Jonathan Sacks Stella Oduah

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62079

39 killed, 2,000 houses destroyed as Boko Haram hits Borno 16

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Why I sacked Odimegwu —Jonathan 8

THANKSGIVING—Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (M) flanked on the right by Most Rev Augustine Akubeze, Bishop of Benin Catholic Archdiocese and on his left by Rev. Father Paul Enoh and other Catholic Priests at a Special Thanksgiving Mass held for the Governor, yesterday, at the St Paul's Catholic Church, Benin City, for surviving an auto accident on December 28, last year.

Jonathan sacks Stella Oduah •Orubebe, two others dropped •Supervising ministers to take over affected ministries •Jubilation engulfs aviation industry; stakeholders react

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, BEN AGANDE & DANIEL ETEGHE

A

BUJA—THE gale of sack at the Presidential Villa continued, yesterday, as President Goodluck Jonathan fired the controversial Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah and dropped three others.

Those dropped by the President included the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe; Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State for Finance,

Continues on page 5

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Orubebe

COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17

Josef•P.19 Omorotionmwan

Mr & Mrs Olubolade

Stella Oduah

DEFECTION: Mark saves 11 senators from removal

C M Y K

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Ngama

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POCKET CARTOON

PEACE MEETING—National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (2nd right); Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West Chairman, Bishop Magnus Atilade (left) and others, during Tinubu's Peace Meeting with South West CAN in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday.

Jonathan sacks Oduah ...Orubebe, 2 others dropped Continues from page 1 Dr Yerima Ngama.

Minister of Information and Supervising Minister for Defence, Labaran Maku, who confirmed the sack said the president relieved the ministers of their appointments to allow them pursue other interests.

Mr Maku also debunked reports in the social media that the former Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe was re-

moved because of his alleged involvement in corrupt acts in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The Minister of Information said: “Today (yesterday) the President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council. He said a number of ministers have been asked to step out of the federal executive council to further their own interests, some in politics, others in their own private en-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

When you create a vision of what you truly want, your actions will automatically propel you closer to your dream.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

I

F you don’t like the scene you’re in, if you’re unhappy, if you’re lonely, if you don’t feel that things are happening, change your scene. Paint a new backdrop - Leo Buscaglia You are the best thing that has ever happen in your life, when you see and consciously know how very special you are, you will understand fully that only you can do the best with what you have. Those special gifts, skills and talents given to you. If you try to be anyone else, it is the worst thing that can happen because you cannot ever be them - and then you give up being you.

The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honour. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give.

Buscaglia in his writings, says it perfectly. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around. It’s overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt.”

terprises.

“Clearly, what the President did today (yesterday) was to allow ministers who have indicated interest in pursuing further goals in the polity, in the economy and in the life of the country to be allowed to go.

“Those asked by the President to go include the following: The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd); Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah.

“In announcing his acceptance of their decision to participate in the polity, the President thanked them very sincerely for the great job they have done in helping the government realise the goals that have been achieved under the transformation agenda.

The President believes that they have done so well for this administration and was generally happy with what they have done, particularly in their various sectors to help the administration realise the goals we have seen today under the transformation programme of the government."

Refutes media reports on Oghiadomhe “The President also further explained that contrary to some insinuations in some quarters, that our colleague, the former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike

Oghiadomhe, was asked to go because of alleged involvement in NNPC alleged fraud, the President explained that contrary to these insinuations which came from the social media and were also replicated in some regular media, Chief Oghiadomhe left to pursue further interests in politics.

“The office of the Chief of Staff does not supervise the NNPC, it has no direct correlation with the NNPC and he said if Chief Oghiadomhe left because of the NNPC alleged fraud, then it will suggest that there would have been people that were involved with him and those people too would have gone.

“So contrary to these speculations, the President asked him to go when he offered to resign to pursue interest in politics. Politics is very vast so the President made it very clear that the resignation of the former Chief of Staff has nothing to do with alleged misdemeanour in NNPC but rather purely the decision of the former Chief of Staff to withdraw his services was to participate in politics”.

