of Nigeria, threw its weight behind the pope, saying his resignation should serve as lesson to all leaders, adding it is always honourable to bow out, when the ovation is still loud.

The Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His eminence, Dr. Ola Makinde in a telephone interview with Vanguard described Pope Benedict XVI as a ‘man of integrity, dependable man’ who recognizes his health challenge and inability to cope with the responsibility of leadership.

Dr. Makinde said: “This is a good lesson from that papa. He is a man of integrity. He’s bowing out when the ovation is loudest. He has made history and he has thought us, religious leaders, to know when the body is tired of work and to do honourable thing.

He is a blessing to Christianity, and a blessing to Roman Catholic Church. So, I wish him all the best in the rest of his life”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013— —9

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10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

ACCIDENT—Sympathisers removing a vehicle at Opic Roundabout, Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta after an accident, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

My cancer story — Chime Continues from Page 5 the last was held on Tuesday, the week I left.

After the EXCO meeting, I told my EXCO members that I was proceeding on long vacation which I wouldn’t know how long it would last to treat myself. That was the information they got and of course I told them to cooperate with the acting governor. The following day, I left for Abuja, which was a Wednesday and again attended the meeting of the Governors' Forum, that night.

Then Thursday morning, we had National Economic Council meeting and the Deputy Governor was there to represent me.

I went back to London to commence treatment "I got to London and settled in and the follow-

ing day Friday went to see the Oncologist who had already made arrangements for treatments to begin and on Monday, I started treatment. I don’t think any of you has had an experience. Cancer is a deadly disease and the cure is also deadly, the cure for cancer is not Panadol, the cure for cancer is not these drugs you buy off the counter.

By the time you go through Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, you will be a changed person. So I started treatment, the treatment altogether lasted for 12 weeks, throughout the period of my treatment, I was an outpatient. I was never admitted in any hospital, all my treatments, I took as an outpatient. During the period of treatment, I personally had challenges with the treatment because like I said, except

you see somebody that has taken that kind of treatment, it is not easy to imagine.

I read my obituary in the papers "So when I started reading in the papers, how I went to India, how I died at so, so place, to us it was a kind of entertainment. Anytime we felt like being entertained, we call up the Nigerian papers online and we will be laughing. So it was a lot of entertainment to us but what became worrisome was the deliberate and sustained attempt to undermine the government of Enugu State. Over the years, if you people have been following events especially when we addressed our people, yes, we have invested a lot of money in infrastructure and other spheres of life but I have always said

that one thing we would like to leave behind is a workable system, that had always been topmost on our agenda because when we came in, yes, I was part of the last administration but unfortunately when we came in there was no system in place, not even a bad one. So we felt there was this need to have a system in place because that is the only way you can encourage continuity because in this place, a governor comes and he will want to chart his own course. But if you have a system in place, if a governor comes in, he will build on what is on ground.

The system made governance work in my absence "This was a kind of opportunity to put to test the system we have put in place. Everything

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The Trustees Are: 1. Evangelist Chris Brown Amadi 2. Hon. (Chief) Okere Tony Eze 3. Barr Nwosu Ken Golden Iheukwumere Aims And Objectives: 1. To initiate human development and poverty alleviation projects 2. To promote youth empowerment and women development programmes Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Chief Ebere Nwokoro THE FIRM CHAMBERS 5/6 Samek Rd, Owerri, Imo State

kept on happening as if the governor was not on leave, nobody talked about strike, nobody talked about nonpayment of salaries, no contractor agitated over payment of fees, everything and life continued to be normal. It was like we had increased activities in my absence and I can say that I can beat my chest to thank the Deputy Governor who led the team and who ensured that the system worked in my absence. I am happy that we have almost attained that height and when we will be leaving in a few years time, we will be glad we have built a system and it is a good thing to notice that we didn’t have problems in spite of all attempts made by our brothers and sisters to undermine us. The government of Enugu state has come to stay, the system put by us has come to stay.

My treatment ended officially on December 10, 2012 "The treatment officially ended on 10th of December and of course when treatment ends, that is when the real thing starts. When I had commenced treatment, what my doctors said was that I should stay off office for six months, that was their recommendation, but by first week of January when we went to review my state, they were shocked at the recovery rate, they were happy with the recovery, the scan they did showed that the tumour and nose fluid had disappeared completely, not even a scar was left behind.

I was declared cancer-free "And I won’t like to use the expression that they have declared me cancer free, but that was exactly what happened. Cancer is cancer and one will be required to go there from time to time for check up to make sure it does not raise its ugly head again.

But as things are now, they have succeeded in curing that disease that was detected in September last year.

Attacks on my staff "Coming to my staff, all

attacks on them that they were hoarding information and all that was an unfair attack. First and foremost, they didn’t have all the information, all they knew was that I was going on vacation and I didn’t know it was the business of people to know what my activities will be when I am going on vacation. So I decided to use the period of my vacation to take care of myself I don’t see how it should concern anybody, I don’t see why we should owe anybody any apologies. The important thing is complying with the law, making sure that as governor of the state, you ensured that the ship of governance remained on course and not abandoning your people. So, all those unfair attacks I found a little bit mischievious, and actually exposed ignorance of some of our people. I was officially discharged [not on admission] and I am still in the process of recovering, you won’t expect to see me tomorrow running but I am fitter now to resume duties, I am fit enough to ensure that government is on course with the assistance of my c o - p i l o t s .

After addressing the newsmen, Chime called for questions: Asked why he didn't speak the day he came back and whether it was deliberate or part of the strategy, he said: "If you were at the airport you would not have asked the question. When the aircraft stopped, looking out through the window, I saw the acting governor with his wife, I saw our own local service chiefs, the commander Garrison, the police commissioner and all that.

Everything looked orderly, immediately I alighted from the plane, those people disappeared. I had to stop that I won’t move an inch here until I see the acting governor and they made way for him, every where was chaotic. That was how I saw him. So you expected me in that madness to start addressing press? Of course I entered my car and we came here and relaxed. There is no urgency. I am just doing this in the interest of people who have been misled. There was no opportunity to address the press."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—11

Ekiti House dissolves c’tees, sacks clerk

Truck owners protest restriction order in Abeokuta

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO EKITI—IN apparent bid to resolve the lingering crisis in Ekiti State House of Assembly, the House leadership has dissolved all the existing standing committees, while the clerk of the House, Mr. Tunde Famoyegun, has been removed and redeployed.

The House has been enmeshed with controversies in recent time with the Speaker, Adewale Omirin facing impeachment threat.

At a briefing, yesterday, the House Majority leader, Mr. Churchill Adedipe, alongside his colleagues, denied any crisis in the House, noting that new standing committees would soon be reconstituted to inject fresh ideas and innovations into the running of the committees.

Kuku bags Ekiti varsity alumni award

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

E

KITI State University, EKSU, Alumni Association will, tomorrow, bestow an award on the Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, for his numerous assistance and deep association with his almamater. At a briefing in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the national president of the association, Mr. Bola Ogunlayi, said Kuku would be the second beneficiary of the award since the inception of the association.

Aside the fact that Kuku was a students’ union leader in his days as a student of the university, Ogunlayi recounted some of the positive contributions of the special adviser, as a lawmaker in Ondo State House of Assembly and even now as a special adviser to the president, saying Kuku merited such an honour. Ogunlayi said the award tagged “Distinguished Alumnus Award” taking place at the university, on February 14, would coincide with Kuku’s birthday.

By DAUD OLATUNJI

L-r: Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, Dr Kola Ademujimi; Chairman of Governing Council, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Barr Dan Nwayanwu; Governor Olusegun Mimiko; Vice Chancellor, AAUA, Prof. Femi Mimiko; and a member of AAUA Governing Council, Mrs Oluyemisi Adebayo, during the courtesy visit of members of AAUA Governing Council to the Governor, in Akure, yesterday

Oyo govt demands refund of alleged N700m loot T

By OLA AJAYI

HE Action Congress of Nigeria government in Oyo State, yesterday, asked for the refund of over N700million and property allegedly recovered from the former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The request which was made by the state government after the end of weekly State Executive Council, also urged the anti-graft agency to speed up the suit filed against another exgovernor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Akala government had alleged that Ladoja misappropriated money meant for the state while in government, while Akala and two of his aides are standing trial on allegation of fraud totaling N11. 5billion.

According to Mr. Taiwo Otegbeye, the Commissioner for Information, the request was part of the resolutions of the State Executive Council.

Otegbeye said the call for the release of the money was necessary so that the present government could spend it on many other developmental programmes that would impact positively on the lives of the people in the state.

The state executive council said, in a terse statement: “The Executive Council of Oyo State Government has passed a resolution urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to expedite action on the trial of the two former governors of Oyo State

and their co-accused persons facing trial for misappropriation of the state funds and resources.

“It commended the EFCC for the thorough investigation, arrest and prosecution of the two former governors for alleged misappropriation and conversion of the state funds and resources noting that the trials of the former governors were yet to commence.”

ABEOKUTA— PARTS of Abeokuta the Ogun State capital, were paralyzed, yesterday, by hundreds of aggrieved members of the Truck Owners Association of Nigeria, TOAN, protesting the restriction order placed on the movement of their trucks and trailers by the state government.

The protesters caused traffic gridlock along the popular Abiola Way in the metropolis where the TOAN secretariat is located and other major roads.

Armed policemen were deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

TOAN members who were joined by other related groups such as Association of Granite Suppliers and Haulers, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (Heavy Truck Section) and the First Nigeria Tipper and Lorry Drivers Association, vowed to resist the restriction order.

The protesters who demanded the release of 13 trucks belonging to members allegedly seized by the agents of the state government, chanted antigovernment songs.

COE provost seeks upgrading of college

BY DAYO JOHNSON

THE Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Professor Adeyemi Idowu, has appealed to the National Assembly to expedite action in the upgrading of the college and others in the country to the status of a university.

Prof. Idown who spoke at a briefing to herald the institution’s 32nd convocation slated for Friday and Saturday, said the upgrading of some Colleges of Education in the country to the status of University of Education had been endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education and passed to the National Assembly for approval.

According to him, Adeyemi College of Education, and others would become university of education as soon as the National Assembly gives its final approval.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

NULGE poised to tackle govs over LG autonomy

Delta community issue 14-day ultimatum to NPDC over pollution

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—LOCAL government workers, under the aegis of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, threatened to resist moves by some state governors to thwart plans for constitutional autonomy for local government councils in the country.

President of NULGE, Edo State chapter, Mr. Patrick Okeranlen, who gave the indication while speaking with newsmen, said series of sensitisation rallies to foil attempts to subvert the peoples’ will had been scheduled by the union in the six geo-political zones of the country.

He said: “During the public hearings in the zones, beside the one sponsored by the House of Representatives and the Senate, the people were resolute that local governments should be given autonomy. Among the millions of people in this country, how can the governors say otherwise, to jeopardise our effort? We will resist them.”

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DIEBIRI-BATAN community, Diebiri clan, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, handed down a 14-day ultimatum to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to clean-up their polluted waters, fish ponds and mangrove swamp and pay compensation or face the wrath of the community.

A statement by the community Chairman, Mr. Alex Fenimine and two others, alleged that “since NPDC took over from Shell Petroleum Development Company in 2012, it had rebuffed every attempt to enter into a memorandum of understanding with our community to address obvious developmental and environmental issues."

We've no trouble with Shell —Bayelsa community

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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E N A G O A — FORMER Special Adviser to former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State, Mr. Stanley Braboke, said, yesterday, that Kou clan in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state had no problem with Shell Petroleum Development Company, over the inauguration of a development board.

Speaking to Vanguard, he said: “The claim that Shell had problem with Kou clan over the inauguration of the new Kou Cluster Development Board is a figment of the imagination of a few persons in the old board.

“As chairman of the discussant group for Kou clan for the signing of the new Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, I can confirm that there was never a time the community asked the members of the old board, led Mr. Austin Igbapike to drag Shell to court over outstanding debt."

Frowning at what he called the manipulation of state Houses of Assembly by some governors to enact laws that would further strip the councils of their constitutional rights besides the non-remittance of the statutory 10 per cent internally generated revenue, he said that granting autonomy to local governments remained the only pana-

cea to grassroots development in any democracy.

“Invariably, what other states, apart from River State, are doing, is to take the one the Federal Government had given and not to add the 10 percent internally generated revenue before allocating it to the councils and after deducting teachers salaries, what is left is not able to cater for staff salaries.”

He appealled to Edo State governor to comply with the provision of the constitution by remitting the 10 percent internally generated revenue to the local governments.

Okeranlen commended the governor over his decision to conduct local government elections billed for April 20, and urged him to provide a level play field for all the political parties.

VISIT: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (right), and the District Governor Rotary International, District 9140 Nigeria, Mr, Onyebuchi Onuoha, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Uduaghan orders demolition of illegal structures in Asaba

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—WORRIED by the upsurge of illegal structures in Asaba, Delta State capital, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, might have

given a marching order to the state Commissioner for Environment to demolish them forthwith.

Governor Uduaghan had warned that the government would no longer tolerate the ugly development, which he

FG urged to establish HIV/ AIDS centres

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Agency for the Control, BYSACA, has called on Federal Government to establish HIV/AIDS specialist centers across the six geo-political zones of the country to tackle the scourge.

Director-General, BYSACA, Mr. Temple Iluma, said the setting up of the AIDS specialist centres would avert what he described as “ominous national tragedy.”

Iluma, yesterday, in Yenagoa, listed states with high HIV prevalence as Benue 12.7 per cent, Akwa Ibom 10.9

per cent, Bayelsa 9.1 per cent, FCT 8.6 per cent, Anambra 8.7 per cent, Plateau 7.7per cent and Nasarawa 7.5 per cent.

said aggravates flooding in the state.

State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, has therefore, warned owners of such illegal structures, especially those blocking natural waterways and drainages, to pull them down as he would personally lead a task force to effect compliance.

Omare, in a statement in Asaba, yesterday, said: “Those involved should remove them before the arrival of the government team, and those

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ANYIBUOFU AGE GRADE Ifite-Oraifite, Ekwusigo L.G.A., Anambra State, Nigeria

This is to inform the general public that the above Age Grade has applied to the Ekwusigo Local Government for registration.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Ekwusigo Local Government within 21 days of this publication.

Signed:

who failed to do so would be prosecuted at the mo-

bile court set up for the exercise."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—13

Constitution amendment: We’ll not be intimidated —Ekweremadu

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West, yesterday, vowed that no amount of intimidation from any part of the country will push him to drop the assignment of getting a new constitution for Nigeria.

Senator Ekweremadu, added that no part of the country would be taken by surprise in the area of state creation as everyone would be carried along.

Speaking, yesterday, when he received traditional rulers, elders and leaders of Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi and Nsit Ubium Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, in his office, he said that the committee would not shy away from addressing issues relating to the welfare of the people, adding that no amount of blackmail would deter the committee from going ahead.

Earlier, in his address on

C-River emerging Nigeria’s manufacturing hub —Maku

I

NFORMATION Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, has said that Cross River State was gradually emerging as Nigeria’s manufacturing hub given the level of investment inflows into the state.

Speaking during the Good Governance Team tour of the Free Trade Zone in Calabar, where General Electric is to build a manufacturing and assembly facility, Maku, said given the rate major international companies were opening shop in Calabar, the state may soon become the manufacturing hub in West Africa.

He said in the Free Trade Zone alone, there were 69 companies, 43 of which are manufacturing companies.

Maku attributed the inflow of investments into the state majorly to the state’s focused and visionary leadership.

He said: “I congratulate Cross River State Government for winning the General Electric project.

“Cross River is not only known for tourism but is gradually becoming a manufacturing hub for the country and West African sub region.”

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behalf of the people from the six local government areas, the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty

Edidem Ntukubom, Ntuk Obom XII, said the people totally rejected plans to uproot them from their present state to the proposed Oil Rivers State.

He said that the people of

the six councils vehemently protest the inclusion of their lands, water resources and wealth in the proposed state, adding that they had contributed immensely to the national wealth over the past 40 years.

VISIT: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (left) and Dr. Wilson Imogan, Chairman, Organising Committee, Dr Abel Guobadia Memorial Lecture, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Benin City, yesterday.

Edo lawyer sues DSS for alleged illegal arrest, detention

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—A L AWYER in Ekpoma, Edo State, Mr. Osadebamen Okhilua, has instituted a suit before a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State, against the state branch of Department of State Security, DSS, for alleged violation of his rights to personal liberty, dignity and fair hearing, as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Articles 5, 6, and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Respondents in the suit are

Director General, DSS, Mr. Palmer; Head of Operations, Edo DSS, Edo State Director, DSS and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Describing the action of operatives of Edo DSS as unconstitutional and illegal, he prayed the court for an award N150 million as general and/ or exemplary damages/compensation for his unlawful and unconstitutional arrest, detention and preventing his mother and relatives from having access to him.

Okhilua is also demanding a written apology to be published in at least one Nige-

rian newspaper.

The applicant wants the court to declare that the failure and refusal of the officers of DSS, who were agents, servants or privies of the respondents, to provide him with his telephone or any other telephone to enable him contact his solicitors, family or relatives and inform them that he was being detained at the offices of the respondents in Benin City and or obtained a legal help from January 24 2012 to February 3, 2012, was a gross violation of his rights to liberty as enshrined in Section 35(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 7(d) of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights.

We’ll partner Rotary on devt —Amaechi

R

IVERS State governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has said that the state government was willing to partner Rotary International, to develop the state.

Governor Amaechi spoke when the District Governor of Rotary International, District 9140, Nigeria, Rotarian Onyebuchi Onuoha, with other notable Rotarians paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

He said: “Rivers State Government is willing to partner you in any field and I want you to identify the field.”

The governor said he had handed over to foreign partners, the management of the world-class Kesley Harrison Hospital and the Ultra-modern Maxillo–Facial Dental Hospital, built by his administration, for efficiency and maximum benefit to the people.

“I encourage government in

two ways, one, to see how to strengthen and build institutions, and the other, if the institutions and those who manage them do not want you to build, you outsource some of the things. So, government is very willing to partner you to develop Rivers State,” he said.

Earlier, Mr. Onuoha, said they were in Rivers State to assess performance of Rotary Clubs in District 9140, made up of 11 states in the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones of the country.

Ex-militant commanders give FG three-day ultimatum

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—EXMILITANT commanders have given a three-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay them their monthly stipend or be ready for another round of tension in the region.

Speaking at the end of a meeting under the aegis of Leadership Forum for Peace in the Niger Delta, ‘General’ Reuben Wilson, said ex-commanders were worried that they could lose control of their boys if the Federal Government continued to delay payment of the stipend.

He said no repentant militant had been paid since January, a situation he noted, was already causing dislocation in several homes, adding that many former militants were already finding it difficult to pay their children’s school fees and take care of other responsibilities.

Computer, leadership institute launched in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — URHOBO Progressive Youth Association, UPYA, has launched its computer and leadership institute.

President of the association, Mr. Marcus Ovwero, in a statement, yesterday, said the institute had commenced admission into its three months basic leadership and computer certificate course with a target of 50 and 30 youths at its Warri and Ughelli campuses respectively in the first batch.

He said the group was officially launched by Uhrobo Progress Union on December 8, 2012, with a mandate to be in charge of the data base for Urhobo youths, adding that the leadership and computer institute was put in place to empower the youths practically with basic computer and leadership skills.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FUBRUARY 13, 2013

Prospective corps members accuse JAMB officials of extortion

BY HANNAH ISIBOR AGOS—SOME in tending National Youth Service Corps members for batch ‘A’ 2013, have accused officials of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, of extortion before the they could be issued admission letter.

The alleged extortion is said to be rampant in Enugu and Owerri offices of JAMB. The admission letter is requested by various school managements as evidence to prove to NYSC that the intending corps members wrote the exam.

This came as the board’s office in Lagos said it did not have the technical capacity to attend to the prospective corps members.

It would be recalled that the NYSC in collaboration with JAMB issued a new directive that graduates preparing for NYSC must provide their Unified Matriculation Tertiary Examination registration numbers before they are mobilized.

The officials were accused of demanding between N3,000 and N5,000 per person before attending to

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them.

A graduate of Federal University of Technology, FUTO, who was among several intending corps members who besieged Lagos office, told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that since Lagos office said it had no capacity to issue the letter, his last option would be to go to Owerri where officials of JAMB were demanding N5,000 for the letter.

Another graduate of Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu, claimed he had to come to Lagos office after a relation that volunteered to get the letter from JAMB’s office, Enugu, called to inform him that they were demanding between N3,000 to N4,000 before the letter could be released.

Attempts to reach JAMB Registrar, Prof Dibu Ojerinde proved abortive as there was no response to several calls and text messages.

Vanguard gathered that the 2013 batch ‘A’ list was released in various schools across the country last Fri-

day with many of the graduates falling under NYSC error list which was attributed to the inability of JAMB to rectify the candidates’ registration numbers.

For instance, at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, about 100 persons fell into the error list.

At IMT, Enugu, only 45 persons were mobilised while 1,290 persons fell under the error list. Similarly, at FUTO, less than 20 per cent of those shortlisted were mobilized while about 80 per cent fell in the error list.

A check by Vanguard in the Lagos office of JAMB

revealed that the many prospective corps members besieged the premises yesterday to get their JAMB admission letter only to be told that the Lagos office was not in a position to handle such.

One of the receptionists, (names withheld), said the Lagos office could not handle such inquiry as it had no facility equipped with students’ data.

She directed all prospective corps members to a directive pasted on the receptionist’s office which read that all those who wrote UMTE exam before 2008 should go to Abuja for their admission.

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AG O S — FA M I LY head of Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy family, Pa Fatai Oshodi and a member of the family, Dr. Mustapha Oshodi, have filed a fresh suit against some members of the family, seeking to enforce an earlier ruling of the court.

Defendants are Chief Babatunde Oshodi, Alhaji Rasaq Tolani Oshodi, Alhaji Sura Oshodi and Mr. Victor O. Otuyemi, a lawyer, who were dragged to court for allegedly disregarding the consent judgment delivered by Justice Ojikutu Oshode on December 16, 2010.

In the judgment, the court had ordered the defendants to vacate Iga Oshodi and stop parading

Alausa power project ‘ll be ready Oct —Fashola

BY MONSUR OLOW-

OOPEJO

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A G O S — GOVER NOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said the Alausa Independent Power Project, IPP, being constructed to provide power supply for the entire Alausa Secretariat, would be ready this October.

Fashola said the state was almost completing the

design of a broadband infrastructure for Lagos state, saying “the state is already working with two companies on the project.”

The governor represented by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, spoke in a statement at the commencement of the Lagos State Science and Technology, LASTECH, Week, with the

theme “Promoting the development of science and technology through entrepreneurship education,” at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat.

He said: “The difference between developed countries and developing is science and technology and the rule of law, adding “Power supply and Broadband falls under science and technology.”

Chieftaincy tussle: Family asks court to enforce

order themselves as custodian of the Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy family and as council executive members.

In the fresh suit, the applicants are praying the court, to direct the Deputy Sheriff to enforce the consent judgment entered into by the parties dated December 15, 2010 and delivered by Justice Oshode (rtd.) on the December 16, 2010.”

They also want the court to compel the defendants to render account of the proceeds of the family property and to vacate the Iga Oshodi, the family house within seven days. * An order leveling execution on the defendants jointly and severally in default of compliance with the judgment of this honorable court. * An order, mandating Dr. Mustapha Oshodi to take over the control of the council executive of the Oshodi Tapa chieftaincy family and management of Iga Oshodi forthwith.

Vanguard , WEDNESNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 —15

Police uncover fake Navy recruitment syndicate Nab dismissed navy officer, 2 others

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAK-

WURU BUJA——THE Nigeria Police Force has arrested three persons, including a dismissed naval personnel, for allegedly operating a fake navy recruitment syndicate and collecting huge sums of money from their victims.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, said eleven victims who had high hopes of being recruited into the navy were with the suspects when they were rounded up.

Mba said two laptops, three naval uniforms, one naval identity card bearing the name of the leader of the syndicate, Emmanuel David Audu, who was said to have been dismissed from the navy, documents capturing names of candidates and N100,000 collected from the victims were recovered from the suspects.

He said based on a tip off, a team of policemen attached to Benue State Police Command on February 7, 2013, at about 5pm, arrested the suspected fraudsters at Habibat Hotel, Old GRA,

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Makurdi, the Benue State capital. ‘’The three suspects capitalising on the gullibility of unsuspecting Nigerian youths, chose to pool the wool over the eyes of members of the public by claiming to be naval officers involved in recruitment for the navy. ‘’At the time of their arrest, eleven persons already hood-

winked into believing they were on the verge of being recruited into the Nigerian Navy were found with them,” he said, adding that the leader of the gang, Emmanuel Audu, admitted that he collected from their victims N100,000 at the rate ranging from N10,000.00 to N20, 000.00 per candidate.

The Police spokesman said the

ring leader of the gang, who resides at Abacha Barracks, Abuja, confessed that since he lost his job as a naval officer, he took to illegal recruitment and racketeering as his main source of income and livelihood.

He gave the names of the other two suspects as Adegoke Musbahu and Idowu Abraham.

VISIT: From left: Mr. Emeka Okereke, Director-General, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, ECClMA; Dr. lfeanyi Okoye, Deputy President, and Dr. Theo Okonkwo, President, during a vist by the ECCIMA team to Vangurd Media Ltd, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Shola Oyelese.

Kano health workers killing: Setback for Nigerian children —Maina

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BY VICTORIA OJEME

BUJA—MINISTER of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, has described the killing of nine female health workers in Kano during polio vaccination as a threat to the future of Nigerian children.

Hajia Maina, who reacted yesterday to the killing of the health workers last Friday in Kano, also called for mass action to stop the reign of terror against innocent women.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the Minister said: “These dastardly terrorist killings are not only an attack on our collective responsibility to secure a healthy future for our children through elimination of the polio virus but also an attack on humanity.

“Even in worst situations, women and children being the most vulnerable members of any society, are often protected and never victims of such an ungodly act.

“The Nigerian women condemn this gruesome act in its entirety, and therefore call for mass action to squarely address the issue and save the cradle of humanity in the future.”

Reps call for construction ergy and resources in of 2nd Niger Bridge cushioning the hardship

BY BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—THE House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to engage the services of a competent contractor to commence the construction of a second Niger bridge to support the one in use currently.

This resolution came, following a motion, threat of the collapse of the River Niger bridge, sponsored by Mr. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Owerri Federal Constituency of Imo State.

Onyewuchi noted that the bridge, which links the South-East, South-South and South-West and some northern states, was on the verge of collapse due to its age, over use and lack of maintenance.

He said: “There is evidence of corrosion and cracks to the structural members of the bridge, which has been stretched beyond its limits and capacity.”

He expressed worry that the eventual collapse of

the River Niger bridge would lead to the death of many Nigerians and motorists, adding that a lot of properties will be lost in the mayhem as sections of the country will be cut off.

Onyewuchi further stressed that the collapse of the River Niger bridge would lead to the dislocation and disruption of commercial activities, adding that government will be forced to channel all its en-

and other effects resulting from such collapse.

He said: “The promises of constructing a second Niger Bridge by the past and present administrations has been a mirage.”

The House therefore urged the ministry of works to immediately commence the reinforcement, repairs and rehabilitation of the River Niger bridge to avoid the dire consequences of its collapse.

Transmission, our greatest challenge —Power Minister

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BY BEN AGANDE

BUJA—MINISTER of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, has said that transmission remained one of the greatest challenge in the power sector.

According to him, government is working hard to ensure that this problem is resolved.

Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, presided over by Vice President Muhammad Namadi

Sambo yesterday, Prof Nebo said government was focusing attention on this and other problematic areas to ensure that the expectations of Nigerians were met in the shortest possible time.

He said the federal government was working round the clock to link many parts of the country to the national grid before the end of the year, adding that solutions were being sought to other myriad of problems militating against the provision of steady power to Nigerians.

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16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Anxiety as Senators, Reps refuse Jonathan's request to alter budget

PIB: Southern senators to engage consultants

BY HENRY UMORU

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR ANXIETY gripped presidency officials and caucus leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the National Assembly, yesterday, following the rejection of the alterations sought by the presidency into the N4.798 trillion 2013 budget.

The legislators at an interactive meeting with officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government had bluntly refused the entreaties to alter the allocations to some of the MDAs as requested by the president before his assent.

The refusal of the legislators was despite proof of mistakes made by the National Assembly in the compilation of the details. In some instances, allocations made for personnel of some

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MDAs were lumped with capital leaving little or no provisions for personnel.

President Jonathan had withheld assent on the budget which was forwarded to him on January 14 on the strength of objection raised by a senior minister of the administration who insisted that the corrections be made in details before the assent.

President Jonathan was said to have, based on the promptings of the senior minister, insisted that corrections be made in details before his assent.

Besides, the president had at a meeting with the National Assembly leadership prior to last week’s meetings with the MDAs also raised the issue of the benchmark and the nonprovision of funds for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, on account of the retention of Ms Aruma Oteh as directorgeneral. The National As-

sembly leadership had politely declined the request on Oteh and the benchmark, saying that the two issues were non-negotiable but agreed to look again at the mistakes in the details of the budget.

However, at the interactive meeting with the legislators which took place in the Senate building last week, the legislators were said to have bluntly refused to effect the alterations as they insisted that whatever observations the president has should come in the form of an amendment bill.

A source familiar with the discussions revealed that the legislators are insisting on the adoption of due process in effecting the corrections, affirming that once the budget is passed the only way it can be altered was through the process of amendment.

Presidency officials and party leaders in the Nation-

al Assembly were said to be anxious over the next line of action on the budget which would now depend on the president’s decision.

Legislators from the opposition parties had given their intention to initiate moves to override a veto should the president refuse to give his assent to the budget by February 13 which would be 30 days after the budget was forwarded to him.

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BUJA—AHEAD of discussions on the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, by the Senate, Senators from the southern part of the country under the aegis of Southern Senators’ Forum, have concluded arrangements to engage the services of a team of experienced consultants.

Vanguard gathered that at the end of the closed door

meeting of the Senators from South East, South West and South South at Hearing Room 1 yesterday, the Senators asked its Committee headed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, PDP, (Bayelsa Central) to go for very experienced consultants who will study the document and then advise the Southern Senators’ Forum.

House leader canvasses right leadership

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—LEADER of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, has identified god-fatherism as a major hindrance to the emergence of the right kind of leaders in Nigeria.

She has also said Nigerians must do away with the mentality that the only avenue to financial success is

through public office if true leaders interested in the welfare of the people would emerge.

She spoke while delivering a distinguished annual lecture at the University of Jos on “The Politics of Accessing Leadership: The Nigerian Context” on Monday.

Akande-Adeola: “Election in Nigeria as we know is not a fool proof mecha-

nism for the production of leaders into political offices. From the beginning of the process to the end, it is prone to manuipulations towards producing a predetermined outcome. Once as a candidate you do not belong to the right camp or show sufficient willingness to be subservient to the powers that be, you may have your dream truncated".

— 17 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013— “Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.”- K. Hubbard

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And now for the hard part a strong say in all matters. The CPC will resent an over-bearing influence of the ACN, and will particularly fight against an attempt to dictate who flies the party’s presidential flag in 2015.

The ANPP will contest any claim by the CPC on followership and size, and will insist on criteria for allocation of offices which gives it advantages over the CPC in the north. CPC will flex its muscle as a principal partner in the merger negotiations, and an arrangement that allows it a say over how other parties (particularly ANPP) is rewarded in the new party. All of them will now have to accept to be smaller fish in a bigger pond.

In the build-up towards a viable alternative platform to the PDP, the manner the new party handles intra-

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HE planned merger of three or four parties is a major development in the nation’s current political disposition. Whether it lives up to its billing as the most significant development since 1999, or it falls flat on its face in the next few weeks will be determined by many issues and challenges. After many false starts, the planned merger appears to have all the ingredients of success. The negotiations started at a period designed to emphasise this is not an electoral alliance, but a genuine merger of parties.

General Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Bola Tinubu appear to have agreed to put a past of disappointments behind them. The involvement of the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) suggests that the leadership of the CPC is willing to rise above some bitterness, while some elements in APGA see some hope in distancing the South-east from a possible disaster in 2015. The timelines allowed by the Electoral Act can all be met to ensure that all activities towards a merger are satisfied.

These are important parts of a foundation, but not enough to build on.

There is, first, the issue of giving the deal real teeth and substance. The document signed is actually a statement of intent. Now the hard task of holding party leaders and members firmly behind the agreement will challenge it. The APGA schisms are already casting a major shadow on the merger agreement. It is by no means certain that deeply-entrenched animosities in relations between CPC and ANPP will not resurface and threaten the merger. Chieftains and money bags of the ANPP wield huge influence in it, and the widespread suspicion that there is a very thin line between them and the PDP will not evaporate with the signing of the document. Just sharing a room with leaders of the ANPP and CPC would have been unthinkable a few months ago, and thorny issues such as logos, and flag, seniority, spread and clout will encounter many of these deepseated and emotive residues among many politicians who once belonged to the same party.

There will also be difficult matters to settle over allocation of power and sharing of offices. All parties in the merger will say there is more to it than 2015. They need not bother. It is all about 2015. The new party they plan to float will have to have a constitution, elect leaders and resolve issues over strategy towards 2015. The ACN will attempt to pull rank, and will demand

Indeed, if our elections are better conducted, all this business of merging will not be as necessary as they are being made out to be

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party matters will be decisive. The political parties which will form the APC will not dissolve or vanish. They will continue to function as interest groups, and jostle with others in the party for positions and all other advantages. If the merger works, and the parties float the APC, they won’t have the luxury of falling back to their pre-merger status as individual parties. If they fall apart fighting over allocation of party positions, flagbearers or grand strategies, they would be even less of a threat to the continued dominance of the PDP than they are now. If they fall out on the

eve of elections, they will make the disaster worse.

There will also be the need to ensure that all the legal requirements for

forging a formidable alliance with all parties but principally CPC and, if it is possible or desirable, ANPP. If other parties, such as APGA or their members want to come on board, they are welcome. What is not made public is that the party is anxious to break out of its ethnic cocoon, and become part of a national political platform with influence at the centre. Similarly, the bulk of the membership of the CPC think that the entire merger issue is to give General Buhari a larger, stronger platform to stand on in future. It will be difficult for them to see 2015 without him as a presidential candidate, and it will be a monumental task to convince him and his inner circle that someone else should be supported by him in his place. The ANPP sees an opportunity to expand opportunities for its ambitious members in the merger, and already has one or two presidential materials warming up.

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Buhari, Tinubu registration as a merged party are met.

The law requires the consent of party members through congresses to give effect to party mergers. INEC will watch closely for defaults, and fifth columnists and others genuinely opposed to the merger of their parties will play the roles of spoilers. PDP is unlikely to sit and watch a potentially damaging alliance emerge. The joke that is going round about the merger of the PDP and INEC, following the planned merger of CPC, ACN, ANPP and APGA is a reminder that the PDP is much better at playing INEC than all the other parties combined. INEC is unlikely to refuse to register the APC, but it will do the democratic process a world of good if it insists that essential requirements, for the merger are met. PDP will watch these developments like a hawk, and will activate its sleeper members in opposition parties to make it more difficult, or resist attempts to railroad INEC into registering the party.

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ut by far the biggest obstacle will be the manner political ambitions and egos are managed. The spoken word is that ACN is interested in

oliticians in the South-east worry about the fortunes of the zone in the event that President Jonathan insists on being sworn-in for the third time in 2015, and the elections set the nation on fire once again.

There are also issues of perception which are important. If the merger is seen only in terms of improving the chances of a northern presidency, it will suffer from massive hostility, and provide a rallying point for the PDP. If it is presented as if the South-south and parts of the South-east and northern Christians are comfortable with a Jonathan presidency (even after 2015), and only the far north and the South west are opposed to an administration and a ruling party which have brought the nation to its knees, it will suffer from ethno-religious backlash, and may not serve as the bridge it wants to be.

But the biggest threat is the electoral process. Even if all parties in Nigeria today merge, they will have no effect on the PDP unless there is a marked improvement in the quality of the electoral process. Merger or no merger, further improvements in election management must be made. Indeed, if our elections are better conducted, all this business of merging will not be as necessary as they are being made out to be. The next few months will show whether the politicians in the parties planning to merge are better than those in the PDP they want to replace.

OPINION

BY DONATUS OKPALA

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HE search for a more effective and accountable governance system in Nigeria continues with the current efforts at the national level to review and amend the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. The focus is on greater decentralization and devolution of authority and responsibilities from the Federal (centre) to state government levels, as well as from the state government level to the local government level and commensurately down the line to the communities level.

At the state level, there has been a crying need for a more decentralised and devolved administrative autonomy of management to much lower levels community and sub-community levels for a more effective social mobilization and more accountable development of communities.

This desire is buttressed on and supported by the current globally accepted and endorsed governance ((principle of subsidiarity) which enjoins that ”decisions should be made and services provided at the lowest possible level which is technically most costeffective, without creating too many over-spill effects”.

The trend of political discourse, therefore, is towards a more decentralised and devolved administrative and developmental approach - a trend and approach that challenges the people at the lowest community levels

Anambra: Who is afraid of autonomous communities system? state legislature have engaged in sailing against the

to take their developmental destinies in their own hands and not to depend on the usually more distant and hardly interested national and state level governance apparatus.

The desire for this decentralized and devolved trend has been manifested in several states of the country under varying nomenclatures -viz: Local council development areas/centres in Lagos State, autonomous communities or community council governments in Imo State, local development areas in Abia State, development centres and neighbourhood committees in Enugu State, etc. These contraptions are all aimed at further decentralising the development initiatives and governance processes. Greater administrative and management decentralization and devolution of responsibilities has been proven to be a strategic approach or framework for accelerated and accountable socio-economic development of local communities in particular and the country in the aggregate.

In the light of the foregoing political trends and discourse, it is difficult to understand the political imbroglio in Anambra State concerning autonomous communities, in which the state government and the

current by opposing and obstructing the emergence and evolution of the autonomous communities system as a process of decentralization and devolution of governance and development in the state. It is selfevident that decentralization and devolution of administrative and developmental responsibilities to lower level (community) entities is a means of achieving accelerated socio-economic development that reaches and benefits people at the grass roots level.

Drawing from extant experiences as an illustration, the Federal Government created local governments and allotted Lagos State with 20 local governments areas. However, the Lagos State Government, its Legislature and people have since found it developmentally more effective and productive to further decentralize and devolve governance in the State by creating additional 37 local government areas or local council development areas in the State - for a total of 57.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18

*Mr. Okpala, a commentator on national affairs,wrote from Lagos.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 THE on-going Good Governance Tour indicates the authorities recognise the importance of good governance to the exclusion of the federal and local government.

Nigerians wonder if anyone cared about things that affect them, basic developments governments can use to make lasting changes in the way we live – for better.

Like in all things government, the indices for rating States during the tour are vague. The people are shouting that their governments are not doing well. The tour so far has shown that governments across the federation are engaged in projects, which they claim are meeting the needs of the people.

Doubts persist. Many believe that the tour is self-serving (to give a national veneer of good health to governments, even if they have abandoned the people) and at best, a major distraction at a time dwindling national resources should recommend prudence in expenditure.

Exactly what is the Minister of Information Labaran Maku expecting to see in order to qualify a State as following the dictates of good governance? How many States are doing these

Once Upon Governance things? How would this tour be different from those Professor Jerry Gana and Frank Nweke Jnr conducted when they ran the Ministry of Information?

Some projects that won governors high marks then have been utterly abandoned or remain sheer drains on state resources. Others were commissioned though uncompleted.

The major complaint at most of Maku’s stops is that governments are less democratic than the Constitution assumes. They are distant from the people. They carry on as if the interests of the people are of no consequence.

Anti-corruption campaigns, another big concern of the people, are lost in arguments about the nature rather than the consequences of corruption. Either way, the campaigns have

become theoretical and convenient canvasses for private wars against institutions and individuals who fall out of favour with the authorities.

The waste that the Good Governance Tour entails shines through platitudes that issue from evaluation of projects. In awarding the marks, nobody cares about costs, sustainability of the projects and their relevance to the needs of the communities they serve. The number of projects is more important than the relevance of the projects.

More importantly, the States have subscribed to a Peer Review Mechanism. How is the Good Governance Tour different from the Peer Review? Is Maku so unoccupied that a tour of the country is the most important thing on his plate?

Does good governance exclude the Federal Government which ignores infrastructure it inherited while not building new ones? Who would assess Maku’s turf, and local governments? The Good Governance Tour serves no useful purpose as its lavish praises on States and silence on the performance of the Federal Government show.

OPINION

BY ERIC TENIOLA Continued yesterday pg 17

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N open convention was summoned by the party in 1982 to elect and re-confirm all the posts including the chairmanship of the party and the secretary. Uba Ahmed came out to challenge Alhaji Takuma- the famous broadcaster.

In an open election held at the National Theatre, Ahmed defeated Takuma to become the National Secretary. He later resigned from the Senate and his seat was won by his friend, Ambassador Ajuju Waziri, the spouse of Farida Waziri, the former EFCC Chairman.

As National Secretary of the NPN, Ahmed became an automati c member of the Monday caucus presided over by President Shagari,which was the highest decision making body at that time.

Our Global tour in December 1983 took us to Las Vegas, New York, Houston in U.S.A., Peking and Shanghai in China, Hong Kong and Bahrain. By the time we landed on December 30, 1983, we were all home sick and very anxious to come back to Nigeria having been away for twenty four days. Moreover, we wanted to escape the freezing London weather.

Upon the insistence of his faithful and loyal aide Chief Fab Uche and much to our delight too, AlhajiUba arranged for us to travel back to Nigeria. The schedule was for us to land in Lagos on December 31 and then to fly to Jos in the afternoon for the New Year celebrations.

Jos is the second hometown of Uba Ahmed.

But that was not to be.

We headed for the Heathrow airport about

Tribute to Uba Ahmed 7.00 p.m. and tagged our entire luggageUBA AHMED to enable us enjoy ‘executive clearance’.

The WTO Nigerian Airways flight took off around 10.00 p.m. It was a smooth flight. We were given royal treatment aboard the flight.Drinks and food were served in excess.

We dropped the Kano passengers around 4.00 a.m. and headed for the MurtalaMuhammed in Lagos. I sat next to Alhaji Ahmed in the first class compartment. We joked and discussed,we even fantasised on our scheduled trip to Jos later in the day.

As were about to land, I became curious when I noticed that other airlines were fully packed, for, none took off and none on the runaway. Being first class passengers, we were

The late Alhaji Uba Ahmed

the first to disembark. I looked through the window and saw soldiers surrounding our plane. I became uncomfortable. I immediately alerted Alhaji Ahmed who was having a conversation with the famous Ibadan trained unionist Alhaji Kola Balogun who also was disembarking. He then directed me to find out what was amiss.

I rushed to the ground floor and saw the junior brother of a close friend who works for the security. He called out my name with respect and wondered what I was doing at the place at that odd time. I asked him why he wants to know but told him I was arriving from London.

‘Are you not aware there is a coup’,he asked,’ I became dumb. He said the voice of Brigadier SanniAbacha was on the air, and advised me to get my luggage and flee the airport. I raced back to the third floor to inform Uba Ahmed that there was a military coup and that the voice of Brigadier Sanni Abacha was on the air.

He was mute,rattled,confused and abashed.

He just sat down and shook his head intermitently. By this time other passengers were murmuring about the coup and pointing in our direction. It was an embarrassing moment for us both. Ten minutes later, he regained his composure and looked directly into my eyes and asked: ’You mean Brigadier Bako not Abacha’. I instisted Abacha. He then declared’ I must escape; if this chap seizes me they will kill me. I must go, kajiko, I must go’.

His escape was later designed and executed.

I got back to the arrival lounge of the airport to collect my three luggage only to meet wild soldiers carting away all luggage including mine, tagged UBA AHMED. Wisdom dictated that I do not move close to the wild soldiers, more so that they have just taken over power in less than five hours. I left the airport dejected that day, missing a friend and losing my luggage- a bad way to begin a new year, 1984.

Six days later the security personnel came to THE PUNCH premises at Onipetesi in Ikeja and asked me to report at their Office at Alagbon in Ikoyi where I was detained for 27 days. That was where my Ulcer worsen. My boss then, Dr.Haruna Adamu who was the MD of THE PUNCH came to release me on bail,only for Dr.Adamu to be detained for 12 months by the Major General Buhari’s government.

In disguised voices,Alhaji Uba called me from abroad. He came home in 1994 and lived with Egbon Adekunle Agunbiade alias LAKO in his Ikoyi residence,Lagos. I did not see Uba Ahmed until he was appointed Minister of Labour by General Sanni Abacha and shortly after I was engaged in the Presidency. We met often at the villa either for official assignments or during Federal Executive meetings.

Senator Dangana Ndayako, a mutual friend of ours called to inform me of Uba’s passage in Germany on Chritmas day December 25, 2012. My condolence is to his family and friends, for he was a good man.

Concluded

*Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013— —19

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HRIS HUHNE, 58, was until last week a member of Parliament representing the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire, England. But after more than seven years in the parliament, the leading Liberal Democrat resigned his seat after admitting to swapping speeding points with his former wife, Vicky Pryce, in order not to lose his driving license in 2003. What started as a forgettable incident two clear years before he entered parliament has cost one man, a potential Prime Minister, the political career he had hoped to protect in the first place by lying.

He had been caught over-speeding by a speed camera on his way home in Essex but fearing that the loss of his driving license might affect his parliamentary bid, he got his wife or, rather, forced her as she now claims to take his three penalty points. A week after this, anyway, Huhne lost the license after he was caught using his mobile phone while driving. So much for his lying! But all was calm thereafter at the home front.

That is before Huhne admitted,

after he was caught by journalists, to a relationship with his bisexual partner who his former wife derisively calls his man, Carina Trimingham. His Eastleigh seat is up for grabs in a by-election slated for February 28th - no room for a prolonged vacuum as you might have in Nigeria. Huhne’s infidelity would lead to the break up of his 26 years marriage and crashed his political career even as he looks forward to a spell in jail for perverting the course of justice, the charge for which he is standing trial at the Southwark Crown Court with his wife.