Supervising ministers to replace Oduah, others Mr Maku further announced that “the President asked the following ministers to take charge of the ministries: For the Ministry of Aviation, the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Investment, Samuel Ortom, will supervise it until the substantive appointment of an Aviation Minister.

“The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, already has a Minister of State, Darius Ishaku; in the Ministry of Finance of course the CME (Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) is already in charge. For the Ministry of Police Affairs, the President asked the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumoke Akinjide to take charge of the Ministry”.

Asked if other ministers who also have interests in higher political offices would be asked to go in batches, Labaran Maku said: “That is left for the President to decide. I am not the President but I believe sincerely that it

depends on what they have communicated to Mr. President. He does not just take those decisions in isolation”.

He added that “the President said he has asked them to go because of their interests.

They have indicated interest in pursuing higher and deeper interests in the polity and so he has decided to allow them go and pursue those interests. You have to get that correctly so that you won’t go and say something like it was said in the case of the former Chief of Staff ”.

Asked if the President asked Oduah to go based on the report of the presidential committee on the N255 million car scam, Maku said: “I have just reported exactly what the President said. Also don’t forget allegations don’t necessarily mean guilt and I think the press should always be patient. But the truth of the matter is that they left because they indicated interest in playing deeper roles in the politics of the country and the President has decided to let them go”.

Jubilation engulfs aviation industry Meanwhile, the aviation industry went into jubilation, yesterday, as many stakeholders expressed delight over the removal of Princes Stella Oduah.

Some stakeholders, however, faulted the timing of her removal, arguing that she should have been allowed to complete the airport remodelling project.

While expressing delight over the removal of the Aviation Minister, Deputy General Secretary, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Comrade Olayinka Abioye affirmed that President

Goodluck Jonathan had just given Nigerians a valentine gift, stressing that it was a welcome development.

Comrade Abioye further noted that Princess Oduah’s tenure was full of irregularities, noting that she disrespected the unions all through her tenure.

According to him, all the remodelling of airports and upgrade of facilities did not follow due process, asking what was the cost of the airports remodelled and the source of the funds.

He also noted that most of the agencies were tasked to partake in the remodelling project. He said that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) was asked to purchase electronic counters which were not part of the responsibility of the agency.

Comrade Abioye said: ”We will remember Princess Stella Oduah for so many things. All the remodelling project and upgrade of infrastructure, did they follow due process? The answer is no; were the stakeholders carried along in the process?

The answer is no. Were proper materials used in the buildings and the structures, the answer is no. Does FAAN which is supposed to be the supervisor in the know of several of these things?

The answer is no.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has just given Nigerians a valentine gift by the removal of Princes Stella Oduah and, however painful it may be, we will cherish this gift. The House of Representatives in their report indicted the minister for violating extant rules and urged the government to review her appointment. That word review means a very big thing, if somebody is appointed in a place and there is an error and you

Continues on Page 55

BY IF

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Pregnant woman jailed for trafficking in cannabis

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a 28-year-old pregnant woman, Saudat Wasiu, to three months in jail for drug trafficking.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, sentenced her after she pleaded guilty to a onecount charge of dealing in about 3.9kg of cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp.

During allocutus and shortly before her sentence, the convict who was in tears, pleaded with the court for mercy.

She said she had been deserted by her entire family members, and prayed the court to be liberal with the sentence.

Justice Yunusa, in his judgment, sentenced the convict to three months imprisonment, adding that the sentence should commence from December 4, 2013, when she was arrested.

“The convict is hereby, sentenced to three months imprisonment, which date is to start running from the time of arrest. The convict is, therefore, cautioned and advised to desist from crime in her interest and the interest of the society at large,” the court said.

The prosecutor, Mr Jerry Aernan, had told the court that she was arrested by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on December 4, 2013, at the NNPC area in Ejigbo.

Accident scene involving an articulated vehicle at Otto Whorf bus stop on Mile2-Apapa expressway, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez,

7 burnt to death in Ekiti petrol tanker crash

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI — AT least seven persons were burnt to death at Aramoko Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Tuesday evening, when a petrol tanker lost control and hit other vehicles.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the explosion from the tanker caused a stampede, as people scampered for safety to forestall being caught in the in-

AGOS — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, yesterday, charged a female banker with negligence, leading to the loss of hundreds of millions of Naira.

The accused, Grace Akpojiyouwi, a former staff of Union Bank, was accused of complicity in the mega scam that rocked the bank early this year when some fraudsters hacked into its data base and pulled out hundreds of millions of naira.

Akpojiyouwi allegedly failed to conduct due diligence as the account officer of Dan Kawu Bureau

retired head teacher, two other occupants of the affected buildings, two persons of northern extraction and two people inside the truck.

The driver of the tanker, who is now being detained at Aramoko Divisional Police Division and one other occupant, were said have been lucky as they escaped with injuries.

The corpses of the victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

The Ekiti State deputy governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, who visited the scene at about 9 a.m. yesterday, lamented that the recklessness of some truck drivers had resulted in untimely death of innocent Nigerians.

She said: “This road belongs to the Federal Government, but I want to assure that the state government will do something about it within the next two weeks. This death is painful and we have to do something quickly to avert reoccurence.”

How 3 men raped my 7-yr-old niece in Lagos —Applicant

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A woman, yes terday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how three men allegedly defiled her seven- year-old nice and warned her against telling anybody.

She averred in an affidavit in support of the suit that the respondents would threaten the infant with a knife in order to have their way, and would warn her never to reveal the

Female ex-banker remanded over N450m fraud

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ferno that emitted a thick smoke.

According to an eye witness, the incident happened at about 5.35 pm, when the tanker, which lost control shortly after descending a hill, swerved off the road while negotiating a sharp bend and rolled towards two buildings.

The source further revealed that the resultant fire consumed the buildings, while it also spread to surrounding ones and lock-up shops.

Vanguard gathered that the victims included one Mr Ololade, a

de Change before confirming and authorizing the payment of N450,000,000 to the company.

The case is being heard by Justice Babajide Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos High Court sitting at Ikeja.

When the charge was read, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

Based on the plea of the defendant, the prosecution counsel prayed the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendant in prison custody pending trial.

incident to anyone.

Meanwhile, the court, yesterday, adjourned till April 2, to hear the suit.

Respondents in the suit are Kazeem Mohammed; 40, Tobi Daramola; 19, and James Anieskin; 19.

Others are CSP Lucy Abimbola (Area Crime Officer, Idimu Police Command), one Miss Anthonia (prosecutor of court 6, Ikeja Magistrate's court) and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

Trial judge, Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia, adjourned the suit for parties to regularise their processes before the court, and ordered hearing notices to be served on the fourth to sixth respondents.

Ugwu in the suit through her counsel, Mr Olukayode Dada, is praying the court to declare that the defilement of her seven-yearold niece amounted to a breach of her right to dignity of human person.

The applicant is claiming N100 million each against the first to third respondents, as aggravated and exemplary damages, for violating the infant’s right to dignity of human person and freedom from torture.

She also claims N20 million against the first respondent, N5 million against the second re-

spondent, and N5 million against the third respondent, as general damages.

She averred in an affidavit in support of the suit that the respondents are her neighbours at Greenland Estate, LASUIsheri Road, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, where she also resides with her husband, her two kids and her niece (the infant).

How the act was committed

According to her, sometime in January 2013, she noticed blood stains on one of the infant’s under pant, and after interrogations, the infant confessed that the first to third respondents had been defying her.

According to Ugwu, the infant said while she (Ugwu) was away in Abuja during the period, the first to third respondents paid frequent visits to their home, whenever they discovered that her husband had gone to work.

She said: “After much interrogations, with my niece, she said the respondents came to put their “wee-wee” in her “bumbum” each time my husband was away, and would buy her five alive juice and Gala beef

roll. I immediately reported the incidence to the Ikotun police station, which swung into action and arrested the third respondent, but the first and second respondents had already absconded.