Hell couldn’t possibly pack more fury than a scorned woman. In just about two weeks since the trial of the ex-couple started a bagful of dirty home underclothes have been let out of the cupboard, including stories of forced abortion and marital bullying. Vicky Pryce, an economist two years Huhne’s senior, claims that her husband’s forcing her to take his speeding points followed a pattern of marital abuse for very selfish motives, including an abortion he forced her to have in 1990 because

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the timing was wrong for his political career. The story of Huhne’s point swap first emerged after his relationship with Trimingham became front page news and he asked for separation from Pryce in 2010, seven years after she took the penalty points.

Although she now wants the world to believe that she was reluctant to do her ex-husband’s bidding in the first place and that her coming out to speak now has nothing to do with the man hooking up with another ‘man’, Pryce it was who first contacted the press and received coaching on how to get her husband to admit to the point swap in a series of recorded phone calls. She sought and got assurance against prosecution before this stratagem was hatched.

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he man obviously knew what he was up against and resolutely refused to admit to anything. A position he maintained in his first appearance

Between the predecessor and the successor in Abia

BY OGWO UMAH

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T is a fact that a drowning man will not like to go down alone; rather, he will be desperate to pull others down with him, if it is possible. But where this appears impossible, he is more likely to be left confused, frustrated and helpless.

So I was not surprised when recently I came across an interview which the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, granted his newspaper. In the interview, he made a lot of claims which call for circumspection and suspicions, and also put a question mark on their authenticity. The claims which were clearly intended to attract undue public sympathy bordered essentially on the reasons for the political differences with his successor, Theodore Orji, how they met and how former President Olusegun Obasanjo asked his mother to install his brother as his successor in office and other issues.

But Kalu failed to tell the world why his successor went to prison and why he did not quarrel with him until the latter liberated the state following his defection from the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Maybe Kalu has forgotten that Nigerians are not fools or suffering from amnesia.

It is a fact that since 1999, governors in the country do no choose their successors and members of their kitchen cabinet from people they did not know very well or who have not made impacts in their various endeavours before they became governors.

It is a public knowledge that Governor Orji is a 1978 English graduate of the University of Ibadan. After his youth service in Sokoto, he was employed as a civil servant by the

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old Imo State Civil Service Commission.

From then he was in public service, rising to the position of Administrative Secretary in the then National Electoral Commission, NECON, now Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It was while Orji was working in NECON prior to the 1999 general elections that Kalu who was facing stiff opposition to emerge as the governorship candidate of PDP in the state came seeking for his help.

Orji in humbly assisted Kalu without asking for anything in return. After the elections, Kalu reciprocated the gesture by approaching Orji to join his government as his Chief of Staff, a very strategic, sensitive and powerful position in government that is not for outsiders or strangers.

It is on record that for the eight years he served Kalu as Chief of Staff, Orji displayed a high level of professionalism and diligence, using the benefit of the enormous experience he garnered in the civil service for decades. It was the position that prepared and equipped Orji better for dealing with the herculean task of governance and challenges of holding public office in trust. After Kalu's second term in office which could not be extended constitutionally, the search for his successor began. The factors that determined the choice of his successor included the personality of the individual, the senatorial zone and the choice of majority of the party stakeholders in the state.

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efore then, it was clear that President Obasanjo who had always been at loggerheads with Kalu had already thrown his weight behind one of his aides, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu from Abia

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If Chris Huhne was a Nigerian...

Each time we witness such violations of human dignity on our roads one wonders where the law lies, wonders what would happen if Chris Huhne was a Nigerian

in court only to turn in a guilty plea a week later. But as earlier said, Pryce is equally being tried for perversion of justice.

At a lunch outing with a Nigerian academic and his Italian colleague a couple of weeks ago in London, the Nigerian friend had exclaimed after the lady told us she had paid over £200 for a traffic offence. He said he had never paid that much for a traffic offence. (We are talking here of British Pound, a denomination still worth its weight in gold in an economy where a penny is a legal tender and the highest denomination is £50.

Our own Central Bank Governor was going to slam a N5000 denomination on us all only a couple of months ago). Before this talk my Nigerian friend who had lived in the UK for more than two decades had told me that the major difference between the Nigerian society and British society is that there is a strong awareness of the law being a leveller and no respecter of person in the British society. If you’re found guilty of a crime or offence you face the consequences like any other person no matter your status. A far cry from what you’ll see in Nigeria.

Looking at the offence for which Huhne has to sacrifice his political career and the maximum sentence of life in prison (even if on the average his offence fetches just about ten months in jail), I wonder what would happen to him if he was a Nigerian. After he pleaded guilty the judge told in him in very clear terms that he should have no illusions about the sentence that awaited him. No plea bargain; no flimsy fines. When sentenced it’s certain there would be no arranged visits home. How many are those Nigerian judges ready to look a politician or senior government official in the face in this manner?

Can a Nigerian politician end his

The enormous experience he garnered in the civil service prepared and equipped Orji for dealing with the herculean task of governance and the challenges of holding public office in trust

,

Central zone to emerge as PDP governorship candidate and possibly the next governor of the state. This made the stakeholders in PPA to zero the search for Kalu’s successor to Abia Central zone in order to tame the PDP. That was how the choice of Orji as Kalu’s successor was made by party members.

Kalu being from Abia North senatorial zone wouldn’t have chosen his successor from the zone in the interest of fairness and equity. Besides, his numerous deputies whom he changed at will during his tenure were all from Abia South Senatorial zone, the likely zone that might produce Orji’s successor in 2015.

At the time Orji emerged as the PPA governorship candidate in the state, Kalu had been on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged corruption while in government.

But because of the constitutional immunity that he enjoyed then as governor, the antigraft agency could not arrest or prosecute him. Orji was, therefore, arrested and incarcerated for an offence allegedly committed by his boss.

While Orji was in the EFCC custody, his supportive wife, Mrs Mercy Odochi Orji whom he married while both of them were

career on the gravity of a traffic infraction committed ten years ago and three years before he began his political career?

Nigerians couldn’t have forgotten the outcry that followed the ‘arrest’ of an Army colonel that drove on the BRT lane by Governor Raji Fashola last year in Lagos?

There were many who felt the Governor was out to disgrace a senior military man who could have called his bluff if he had wanted to. And what do we make of both elected and unelected public officers who routinely violate traffic regulations with no consequences? How many are our current governors that have been involved in very horrible accidents leading to deaths of innocent road users and their own aides when they themselves don’t end up with ugly fractures in hospitals? How many of these governors are home right now because of road accidents due to overspeeding and reckless driving? At other times ordinary road users are scared off the road or beaten by armed escorts of state officials and other military and paramilitary personnel for no reason other than that these state officials blatantly refuse to follow traffic regulations.

Both the rich, the poor and the inbetween have suffered the menace of these so-called public officials that operate above the law. In 1988 Chief MKO Abiola had a bruising experience with those he would later call ‘mad dogs’, escorts of an Airforce General in Lagos. There was the case of the young corps member beaten within an inch of her life by armed escorts of a Navy General in Victoria Island. Each time we witness such violations of human dignity on our roads one wonders where the law lies, wonders what would happen if Chris Huhne was a Nigerian.

in secondary school, Orji being an only child, went to all the nooks and crannies of the state with other party members campaigning for her husband and telling the whole world that he was being held in captivity for an offence he didn't commit.

The message was enough to convince the people that Orji was being politically persecuted and they voted massively for him. His release from prison before his swearing-in was made possible by the inability of the EFCC to arraign him and prefer any charges against him. This is contrary to the bogus claims by Kalu and his columnists that they facilitated his release.

On assumption of office as governor, Kalu hijacked Orji's government and appointed his younger brother as Chief of Staff. He made other sensitive appointments in the government which included Commissioners of Finance and Works, and Accountant-General of the State. Council chairmen in the state were also not accountable and answerable to the Governor.

The situation remained like that for almost four years. Throughout this period, Kalu had no reaason to complain or criticise Orji, not even on non-performance as being presently alleged.

But immediately the duo parted ways over Orji's assertion of his right to promote good governance and push for peopleoriented legacy projects, Kalu started crying wolf by, calling Orji and his government names.

But why should Orji be lampooned and harassed for doing what he(Kalu) failed to do for the eight years he was in office?Please enough of his distraction; he should simply let Governor Orji be for the good of Abia people.

Mr. Umah, a community leader, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

20—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 13 , 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBUARY 13, 2013 — 21

FG’s N100bn textile intervention fund saves 8,070 jobs T

HE Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said that about 8,070 jobs have been saved through the disbursement of the N100billion Cotton Textile Garment Intervention Fund.

Aganga said this just as the Vice-President, Nigeria Labour Congress and General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Mr. Issa Aremu, confirmed that 38 textile firms had so far benefitted from the Fund.

They spoke during the Stakeholders Retreat on the Cotton, Textile and Garment Sub-Sector of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan in Abuja, on Monday. The minister said that the stakeholders’ retreat was necessary because of the importance of a revitalised CTG subsector in the efforts towards achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development. He said, “The is the beginning of an important journey. We want to make this sector number one in Africa.

It is just not just about talking. We will come up with actionable points here to kickstart the needed revolution. ”We are already making progress with the reforms that are in place. Figures by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria reveal that the capacity utilisation in this sector has increased significantly from 29.14% in 2010 to 49.70% as at

2011.” Aganga added, “In addition, a number of hitherto moribund textile mills have been reopened, about 8,070 jobs have been saved while over 5,000 new jobs have been created. We cannot continue to be a raw material exporting nation because by doing so, we are exporting jobs, development and wealth. This is one area that the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan is trying to address.

“The textile industry is one of those areas we are looking at. We want to remove the barriers to increased productiv-

139.8

-1.25

2,183.00

-49.00

18.48

0.34

118.12 -0.78 96.90

+1.18

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

154.74 242.7561 207.1504 168.507 1.6567 0.3006 237.0826 24.8262 41.2607 27.76 237.2164

155.24 243.5405 207.8198 169.0515 1.6621 0.3106 237.8486 24.9069 41.394 27.8497 237.9829

SELLING 155.74 244.3249 208.4891 169.596 1.6675 0.3206 238.6147 24.9876 41.5273 27.9394 238.7494

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/02/2013

ity in this very important and strategic sector. One of these barriers is access to affordable finance. The Cotton Textile and Garment Fund, which the Bank of Industry manages at a very low interest rate, has achieved some remarkable success.” The minister was optimistic that before the end of this year, the whole N100 billion should have been disbursed. ”But from what we heard today, we need more than N100 billion to be able to get to where we want to be because textile is one sector that

creates significant amount of jobs globally. So, for Nigeria, investing in the textile industry makes sense both from the economic point of view and from the job creation point of view,” he noted.

Aganga explained that the Ministry of Trade and Investment was working with stakeholders in the textile industry to address the current challenges facing the sector in order to reposition it as the major driver of job creation and wealth generation in the country.

From left: Tony Ogbuike, Managing Director, Future Concerns Nigeria Limited; Mr. Tito Warren, Managing Director, Redwing Shoes Company and Mr. Mehdi Nafa, Managing Director – Africa, Redwing Shoes Company, during the official commissioning of the company’s ultra-modern depot and office complex in Lagos.

Nigerian economy should be private sector driven — NACCIMA D

IRECTOR-GENERAL, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Dr John Osemede has said that the Nigerian economy should be driven by the private sector. Osemede said in Lagos that the “private sector is the engine of growth“ in advanced economies and the only solution to the challenges in the economy.

“The Federal Government should work to make the private sector to run the economy, while it focuses on making and enforcing economic policies and collection of taxes. The private sector seems to operate consistently because the regular government changes makes policy inconsist-

ency and implementation challenges prevalent,” he said.

Osemede said that government should focus on creating an enabling environment for the private sector to lead business growth in the country. He said that private sector had the capacity to accelerate industrialisation process and open up access to capital for entrepreneurs. Ordinarily, non-national banks are mainly interested in using customers’ deposits to assist businesses to grow, “ he said. Osemede said that the activities of banks in the economy could be effectively influenced by the private sector operators.

“Government should only be concerned about taxes to provide the necessary infrastructure and create the ambience for enterprise to thrive,” he said.

CSO’s engages Lagos Gov on 2013 budget through live debate

T

HE Lagos state Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP) in line with its citizens engagement project aimed at strengthening leadership and accountability in governance has scheduled an engagement process that will provide opportunity for Lagosians to seek clarifications through direct dialogue on the specific directions of the 2013 fiscal budget of the state.

LACSOP operating under a large network of civil society organizations including community based organizations (CBO’s) will run a live tweet powered engagement debate with support from the Department for International Department (DFID) project known as State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI).

The programme the first of its kind in the state will attract media representatives and a large number of civil society organizations in Lagos state where direct debate will feature key government officials to answer specific questions on the budget proposals and will enable citizens to understand what are expected of them under the process.

Shedding light on the conference Barrister Ayo Adebusoye Coordinator of LACSOP said the citizens has the right to ask questions as to how government run affairs of the state as tax payers money is usually spent during budget implementation and as such they should be involved in all the processes.

Adebusoye maintained that the citizen ought to be carried along in the development process which concerns them adding that the needs of the people should be sought first and their reactions obtained before such development would be accepted He said, ‘We understand the Lagos State’s overarching vision is to be Africa’s Model Megacity and Global, Economic and Financial Hub that is Safe, Secure, Functional and Productive and we also appreciate efforts that this vision be achieved by 2025 and the smaller steps towards the realisation of this vision can be found in its annual policy targets’.

22—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

. . . B R I E F. . .

Guinness H1 result: Revenue rises by 5% as profitability drops

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

G

UINNESS Nigeria Plc on Monday released its half year results for the period ended December 31 2012, which show a five per cent growth in total revenue as well as 15 per cent decline in profitability.

As at Monday, the shares of Guinness have appreciated by 7.64 per cent this year. From N275 per share at the beginning of the year, the share price rose to N296 per share at the close of trading on Monday.

The half year result show that total revenue rose to N65.88 billion from N62.842 billion due to

continued strong performance of key bands like Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Malta Guinness and Harp Lager driving net growth sales over the period in review.

Though gross profit rose by 1.5 per cent to N28.53 billion from N28.12 billion, profit before tax dropped to N9.44 billion from N11.203 billion. Profit after tax similarly fell to N6.42 billion from N7.62 billion.

Speaking on the results, Mr. Seni Adetu, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc said that the company continues to invest strongly in its brands and infrastructure. “Over the period in review we have again showed our commitment to enhance our focus on distribution

and support long term growth.

Marketing spend also increased ahead of net sales as a result of our growth strategy.”

Guinness Nigeria Plc, part of the Diageo Group of companies, listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1965, and with a shareholder base of over 75,000 shareholders, is one of the foremost quoted companies in Nigeria. In 2010, the company announced an investment of N52 billion in its Nigeria business with the intention of expanding its production and route to market infrastructure.

The company confirmed that the first phase of the expansion project has been completed with the commissioning of a first of its kind brewing technology in 2012.

NSE to expand ownership, may sell shares

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange plans to expand its ownership including selling its shares to the public, Chief Executive Officer Oscar Onyema said.

The framework for the changes in the ownership structure to bring in local and foreign investors will be released this year, Onyema said today at a conference in Lagos, the commercial capital. “We expect that to bring improvements in funding, technology and market competitiveness.”

The exchange wants to achieve a target of N157 trillion ($1 trillion) market capitalisation by 2016, he said.

Its market capitalisation rose by 44 percent to N14.8 trillion naira ($94 billion) in 2012, according to Onyema.

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC and the NSE have been working assiduously towards demutualizing the NSE for the past few years.

Demutualization is a process for turning an exchange from a mutual association, usually owned by stockbrokers and other stakeholders, into a for-profit company.

It can split ownership from licences to trade and in some cases, such as London and Johannesburg, the stock exchange itself becomes a listed entity.

Kenyan shares hit 2-year high, shilling holds ground

K

From left: Mr. George Onuma, Executive Secretary, Junior Chamber International, JCI; Mr. Toyin Aluko, Vice President, JCI and Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce, ICCN, during a working visit of JCI Nigeria to ICCN Secretariat.

NSE signs MoU with Thomson Reuters on Value Added Services T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, to provide Investor Relations Services to its listed companies, as part of its Value Added Services (X-Value) bouquet.

The NSE launched its X-Value offering on November 30, 2012 as a key element of its business development efforts aimed at attracting new listings, creating a competitive edge for listed companies and retaining current listings. The initiative is also expected to improve investors’ interest in the market through enhanced information and assist listed companies in complying with post listing obligations.

At the unveiling of the X-Value,

Head of Listings Sales and Retention, Mrs Taba Peterside revealed that The Exchange would partner with various local and international organizations to provide services such as: Corporate Access, Investor Relations, Institutional Services Offering, Corporate Governance and Independent Equity Research to enhance the value proposition of listing on The Exchange.

According to her, the Investor Relations service is designed to enhance investor understanding of a company’s strategic direction and encourage informed analysis on a company’s performance through the provision of timely, appropriate and accurate information.

She further explained that it could

help in lowering the cost of accessing global capital markets as well as improve a company’s market reputation and visibility.

With this initiative, global bestpractice investor relation solutions from Thomson Reuters will be available to the NSE’s listed companies. Thomson ONE Investor Relations will help companies manage their IR program workflow, including monitoring market activity, understanding investor behavior and managing investor outreach. Thomson Reuters IR Websites will ensure companies are delivering a high standard of disclosure, providing investors with quality and professional investment information.

ENYAN shares extended a twoweek rally on Monday to hit a new 25-month high as investors expecting strong full-year corporate results bought stocks ahead of the earnings season.

In the foreign exchange market, the shilling ended steady against the dollar for the fifth straight session.

The NSE-20 share index closed up 0.5 percent at 4,611.03 points, a level not seen since January 2011.

Shares have soared this year, with the main index jumping 11.5 percent on expectations of strong company earnings and investor appetite, outweighing concerns over the possibility of violence around the time of national elections on March 4.

The last vote in 2007 unleashed a wave of ethnic bloodletting that badly damaged economic growth after the results were disputed by the then opposition. This year’s share rally has mainly been driven by foreign investors who have been increasing their allocations to Africa on expectations that economies on the continent will continue to enjoy robust economic growth.

“Optimistic economic outlook (in Kenya) due to lower inflation and declining interest rates has continued to outweigh the uncertainties that come with elections,” said Ronald Lugalia, an analyst at Afrika Investment Bank.

Kenya Commercial Bank, the country’s biggest bank by assets, jumped 4.2 percent to 37 shillings a share. It hit a new record high of 37.50 shillings during the session.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—23

DIARY Select ICT events Casual Connect 2013. Holds 12-14 Feb 2013 in Hamburg, Germany.

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

Microsoft launches special deal for Africa

Graphics of the Americas 2013.

Holds 21-23 Feb, 2013, in Orlando, USA.

BY EMEKA AGINAM

Mobile World Congress 2013.

Holds 25-28 Feb 2013, in Barcelona, Spain.

D

ESPITE challeng es, efforts are underway to bridge the digital divide in Africa with the introduction Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, a new effort through which the software giant would actively engage in Africa’s economic development to improve its global competitiveness.

RSA Conference 2013. Holds 25 Feb1 Mar 2013 in San Francisco, USA.

CeBIT 2013.

MICROSOFT INITIATIVE FOR AFRICA: From left, Emmanuel Onyeje, General Manager, Microsoft Holds 5-9 Mar Nigeria, Awawu Olumide-Sojinrin, Marketing Lead, Microsoft Nigeria, Gustavo Fuchs, Director, Mobility Laying the 2013, in Hannover, Windows Phone Microsoft Middle East & Africa and Olayinka Oni, National Technology Officer, Microfoundation Germany. soft Nigeria at the launch of Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative.

New inventions shaping life and living

Trakdot lets your luggage call you

ICT: Nigeria remains top investment destination In Middle East & Africa, says study

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

THE Trakdot takes some of the stress out of air travel by keeping track of checked luggage and sending a text to let you know it’s arrived safely (or not).

FCC certified and FAA compliant, the Trackdot rides along inside a piece of checked luggage and can work anywhere your mobile phone does. The built-in GSM chip monitors the bag’s location in real time, sending text or email to the designated devices. Besides tracking its way around the world, the device also features an app to signal when you are 30 feet from your luggage, taking some of the anxiety out of the baggage carousel experience.

I N S I D E C M Y K

Will we still have land lines like other countries?

N

IGERIA may soon attract more foreign direct investment, FDI, particularly in the ICT sector, as Pyramid Research has just released the report of its 2013 top trends in global communications with a declaration that Nigeria still remained top spot for telecom investments in Middle East and Africa.

For 12 years, following the 2001 liberalisation of the telecoms sector, coupled with favourable regulatory regime in Nigeria, the industry continues to witness significant growth in both investments and mobile subscriptions.

While local and foreign direct investment in the sector stood at $25bn in mid-2012, mobile sub-

scriptions has surpassed over 150 million out of which 113.1 million are active at the end of December, 2012.

In the same vein, teledensity has grown to 80.21, giving the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC the leverage to drive more investment in the country with various policies and frameworks on broadband infrastructure deployment, review of interconnect rates among the operators. Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, had also reiterated that his commission was highly

,

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Preview

committed to engendering fravourable regulatory environment for investors.

Meanwhile, the Pyramid 2013 report said that Nigeria’s continued retention of top investment economy in emerging markets was as a result of the growth projections envisaged by its study in the next few years.

The study, tagged ‘Pyramid Perspective 2013: Top Trends in the Global Communications Industry’, provides information on top trends in telecoms landscape in Africa and Middle East (AME), Asian Pacific, Europe and

Americas. According to the study, economic growth in emerging markets is expected to be nearly quadruple the economic growth in developed markets. Telecom service revenue in emerging markets will increase five times faster than in developed markets.

Emerging markets to post higher revenue

The study predicts that this trend will make mobile service revenue in emerging markets in 2015

Continues on page 31

Of the anticipated one billion mobile subscription mark, the report said that Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Turkey, will account for 35 per cent of that figure

Filming yourself possible with 3rd Person camera

With the commission of about N12 billion in the African market as part of its initiative to help improve the continent’s global competitiveness, current efforts are focused on accelerating adoption of smart devices, empowering small and medium businesses, and up-leveling skills development to ignite African innovation for the continent and for the world.

Microsoft's Africa promise

By 2016, the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative plans to help place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands of African youth, bring 1 million African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) online, upskill 100,000 members of Africa’s existing workforce, and help an additional 100,000 recent graduates develop skills for employability, 75 percent of which Microsoft will help place in jobs.

To improve technology access, Microsoft also announced the deployment of a pilot project with the Kenyan Ministry of Information and Communications and Kenyan Internet Service Provider, Indigo Telecom Ltd., to deliver low-cost, high-speed, wireless broadband and create new opportunities for commerce, education,

Continues on page 27

Future of Nigeria's economy'll depend on broadband, says Omo-Ettu

Ovia, Angaye, Juwah, others for ISPON 2013 dinner

24—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

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Will we still have land lines like other countries?

W

HAT I have always found ineteresting is whether life can be lived here the way it is lived normally in other countries, especially the ones we are fond of benchmarking our situation with. In the telecommunications arena, land lines are more like it in other climes, than mobile. This is because land lines, which are cheaper, are everywhere — at home, work, at the bus station, at the metro, at the rail station — just everywhere.