“To my surprise, while the Ikotun police were still making frantic efforts to arrest the other respondents, who were at large, a signal came from the Area ‘M’ Idimu Command, for the case to be transferred there. The respondents were later arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's court, after which the prosecutor, one Miss Anthonia, applied that the infant be remanded at the Girls Correctional Centre, Idi-Araba.

“I was later informed that on their way to the centre, the prosecutor threatened the infant to change her story or be locked up in a room for five days, without seeing her family.”

The applicant is asking the court to direct the sixth respondent (Commissioner of Police) to restrain the fifth respondent (prosecutor) from taking part in the prosecution of the first to third respondents.

She also seeks an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the fourth respondent (Idimu Area Crime Officer) from taking part in investigating the first to third respondents.

FEANYI OKOLIE

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 —7

Lagos Police parade fake IGP, dollar counterfeiter

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS — THE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, paraded two persons for forgery of document, impersonation, unlawful possession of psycho tropic drugs and fake foreign currency.

Mrs. Ngozi Braide, spokesperson of the command, who paraded the suspects, said the first suspect, Mr. Victor Kekong, was arrested during a stop-andsearch operation organised by the men of Area G Command, Ogba, Ikeja on February 5.

She said: "During the operation, Kekong was caught with some raps of India hemp. On further search, the policemen saw some documents where he posed as Inspector General of Police.

"Victor Kekong forged the documents to defraud a certain foreigner. The content of some of the documents contained contracts, oil transactions, financial transactions, Central Bank cheque for USD250,000, collected from one of his clients.

"One of the letters revealed that he had already collected USD10,000 and he was still working on getting more before he was arrested.

"When men of the command went to his house, they also found incriminating evidence.

"Among the documents found in his possession were the Inspector General of Police letter headed paper with forged write up, with the name and signature of the Inspector General of Police; a copy of Federal High Court of Justice Certificate of Legality; Central Bank cheque, identity card of Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja; Ministry of Tourism contract award certificate; United Nations Terrorist Inspection Board; Anti Drug Money Laundering Clearance Certificate; and Internal Revenue Service tax clearance

Shops, markets shut as women protest in Bauchi

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

Victor Kekong, the fake IGP. certificate."

The second suspect, Raymond Babs Fasheki, aged 55, according to DSP Ngozi Braide, was arrested following a tip-off by a patriotic Nigerian.

She said: "Last week, we received information from a good citizen that there was a man in Alade market who specialises in printing fake dollars. So the men of state squad swung into action and arrested him and found in his possession about 1500 fake United States dollars which is equivalent to N2.5 million.

"We also found some Cefa which he printed. So during interrogation, he claimed he bought them from somebody on the Island.

"So far, we have concluded investigation and both suspects will be charged accordingly to serve as deterrent to others."

Suspects' account

According to Victor Kekong, 34, said to be a fish farmer from Cross River State, "I was arrested on February 5, 2014, during a stop-and-search operation and

Raymond Babs Fasheki with fake dollars.

The forged documents they found a rap of Indian hemp in the clothe that I was wearing. " I used to smoke but as part of my new year resolution, I stopped, but I didn't know that the clothe I wore still had some raps from the leftover of 2013.

"After I was arrested, the policemen took my phone and found several e-mails I had sent

People crossing the expressway close to a pedestran bridge at Cele bus stop on ApapaOshodi expressway, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

to a man I had met on the internet, with whom I have been communicating since last year.

"He wanted me to help him verify some documents and that at the end of the transaction he was going to pay me N200,000.

"These documents were printed from my e-mail, which contains the correspondence of both of us.

These documents are the ones he sent to me. We met on facebook, via an account which I operated with a fake identity of Philip Agwe. I started that late last year.

"I used the fake identity because that was the only way I could talk with him. I got the fake international passport from Google. I was not very confident that it will work out, it was just a trial."

Meanwhile, the second suspect, Raymond Babs Fasheki, a graphic designer, was nabbed with 151 USD100 notes which is approximately N2.5 million.

According to him, he bought the fake dollars from his friend, Alhaji Bello, at Kokori in Balogun market, on Lagos Island.

AUCHI — Thousands of women, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest at the Tafawa-Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state to demand the immediate release of seven youths who were detained during the 2011 general election violence in the state.

The women, who wore black cloths, had in the early hours of yesterday blocked the major roads leading to the local government, thereby paralyzing commercial activities and vehicular movement in the town.

The women also closed down markets and shops in the local government to show their displeasure to the state government over the situation.

Several women were seen crying and walling in the sun while offering prayers to God to intervene towards the release of the youths from detention.

According to the leader of the group, Asabe Johnson, who is also the chairperson, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Women Wing, the women were not happy over the detention of their children who were falsely accused.

According to her, "the aim of this peaceful rally is to offer prayers to God to intervene in our predicament.

We want the immediate release of our seven youths from the local government who have been in detention since 2011."

Asabe added that their continued stay in detention had subjected their respective families to poverty.

The chairperson, who was in tears, expressed her sorrow over the situation, saying: "Most of the affected families cannot even afford three square meals when their bread winners are in detention, hence we are appealing to the government to release them unconditionally."

Reacting to the situation, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed the peaceful demonstration, saying the Police had since referred the case to the court.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Why I sacked Odimegwu — Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

ABUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan explained, yesterday, that the former chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, Chief Festus Odimegwu was relieved of his appointment because of certain statements he made, which brought credibility problem to the commission.

The president, who disclosed this while swearing in the chairman and two commissioners of the National Population Commission; a member of the ICPC as well as two Advisers at the Presidential Villa, charged public officials to be mindful of their utterances in order not to erode the confidence of the people in the work of their agencies.

He said: “When we have a country that the population is growing than the way our economy is growing, then we must know our population figures, so that government at federal, state and local levels will be able to plan.

“The population commission is critical and you also have to be mindful about the statements you make and that is not limited to the national population commission alone, but to all of us who are holding offices.

"You must be very mindful and not make statements that will create problem for the society."

Addressing the new chairman, the President said: "I dropped your predecessor because of certain statements he made.

"He is a fine gentleman, everybody knows him, very cerebral. But an institution like the National Population Commission must be one that people will believe in whatever you do.

"And if you make pronouncements that will create credibility problem to that institution, the best thing is for you to step aside for some other person to step in because the credibility of that institution is critical.

"Perception in most cases are stronger than real, no matter what you do if the perception is wrong then society will not follow you,” the president charged.

Oil theft, govt spending, greatest challenges to economy – Sanusi

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

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AGOS — CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has identified oil theft and increasing government spending as the greatest challenges facing the Nigerian economy.

He stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Udo Udoma and Bello Osagie 30 th anniversary lecture in Lagos.

He said that the situation where some people successfully steal crude oil, refine and ship outside the country, and the fact that government spending is on a continuous upward trend, will continue to make it impossible for the economy to move at the desired rate.

“We have a problem that is entirely home grown. Oil theft, increase in government spending are greatest challenges of the economy. And people who are investing in our markets are watching and when there is little panic, the economy may collapse. So we cannot take the stability that we currently have for granted. We should stop oil theft, leakage and build our reserves,” he said.

The CBN governor, who used the opportunity to recount the efforts the apex bank has made under his leadership, noted that the bank’s monetary policies have made tremendous impacts on the exchange rates,

especially in defence of the nation’s currency.

According to him, “The CBN is not looking for strong or weak naira. We are instead, looking for a stable currency.

This is because we understand how a weak currency impacts the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

Our biggest problem remains the threat to the exchange rate, because we should be resisting appreciation and not fighting depreciation as currently is the reality.”

Sanusi, who disclosed that the cost of managing the currency has dropped from N39 billion in 2009 to N34 billion in 2013, lamented the acute inefficiency in the value chain and explained that Nigeria needs to improve on that to drive the economy and make the banking industry lend more to the sector.