But our situation, and the way our telecoms sector has developed since independence until the last decade ensured that being connected here is by the mobile, even if it is the more expensive option.

Which leads me to wonder: Will we ever have land lines, in ubiquity, as South Africa, or England does?

Another thing to ponder in trying to answer this question is the Nigerian attitude, which I don’t think can be easily understood. It is this attitude that has ensured the resilience of our economy in the face of all kinds of vicissitudes.

If land lines are eventually made available here by the telcos, will Nigerians buy?

Industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission’s sector data as of December 2012 indicated that mobile GSM accounts for a whopping 97 per cent of market share, compared with a paltry 2.60 per cent held by the mobile CDMA, while fixed wired and wireless lines account for an insignificant 0.37 per cent of market share.

Again, industry data from NCC showed that active lines in the country now stands at more that 113 million, of

which more than 109 million are mobile GSM lines, a little under three million being CDMA lines, while less than half a million are fixed wired and wireless lines.

Given the fact that broadband is the declared next level of the telecom revolution in Nigeria, we need to grow the land lines section of the business, which calls for rapid change in the Nigerian attitude.

To have land lines, we must lay cables.

Though telcos are laying cables, this is not being done at the right pace that can ensure broadband penetration within the shortest possible time, and we all know why, even though many of us do not like to talk about the issues, and if you like, persons and institutions generating these problems.

It cannot be overemphasised that individuals and governments must stop seeing the telecoms sector as a fallow cow to be milked at any time of the day. Area boys must stop hindering the laying of cables, while state and local governments must charge reasonably for right of way. When the cables are laid, construction firms doing roads and other civil works must bear in mind that these are infrstructure lines that cannot just be cut anyhow; it will be in all our interests if recourse is made to the telcos before cables are cut.

In all, good will be the day when land lines are available everywhere, because that is when we all truly will be able to enjoy the dividends of ICT penetration which our telecoms revolution has brought. But we must all play our part.

Given the fact that broadband is the declared next level of the telecom revolution in Nigeria, we need to grow the land lines section of the business

C M Y K

,

YSON has turned its expertise in fans to an unexpected new arena - a tap with a built-in fan to dry your hands.

The Dyson Airblade Tap is based on the British company's successful hand dryer, the AirBlade, which uses infrared sensors to know where a user has placed their hands before pumping out water from the stem.

It can then automatically deliver highspeed streams of unheated clean air from the tap's branches, which dry hands within 12 seconds.

The innovation was made possible by a brand-new, re-engineered small digital motor, the size of a can of fizzy drink, and as powerful as a lawnmower.

Using digital pulse technology, it accelerates from 0-90,000rpm in less than 0.7 seconds.

Chris Osborne, Head of Dyson's Airblade Engineering, said: "It makes sense to have both functions in the same place. You don't want to have to wash your hands at one point, walk across the

New tap dries your hands after washing

The new Dyson tap bathroom dripping water to dry your hands somewhere else."

He added the invention wasn't a result of customer requests: "We tend to be much more technology push, coming up with ideas, testing them and launching them to see whether people will like

them rather than reacting."

During the R&D phase, washing hands was simulated a mammoth 213 million times with the air circulated inside a Dyson Airblade hand-dryer during its lifetime enough to fill 26 million balloons.

Chris added: "It is

always nicer to use real hands but we have robots and synthetic Latex hands. To simulate the life we expect the products to have we have to use fake hands as no-one is going to spend five years with their own hands under it." — ABC News via Yahoo! News

Sinelimit, Future Software win Etisalat's Innovation Prize

BY EMEKA AGINAM

S

INELIMIT's Mo bile Maths and Future Software Resources Ltd.’s i-Connect Bus project have won Etisalat's prizes for most innovative ideas.

The Etisalat Prize for Innovation was open to African network operators, mobile virtual network operators, app developers and software service providers.

Winners of the first edition of the ‘Etisalat prize for Innovation’ were celebrated at a media event held last week in Lagos.

The winners who were announced at the AfricaCom Gala dinner held in Cape Town last year will be supported

by Etisalat in further developing the two winning entries for product/idea of the competition, Mobile Maths Practice and i-Connect.

The award, in two categories, was designed to reward corporate organisations; small and growing businesses, as well as individuals developing advanced mobile broadband solutions and platforms which would boost the growth of mobile broadband in Africa.

Showing his appreciation to Etisalat, second prize winner of $10,000

for the most innovative idea, Oyehmi Begho of Future Software said his i-Connect project, Mobile ICT Units proposed to supply mobile broadband internet vehicles to schools in various geographical areas provides both economic and social benefits as technology is currently a key driver for economic growth in advanced nations.

According to him, “I am excited that my entry for the most innovative product is focused on using broadband to develop education in Nigeria. We live in a world where

technology drives everything. We are way behind in Nigeria and if we do not bridge the technology divide, we will be left alone.”

Also thanking Etisalat for the prize, winner for the first category of the $25, 000 prize for the most innovative product or service launched in the last 12 months, Olaseni Odebiyi of Sinelimit, said his Mobile Maths Practice aims to reduce the failure rates of Nigerian students who seat for university pre-qualification examinations such as JAMB and WAEC.

Speaking at the media presentation, Etisalat's CEO, Mr Steven Evans noted that government and stakeholders across the continent are making efforts to boost mobile broadband as it has been identified as the future of mobile technology usage.

“We are currently working with Sinelimit and Future Software to further develop Mobile Maths Practice and iConnect in order to provide solutions to everyday challenges that make a difference to our average customer economically and socially”, he said.

INNOVATION PRIZE: From left: Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar; winner of Etisalat Prize for Innovation 2012 (Most Innovative Idea), Mr. Oyehmi Begho; his business partner, Miss Nkemdilim Uwaje and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, at the 2013 Etisalat Prize for Innovation Awards, in Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 — 25

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 — 27

Foundation hosts OEMs on local content

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Liam showing his 3-D Robohand. ABC News photo.

South African boy gets Robotic hand made with 3-D printer A

3-D printed pros thetic hand has changed the life of a 5year-old South African boy who was born without fingers on his right hand, and may be a model for people seeking a low-cost prosthesis.

The boy, named Liam, benefited from work done

by Ivan Owen, a part-time mechanical special effects artist in Washington. He was collaborating online with Rich Van As, a woodworker from South Africa, who lost four fingers in a

workshop accident. Liam's mother came across their blog posts about the "robohand" they were developing.

"I had never connected the dots between what I was doing and that it had a practical application," Owen told ABCNews.com.

The men decided to make Liam his own "robohand" and the result has been life-changing. He can now throw a basketball, push a shopping cart and even pick up a coin

using his prosthetic hand.

The hand is powered by cables and return bungees. The fingers and wrist hinge were made using a 3-D printer - a computerized device that, given the dimensions of an object, can create copies of it by adding layers of resin or other material.

Owen and Van As, who both have day jobs, met for the first time in November in South Africa.

Most of the collaboration was done online, Owen said.

After seeing how well their invention worked for Liam, Owen said their dream is to form a nonprofit to educate people on how to create and assemble robohands.

"We want to provide materials, parts and knowledge, and then someone in the community can assist them with assembly and fitting," Owen said. "We see that as most realistic way to get this idea to the people who need it, and at the largest scale possible."

— ABC News

Microsoft launches special deal for Africa Continues from Page 23 healthcare, and delivery of government services across Kenya. The deployment is called “Mawingu,” which is Kiswahili for cloud.

“The world has recognized the promise of Africa, and Microsoft wants to invest in that promise. We want to empower African youth, entrepreneurs, developers and business and civic leaders to turn great ideas into a reality that can help their community, their country, the Continent, and beyond,” Fernando de Sousa, General Manager, Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, said at the launch of the initiative held simultaneously in 7 African countries.

Technology can accelerate growth for Africa: According to him, Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative was built on the dual beliefs that technology can

accelerate growth for Africa, and Africa can also accelerate technology for the world.

Speaking to IT Journalists during the introduction of the initiative, Onyeje, General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria said with optimism that the capacity building project would help youths to be globally competitive.

“The 4Afrika Initiative will be tightly connected to Microsoft’s network of more than 10,000 existing partners in Africa today, a network it has built over 20 years of investing and operating in the Continent.

“The 4Afrika Initiative will leverage these existing partnerships and create new ones across both the public and private sectors to help advance common goals and to create value for Africans ogether with our partners, Microsoft has initiated various other efforts

in recent months as part of the Microsoft 4Afrika I n i t i a t i v e , including:AppFactory, Nokia and Windows Phone user training, Female empowerment portal “We are ever committed building African digital divide. It is our promise.

Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative It is a model for job creation. It is all about making Africa globally competitive. We want to create skills. We want to create innovation. We want to create access.

Having smart devices in the hands of many youths in the continent is our major concern now. Young people are critical to this initiate” he said.

Focus on youths

Also speaking, the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Engr. Er-

nest Ndukwe said youths as the targets, the initiative would propel increased attention on the telecomm value chain.

“Microsoft should concentrate on the young people, because most initiatives advances made in relating to IT advancement have been with the young people. In fact, the initiatives are timely, especially now government is very anxious in seeing that certain challenges that have not allowed the sector grow are faced squarely” he explained.

For Professor Utomi, the project was a laudable one having the youths and SMEs in mind.

“There is need for capacity building on the youths.

The programme makes a lot economic sense as they will accelerate development, particularly when the rural dwellers are incorporated into the projects.

IGERIA’s quest for an integrated local content technology evolution will be in focus at a breakfast meeting scheduled to hold next Tuesday, 19th February in Lagos. The event being put together by the Business and Technology News Publishers Foundation (BTPF) seeks to forge an enduring mutually beneficial partnership between the private and public sectors in order to evolve globally competitive Nigerian ICT brands.

A statement signed by the Chairman BTPF, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, said this is the first in a series of events planned to promote synergy among the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) dealing in computer brands.

According to him, the theme of the seminar is OEMs Collaboration: The Key to Industry Growth & Survival.

As part of this inaugural event, the foundation will also use the occasion to publicly present and launch the logo of its advocacy project for the promotion of Nigeria content.

Code named: Nigeria Content Advocacy Initiative (NiCADI), the initia-

tive is a multi-sector project that promotes domestication of technologies and services as well as building indigenous capacities and resources to remain at the cutting edge of global competition.

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson who has been the arrow head of the local content initiative, which is a key element of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda for Nigeria, is expected to lead government’s delegation to the event. Other public sector players expected toat the event include the DirectorsGeneral of NITDA and NOTAP, and notables from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), all indigenous OEMs in the ICT industry, industry associations, financial institutions and the media.

Ugbechie further highlighted that NiCADI will serve as a catalyst to promote the domestication of technologies in Nigeria using indigenous capacities and resources.

‘Why BRISIN project is delayed’

BY LAJA THOMAS

M

ANAGING Di rector Dermo Imprex Nigeria, Dr. Antony Uwa has given reasons for the delay in implementing the Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), an integrated data and information project for Nigeria since 2007.

Uwa in a statement said the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council in its May 18 2007 meeting with the FCT as pilot, and a service agreement was signed between the Federal Government represented by the National Planning Commission (NPC) as coordinating agency, and the service provider Dermo Impex.

Dr. Uwa said bottled neck bureaucracy and vested personal interest in the Ministry of National Planning has stalled the project since 2007 when funds was budgeted for its implementation.

He said: “since the award of the project in 2007, funds was released by the FCT Ministry which was approved as pilot state to the Ministry of National Planning but the ministry for reasons best known to them

refused to release the money to us, the unfortunate story is that the Planning Commission pushed the company into borrowing money to start the project in 2008, but in 2013 we have made moves towards implementing the integrated data and information for Nigeria.” Appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to call National Planning Commission to order and stop playing politics with project of national interest, Uwa explains that the project will create about 10 million jobs in 10 years, control crime rate among other numerous benefits.

He lamented that lack of integrated data and information management infrastructure remain the biggest impediment to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

Dr. Uwa said Nigeria must begin to realize that the modern Information Management approach is the missing link in its development efforts, particularly the absence of a culture of harnessing information, facts, figures, data, and statistics, as the driving force of development, as practiced by the developed countries of Europe, America, and Asia.

28— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Mba dreams Europe N

igeria's hero in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Sunday Mba, has said he hopes he has done enough to earn a dream move to Europe.

On Sunday in Johannesburg, the 24-year-old Warri Wolves forward scored the goal that ended Nigeria's 19-year wait for a continental glory as they won their third Nations Cup trophy at the expense of Burkina Faso.

In the 1994 final in Tunisia, Emmanuel Amuneke came off the bench to fire two goals past Zambia and give the Super Eagles their

a

Mb *Mikel celebrates

AFCON glory reminds me of Champions League win —Mikel M

ikel Obi has revealed that winning the AFCON trophy brought back sweet memories when he won an historic Champions League with Chelsea in May. Chelsea were given very little chance against home team Bayern Munich but

fought back from a goal down to win a first-ever Champions League trophy Mikel, who shone at his fourth Nations Cup in South Africa as Nigeria went all the way to a third triumph, said he was on top of the world as he has longed for the trophy.

“It was a great moment for

me when the referee blew the final whistle. The feeling was like when we won Champions league last season. I was excited and relieved,” Mikel said.

“It was an amazing feeling. I have been longing for it and I am glad I finally got it now.

I am sure there are more tro-

phies to come for this team.”

Mikel was named in the tournament XI along with four other Eagles stars – Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike.

He was also the man of the match for the final on Sunday.

Champions League last 16:

Ferguson, Mourinho renew UCL rivalry O

utwitting Alex Ferguson has never been so important for Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho as he potentially puts his short– and long-term future on the line in the last-16 match against Manchester United in the Champions League.

With Madrid trailing Barcelona by 16 points in the Spanish league, the pressure is on Mourinho to deliver success in Europe and win the continent’s most glittering prize for the club for the 10th time.

Widespread opinion in Spain suggests his job depends on it.

In another intriguing subC M Y K

*Mourinho plot surrounding arguably the most glamorous match in European football, the Portuguese coach may also see the game as an audition for his chances of replacing Ferguson at United when the 71-year-

*Ferguson old Scot ends his long stint at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has lost just two of his 14 meetings with Ferguson down the years and has long been viewed as the favourite to succeed the man who has be-

come a close friend. They will likely share a bottle of red wine after today’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, and after the return leg on March 5.

Ferguson is in no doubt about who is carrying the bigger expectations ahead of what Mourinho has dubbed “the match the world is waiting for.”

“I think their target is the European Cup,” Ferguson said. “They got a bad start in the league and were chasing their tail a bit because Barcelona’s form has been incredible."

second Nations Cup triumph after they first won the tournament on home soil in 1980.

Amuneke, who was then playing for top Egyptian side Zamalek, would subsequently move to Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and eventually Barcelona.

"I hope I can also get a deal in Europe after what I achieved at the Nations Cup," said the former Nigeria U17 star, who was also the match winner against star-studded Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the competition.

His exploits have already sparked off interest from top German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

In 2008, he was close to teaming up with Spanish lower league side Elche, but the deal collapsed after his local club, Enugu Rangers, demanded too much money.

"A transfer abroad is the next step for his career after his decisive goals capped a very decent tournament for him," said Nigerian football agent Vincent Alumona, who was behind the player's move to Spain five years ago.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 — 29

Flicks

Flicks

Flicks

Flicks

Attention LASTMA! A

lmost everything is good and well done here in South Africa. But there are still many that need the urgent attention of Nigerians. No matter how beautiful and organized South Africa is, we still remain their big brother.

That is why we also deceive ourselves with bogus titles that we are the giant of Africa. To some extent, we are Giants.

A country that is so richly endowed with everything but majority still wallow in poverty, gropes in darkness and enriches only few deserves to be given the tag of a giant. My heart bleeds every day of my stay here in South Africa because of the care of their leaders for the poor. But we wallow in emptiness when a few drive big expensive cars on bad roads, where mansions are built in flooded areas, and generators pollute the air endangering human lives and the innocent poor. South Africans are still using right hand drive.

That means no hand signal.

I have escaped brushes not knowing where the vehicle is coming from. Their traffic control is almost perfect.

Vehicles are positioned at almost every junction.

Drivers dread them. I hear they help sustain South Africa’s economy as they dish out tickets with heavy fines to overzealous drivers.

Speed limits are adhered to and they clamp fines with the help of monitors that abound everywhere. But they still need our help .

And that is where LASTMA is needed. They have no discipline over making calls while driving. It is not a crime. From what I have seen, it appears to be a crime if you are driving and not making calls. I once told my driver that L ASTMA would impound his vehicle when I realized I was not in Lagos. Whoever introduced LASTMA had good intentions. Good things hardly last in Naija before they are abused or infected.

The once effective LASTMA are going the way of the police. They have been compromised by commuters.

Trailers ply the roads with worn-out tires and no road signs to indicate they are long vehicles. Once a vehicle breaks down in Lagos, they make bonfire on the middle of road in place of C-caution sign.

Trees are uprooted and planted on the roads. Trailers park indiscriminately on

express roads defying Government warnings. Go to Mile 2 and Warf and see with your eyes. The beautiful work of directing traffic and easing traffic logjams have been relegated. Instead, officials now work in liaison with touts, drivers and conductors.

They use the touts as their toll operators. Most of them hide to arrest an offender

instead of helping out the driver. Before I moved over to South Africa, a LASTMA official was almost knocked unconscious while chasing a vehicle whose driver was making a call. Tanker drivers are above the law. Tell them to do the right thing, they go on strike. Out here, tankers and abnormal vehicles operate in the night. Filling stations

get their fuel supplies from under-ground operations.

Gases are supplied for domestic use through the same method. There are no electric poles sparking lights and consisting danger, yet there is constant light. I am sounding like a broken calabash. The thought of coming home with those multiple problems and traffic,

Sout African's supporters

A

t a time that South Africa and indeed the whole continent are engulfed in football, Rape cases are threatening to overtake and score more headlines than football itself. In my earlier write-up, I had examined the dangers and the frequency at which girls, old women, grandmothers are raped in South Africa.

But more alarming statistics are coming up on rape, giving my beloved South Africa the inglorious title of the headquarters of Rape in the World. Could you imagine that an average of 150 rape cases are committed in an hour? This staggering figure is an estimation of: The 144 rapes reported to the police every day. The Medical Research Council’s latest finding reveals that only one in 25 women in Gauteng reports rape. These two totals add up to 3 600 rapes a day.

The rage of Bredasdorp residents over the gang-rape, murder and mutilation of 17-year-old Anene Booysen

is at the centre circle as many have condemned the gangrape and murder of Anene.

Independent Newspapers visited Anene’s family at the Simunye RDP development outside Bredasdorp yesterday.

Wilma Brooks, Anene’s aunt, wept when the question of Anene’s injuries arose. After half a minute’s silence, she spoke.

“Her throat had been slit, all her fingers and both legs were broken, a broken glass bottle had been lodged in her, her stomach had been cut open… That which was supposed to be inside her body lay strewn across the scene where they found her.”

Anene was left for dead at a construction site near her home. It’s believed her attackers had followed her as she was walking home from a sports bar on Friday night.

She was taken to hospital in Bredasdorp, transferred to Worcester and later to Tygerberg, where she died on Saturday afternoon.

Independent Newspapers found Anene’s mother, Corlia Olivier, at a relative’s house.

With tears in her eyes she spoke of her relationship with her daughter, who worked as a cleaner for Asla Construction.

“We were mother and daughter, but we were also best friends. She was so helpful – with her around I didn’t need a man in the house. She worked hard and helped to buy food, we shared everything.”

After years of separation due to financial difficulties, Olivier and Anene had been living together in their newly built RDP house for just two months.

“She was everything to me, and such a joyous person. I can’t recall that I ever lost my temper with her. She was just too sweet,” said Olivier.

On the morning after the attack Olivier visited her daughter at Otto du Plessis Hospital in Bredasdorp.

“From the moment I entered, I could hear her

hooting of car horns, sleep without electricity, drive through valleys in the name of potholes is driving me crazy. There is this urge to think twice on the offer of my South African female friend to consider staying back.

Ummmmm! What do I do?

Anyway, we need leaders to show us the light so that we can find our way. It is not too much to ask.

screaming: ‘Mother, mother please help me’ – without her knowing that I had come. I walked up to her bedside and saw what they had done to my girl.”

Mom and daughter shared their final words there, before Anene was transferred to Worcester.

Today Anene’s room remains as she left it: meticulously tidy, with Michael Jackson posters on the wall and flowers everywhere.

“At night when it gets quiet and I am alone is when I will miss her the most. We always used to joke that we don’t need a TV, because we had each other.

“I think I may have to get one now,” said Olivier.

I spoke to some girls on why they think that boys and men old enough to be their fathers indulge in this criminal act. Dorothy said that those who commit rapes are animals, cowards. “They don’t need to be brutal. If they ask nicely, girls will open up for them. After all, an average South African girl loves toitoi”, she said.

SA girls are not like Nigerian girls. They are bold and willing to make friends and go all out to give and satisfy their partner. It takes as little as buying beer and steaks.

Timi Ebikagboro, a Nigerian Journalist also blamed the girls for wearing revealing and short skirts which leaves nothing to imagination. They roll their waists enticingly and provoke some men who cannot control themselves. The love for alcohol, smoking and drugs, no doubt, plays a major role in this dastardly act. For me, RAPES are committed by APES. Period!.

C M Y K

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—31

ICT: Nigeria remains top investment destination Continues from Page 23 larger than mobile service revenue in developed markets for the first time ever as nearly 90 per cent of the 2 billion subscribers to come online in the next five years are expected to reside in emerging markets. The study affirms that “exposure to emerging markets has become a critical factor for success in an industry characterized by stagnation in developed markets, intense competition, consumer choice and disruptive business models,”.

slowed, competitive pressures are squeezing margins and upcoming capital requirements are high and therefore, “we believe that the same forces driving consolidation in developed markets will now force the hand of players in emerging markets. In Africa we see potential for consolidation in markets such as Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, each of which is home to five operators or more,”.

Emerging markets lagging on Nigeria, others broadband share 35% of 1bn On broadband developthe study noted that subscriber mark ment, though emerging markets

GOOGLE BOSS VISITS: From left: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Google CEO, Eric Schmidt; Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje, Commissioner for Science & Technology, and Mrs. Olusola Oworu, Commissioner of Commerce & Industry, during avisit of CEO of Google, Inc to Nigeria.

Ovia, Angaye, Juwah, others for ISPON 2013 dinner

BY EMEKA AGINAM

T

HE Institute of Soft ware Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has raised the bar for its signature annual event as the Chairman, Quantum Capital Group and the Jim Ovia foundation, Jim Ovia, will deliver the keynote at the 2013 President dinner slated for this month in Lagos.

Accordingly, the event is expected to be chaired

by Prof. Charles Ayo, Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota. Prof.

Charles Ayo. The event aims to host the best cream of the Nigeria ICT Industry, software in particular, to a night of relaxed conversation, networking and knowledge sharing on issues relevant to the advancement of the Nigerian IT domain.

The President of ISPON, Chris Uwaje who disclosed this at the weekend to Journalists said that the 2013 ISPON President Dinner would also serve as a platform for rewarding deserving Software Start Up companies for their exploits in the Nigerian software industry in the past year with the prize for software excellence for “Best Software Start Up of the Year”, Th award instituted by the Jim Ovia Foundation and domiciled under ISPON, Uwaje said will be presented by Jim Ovia at the event.