“We have moved agriculture lending from 0 to 4 percent in two years and today, Nigerian banks have up to N500 billion

in agriculture. This is because we can abuse the banks from now till tomorrow or employ all sorts of tricks to get the banks to lend to agriculture and they will not. So sometime ago, we invited Standard Chartered from Kenya and Standard Bank from South Africa to come and explain to us how their banks are lending to the agriculture sector and they said that the whole issue revolves around value chain, which is actually the answer to the problem of the entire economy.

DINNER: From left — Mr. Victor Onwuasomba, Managing Director, Afriwork Engineering Services, Prof Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power, Mr. Olukorede Adenowo, Head, Financial Institution, West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank and Mr. Ryota Ito, Deputy Managing Director, Marubeni Engineering West Africa Ltd during the Nigeria Power Investors Conference Dinner in Abuja.

Massive shake-up in Armed Forces as 8 new GOCs, at Defence FOCs are appointed z212 officers affected Operations headquarters and Major General

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA — FOLLOWING the appointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, and other service chiefs, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General KTJ Minimah and his naval counterpart, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, have carried out a massive reorganization in their services.

Consequently, the Army has redeployed 127 officers, including 36 major generals and 52 brigadier generals.

Five new General Officers Commanding, GOCs of Nigerian Army divisions were also appointed.

On the part of the Nigerian Navy, 75 officers were affected in the redeployment, including 29 rear admirals, 28 commodores and 18 captains and appointment of three new Flag Officers Commanding, FOCs, of the Nigerian Navy Commands.

The new General Officers Commanding the Nigerian

Army divisions (GOCs) are Major General Kingsley Osuji, General Officer Commanding, 1 Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army; Major General EF Abejirin, GOC 2 Division, Ibadan; Major General JS Zaruwa, GOC 3 Division, Jos; Major General TI Dibi, GOC 81 Division, Lagos and Major General AT Yusuf, GOC 82 Division, Enugu.

The FOCs are Rear Admiral

Peter Agba, Central Naval Command, Yenegoa; Rear Admiral SH Usman, Logistics Command, Oghara; and Rear Admiral Obiora Medani, FOC Eastern Naval Command, Calabar.

Also affected in the shake-up for the army are Brigadier General Mustapha Onoiveta, Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff; Major General EB Awala, Chief of Training and

Gani Wahab, Chief of Administration, Army headquarters.

Others include Major General M.D. Abubakar, Commander Infantry Corps; Major General Suleiman Labaran, Commander, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers; Major General J.A.H. Ewansiha, Chief of Training and Operations; Major General Jack Nwaogbo, Chief of Policy and Plans; and Major General S.O. Adeosun, the Chief of Logistics.

APC in diminishing returns — PDP

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday alleged that the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC has concluded plans to plunge Nigeria into chaos by raising an alarm that federal lawmakers were being induced with millions of dollars to defect to the PDP. In a statement yesterday by

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, while dismissing the claim as false, however, described the APC as a party in state of diminishing returns.

Metuh said, “Whilst we ordinarily should not dignify this sinking party, notorious for lies, deceit and propaganda with a reply, we are compelled to do so because their action is a direct attack on the basic

fabric of our democracy.

“All well-meaning Nigerians are indeed worried by the statements and actions of the APC, which are clearly aimed at destroying our democracy and plunging the nation into chaos.

In alleging that lawmakers were being financially induced, the APC seeks to cast doubt in the minds of Nigerians regarding the integrity of duly elected persons, politicians and the entire democratic institution.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—9

SANUSI/NNPC FEUD:

FG calls for restraint

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it has not commented on the controversy between the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over alleged nonremitance of money into the federation account because it believes the disagreements would be solved at institutional level.

Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had accused the NNPC of failing to remit $20 million from oil sales into the federation account, an allegation the NNPC vehemently denied.

But asked why the government has kept mute about the allegation from the Central Bank governor, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, called for restraint in responding to the allegation.