The dinner, according to Uwaje is a prelude to ISPON’s big event which draws the best brains in the information society,

the National Software Conference and Competition, Tinapa 2013 scheduled to hold in Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State this October where Prof.

Tapio Varis would deliver the Keynote on e-Learning Solutions.

Prof. Tapio Varis is the Chair of Professional Education, with an emphasis on global learning environments, at the Research Centre for Vocational Education, University of Tampere, Finland, and the UNESCO Chair in Global e-Learning.

Other notable dignitaries to grace the dinner include: Senior representative of the Ministry for Communication Technology, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, DG of the National Information Technology Development Authority, Mr. Odo Effiong, Special adviser to the Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, Former Minister of State for Information and Communication, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former EVC – NCC, Chief Don Etiebet, former Minister for Petroleum, Sir Demola Aladekomo, President, NCS, Mr. Ibrahim Tizhe, President, CPN, Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye, Provost, NCS College of Fellows, Mrs. Florence Seriki, President ITAN, Engr. Titi OmoEttu, CEO Executive Cyberschuul, Prof. Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman Zinox Technologies Ltd, Mr. Anayo Agu, Senior Commercial Specialist, US Consulate, Nigeria, Mr. Yang Kunlin of Huawei

Technologies Nigeria, Ms Funke Opeke, CEO MainOne Cable Company, Mr. Rajan Swaroop of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Brett Goschen, CEO MTN Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan,

Country Manager, Google Nigeria, Mr. Ime Umo, MD, HP Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Onyeje, Country manager, Microsoft Nigeria amongst others.

IT jobs: BPE lifts CPN

E

FFORTS of the Com puter Professional Registration Council of Nigeria, (CPN) in ensuring that only registered members of the profession are considered for IT contracts in both private and public sectors has started yielding the expected results as the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has begun e-checks of registered members for strict regulation.

With this development, the Council is presently working with the officials of BPE on electronic and hard copy of the list of registered members of the profession in order to authenticate the claims before it.

To guide against quacks taking IT jobs in Nigeria, he said that CPN was compiling the list of financially updated members.

Meanwhile, of the anticipated one billion mobile subscription mark, the report said that Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Turkey, will account for 35 per cent of that figure.

According to the Managing Director, Pyramid Research, Mr Daniel Amparan, the year 2013 will also accelerate the rate at which emerging marketbased players take advantage of financially challenged developed market assets to bring much needed capital, but also commercial innovation and expertise. It will also be a year of important milestones.

“By year’s end, mobile subscriptions will reach 7 billion, on par with the global population. Mobile subscribers in the Africa & Middle East region will surpass the one billion mark in the first quarter, making it the second region to reach this milestone after Asia-Pacific,” he added.

Amaran noted that consolidation has progressed most quickly in recent years in markets where subscriber growth has

MTN coming with Blackberry 10 package

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

M

TN Nigeria, said it has concluded plans with Research In Motion,RIM, makers of the brand new Blackberry Z10 smartphone, to deliver the new Blackberry 10 OS device to its customers in Nigeria. MTN Nigeria will be the first to bring Blackberry’s latest offering to the Nigerian market. With this development, MTN customers in Nigeria will be among the first users in the world to experience the new, wave-making Blackberry Z10 smartphone which is the first smartphone based on the re-designed, reengineered and re-invented BlackBerry 10

platform, giving customers a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience. It is the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone yet, and offers customers a smarter experience that continuously adapts to their needs.

According to the Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr Larry Annetts, “MTN is offering pre-order opportunities thus conferring on our customers the privilege of being one of the first to own the device in Nigeria. Not only that, those who pre-order will get the smartphone at a bargain price and they will be contacted for pickup at loca-

tions of their choice even before the phones become commercially available at retail stores. They are not required to make any deposits, but will simply pay on delivery.”

Among other unique features of the phone, it also offers superfast browsing, a sharp responsive display, an intelligent camera that allows for editing and photo sharing as well as trusted security.

MTN Nigeria, however, has a long standing alliance with RIM, dating back to 2007 when MTN Nigeria was the first telecommunications company in Africa to offer Blackberry on a pre- paid basis.

are lagging, there were great potentials to be better positioned in the years ahead.

It stated: “As governments rush to allocate 4G spectrum, the lure of being the first to offer 4G/ LTE is strong, but the results are somewhat messy.

In many countries across Asia-Pacific and in North America, spectrum is being allocated in multiple bands, with minimal planning around network efficiency and limited harmonization at the national, regional and international levels. This situation is unsustainable and will force prices of devices and services to stay high, potentially limiting adoption of 4G services.

“However, countries where 4G demand is still low or not yet a reality, such as in most of Africa and in several emerging economies, will be better positioned to properly plan for 4G spectrum, including taking advantage of the digital dividend spectrum in due time, and to deploy efficient 4G networks that maximize the benefits of harmonization.

Benefits of lagging behind

For the report, a key benefit of lagging in 4G deployment in the short term may be greater efficiencies from proper planning in the medium-tolong term for Africa. In Nigeria, growth in revenue will lead to consolidation in the mobile sector, which will see smaller players especially in the Code Division Multiple Access segment being swallowed up in the name of mergers and acquisitions. Another highlight of the Pyramid study is the prediction that big players such as MTNt and investors like Vodafone and France Telecom will record quantum leaps and a guaranteed return on investments.

32—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBURARY 13, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBURARY 13, 2013—33

From left: Head Compliance Officer, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs Idu Okwuosa; First Custodian MD, Mr. Akin Faniokun; Musibau Yola, MD, Legacy Pension; Dave Uduanu, MD Pal Pension and Chairman of PneOp, at a briefing in Lagos.

Our strategic plan is for state govts to key into the CPS — PenOp

N

EW guideline for state governments issuing

bond Uduanu: The National Pension Commission, PenCom, released some guideline for state governments that want to access pension funds by way of issuance of bonds. Such state governments will not only participate in the scheme but PenCom has introduced more stringent requirements to ensure that state governments don’t just come in, access the funds of the PFAs and stop contributing.

What PenCom tried to do is to equate pension payment with payment of salaries. PenCom put in place a mechanism to ensure that at the end of the every month it is no longer discretionary to remit money into contributors account just as salaries are not discretionary.

You must pay contributors just as you pay salaries at the end of the month.

It is the whole idea to make pension at par with salary. The mechanisms they want to use

to do that are being fine-tuned.

One area that we are very conscious of are that a lot of investments of pension funds are located in the bond market particularly the federal government bonds. So we have taken it upon ourselves, working with the regulators to find out ways we can, through working with other partners to expose the funds to the real sector.

Now we have to be careful how we do this. The real sector elicits both positive and negative feedbacks. The negative feedback is people being afraid of the pension fund being invested in infrastructure. That is not what we are talking about.

We are talking about, how do you invest pension funds in the real sector through such mechanisms as private equities, or through the housing or mortgage market and through infrastructure bonds? So as part of that process, we are speaking to the regulators and the governments and institutions

ing bonds. The initial position was that they will do Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO, for the repayment of the bond which is a normal thing.

What was added was that states will also require ISPOs for the pension payment. Therefore, they are not only having standing payment order for funds to pay to the bonds but to ensure that pension deductions are also taken at source. The whole idea is that they don’t have access to pension assets and

,

The Pension Fund Operators, PenOp, is an association of Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, and Pension Fund Custodians, PFCs in the pension industry. The Chairman of PenOp, Mr. Dave Uduanu and some members of the association recently briefed the press on recent developments in the sector. ROSEMARY ONUOHA was there

like the International Finance Corporation, IFC, the African Development Bank, AFDB, who are interested in growing the real sector of the economy.

Just as everybody is conscious of the fact that funds cannot only stay in government bonds, we are much more conscious of that fact because the more we grow the real sector, the more employment is created, the more jobs are created and the more our businesses grow.

The focus of our strategic plan is to bring in the informal sector, make sure all the state governments key in and invest in the real sector so that the informal sector can become much more formalised so that our economy can grow and create jobs and that way, grow the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, subscriber base from 5.2 million to 20 million which is our target for five year period.

Putting pension payment at par with salaries Musibau Yola: Under the law, pension payments are supposed to be made at least one week after salaries are paid.

Ideally, if you pay salaries, you should be able to simultaneously pay pension at the same time, because you are deducting from the salary payment.

A grace of one week was given just for organisations to tidy whatever they have not tidied up. For the state governments, there was a circular or guideline issued by PenCom about state governments accessing pension assets by way of issu-

you must have both ISPOs. Ordinarily you must open RSAs, but now you have to have ISPO for pension payments. It is just to ensure that the states do not renege on that particular issue.

States usually give ISPOs to the Central Bank so that the money is deducted at source before it even gets to them to spend.

So it means that once a state has raised money from the bond market, for pension funds to invest in the bond, the payment of pensions will no longer be at the instance of the state, it will be deducted at source and remitted to the PFAs. That is such a strong requirement and the push back initially could be wide but it requires financial discipline on the part of the state. That is what we need as a country.

Importance of the guide line Yola: The guideline is important because state governments collectively are a huge employer of labour and they have a lot of employees that would ordinarily go for RSAs but because they have to make their own laws first it is at their own convenience to do that. So the idea is really to get them on board, but make sure that they come on board safely and not just half way. A number of states have already issued bonds prior to this regulation because this regulation came out in December. Prior to that Lagos, Niger, Delta, Ekiti as well as Imo states have issued bonds under the old guideline which simply required them to open RSAs and then have an ISPO for repayment of the bond.

If the question is will it encourage or deter state governments from accessing the pension fund, it is a question of explaining to the state government what the objectives are.

Lagos, Niger, Delta, Ekiti as well as Imo states have issued bonds under the old guideline which simply required them to open RSAs and then have an ISPO for repayment of the bond

while their bond is successful, remittance of pensions is at their own conveniences. The idea is to force them, simultaneously as they are making accruals for paying the bond they are also putting down money to make sure that the monies get into the pension RSAs of their employees, so that they don’t just abandon it midway by opening RSAs, take the monies to finance their bonds and then they don’t pay back. So PenCom added an ISPO for pension deductions also. So if you want to access the monies in the pension fund,

,

Well initially some states might think it is stringent, but at the end of the day, if you really want to implement the scheme for your citizens, that is probably the way to go. It also means that the governor after you doesn’t cancel the initiative.

Once an ISPO is with the Accountant-General of the federation, you cannot go and stop it, it is a direct deduction.

It is such a strong statement from PenCom. So we will dialogue with the states on a need basis and we will see how the guideline affects the growth of the industry.

34—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Ebonyi indigenes in Diaspora worry over kidnappings

BY PETER OKUTU BAKALIKI—A group, Ebonyi indigenes in New Jersey, United State of America, yesterday, expressed worry over the spate of kidnapping, especially in Ivo Local Government Area of the state, where about 10 children had so far been kidnapped by unknown persons between December 2012 and February 2013.

It would be recalled that unidentified persons had last weekend abducted a three-year-old boy, Ejike Emmanuel, at Akaeze in Ivo Local Government area of the state.

A

MTN next titans reality show debuts on TV

M

TN Business ‘Next Ti tan Reality TV show, is set to debut on Nigerian television stations in the coming weeks. The auditions which began last week in Abuja, will be concluded in Port-Harcourt and Lagos, this week and the next. The auditions are for the selection of the final of 16 contestants, that will make it to the Next Titan Academy.

The winner of the reality show will get a business support sum of N5, 000,000 in addition to a brand new car and one year mentoring on entrepreneurial skills. The reality show promises to be another launching pad, for building the economy of the nation.

Lady Ezeala for burial

T

HE remains of Lady Christiana Ihuoma Ezeala, 67, of Aro Amaeke, Amawom Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government of Abia State will be buried tomorrow. The burial will be preceded by Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oboro.

She is survived by her husband, Chief Matthew Onyenankeya Ezeala, eight children ,including Mr. Paddy Ezeala, Regional Communication Coordinator for Oxfam.

Late Lady Ezeala

Ezu River: Corpses to be exhumed again As senate c'ttee visits scene of incident

BY EMEKA MAMAH & ISHOLA BALOGUN

T

HE 25 unidentified corpse which were found floating on Ezu river in Awka, Anambra State, may again be exhumed for the second time, following revelations that the police did not give approval for their burial.

Apart from the non-approval by the police, the corpses were hurriedly buried at the bank of the river which is the only source of water for the community.

These were the feelers from the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and Security and Intelligence which visited Ezu river in Amansea, Awka north local government area of the state yesterday.

Vanguard investigation team was already at Ama-Owerri, in Amansea at the time of their arrival.

The committees discovered that the corpses were not properly buried and that they could be washed back into the river any time it overflows its bank.

The committees, led by Senator Muhammed Magoro, had asked Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Bala Nasarawa, whether he gave approval for the burial which he denied. The committee expressed disgust over the burial, without the approval of the police who ougtht to be investigating the matter remarked that it was wrong to bury them close to the river bank. “The corpses were buried close to the river which is the only source of water and if the river overflows its bank, the corpses will be washed back to the river, he said.”

The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Lawrence Ikeakor said the bodies would be exhumed.

This will be the second time the bodies will be exhumed. The bodies were first exhumed for autopsy after examination on three of the bodies were carried out.

The committees were not happy that other neighbouring communities as Ugwuoba were not represented.

There were contradictory reports on how the bodies were found. While some said the bodies were already decomposed and floating, others said there were blood stains on the bridge which is approximately 200 meters from a police post, indicating that the bodies were fresh but the police commissioner while responding to question by members of the committee, said there were no blood stains found in the area.

Vanguard investigation revealed that a woman living in the area said she noticed a vehicle parked on the bridge and some people were throwing some objects into the river. “Around 3am while I was preparing my Kun-

nu for sale, I noticed some people were at the bridge throwing objects into the river.”

Igwe Kenneth Okonkwo of

Amansea, who disclosed that no member of the community was missing, after being prompted by the senate committee, said the

community is employing the traditional means of fact finding which he said would soon be concluded.

A session during the Nigeria-France bilateral meeting in Paris on Monday. Photo: State House.

Umeh appeals judgment sacking him as APGA chairman

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—EMBAT TLED National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday approached the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, seeking to set aside last Friday’s decision by an Enugu State High Court which ordered his removal as the party’s chairman and sacked the National Working Committee, NWC. Umeh also filed a motion on notice before the Enugu High court praying for an order staying the execution of the February 8, 2013 judgment delivered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, in the suit brought against him by one Jude Okuli, pending the determination of the appeal he instituted against the court’s verdict.

He cited 12 grounds of appeal in which he said the trial judge erred in law by dismissing his notice of preliminary objection to Okuli’s suit and rejected his request to hands off the suit for allegedly being biased among others.

In the motion filed by his lead counsel, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, Umeh told the lower court that he had filed a notice of appeal against the judgment of the lower court which raised fundamental constitutional issues and questioned the competence/jurisdiction of the court to entertain and adjudicate on Okuli’s suit.

Umeh stated that Umezulike had made an order of injunction against him as the National Chairman of APGA as well as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the paty, stressing that “unless by an order of this Honourable Court, irreversible dam-

age will be done to the Defendant/Appellant/Applicant as well as APGA if the judgement/orders of

this Honourable court are not stayed pending the hearing and determination of the Appeal.”

Monarchs accuse Abia House of Assembly of extortion

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—TRADITIONAL rulers in Abia State have accused the state House of Assembly of extorting about N80 million from autonomous communities in the state.

The royal fathers claimed that the House asked each of the autonomous communities to pay N100,000 as levy for re-accreditation. There are about 800 autonomous communities in the state.

The monarchs, who made the report to Governor Theodore Orji when they visited him, decried the levy which they said was illegal.

According to the monarchs, it

is only the governor that can save them from the alleged extortion by the House of Assembly.

Chairmen of the traditional rulers in the 17 local government areas of the state was led by Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze John Akaliro, when they made the complaint to the Governor and asked him to intervene in then matter.

“You are the only person we can come to for protection and we want you to save us sir,” the royal fathers said.

According to Eze Akaliro, the lawmakers distributed forms to autonomous communities in the state, asking them to fill and return the form with the sum of N100,000 per community.

Witness indicts 39-yr-old suspected fraudster in court

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

T

RIAL of 39-year-old suspect ed fraudster, Mr Awili Victor, continued yesterday at Lagos High Court, Igbosere, as the prosecution’s witness, Damilola Sholademi, informed the court that among items found in the defendant’s computer was a document purported to be from the Presidency.

Solademi, an operative of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the

court that as at the time the documents were printed, the defendant was present and asked to confirm the e-mail address from which the documents were printed.

Although the witness said she could not ascertain origin of the document, she pointed out that upon the arrest of the suspected fraudster on December 2, 2010, at his Gbagada residence, a search was conducted and various SIM cards, internet modems, laptop and other items were found.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—35

There's rumour my son is gay

I can’t forgive his nastiness!

Dear Bunmi, I’VE been married to my husband for four years now and he is a wonderful husband and father. Unfortunately, I’ve only enjoyed being with him for two years - the other two, I want to forget. At the start of our relationship, he treated me like dirt. When I became pregnant, he said he didn’t want anything to do with me or the baby. My parents kicked against my terminating the pregnancy - so did his. In the end, we had a registry do.

After I had the baby, however, something changed. He gradually became committed to the marriage and now he’s

caring and attentive. He gives me a generous housekeeping allowance and he’s a brilliant dad. Only, I can’t seem to forget what happened in the past, and I hate him for what he put me through. Will I ever be able to forgive him?

Banke, By e-mail.

Dear Banke, It’s not possible to wipe your memory banks clean of an event. But it is possible to take away the bad feeling about that event by considering it in a different way. In short, you need to rethink your feelings about your partner. Remember, your pregnancy wasn’t

planned and he panicked.

Unfortunately, you’re now focusing on how awful he was at first, and you’re letting that make you wary of how he is now.

But try thinking of it all in reverse. Think how much strength it has taken him to shift from being awful to being pleasant. Think how much he must love you in order to change his character, and his approach to life so dramatically. So, don’t struggle to forget the past. Instead, rethink what the previous years tell you about your partner - and you’ll find it easy to forgive him and enjoy you marriage with all its prospects.

Has he dumped me?

Dear Bunmi, I MET my current boyfriend six months ago and we seemed to hit it off from the word go. A few weeks ago, after our last date, he just stopped calling.

I’ve tried his mobile, left messages and sent texts, but haven’t heard a word from him.

My problem now is that my friends are telling me to forget all about him as it’s obvious he has moved on. But I’m worried in case something’s happened to him.

How long do you think I should wait before writing him off?

Shakirat, By e-mail

Dear Shakirat, I have to agree with your friends - all the signs are there that your man is no longer interested in the relationship. Instead of twiddling your thumbs waiting for his call, follow his example and find someone else. In the meantime, take a look at these expert advice to help you recognise if a new relationship is working. If two or

more of the statements are true, back off, he’s not interested: (a) He takes your number but doesn’t call. (b) He only talks about himself, and never listens to what you say. (c) He makes excuses when you ask him for his personal details - such as his e-

mail or mobile phone number. (d) He doesn’t return texts or messages. (e) He prioritises a night with the lads over spending time with you. (f) He complains when you phone him. (g) He only calls round late at night, stays for love making, then leaves.

Dear Bunmi, I HAVE a son who is in his late twenties and has a good job. He used to live at home until about a year ago when he went to share a flat with a friend.

My son is a bit laid back and I would be the last to call him God’s gift to women, but he seldom went out when he lived at home. In fact, his younger sister confided in me that there were talks that he preferred male company but I had no way of finding out.

Since he left home, he’s continued pretty much the way he was when he lived with us.

His flat mate seems to be the one bringing in women but my son assures me he loves women too and that he would have a commitment when he meets the right one. I wish I

could believe that with these horrible homosexual stories you hear and read about every time.

Abibat, By e-mail.

Dear Abibat, Short of laying siege at his flat, intent on catching your son at something you are not even sure he is up to, I would leave the poor chap alone if I were you. He is obviously an introvert, and being constantly at his back might drive him further into his shell.

Leave him to do his own thing. He is not exactly on the shelf, is he? With time he will meet a girl who shares the same values as he does. In the meantime, find something else to occupy your time and leave him alone. He has left the nest!

My man only dates her for her money!

Dear Bunmi, I think it’s my fault I’ve let my boyfriend do what he wants now for a couple of years, but I’ve had enough.

Because I know I’m not the only woman in his life there’s another girl he sees it’s really stupid to stay with him. Yet I know he really loves me - and his friends say he’s only with the other girl because she’s got a car and a flat of her own. I’m having such a hard time letting him go. How do you leave someone when you’re still in love with him?

Ishioma By e-mail.

Dear Ishioma, You leave someone you love by setting aside your feelings

and instead looking at the evidence in the situation. So, let’s do that. You’re certainly right when you say it’s stupid to stay with your boyfriend when he has another woman.

But, are you sincere with yourself when you say he loves you? Can he really love you if he’s with someone else and is prepared to hurt you to be with her? And, are you right when you say it’s okay to stay with him because he’s only with the other woman for her money? Is this really a sign of a worthwhile partner?

Whichever way you look at it, the evidence shows you’re onto a love rat. So, finish the relaitonship. I know it’s tough, but in the end, you won’t regret it as you get back your self respect.

Should I reveal my HIV Are eggs really bad for you? status?

Dear Bunmi, I WAS diagnosed as HIV positive a couple of years ago.

I was referred to a teaching hospital and the medication I received is keeping me well, but I get depressed and have withdrawn from friends and go out alone. Last month, I met someone at a family do and later slept with him for affection.

The problem is, I didn’t tell him I was HIV positive and, stupidly, we didn’t use any

’

I really understand that your illness is making you depressed; but surely, the fact that you know how awful HIV can be means that you shouldn’t pass it on to other people; you have to get up the courage to come clean with this man so that he can get help as soon as possible

’

contraception. Now I’m terrified of what he will think or do if I tell him. What should I do?

Riyike, By e-mail.

Dear Riyike, I really understand that your illness is making you depressed. But surely, the fact that you know how awful HIV can be means that you shouldn’t pass it on to other people. You have to get up the courage to come clean with this man so that he can get help as soon as possible.

Perhaps one of the reasons you don’t feel able to do this, and also one of the reasons why the HIV is hitting you so hard, is that you’re isolated.

When next you go for your round of medication at the teaching hospital ask the officials to put you on to a support group for the right counselling. They’re quite discreet in helping patients find the help they need.

Dear Bunmi, A few years ago, my dietician put me on a diet that forbade eggs and other high-cholesterol foods. It took a long time for the level of the cholesterol I have in my blood to drop.

Now my young doctor told me that cutting off eggs totally from my diet is unnecessary.

That an egg a day does more good than harm. Is he correct?

He does seem to know what he is saying.

Fabian By e-mail.

Dear Fabian, Eggs have certainly done a turn around from their ‘bad diet’ image. Dietary guidelines provided by the American Heart Association now allow for an egg a day. Study has

shown that saturated fats are the real culprits when it comes to raising blood cholesterol level. An egg has a mere 15 grams. What eggs really have is lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that help ward off eye disease such as cataracts.

Eggs are specially good for pregnant women. They have a generous amount of choline, which is vital to foetal brain development.

According to nutrition researches, “eggs are loaded, absolutely loaded with a lot of key nutrients”.

They’re rich in protein, B-vitamins and a whole long list of beneficial ingredients that’s a lot of good nutrition for just 75 calories.

Eggs are better eaten boiled or poached than fried.

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

36—Vanguard,

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Nigeria and quest for nuclear power energy in the 21st Century (3) •Lessons from selected contentious case studies across the globe This is the third instalment of the open letter to the Nigerian Governors Forum. The second part was published last Friday.

N

UCLEAR proliferation/ disputed nuclear power development programme: case studies across the globe: Generally, nuclear power energy related development programmes have been generating controversy between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and some aspiring nations across the globe. Elementarily, the disputes are speculated not to be unconnected with undeclared nuclear activities and the perceived diversion of nuclear materials outside the safeguards of IAEA. There has also been this impression since the late 1980’s that, some states are assumed to be carrying out nuclear activities entirely separate from those covered by the IAEA safeguards which ideally, national intelligence network should have detected but remained a mystery.

Undeclared nuclear activities Consequently, it is these undeclared nuclear activities, couple with the perceived diversion of nuclear materials in pursuit of what come to be seen as extensive clandestine uranium enrichment programme that creates the impression that a country may secretly engage in nuclear weap-

ABDULLAHI U AKI U.. MAIY MAIYAKI

on design programme. This indeed, is the source of contention between IAEA with countries like North Korea: South Korea, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, South Africa, etc. In the proceeding paragraphs we shall examine some selected case studies for

analytical purposes.

North Korea: The international community has accused North Korea of having made weaponsgrade plutonium using a research reactor and a reprocessing plant in defiance of its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations. In years 2006 and 2009 it was said to have exploded nuclear devices. It was subsequently brought to the attention of the International Community through the UN Security Council.

North Korea’s nuclear power programme is said to have ben under Kim II-Sung in the mid1950s, when the country’s scientists started practical training courses at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Duhna in the then Soviet Union. There, they were said to have studied electronic physics, radiochemistry, high-energy physics and other related subjects respectively.

These efforts were initially reported to be focused on the peaceful use of atomic energy.

Furthermore, Soviet-North Korean agreements of the time is said to have specifically emphasized the peaceful nature of the bilateral cooperation in the nuclear technology. To further facilitate the ideals of the SovietNorth Korean agreement, an inter governmental deal on cooperation in the field of atomic energy was reported to have been signed in 1959, which is said to have laid down the foundation for joint nuclear activities between the two countries. Other North Korean scientists thereafter were said to have received their educational training in the defunct East Germany and China respectively.

In 1961, North Korea is reported to have launched a major nuclear development programme in Yougbyon, some 60 miles north of Pyongyang. In 1965, the then Soviet Union is said to have provided North Korea with a 2MWIRT-2000 research reactor for the Yougbyon nuclear facility, and supplied fuel over the years of the reactor’s operation.

During the 1980s, the North Korean government is reported to have realized the significance of light-water reactors (LWRs) to be better suited in producing

Nuclear power facility

large volume of electricity, for which there was a growing demand in the country. The North Korean nuclear power energy is said to have received a boast with the offer by the then Soviet Union to assist with nuclear technology and materials, provided North Korea signs the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) to which the country complied by signing in December 1985. In 1987 the then Soviet Union is said to have began to conduct several feasibility studies to build the desired three North Korean lightwater reactors at Sinpo on the country’s cash coast.

Controversies: Some of the areas of contention between North Korea and the International Community as being speculated are as follows: (i) Plutonium Programme: In the late 1985, North Korea is speculated to have brought into op-

cilities cited above in Yongbyon are expected to be under the IAEA safeguards, the fears are that, there was always the risk that at certain stage, North Korea may withdraw its commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which its signed in December 1985; (iii)It is also argues that, one of the first steps to ascertain commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards is for the IAEA to verify the initial stocks of uranium and plutonium to ensure that all the nuclear materials in a country have been declared for safeguards purposes.

While undertaking this exercise in 1992, the IAEA inspectors were reported to have found discrepancies which indicated that the reprocessing plant had been used more often than the North Korean had declared. Such action was perceived to mean that

,

North Korea is speculated to have completed and commissioned a reprocessing plant for the extraction of plutonium for spent reactor fuel

,

BY ABDULLAHI U. MAIYAKI

eration a small gas-cooled, graphite-moderated natural-uranium (metal) fuelled, purportedly for “Experimental Power Reactor of which it has capacity for 25 MWt at Yongbyon, on the west coast 55km north of Pyongyang.

The said facility is reported to have exhibited all the features of a plutonium production reactor usually meant for nuclear weapons purposes and said to produced only about 5-MW of electricity. Similarly, North Korea is accused to have embarked on the construction of two larger reactors designed on the same principles, a prototype of about 2000 MWt (50MW electivity) at Yongbyon, and a full-scale version of about 800MWt (200 MW electricity) at Taechon, 25km north of Yongbyon respectively; (ii) In addition, North Korea is speculated to have completed and commissioned a reprocessing plant for the extraction of plutonium for spent reactor fuel. That plutonium, it is argued if the fuel was only irradiated to a very low burn-up, would have been in a form very suitable for nuclear weapons. Although, all those fa-

the country could have nuclear weapons-grade plutonium which may not have been declared to the IAEA; (iv)Consequent upon this discovery, the IAEA said to have requested the North Korean Government in February 1993 to allow special inspections of the two sites so as to verify the initial stocks of nuclear materials. The North-Korean government is said to have refused, and proceeded further to announced its intention in March 12, 1993 to withdraw from the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) by given the required (three months notice). In April 1993, the IAEA Board is said to have concluded that North Korea was in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations and thus reported the matter to the UN Security Council. Although the North Koreans were said to have made diplomatic efforts to secure certain immunity in June 1993 by announcing that it has ‘suspended’ its withdrawal from the NPT, and subsequently requested a “special status” with respects to its safeguards, the IAEA is said

to have rejected the move with the purported “special status” safeguards; (v)The dispute between the North Korean governments due to what the IAEA described as non-compliance was speculated to have been reported to the UN Security Council. Inspections in the country were said to have been increasingly hampered, as inspectors were not permitted to carry out the IAEA assignment based on the North Korean claimed of a “special status”.

However, some 8000 corroding fuel rods associated with the experimental reactor were reported to remain under close surveillance by the international community. Making any attempt to separate plutonium from them were said to have been deferred in the event, for eight years;

Nuclear reactor programme (vi) An attempt to mediate in the crisis/dispute, the United States and North Korea are reported to have signed an agreement in October 1994 which requires an end to the North Korean graphic-moderated nuclear reactor programme, including the construction of a 200 MW electricity power reactor at Taechon in exchange for the construction of two 1000 MW electricity light-water reactors at Kumbo. The construction of these two facilities were said to have started in year 2000 by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation, but had to be suspended by year 2003 due largely to the dispute; (vii) Under the Six-Party Talks involving China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States of America held in 19 September 2005, North Korea is said to have pledged to end all its nuclear programme and return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, submitting to international inspectors to return for certain benefits including energy aid and normalization of relations with Japan and the United States respectively.

To be continued Mallam Maiyaki is of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA),Lagos.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—37

The Delusions of Today’s Men I

READ Dr. Reuben Abati’s article titled ‘The Hypocrisy Of Yesterday’s Men" (February 3, 2013) which was published in virtually every newspaper in the country with amusement. He sought to ridicule and demean those of us that served President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government and that are not very impressed with the performance of his boss.

The fact that we asked President Goodluck Jonathan to account for the US$67 billion that he squandered from our foreign reserves has clearly upset him. We dared to ask about the money and so we were singled out and targetted for a tongue-lashing and a long lecture from the Presidency. Yet we remain undeterred.

This is how weak governments that have nothing to offer and something to hide always behave. They come after their perceived enemies with full force and they are petty and oversensitive. This is all the more so when they lack experienced hands and when they do not have anyone with deep insight or wisdom about the art of governance or politics within their ranks.

In his response instead of answering our questions, addressing the issues or making any pertinent and

FEMI F ANI KA YODE FANI KAY sensible points about the numerous allegations against his principal, Abati chose to go on a delusional and self-serving joy ride. He simply refused to address any of our numerous concerns but instead indulged vainly in what can only be described as an utterly vulgar and distasteful form of intellectual, spiritualandpsychologicalmasturbation by telling us that he and his master were "today’s men".

The essay was nothing but the usual smear campaign and a crude attempt to

intimidate which has been the hallmark of this Government whenever they are faced with even the mildest form of criticism. I will not dignify most of the insulting and childish submissions that Abati indulged in with a response other than to say that he told a shameless and pernicious lie when he wrote that as Minister of Aviation I "shut down Port Harcourt Airport for two years" and ‘’allowed grass to grow all over it’’.

This is false. It is a classic case of disinformation coming from a man that is obviously suffering from a very low selfesteem. It is clear that Abati, who is a journalist, has forgotten the most important tenet of his profession which is that ‘’facts are sacred and opinion is cheap’’. Ordinarily one would have ignored his bitter rant but it is important that I set the record straight for the sake of posterity. The facts are as follows.

Closing down of PHC airport Port Harcourt International Airport was closed on December10, 2005 after the Sossolisso Air crash in which 100 people were killed.

The crash affected the runway of the airport very b a d l y a n d consequently the then Minister of Aviation, Professor Babalola Borishade closed it. I was redeployed from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to the Ministry of Aviation in November 2006.

This was 11 months after the Sossolisso crash took place and that Port Harcourt Airport had been closed. It is clear from the foregoing that I was not the one that shut down Port Harcourt Airport. When I took over at Aviation my priority was to carry out all the necessary repairs at Port Harcourt Airport and to open it as quickly as possible. I was saddened to discover that in the previous 11 months before I got there nothing had been done and the contract to repair the runway had not even been awarded.

Consequently within a month of

Ex President Obasanjo, President Goodluck Jonathan and late President Yar'Adua...yesterday and today's men

my being appointed Minister of Aviation we set to work and awarded the contract to Julius Berger at the cost of N3 billion.

50 per cent of the money was paid up front and Julius Berger set to work immediately. The runway was fully completed and the airport in pristine condition before I left office on May 29, 2007 just six months after I awarded the contract.

However ,despite this, the airport could not be opened before we left because the runway lighting system was still in the process of being

,

By FEMI FANI KAYODE

ports" whilst I was Minister of Aviation "for the purposes of renovation." Again this is not true. Not one of the four major airports in the country were closed down for renovation works or any other reason whilst I was Minister of Aviation. And neither, to the best of my recollection, did I close or suspend the operations of any of the smaller airports except perhaps for safety reasons. As a matter of fact the opposite was the case. I actually installed and completed the sophisticated Safe Tower

When I took over at Aviation my priority was to carry out all the necessary repairs at Port Harcourt Airport and to open it as quickly as possible

installed. The Yar ’Adua government went ahead and opened the airport a few months after we left office though the runway lights had still not been installed. The record shows that from the day that I was appointed Minister of Aviation and the time that our mandate ran out seven months later my staff at the Ministry and Julius Berger worked night and day on the runway project at Port Harcourt International Airport in order to ensure that we finished it in record time.

And this we managed to do. It was my project. I sourced the money for it, I paid for it, I forced the contractor to move fast on it and I finished it. The fact that the Yar’Adua administration did not complete the lighting system and open the airport for another few months after we left office, even though the runway was ready, is for them to explain and not for me.

Abati also asserted that I closed down "other major air-

,

Project in three of the four major airports in the country, resurrected and funded the Tracon Radar System which is operational in our country today and which gives us full radar coverage in our airspace, upgraded the facilities in many of the old smaller airports and granted permission for the establishment of new airports in places like Gombe.

Quite apart from that, we not only stopped the terrible cycle of plane crashes that was prevalent at that time but there was not one aircraft that crashed under my watch and no loss of life from the air under my tenure. I am the only Minister of Aviation in the last 10 years of our country that can boast of that and yet Abati seeks to tarnish my name, stain my record and rubbish my efforts with his lies.

Let me end this contribution by pointing out the fact that being "yesterday’s men" does not mean that some of us cannot be "tomorrow's men" as well.

Only God knows what lies

ahead for each and everyone of us. So when Abati glibly writes people off as if they will never be in power again it is a sad reflection of his lack of experience and naivety. It is God that determines our tomorrow.

Yesterday's men and tomorrow's men It is He that lifts men up, that pulls them down and, sometimes if it be His will, lifts them up again. There are countless examples of that in our history. Finally I have a few questions for President Jonathan and his "today's men." When will they take President Obasanjo’s advice and finally do something concrete about Boko Haram and our security situation? Does the fact that at least 4000 Nigerians have been killed by these terrorists in the last two years under their watch not bother them?

How can they sleep well at night with all that innocent blood that has flowed and precious lives cut short whilst they were at the helm of affairs of our nation? More innocent souls have been killed in the last two years by terrorists than at any time in the history of Nigeria outside the civil war. How does President Jonathan and his "today ’s men" feel about winning such a dubious and dishonourable title? Does he still regard Boko Haram a s "his siblings" who he "cannot hurt?" Why has the President refused to visit the good people of the north east despite the fact that dozens of people are still being slaughtered there by Boko Haram every day?

Femi Fani Kayode, former minister of aviation wrote from Lagos

38 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right), presenting a plaque to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, during a courtesy call by Nigeria Inter-religious Council, in Uyo.

NDDC executes 380 projects in Edo

Rivers pensioners cry out over unpaid entitlements

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Henry Okuarobo, yesterday, said that the commission was executing over 380 projects in the state and urged community leaders to ensure that the projects were not vandalised.

Vowing that the commission will ensure that projects are equitably distributed in the state, particularly the oil producing communities, he warned community leaders against giving him gifts with a view to influencing projects in their domains.

He spoke during the commissioning of the 1km road at the Army School of Supply and Transport, Benin City, executed by the Commission and other electrification projects in Irhiri, Amagba,Ugiekpe and Ugbor communities.

The Deputy Commandant of Army School of Supply and Transport, Col. H. K. Yakubu, commended the commission for the gesture.

Okuarobo, who solicited the support of communities in protecting projects sited in their communities, said the commission will not achieve much without cooperation from host communities.

COMMISSIONING: From right: Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba; Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos; Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of State for Defence, Ereolu Olusola Obada,with other service chiefs and senior officers of the Nigerian Navy, during the commissioning of the OCEA and SHALDAG boats at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos.

P

ORT HARCOURT— PENSIONERS in Rivers State have cried out over the state government's alleged refusal to pay them their full pension arrears, lamenting that the situation was taking a fatal toll on their members.

Chairman of Rivers Council of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mr. Edward Abibo, in a statement, said: “Tep, an Ogoni, Engr. Amakri and Mr. George, are among recent casualties lost to the struggle for our pension arrears.”

Abibo noted that six months ago, the aged retirees protested the state government's alleged reluctance to pay primary school teachers the federal share of 12

years arrears after the responsibility to pay was transferred to states by the Federal Government.

“All other states had kept faith with this responsibility except Rivers State Government. The arrears have run into millions of naira, which the government

considers too much to shoulder and it had also refused to pay retirees' entitled pension increase between 2003 and 2007,” he said.

Abibo added that while the union's earlier protest moved the government to set up a committee to look into their agitations, nothing had been heard after the committee

Uduaghan not interfering with LG administration —Safugha

BY EMMA AMAIZE

A

SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Newworld Safugha, has said that the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was not meddling in the administration of local government areas in the state.

Speaking on the increasing

agitation for financial autonomy for local government councils at the annual dinner party/interactive session organised by Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Delta State chapter, in Asaba, he said: “As a true democrat, Governor Uduaghan never interferes in the activities of local govern-

Bayelsa gov hails Super Eagles' victory

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—BAYELSA State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has congratulated the Super Eagles for their glorious outing at the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Governor Dickson described the victory over Burkina Faso in the finals as not only heartwarming, but an indication of the rising profile of Nigerian football in particular and sports generally in the African continent.

He also congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for the massive support and encouragement given to the victorious team before

completed its task and submitted its report.

He urged the state governor to see their agitation as a matter of right, adding, "The government should stop subjecting the senior citizens of the state to ridicule as though they were pestering him to reap where they did not sow.”

and during the competition as well as the Senate President, Senator David Mark, who led the Federal Government dele-

gation to South Africa for inspiring the team to a resounding outing in South African.

Urhobo HOSTCOM assures DESOPADEC on partnership

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EADERSHIP of Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Delta Central, has reiterated its commitment to collectively work with the commissioners representing Urhobo on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. Leader of the group, Chief Moses Irimisose, gave the assurance when his executives paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Chris Obiuvwebvi at Ughelli, commending him for being focused

and committed to the cause of Urhobo nation.

He expressed confidence in the ability of Urhobo commissioners, Mr Henry Ofa, Mr Chris Obiuvwebvi and Mr Festus Utuama, to bring development to Urhobo oil producing communities.

Responding, Obiuvwebvi, commended Irimisose and his executive for being selfless and committed to the growth of Urhobo HOSTCOM and oil communities in Urhobo nation.

ments.”

He said that N600 million was spent on monthly basis by the state government to augment the payment of primary school teachers’ salary to ensure that the system did not suffer undue dislocation as a result of lack of funds.

Noting that payment of primary school teachers’ salary was the responsibility of the councils, Safugha said that beyond the salary augmentation, the governor had done much in the area of infrastructure to transform the primary school system in the state and make it one of the best in the country.

He said that the state government was not against autonomy advocated for local governments, adding that when it eventually scaled through, such money expended on teachers would be deployed to other sectors of the economy.

He commended NULGE for organising the event, noting that the union, under the leadership of Mr. David Ofoeyeno, had stabilised the local government system, assuring that Governor Uduaghan, being a labour friendly governor, would continue to provide the necessary support to the union.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 —39

From left: Bakhtriar Nariewala, GM Sales and Marketing, NIPCO; Abdullahi Musa, Perm Sec, Ministry of Petroleum and Yomi Awobokun, Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing at Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, Strategic Policy Summit organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Abuja.

From left: Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State, his wife, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji and deputy gov, Sir Emeka Ananaba during funeral of his brother, Late Mr. Igbozuruike Emmanuel Orji at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Ugba Ibeku, Umuahia.

From left: Bobola Adeyemo, an entrepreneur; Victor Oluwadare, MD, Townsway Investment; Busolami Tunwase, AIT Presenter; and Chuks Iwunor, CEO, Don Dollar Entertainment, all judges at the Abuja audition of the MTN Business Next Titan.

From left: Dr Goke Lalude, Chairman Fountain University convocation organising committee; Alhaji Onike AbdulAzeez, Nasfat Deputy Chief Missioner; Prof. Bashir Raji VC, Fountain University, Alhaji Sheriff M.Yussuf.

Nasfat President; Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade and others at apre-convocation briefing.

From left: Dolapo Oni, MNET; Mr Derin Phillips, DJ Case; Eku Edewor and Chukie Edozien, Lynxxx all Alumni of United Kingdom Universities at an education exhibition by British universities for some secondary schools at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele From left: Former Minister of Health, Prof.

Adenike Grange and Basorun Seinde Arogbofa at the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly Elders conference in Enugu.

From left: Lagos State Chairman of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Mr Jide Ologun, Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Olajide Jimoh and immediate past chairman of NIPR, Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Nkechi Ali Balogun at the monthly meeting of NIPR.

From left: Mr Osagie Ogunbor, Corporate Affairs Manager, Intel West Africa; Mr Emmanuel Anyim, Head Social Performance, SPDC and Enyioma Anaba, Head of Marketing, Interswitch at a media parley on Partnership of Intel, Shell and Interswitch at the ongoing National Science and Engineering fair in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

From left: Mr Femi Awotoye, Partner Audit Services, KPMG; Overseer R. Oguntoye, Nigeria Shareholders' Solidarity Association; Mr Tola Adeyemi, Head of Audit Services, KPMG and Chief T A Adesiyan, President, Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association at a seminar organised by KPMG in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

From left: The Brand Manager, Squadron Dark Rum, Mr. Zekeri Dokpesi, Head of Marketing, Intercontinental Distillers, Mr. Innocent Oboh, ExSuper Eagles player, Mr. Mutiu Adepoju, Miss Conmmonwealth, Miss Amaka Oguchi at the Squadron Africa Fiesta viewing centre in Lagos.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Otughievwen community gets new exco

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TUGHIEVWEN community in Ughievwen kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State has elected new executives to pilot affairs of the community for the next three years.

The election was held at the community town hall and had members of the Elders-in-Council, Ewheya, Uvwie and other important organs of the community in attendance.

Prince Macauley Dase, chairman of the conference who briefed members of the community, said the election was in continuation of the conference, adding that all candidates contesting for various positions should not take the election as a do or die affair.

Those elected include Olorogun Eric Sajini, President General; Samson Janughan, Vice President General; David Nathan Omonigho, Secretary General; Mukobire Akporode Joel Ideh, Treasurer; Obaro Mukoro, Assistant Secretary; Victor Yafugborhi, Financial Secretary; Chief David Eddie, Assistant Financial Secretary; Felix Idoro, Internal Auditor and Gabriel Mukoro, PRO.

Madam Ofoeyeno for burial

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A D A M Ofoeyeno, 79, of Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State is dead.

There will be a service of songs on Friday, February 5, at her Cemetery Road residence, Warri.

The Church service holds at Christ African Church, Odion Road, Warri. She will be buried at the family compound in Koko.

She is survived by children, including Comrade David Ofoeyeno, President, National Union of Local Government Employees, Delta State chapter.

From left: Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during the Board Meeting of Niger Delta Power Holding Company in Abuja.

From left: Mr. Carlos Soto of Price Water House Coopers, PWC, London; Dr. Eugene Juwah, EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Mr. Alastair Macpherson (consultants to NCC) and Mrs. Lolia Emakpore, Director, Policy and Competition, NCC, at the presentation to stakeholders, the new Interconnect rate by the NCC in Lagos.

Alleged N672m fraud: Court grants bail to Ikuforiji’s aide

BY BARTHOLOMEW

MADUKWE AGOS—JUSTICE Deborah Oluwayemi of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere, has granted bail to Oyebode Atoyebi, the Personal Assistant, PA, to the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly over alleged N672m fraud.

The judge said the bail was granted to Atoyebi, based on earlier bail granted to him by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Philips.

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It will be recalled that Justice Oluwayemi had on January 10, 2013 revoked the bail granted Atoyebi, by Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips and ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Atoyebi and a company, Sidaw Ventures Ltd, along with Mr Olayinka Sanni, a former manager with Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), were arraigned by EFCC on an eight

count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and forgery amounting to about N672 million.

Sanni, a chartered accountant and operator of Sidaw Ventures, a bureau de change, was alleged to have fraudulently transferred various sums of money from more than seven customers of the former Intercontinental Bank into the account of Sidaw ventures owned and operated by him without the customers’ consent.

Justice Oluwayemi, after delivering the ruling, adjourned the case to February 14 for commencement of trial.

Railway workers task mgt on welfare

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG AGOS—WORKERS of Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, have urged the management of the Corporation to improve their welfare to motivate and enhance rail services in the country.

The workers, under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, NUR, and the Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport and Corporation, SSACTAC, said without dedicated work force, all efforts at revamping the rail system in the country would come

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to nothing.

President of NUR, Mr. Rahael Okoro, said an improved welfare package would motivate the workers and ensure the delivery of an effective rail service to Nigerians.

He said: “We congratulate the management of NRC for launching the Lagos to Kano train in 2012 to further improve and increase train services in the country. The management must take the issue of staff welfare seriously. Noting can be achieved except by well motivated work force.”

He said the launch of the new

route was a proof that unity of purpose, hard work and determination always led to success and noted that it was pertinent to restore public confidence in efficient and reliable rail transportation in Nigeria which was the key to federal government’s transformation agenda.

Similarly, President of SSACTAC, Mr. Muhammed Yunusa, said it was regrettable that the NRC management had continued to make promises without fulfilling any despite several letters written concerning workers’ welfare.

Ondo govt assures on development

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KURE—ONDO State Government has assured the people of Ondo State of unprecedented development in all sectors.

Speaking in Akure, the State capital, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said the state would in the next four years witness unprecedented development that would make the state an envy of all.

Akinmade said: “Thank God Governor Mimiko has been able to fulfil his initial electoral promises and the people are excited about that, and to appreciate him for good service rendered, his mandate was renewed for another four years. I can assure you that with what is on ground and the template the governor wants to run with in the next four years, Ondo State will get to her Eldorado and the state

would become the commercial hub of the nation” Shedding more light on what to expect from the governor’s sec-

ond term, Akinmade said the infrastructure being put in place in Ore for instance will put the state on the world map.

Lawyer flays killing of Lagos chief

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AGOS—AS reactions con tinue to trail the recent murder of one of the white cap chiefs in Lagos, Chief Adesina, the Onimole of Lagos, a Port-Harcourt based legal practitioner, Prince Gbogboade Akitoye, has described the incident as gruesome and alien to the security status of Isale-Eko. Prince Gbogboade who is from the Akitoye Ruling House of Lagos, while reacting said that in the history of Lagos, there has not been any

record or report of a white cap chief being assassinated.

He noted that Isale-Eko was reputed for its safety and security even in crisis periods.

He said: ”That this dastardly act should happen at this time of Lagos history and particularly at Iga-Iduganran, where the Oba of Lagos resides leaves many questions to be answered. This is in fact a bad omen that signals a dangerous trend and more security threats if care is not taken.”

Bomadi LG boss donates relief materials to flood victims

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BYDANIEL GUMM

ARRI—IN continued ef fort to cushion effects of the recent flood that ravaged some parts of Delta State, with Bomadi Local Government being one of the worst hit, the Transition Committee Chairman of Bomadi Local Government Area, Mr. Collins Olorogun, has presented relief materials including yam seedlings to flood affected communities in the area.

Presenting the items at the council secretariat headquarters of the local government, Mr. Olorogun said the gesture was a measure to reduce the burden of flood affected communities in the area, adding that the effort was to make the flood victims forget their sorrow.

Mr. Olorogun, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Local Government, Mr. Obale Abonema and other officials of the council thanked the state governor Dr. Emmanuel Oduaghan, who according to him “is determined to bring succour to the people.” While commending the Justice Francis Tabai-led Technical Committee on flood in the state, the council boss called on the people to support the PDP-led administration for its people oriented policies and programmes in the state.

Seplat gets commendation

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ARRI—A group, Niger Delta Revolution Movement, in Warri, Delta State, has commended Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited for its various corporate social services executed across oil producing communities in the state, even as it calls on other oil firms to imbibe the culture of improving lives within their corporate communities.

In a statement addressed to Dr. Chucks Igeleyah, base manager of the firm, president of the group, Mr. Patrick Akamovba, said Seplat had carried out developmental projects in different communities across the state, especially the administration of free medical services to nursing mothers.

Vanguard, WEDNESD AY , WEDNESDA

FEBRU ARY 13, 2013— 41 FEBRUARY

Rotarian governors hail women’s contribution to Rotary ••seek more female membership

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

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L-R: Rotarian Grace Akpoveta, Chairman, Women-in-Rotary District 9110; Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, Guest Speaker, District Governor Kamoru Omotosho and wife Susanne Omotosho at the flag-off of the Women-in-Rotary Fair in Lagos

OTARIAN governors, Kamoro Omotosho and Olugbemiga Olowu, have implored more women professionals to join the Rotary family as a platform for contributing their quotas to national peace, security and development.

The duo attributed the growing vibrancy of Rotary to the presence of visionary women who continuously initiate impactful community projects that have promoted societal development.

According to District Governor Omotosho and Governor-Elect Olugbemiga of the

Rotary District 9110 Nigeria who spoke, penultimate weekend, at a fair organized by Women-in-Rotary in Lagos, the conspicuous disparity between clubs that had women as members and clubs that had no women, had become a cause for worry in the organisation.

“The spirit of fellowshipping is not visible in clubs whose memberships do not comprise women. Women have over the years engineered the growth of our clubs to be forward-looking organisations. They have initiated projects that have benefitted communities; projects men would ordinarily not have conceived. So, in general, their presence has helped to ensure that Rotary is resourceful in Nigeria”, they stressed.

Otunba (Mrs.)Debola Osibogun, Guest Speaker at the event, who endorsed the views of the Rotarian governors, added that women had also played a significant role in the development of the country through their performances, achievements and commitments to their chosen professions, both locally and internationally.

According to Rotarian Grace Akpabio Akpoveta, Chairman, Women-inRotary Committee, the idea behind the fair which displayed artistic and inspiring works by women from various Rotary clubs was to showcase the potentials of women and give an idea of what more women could do to contribute to national development, if adequately empowered.

Imo ALGON blasts Okorocha, dares him on fresh LG polls

BY NNAMDI OJIEGO

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HE embattled Imo State Chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, said the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has committed more than 100 impeachable offences in less than two years he has held sway as chief executive officer of the state.

Secretary of the association, Barrister Enyinnaya Onuegbu, in an interview with Vanguard also berated the state House of Assembly for failing to check the excesses of the governor, stressing that the state legislative arm has become a mere rubber C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 , 2013

Mali hesitant over deployment of UN peacekeeping force T

HE government of Mali is hesitant over the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force, a senior UN official has said.

“We do not have a clear green light from the government of Mali yet for a peacekeeping operation,’’ said Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

However, he said other

countries were increasingly in favour of that option.

Thousands of troops from France and African nations have been sent to Mali to oust Islamist militants.

They have recaptured the major towns in northern Mali, which had been under Islamist control since April 2012.

Most of the urban areas were taken without a fight, with the militants said to have fled into mountainous

areas of the Sahara Desert near the Algerian border.

But on Sunday, there was four hours of fighting

in the region’s biggest town, Gao. The town is now said to be calm but the BBC’s

Thomas Fessy in Gao says there are fears some fighters could be hiding among the population.

U.N condemns North Korea test, vows action

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HE U.N. Security Council yesterday strongly condemned North Korea’s third nuclear test and vowed to

take action against Pyongyang, the president of the Security Council said.

“The members of the

Security Council strongly condemned this test, which is a grave violation of Security Council resolutions,” South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, whose country is president of the council this month, told reporters. He said the council would now

consider “appropriate measures.”

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that Washington and its allies intended to “augment the sanctions regime” already in place due to Pyongyang’s 2006 and 2009 atomic tests.

US to withdrawal of 34,000 troops from Afghanistan

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RESIDENT Barack Obama will announce in his State of the Union speech 34,000 US troops will leave Afghanistan by early 2014, a White House official has said.

The move would effectively halve the current US troop levels in the country from about 66,000.

The US will end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, but it is unclear how large a residual training force will remain behind.

Mr Obama is not expected to address post-

2014 troop levels in the speech.

The US president and his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, agreed in January to speed the handover of combat operations to Afghan forces.

The White House has previously signalled it favours keeping up to 9,000 troops in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends.

But administration officials have also said they would consider leaving no troops in the country.

US troop levels in Afghanistan peaked at about 100,000 in 2010.

Syria crisis: Rebels seize northern air base

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YRIAN rebels have captured a military air base near the northern city of Aleppo, activists have said.

Fighters took control of al-Jarrah base after days of clashes there with security forces, reports said.

The reported capture comes a day after rebels in the north-east overran Syria biggest hydroelectric dam, delivering a strategic blow to the government.

Turkey’s prime minister meanwhile has said a deadly blast at a crossing with Syria was caused by a car bomb.

At least 10 Syrians and three Turkish nationals died on Monday in the explosion at the

Cilvegozu customs post on the Turkish side of the border, in the southern province of Hatay.

“A vehicle loaded with bombs was able to reach our customs gate because the customs gate on the Syrian side is not working and is not being controlled,” Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

Turkey is a staunch critic of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its territory has been hit intermittently by Syrian shelling and gunfire.

It also provides shelter to tens of thousands of refugees, many of whom pass through the Cilvegozu point.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013— —43

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44— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013— —45

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46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Edo Council Polls:

Oshiomhole's fate now in his hands THE adoption of consensus candidates during last weekend's local government primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria , ACN in Edo State has liberated Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from the hold of factional leaders of the party in the state. Whether it has liberated the state from the godfathers or enthroned another godfather is another issue.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM FOR most of the first term of the Adams Oshiomhole era in Edo State, the two dominant factions in the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN fought one another in a bid to get the ascendancy.

One group led by erstwhile secretary to the government of the Lucky Igbinendion administration, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the other led by a former member of the House of Representatives who became deputy governor to Oshiomhole, Mr. Pius Odibo.

Ahead of last year's governorship election, it was not surprising that the IzeIyamu group practically held Odibo to ransom, refusing to accept his nomination for a second term until Oshiomhole practically moved in to beg for his embattled deputy.

After the deputy

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HE consternation that greeted news of the resignation of Stephen Keshi as the national football manager was unprecedented. From the point of adulation as a national hero Keshi turned into a villain for many who believed he had overreached himself.

The shock and disbelief is upon the fact that resignation from office is a strange practise in this country especially among public office holders.

Public officers caught in acts of impropriety, embezzlement of public funds or the misappropriation of the public goodwill simply see it as nothing.

So it turned into a scandal for many that Keshi, the first indigenous coach in the country to win the continental AFCON cup should harass the imagination of the citizenry with a resignation.

Many who have flayed him, however, did not bother to prospect the conditions under which he worked and the running multi-billion naira scandal that has been the story of our national sports.

It was reported that the

governorship saga, the latest issue between them is the contention for supremacy in the forthcoming local government elections.

Remarkably, where the two factions had clashed in the past and held almost everyone else hostage to their political whims, a third and probably more decisive factor inspired

by Oshiomhole has now emerged.

It was no news that the nomination for candidates for the local government elections raised eyebrows within and outside the ACN. Given the party's past struggles against godfatherism, it turned into an issue when many party patrons including the governor were alleged to be also playing the game once associated with the PDP leader, now on political exile.

Governor Oshiomhole had suggested to the leaders during a meeting at the residence of the former

•Oshiomhole: His destiny now in his hands Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, the option of adopting consensus

POLITICAL METABOLISM with

EMMANUEL AZIKEN detritetradetoxifiedpolitics@gmail.com SMS 08052201189

Keshi’s path of honour national coach was owed months in arrears of his salary, his official car not provided and he was generally disregarded.

Besides Keshi, only a few other Nigerians have showed similar streaks at the point of accomplishment.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, remarkably from the same section of Delta State as Keshi, also tendered her letter of resignation from the Obasanjo administration in 2006.

Okonjo-Iweala had used her contacts in the international finance circuit to win a remarkable debt forgiveness of $18 billion for the country. She was abroad sometime in August 2006 negotiating the details of the write-off when she was removed as chairman of the

country ’s Economic Management Team. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala who had earlier been removed from her area of core competence in finance and reassigned to foreign affairs, did not blink an eyelid in tendering her resignation from the cabinet. Though many saw her removal as one of the collateral damages that followed the former president’s bellyaching over third term, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala with her head up left the cabinet on her own. Her action inevitably opened the way for her to be considered for the landmark position of Managing Director of the World Bank.

After her, Mr. Remi Babalola who was appointed Minister of State, Finance from his position

candidates to the effect that only primaries of affirmation would be held in the primaries as executive director in First Bank was another person who resigned from the cabinet with his head high up.

Mr. Babalola was generally acclaimed to have performed excellently at Finance, a development that gave him the opportunity to act as supervising minister of the Federal Capital Territory when a vacancy in that office arose.

Given the high stakes involved in that office, Mr. Babalola it is claimed, refused to allow himself to be used as an agent provocateur in the intrigues that brewed between elements of the Yar‘Adua clan and Nasir el-Rufai, and as such attracted to himself the badge of disloyalty. At the advent of the Goodluck Jonathan era, Mr. Babalola caused a stir when he said what everyone now knows to be true; that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC was becoming insolvent.

His assertion attracted denunciations from fellow cabinet members and the NNPC which today is looking for a $1.5 billion loan to pay its debts! Babalola who was

that held throughout the state last Saturday.

Though his suggestion was adopted, but crises still broke out in several of the 18 local government areas.

Given the high stakes involved it was no doubt a reflection of Oshiomhole•fs growing political stature and wisdom that he was able to nip the crises in the bud. In several local government areas including his own Edo North base, many leaders expressed dismay over what they alleged to be the politics of imposition of candidates.

Defending the affirmative primaries, the member representing Owan Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Pally Iriase and the Political Adviser to the governor, Charles Idahosa said it was done for the best interest of the party. They reasoned that a more democratic primary would have disenfranchised members who joined the party from the PDP few months to the governorship election.

"It is not the best because parties must work very seriously towards internal democracy but that is the best we can get for now due to the situation of things in the party in the state," Iriase told Vanguard.

Prior to the primaries, there was a lot of tension in the

Continues on page 47 reportedly nominated to the cabinet by Ibadan based billionaire, Alao Arisekola was then demoted to the Special Duties portfolio, and that, despite his finance background. Once he got his new posting, he went on leave and from there left the cabinet.

Such professionals like Babalola, Keshi and OkonjoIweala who do not pander to the whims and caprices of the man on the throne are few these days. Indeed, there are few men out there who stand on their convictions. The conviction of many of such ‘radicals’ now in government cannot stand the test of money.

It is a pity. They would rather sink and soil themselves in office than take the honourable path.

It is gladdening that Keshi upon persuasions from high quarters withdrew his resignation, but he has acted and done well.

Those officials who reportedly paid themselves allowances without doing same to the players and officials should resign. Would they?

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 —47

2015: No vacancy in Borno govt house — Yusuf Adamu

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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OLITICAL Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Alhaji Yusuf Adamu has said that the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) would retain the state’s governorship seat in 2015 because the party was fulfilling its campaign promises by delivering dividends of democracy to the electorate.

Speaking with reporters in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, Yusuf Adamu, a former ANPP state secretary in Borno State and caretaker chairman of Biu Local Council, said that the party under the leadership of Governor Shettima had done well which attracted a commendation from Vice President Namadi Sambo during his one-day official

visit to the state last week.

The political adviser said that if somebody like VP could commend a governor from an opposition party, it was a clear indication that Nigerian democracy was maturing.

He called on other political leaders in the country to emulate Vice President Sambo by calling a spade “a spade”.

He said that despite the security challenges that had bedeviled the state, Governor Shettima had done a lot in the areas of road construction, medicare provision through construction, rehabilitation and equipping of General Hospitals across the state and job creation.

The former ANPP scribe said Governor Shettima was working hard to transform the state and uplift the living standard of the people in the

•Gov Shettima grassroots.

On Governor

Kashim

Shettima‘s transformation agenda, Alhaji Adamu said

that the government was partnering with the Lake Chad Basin Development Authority to revive the lost glory of the South Chad Irrigation Scheme which used to produce wheat on a large scale to meet the needs of industries across the nation.

He stated that in addition to the numerous jobs created by the Lake Irrigation scheme, the governor who is an agricultural economist and farmer has sent 300 youths to Thailand, 400 to Egypt, 200 to Songhai Farms in Benin Republic and 100 to Sabore Farms in Adamawa for training in various agricultural fields so that they would in turn train others.

According him, the government had also invested heavily in education transformation through construction, rehabilitation and equipping of all secondary schools across the state, to restore the lost glory of education in Borno.

He said the governor personally visited the schools to monitor students’ feeding system in the state and increased the feeding allocation of secondary schools from N20 million to N100 million monthly.

Oshiomhole fate now in his hands party as to how the two power blocs in the ACN represented

by Ize-Iyamu and Odubu would battle themselves.

That is because Oshiomhole had in the past left it for the leaders of these two blocs to decide.

But apparently thinking of how to ensure that he produces a successor of his choice, Oshiomhole moved in this time to enthrone his personal choices as chairmanship candidates in many of the local governments.

Though he did it in collaboration with the factional leaders, but everyone knew who had the final say.

Unknown to the two blocs, Oshiomhole moved in to neutralize the Odubu/IzeIyamu groups with the emergence of a third bloc earlier called Peoples Mandate for Oshiomhole (PMS) which later metamorphosed to Edo in Safe Hands led by his former Chief of Staff, Osarodion Ogie and the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Philip Shuaibu.

PMS was the group that first promoted the Oshiomhole gubernatorial candidacy before the first term and

•Odubu, Ize Iyamu: Now contending with a third force comprised mainly Oshiomhole enthusiasts from labour, civil society, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Labour Party among others.

Prior to the last gubernatorial election the group metamorphosed into Edo in Safe Hands (ESH) with a singular mission of checking the ethnic propaganda of the PDP to put a Benin man ahead of Oshiomhole.

The group backed Odubu's return as deputy governor when the Ize-Iyamu group fought against it but in this

recent battle for the soul of the councils, the group detached itself from Odubu's group with the intention of positioning its own members in the 18 local governments for reward for standing by Oshiomhole.

In the consensus arrangement that was ratified during the affirmative primaries last weekend the result inevitably showed the group now having the ascendancy over the two more known factional groups led by Ize-Iyamu and Odibo.

At least eight of the

chairmen who emerged as ACN candidates in different councils are members of the Edo in Safe Hands, while Odubu and Ize-Iyamu each had two council chairmen.

The remaining six chairmanship candidates were firmly conceded to strong loyalists of Oshiomhole among who was the former Woman leader of the PDP, Mrs Lucy Omagbon who clinched the chairmanship ticket in Ovia North East.

The state coordinator of the Edo in Safe Hands Morrison Okungboro emerged the ACN candidate in Ovia South West.

And Vanguard was reliably informed that the group also has about five Commissioner nominees in the list to be sent to the state House of

,

Continues frompage 46

that the rumour all over the state is that the group will back an Ogie/Shuiabu ticket for governorship in 2016.

The implication of their success in the chairmanship tickets is that when eventually they emerge as chairmen and councilors in their respective councils, they would be saddled with the responsibility of funding the party at the local level and by that giving more strength to the group at the grass root level.

Besides, these chairmen and councilors will be delegates for the state congress where Oshiomhole's successor is expected to emerge in 2016.

The Odubu and Ize-Iyamu loyalists may now have to reappraise their

In the consensus arrangement that was ratified during the affirmative primaries last weekend, the result inevitably showed the group now having the ascendancy over the two more known factional groups led by Ize-Iyamu and Odibo

Assembly for approval.

Edo in Safe hands has remarkably put a check to the once intimidating presence of the two factions around Oshomhole.

It is not surprising therefore

,

confrontational strategies towards one another and perhaps turn attention towards the lurking and now more formidable enemy.

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Why Jonathan will not sign 2013 budget this week —Okonjo-Iweala *Can the NASS veto Jonathan as 30 days expire today?

By SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North & CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—THE Coor dinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan will not sign the 2013 budget this week.

This is because discussion over the budget is still ongoing between the Executive and the National Assembly as much works remained to be done on the budget.

Okonjo-Iweala who disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, said further that reports making the round that the President will sign the budget this week are unrealistic.

The statement reads: “The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has clarified that talk of the President signing the budget this week is premature. Whereas discussions between the Executive and the National Assembly are ongoing in a cordial atmosphere, it is not yet clear when they will be concluded as much work remains to be done.

Against this background, reports stating that the President will sign the budget this week are therefore not realistic.”

Can the NASS veto Jonathan as 30 days expire today?

Today marks the end of 30 days after the National Assembly submitted the 2013 budget to President Goodluck Jonathan for assent as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Not surprisingly, Jonathan has withheld his assent to the budget document, complaining loudly that the estimates he submitted to the lawmakers have been significantly tampered with by the National Assembly. The bone of contention is that the president sent in a proposal of N4.25 trillion to the lawmakers to rubber stamp Continues on page 49

AFCON 2013: Senate breaks protocol, stands in ovation for Super Eagles •Passes vote of Confidence on Keshi, others •We are surrounded by enemies— Mark •Says why Keshi resigned, foreign partners must not be forced on him

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE Senate, basking in the euphoria of Nigeria Super Eagles’emergence as champions of Africa at the just concluded 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, yesterday, broke protocol and gave a standing ovation for the team while also clapping for them.

Senate President David Mark who could not hide his joy for the performance of the Nigeria team, had to stand up when the senators shouted hip, hip, hip, hurray thrice for the players and also clapped. After discussions on a motion, yesterday, the Senate passed a vote of confidence on the Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, and members of the technical team and hailed the team for winning the trophy and thereby making the nation proud.

The resolution of the Senate followed a motion by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and 107 Senators titled "Nigeria’s Glorious Outing at the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2013.” Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark disclosed that Nigeria as a country was surrounded by many enemies in the continent against the backdrop that other African countries expect much from us and we must defend the slogan of being the giant of Africa through actions and not words.

Show of greatness Senator Mark said: "Surprisingly, while I was in the state box watching the match, almost all the countries were supporting Burkina Faso for some inexplicable reason. It shows that people believe that we have the potential, people believe that we are great and we must show this greatness not only in words but even in deeds because we are always going about saying we are the giant of Africa. We have to prove that we are truly the giant of Africa in every sphere of life.”

The upper chamber also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the achievement as well as for motivating the team, even as it urged Keshi to rescind his decision to resign.

The Senate also urged President Jonathan and the Federal Government of Nigeria to reward the team handsomely.

Senator Ekweremadu in his

lead debate congratulated the Senate President whom he noted, consistently urged senators in particular and Nigerians as a whole to pray and fast for victory. The victory, according to him, was a valentine gift because it came on the week of valentine. He, however, regretted that Nigeria was deviating from sports development, adding: "It seems we are not concentrating more on sports development. Aware that Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku (m) flanked by Acting Governor Cross River State, Mr. Efiok Cobham (r) and President NUJ, Mr. the AFCON trophy had of Muhammed Garba during ther inspection of the NIPP in Odukpani, Cross eluded Nigeria for the River State. past 19 years since she last won it in 1994. Further aware team to manage, we should give el to be able to train our boys and that until this competition, the him the free hand to manage the our girls. Funding is an important performance of the Super Eagles team. Whatever way he goes to aspect and we have all addressed it had been grossly dissatisfactory get the result that should not be adequately. As long as you depend to the generality of Nigerians, our problem because once we on government to fund sporting acwhile Nigerian football had nose- begin to meddle in the way he tivities we are never going to make is going to run and manage the progress. dived abysmally.

"Notes with pleasure, the team, once we give him the task "First, the government’s procedure splendid performance of the Su- we should give him a free hand of getting funds out is not easy, it is per Eagles of Nigeria and Nige- to accomplish the task and bring not straightforward. Whilst governria’s emergence as champion of the result. ment gives you funds, it would not "I think this Senate must be be administered by the sports adAfrica at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, tournament in unanimous in that. I think part ministrators. There will be middle South Africa. Also notes with of the prayers should be for us men who will administer the fund delight the tenacity of spirit, pa- to prevail on him not to resign and all those are issues that will triotic zeal as well as unity and and also that the Sports Minis- negate progress. We need to have team spirit displayed by players, try or the administrators must faith in ourselves, obviously that is coach, and the entire team man- give him a free hand to bring us the most important thing because if agement. Observes with keen the result that we want. I think we don’t believe in ourselves we interest and satisfaction the con- also that the prayer warriors did cannot even make progress. tributions of the home-based their part. ‘’They were on their "And Stephen Keshi has rekindled Super Eagles to the overall suc- knees in the various mosques this that we must have faith in ourand churches and prayer selves. Both in our coaches and in cess of the team...."

Senate President Mark who grounds and we must thank the our players. It was very clear that if also disclosed that he had dis- prayer warriors. we didn’t win that match on Suncussions with Keshi and the day, my fear was how Nigerians coach told him that he was un- Acceptable were going to get out of that stadider pressure to accept to work motion um. Having won the Nation’s Cup with foreign partners and which is an indication that we go places Speaking further, he said, "I and I think it should spur us to win he (Keshi) failed to key into, added that the coach must be al- think this is one motion that all the Confederation Cup which is lowed to do his work without any the senators appended their sig- coming up in Brazil in June this nature and it shows how impor- year. But more importantly the World interference from any quarter.

Senator Mark said: "I spoke to tant and how acceptable the Cup. I remember that in 1994, we Stephen Keshi this morning and motion is. We have all addressed went as far as we could but then we he confirmed to me that he actu- virtually all the points that we not get there and I think we have ally said he has resigned. He can in sports ranging from our the talents in this county if we harsaid the reason was because desire to let the sports in this ness those talents to be able to take there was too much interference. country grow to a level where it ourselves o win even the World Before the final tournament on used be in those days. Whether Cup.” Sunday there was a lot of pres- it is football or athletics or basEarlier in his contribution, Depusure on him that he must accept ketball or hockey or golf or table ty Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi who foreign technical team or foreign tennis or lawn tennis or squash. congratulated all Nigerians espetechnical advisers and he said And we have also addressed the cially President Goodluck Jonathan he was opposed to it because he issue of grassroots training be- whose tenure he noted, won the has got all that it needs in this cause I think that is really where tournament, said, “I am proud to be country and that there are Nige- the problem is. Unless we train a Nigerian especially the confidence rians who can work with him and our boys and our girls at a very displayed by Nigerians in South he doesn’t see the gain in bring- early age, there is no way in Africa made me a proud Nigerian. which we are going to reach the ing foreigners.

“We should try to re-invigorate the "He said he was sorry he had level we want to reach. spirit of Nigerians in any tourna"Training facilities of course ment. He said victory was for the to actually put in his resignation.

But I think he is amenable, he is have become so scientific now leadership of the country to know prepared to rescind it provided that it is no more like what it used that issues of ethnicity, religion and we don’t force foreign technical I be those days. I think we also politics were secondary to the counpartners on him. And I think once need to ensure that we have try." we allow him and give him the sporting facilities at the local lev-

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013—49

2015: APC unfolds agenda for Nigeria •Free education, agric and job creation top agenda •Picks 6 governors as zonal coordinators •Oshiomhole affirms support for APC, as Okorocha says no going back on APGA’s merger with party

By SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

B

ARELY a week after four parties in Nigeria fused into one, ten governors under the platform of the newlyformed All Progressives’ Congress, APC, met in Abuja, yesterday, and picked zonal contact mobilisation coordinators for the country.

The announcement of the contact mobilisation committees was made after more than six hours of meeting by the ten governors at the Lagos House, Asokoro in Abuja.

At the meeting, which was presided over by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, were the governors of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi; and that of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Others in attendance were Adams Oshiomhole of Edo; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; and Kashim Shettima of Borno State.

At the end of the meeting, the governors declared that they were pleased with the name APC adopted by the merger committee as it captures the spirit of cooperation and compromise that they all espouse and underscores the imperative of rescuing Nigeria from decay.

APC governors communique The APC governors in a communiqué read by Governor Tanko Al-Makura, announced that the party would give priority attention to the promotion of radical social economic and political reformation of the country.

In particular, the party said its priority programmes would be agricultural development, job creation, free education, affordable healthcare, infrastructural development, adequate power supply, eradication of poverty and corruption and rapid technological advancement and industrialisation.

They declared: “We shall pride ourselves as social democrats that are committed to organise our society based on the values of justice for all and individual freedom where everyone’s basic needs are fulfilled.”

At the meeting six governors were named as zonal contact and mobilisation committee coordinators. They were: Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe for North-East, Tanko Al-Makura for NorthCentral, Abdulaziz Yari for North-West, Rochas Okorocha

for South-East, Adams Oshiom- ans to excel. That is why I fully are with APC and Nigerians are hole for South-South and Kay- endorse what the APC stands for aware of that.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola of and what it is out to do for Nigeriode Fayemi for South-West.

Lagos said that the issue of party The committees are expected an and Nigerians.” logo, manifesto and flag were beReacting to a question by Vanto mobilise support for the APC ing handled by the party and that guard, Imo State Governor, Rochacross the political, social, religious, ethnic and professional as Okorocha, declared that there at the appropriate time; all the was no question that the All Pro- issues would be fully sorted out interest groups in the country.

Responding to questions as to gressive Grand Alliance members by the respective organs.

Fashola, who likened APC to a why he was not present when were with APC and that he was the APC was formed last week, not worried about the few persons marriage, pointed out that the Edo State Governor, Adams who were trying to stay back from marriage had already been done but the certificate can be issues Oshiomhole said that he was not joining the new party. later. The governor said, “APC is Okorocha boasted: “Let me say available and had made it known to his colleagues that he emphatically that there is no divi- a done deal. Whatever remains was not around at the time of the sion at all about where the real now is like a certificate of marmembers of APGA are. As far as I riage which can be issues any merger.

Oshiomhole stated that given know, the real members of APGA time but we are already married.” the intent and purpose of APC, it was natural that he should pitch his tent with the party and that he was fully committed to its cause.

The governor said that Nigeria needed a strong and veritable opposition platform to move the country forward and provide enduring opportunities for Nigerians to achieve their ambitions.

Oshiomhole said: “What is in vogue now is that we should work together to move Nigeria forward and L-r: Mr. Kunle Omobolanle (financial secretary); Mr. Samuel Ajileye (patron) and create a platform of Tunde Abimbola (general secretary) of Newspaper Distributors and Vendors progress and devel- Association of Nigeria (NDAVA) during the press conference over the seizure of their opment for all Nigeri- Newspapers by the Oyo state Task Force on Environment. Photo: Dare Fasube

Bankers Committee to introduce consumer credit scheme •Banks’ operating cost drops to N1trillion

T

HE Bankers Committee is set to introduce a consumer credit scheme that would pave the way for bank customers in Nigeria to enjoy consumer credits for the financing of household goods and other welfare enhancing packages as obtains in developed countries.

The scheme is to begin between June and July this year.

Meanwhile, the total operating cost of banks in the country fell to N1 trillion last year from N1.6 trilion in 2011. These were part of the highlights of the first Bankers Committee meeting held in Abuja yesterday. The Committee comprises chief executives of bank, and management of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC. Addressing a joint press conference at the end of the meeting by the Group Managing Di-

rectors and Chief Executive Officers of : Access Bank, Mr. Aig Imoukhodue; Zenith Bank, Mr. Godwin Emiefele; Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr.Yinka Sani on the one hand and the Director of Banking Supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Ms. Tokunbo Martins and the Director of Corporate Communications of the CBN, Mr. Ugo Okarafor on the other hand, the Committee explained that arrangements have already been concluded by a Technical Committee set up on the consumer credit product scheme which has already traverse four continents to draw international best practices of the consumer credit scheme.

To ensure the success of the scheme and check against risk, an MOU between the Bankers’ Committee and an IT firms is to be signed shortly for a biometric Identity Management

projects for all bank customers which would provide a data base which is currently not available and which has prevented banks from advancing consumer credit in the country.

On the bank charges, the Committee announced that another committee has been set up to review downward charges by banks as a way of spurring bank users, pointing out for instance that the Cost of Transaction, COT, charges has already been reduced from five naira to three naira only.

The positive development, the Committee explained was as a result of the benefits of the Shared Services Scheme introduced by banks last year in the country which has reduced banks operating cost from N1.6 trillion in 2011 to N1 trillion by end December last year. Consequently, the Committee assured that as cost of operation declines bank charges too will moderately decline.

Why Jonathan will not sign 2013 budget this week —Okonjo-Iweala Continues from page 48 but they decided to exercise their statutory function by padding it with additional N63 billion, thereby incurring the wrath of the President, who in anger returned the document to the leadership of the NASS. Now, the mandatory 30 days provided for by the constitution has expired and Nigeria still doesn’t know how the fragile economy that has failed in virtually all indices of growth would fair given the additional blow inflicted on it by the undue delay by the gladiators.

With the refusal of President Jonathan to sign the appropriation bill, the only route open to the NASS would be to veto the president by passing it as an Act of the Parliament with two thirds majority vote by the two chambers of the federal legislature.

Ratification of budget Section 54 (4) amply authorises the NASS to bypass the president and pass such a bill if he fails to ratify a budget after 30 days.

However, competent sources in the NASS confirmed, yesterday, that the issue of the legislature vetoing President Jonathan was not being contemplated because the leadership had shown undue interest in padding the budget with projects worth billions of Naira for their respective constituencies. Many sources there said that none of the leaders of the NASS could sum up courage to challenge President Jonathan because of what they did to the budget after Jonathan had passed it on to the NASS for approval.

The anger of many members of the NASS is that the leadership did not carry them along in the project bonanza inserted by them in the padded budget but went ahead to allocate minor projects not above N50 million per member just to give the impression that all the members were involved in the padding.

But last night, indications emerged that the leadership had pleaded with the President to allow peace to reign and sign the budget as passed by the NASS so as not to expose them to public anger and ridicule.

50— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 — 51

Keshi was bold – Rufai

BY JACOB AJOM

F

ORMER Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has attributed Nigeria’s Afcon success to coach, Stephen Keshi’s boldness in team selection and his ability to absorb pressure and translate same to his players.

“They went into the tournament with so many people doubting their ability to achieve anything meaningful,” Rufai said, adding, “but Keshi’s trust in his players and the support he got from his technical crew was able to keep the players calm. They did not panic at any time, even when things were going rough.”

Rufai who said he was overwhelmed by Super Eagles triumph at the continental soccer fiesta said, “I am overwhelmed because the victory has brought respect and honour to indigenous coaches, who hitherto

were seen as not good enough for the big job.

Similarly, Rufai said by winning the Afcon trophy, Keshi has thrown a you-too-can-do-it challenge to his colleagues. “Yes, it will serve as a wake-up call to other indigenous coaches to further their training so that they too can be considered for similar appointments because now their nations can believe in them too.”

The former Super Eagles captain also said that the victory of the national team, after 19 years of waiting has shown that “whether a player plays at home or abroad once you are good, your performance will speak for you. It also reminds our football administrators on the need to develop our league so that we can retain our best for our league instead of losing them to other leagues that don’t deserve them.”

•Peter Rufai

Okowa hails Keshi S

ENATOR Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, Delta North has hailed the Nigerian Super Eagles on their victory in the African Cup of Nations tournament saying they point to the renaissance of the Nigerian spirit.

Senator Okowa especially brought out for praise the significance of the victory on the team

Cross River to commission Ikom Stadium in November T

HE Cross River State Government says the ultra-modern stadium being constructed in Ikom will be completed and commissioned before the end of the year.

Commissioner for Special Projects, Eng. Bassey Ika Oqua disclosed this to the National Good Governance Team led by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Mrs Kehinde Ajoni during a tour of projects in the state.

Oqua disclosed that the Ikom stadium and another being constructed in Ogoja are both valued at N2.2 billion.

The commissioner explained that the construction of the two stadia is aimed at enhancing the state’s comprehensive sports d e v e l o p m e n t programme.

The six thousand capacity stadium in Ikom will have two tennis courts, two basket ball courts and an Olympic sized swimming pool.

According to him, the concept falls in line with

•Ikom Stadium under-construction the state’s “catch them young” programme and is focused on schools

Madrid.

Both men put their respective sides through their paces in training on Tuesday morning, but the Special One seemed to be feeling anything but...

Manchester United boss Ferguson, who trails the Portuguese 62 in their 14 meetings (there have been six draws), was all smiles as he laughed and joked

Minister

and rural areas because the state does not poach athletes for sports competitions.

Continues from BP

with his players at their Carrington HQ. The 71-year-old Scot kept his squad in Manchester for one final session before flying out to Spain to avoid Mourinho’s Real Madrid spies gaining any clues to his plan for the Champions League last-16 encounter.

It is a tactic the veteran manager has employed ahead of each Champions League away match this season.

said that though there were issues, everything had been sorted out. ‘’We thank God almighty that we are part of this process. The issue of keshi resignation, you heard him yourself. And it was blown out of proportion, though there were issues but I think things were not properly managed as they should be managed ‘’But thank God I was on hand to discuss it. He never tendered resignation in the first place so the issue of resignation is not true.

Ferguson Continues from BP

coach and former captain of the team, Stephen Keshi who he said has becoming a darling to all elements in his Delta North constituency.

“The Super Eagles have lifted the morale and hearts of all Nigerians involved in productive engagements whether business, politics, entertainment or sports. The can-do spirit that was demonstrated by the players and coach despite the reported constraints will no doubt encourage many others towards excellence in their own endeavours.”

“I am particularly moved by the record attained by our own brother, Stephen Keshi who has entered the record books as the first indigenous coach to lift the trophy and the second person in Africa to win the cup as player and coach.”

“Keshi has taught us that many better things indeed will also flow from our Delta State .”

Keshi to rapturous acclaim in the capital Abuja as the squad flew home from South Africa.

The 51-year-old, who became only the second man to win the Nations Cup as both a coach.

On Monday, Keshi told a South African radio station that he had informed NFF officials that he no longer wanted to continue working with them - although he never submitted a formal letter of resignation.

Keshi cited frustration as well as a lack of support and respect on the part of the NFF for his reasons.

But after an emergency meeting with Abdullahi in the early hours of Tuesday in Johannesburg, Keshi rescinded his decision to quit.

“While I have had cause to express my displeasure over some issues that happened in the course of our (Nations Cup) participation, especially concerning my relationship with the NFF, I have since had opportunity to discuss the various issues with all concerned,” his statement said.

“I want to thank the Honourable Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, for his swift and kind intervention.”

In an interview with BBC Sport, the Nigeria coach explained how he had been upset by hearing constant feelers during the group stage of the competition that he was set to be replaced.

“A coach’s job is to be hired and then fired, so that doesn’t really matter,” Keshi told the

BBC. “The only thing that annoyed me was that there was no respect in all this activity - because even if you are looking for a coach, you still have to let me know that this is what you are going to do.”

“I am not really angry but they need to show me a little bit of respect.

Because I am a black person and also a Nigerian, they think they are doing me a favour by allowing me to coach the Super Eagles.

“They are not doing me a favour because I am working day and night (to succeed) and we thank God that we have the cup and that Nigerians are happy.”

NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire reacted to Keshi’s claims by denying that they were true. “Rumours were flying around during the group games but no one can prove these things.

The NFF continues to support and back the coach amidst all this media speculation,” he told BBC Sport.

Keshi’s Nigeria host Kenya in a World Cup qualifier next month before travelling to both Nairobi and Namibia for further ties in June.

It is unclear whether the team leading Group F of the African standings will reschedule the Namibia tie, which is set to be played three days before the Super Eagles start their Confederations Cup campaign.

The African champions face Tahiti in the Brazilian city Belo Horizonte on 17 June, before meeting Uruguay and Spain in Group B of the global competition.

keshi remains the Head coach of super eagles,” he said.

Also commenting on his reported resignation, Keshi said, ‘’We thank God for the victory. The next thing is to be patience and I believe things will work out. ‘’Well, you know there were issues to make things better in the team and all around our football sector in the country. But yesterday I spent about 4 to 5 hours mid-night yesterday with the Minister of Sport, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi.

We spoke about things and how we can move things forward,” he said.

On whether he had

resigned, Keshi said, ‘’I am here now.”

There was serious bridge of security as the Minister of FCT, arrived at the airport. The crowed was so much that the security agencies that were present had difficulty in controlling the crowd of supporters of supper Eagles that came to welcome them.

The entrance door to the arrival terminal was destroyed by the uncontrollable crowd that were trying to enter the arrival terminal at the airport.

The Super Eagles who were onboard torched down at exactly 3:15pm and were welcomed by the Minister for FCT.

Continues from BP

52 —

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Emulate Super Eagles and shun criminality, IGP tells youths

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

I

NSPECTOR General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has advised the Nigerian youths to emulate the patriotic spirit of the Super Eagles in bringing joy on the faces of Nigerians and shun crime and criminality that will dent their future.

The IGP who gave the advise while felicitating with the victorious Super Eagles for conquering Africa in the just concluded African Cup of Nations in South Africa told the youths to redefine their priorities and contribute their quota in the task of building a great Nigeria that will be the pride of Africa not only in the world of sports, but in the global comity of nations.

He congratulated the

C M Y K

Super Eagles for their emphatic victory over the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the finals of the Afcon, saying that it was well deserved, superlative and heart-warming victory.

Abubakar said, ‘’The victory of the Super

Eagles is a strong unifying force that has brought Nigerians together in joy, at a time government and its agencies are doing everything humanly possible to ensure the well being of the citizenry.”

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, joined the rest of Nigerians in congratulating the players and coaching crew of the Super Eagles, for emerging winners of the 2013 Orange African Nations Cup, even as he called for the continuous appointment of

Imoke hails Eagles for delivering on AFCON promise

C

ROSS River state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has hailed the Super Eagles for delivering on their promise of winning the AFCON trophy.

Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 on Sunday in South Africa to claim her third AFCON trophy and Gov Imoke is thrilled the team has done him,the

government and people of Cross River State who supported the team all through the qualifying games for the championships and indeed 160 millions proud.

‘I am delighted that the Super Eagles have delivered on the promise they made to me during their last qualifying game against Liberia in Calabar that they will win the

AFCON trophy and bring it to Calabar to present to me”, revealed Gov Imoke who spoke through his Sports and Youth Development C o m m i s s i o n e r, Honourable Patrick Ugbe.

Imoke is particularly happy that his government played a huge part in ensuring the Super Eagles had a conducive atmosphere to qualify for the tournament

Fashola congratulates Eagles indigenous coaches to manage all the national teams.

Fashola in his congratulatory message, commended the team for their resilience, determination and team work displayed throughout the competition.

According to him, “despite the fact that the team was not given any chance of excelling by many Nigerians at the commencement of the

competition, the team was still resolute in its determination to succeed".

“It was noteworthy that not only did Nigeria emerge as the champion; it also produced the golden boot winner in Emmanuel Emenike, the fair play winner of the competition in Victor Moses and the Most Valuable player in the Cup final match in Mikel John Obi.”

Kalu crowns Keshi

H

IS father was Ogbueshi (killer of Elephant) Frederick Aniemeka. Today, former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu thinks Stephen Okechukwu Keshi,First Nigerian to win the Nations Cup as player and coach, deseves to be crowned the Igwe[King ] of our soccer.

Extolling Keshi’s

profile, Kalu said,”The first Nigerian to qualify another nation,Togo, for the the World Cup,first to take three countriesTogo,Mali,Nigeria to the Nations Cup,first to play in four continents-Africa, Europe, Asia, America, first Nigerian to win AFCON gold,silver and bronze both as player and coach, and many more.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 — 53

C M Y K

54— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 — 55

Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the 28th edition of the Nations Cup on Sunday. But who organized a better reception for their heroes? These pictures tell the story better. Eagles may have earned more money but money is, sometimes, not everything.

Super Eagles players on arrival in Abuja

Coach Stephen Keshi speaking to the Pressmen

Burkina Faso players with their president

The crowd that welcomed the players in Burkina Faso C M Y K

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013

•Senate breaks protocol for Eagles — P.48

Show me respect, Keshi tells NFF C

OACH Stephen Keshi has decided against resigning his post just hours after leading Nigeria to their first Africa Cup of Nations crown since 1994.

Reports emerged that Keshi had offered to quit after Sunday night’s defeat of Burkina Faso, following disputes with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“I am pleased to say that I have reconsidered my position and have

decided to continue with my job,” Keshi said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the former Nigeria captain returned Continues on Page 51

Champions League: Fergie confronts Mourinho

CONFRONTATION: Mourinho (l) welcomes Ferguson to Madrid.

S

IR Alex Ferguson may have only beaten Jose Mourinho three times during his illustrious career, but it’s clear which boss is the more confident going into the showpiece first leg in

Continues on Page 51

•Keshi

Keshi remains Super Eagles coach—Sports Minister

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE, Abuja

T

HE Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi has said that Stephen Okechukwu Keshi remains the Head

PUZZLE

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, contrary to reports that Keshi who is popularly called the boss has resigned.

Abdullahi who gave the explanation an the

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja yesterday shortly when the victorious Super Eagles arrived after winning the African Cup of Nations in South Africa Continues on Page 51

Today's Fixtures Madrid v. Man. U 8:45 PM Shakhtar v. Dortmund 8:45 PM

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

HEROES: Captain Joseph Yobo lifting the Afcon trophy on arrival in Abuja yesterday.

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 1 Elderly (4) 4 Mine (3) 6 Leap (4) 8 Venom (6) 9 Respect (6) 10 Arid (3) 12 Eye-related (5) 14 Divan (5) 15 Swell (5) 18 Tenant (6) 20 Shameless (6) 24 Exclude (5) 26 Degrade (5) 28 Lettuce (3) 32 Edge (6) 33 Crayon (6) 34 Paste (4) 35 Shoot (3) 36 Reverberate (4)

Down 2 Party (5) 3 Sack (7) 4 Pool (4) 5 Salver 6 Huge (5) 7 Wonder (7) 11 Equipment (3) 12 Lubricate (3) 13 Hint (3) 16 Colour (3) 17 Recede (3) 19 Involve (7) 21 Torment (3) 22 Settle (7) 23 Bow (3) 25 Self (3) 27 Inch (5) 29 Whinny (5) 30 Cot (4) 31 Rushed (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 2, Scope 7, Tithe 8, Array 10, Amour 12, Eat 13, Stake 15, Regatta 17, Patent 19, Set 20, Tractor 23, Road 25, Reef 26, Resumed 30, Sum 31, Delude 34, Concept 37, Tutor 38, Rue 39, Havoc 40, Runny 41, Urged 42, Stare

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

Down: 1, Vista 2, Shake 3, Cement 4, Pour 5, Creator 6, Fatty 9, Rat 11, Rescued 13, Spurn 14, Attar 16, Get 18, Triumph 21, Rebut 22, Offer 24, Descent 27, Sue 28, Detour 29, Forum 32, Lucre 33, Dozen 35, Nun 36, Taut

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.

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