He said, “I will caution that we be patient for the institution of government to respond. You will recall that the CBN governor claimed $49 billion or thereabout was missing and inquiry shows that, that was not so. Now he has been making further claims and NNPC has been responding and I believe that I do not have the facts now to answer your questions. I believe the Minister of Finance, the NNPC will be in a better position to provide answers.

“You know when you deal with figures, we cannot be responding flippantly. NNPC has been explaining its position and I think you should listen to its explanation. What I have heard the NNPC say is that there appears to be lack of understanding by the CBN governor for the actual work they do and how monies are remitted. And they have continued to make that point repeatedly in response to the CBN. Because last time it was $49 billion but overnight $29 billion was no longer missing.

So when you look at this kind of allegations and the outcome, I am not a financial expert but I think there is some level of misunderstanding that needs to be carefully looked into.

“These institutions in my opinion can resolve those problems rather than making it an issue of newspaper statement which continues to give the impression that they are not working together, when they should be working together. They should, in my opinion, coordinate their activities in such a way that they have full understanding operations of the matter.”

Defection: Mark saves 11 senators from removal •Halts further debate till court ruling •PDP Senators want seats declared vacant

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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ENATE President Dav id Mark, yesterday, saved 11 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, from losing their seats by rebuffing moves to declare their seats vacant as the defection drama continued in the Senate.

He also halted further debates on the matter until the courts rule on the issue.

PDP senators led by Senator Ita Enang had sought for the declaration of the seats of the former PDP members that dumped the party for APC vacant on the premise that when a senator leaves the party platform that gave him the seat unless that party is factionalised, his seat will become vacant.

Order 14 of Senate standing rule Senator Enang who came through Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rule and relying on Section 68 Subsection (1g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) said the defectors having dumped the party that brought them to the Senate had automatically lost their membership.

According to him, Section 68 (1) g of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic states: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected: “Provided that his member-

ship of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

As if it was a decision reached after the Senate PDP caucus meeting at the residence of the Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba on Tuesday evening, the PDP senators chorused as Senator Enang was making his presentation and unanimously urged the Senate President to declare the seats of the affected Senators vacant. However, Senate President Mark apart from ruling Senator Enang out of order also stopped further debate on the matter until the court delivers final judgment on it.

Mark, who relied on the pending suit at the Federal High Court, said further comments on the matter was subjudicial. He told Enang: “You were in the chamber here,

yesterday, (Tuesday) and I did explain that the matter is in a court of competent jurisdiction.

We all agreed that no reference should be made in a matter before a competent court of law. My ruling is that I am not going to be different because it is a constitutional matter. I shall not make any more pronouncements on it.

The decision that you ask me to make is not possible.”

The Senate President’s ruling did not stop the PDP senators, who appeared ready to battle the defection issue with the APC. Senator Thomson Sekibo, who came also under Order 14 of the Senate Standing Order and Sections 1 and 2 of the constitution said that Order 53 (5) of the Senate Standing Rule upon which the Senate President based his refusal to declare the seats of the affected senators vacant was inconsistent with Section 1 of the constitution.

Contending that the Constitution of the country should be

superior to any other law, Senator Sekibo cited Section 1 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended which states: “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, the constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of the inconsistency by voided.”

Arguing that in the matter, Order 53 of the Senate Standing Rule was inconsistent with the section of the constitution, he urged the Senate president to discard the order and follow the constitution by declaring the seats of the affected defectors vacant.

Senator Sekibo maintained that having defected, the affected Senators lacked the locus standi to continue to seat in the chamber. But Sekibo’s position did not move Mark, who told him: “Senator Sekibo, the subject matter in which you spoke vigorously is before a court of competent jurisdiction.” Mark also ignored efforts by Senator Anthony Omowarare to revisit the issue and prevent the Senate President from adhering to the PDP senators’ plea as he said that he was not going to comment on the matter.

Throughout the debate, the affected senators were cold.

L-r: Senior Partner, Udo Udoma and Bello-Osagie Barristers and Solicitors, Mrs. Myma BelloOsagie; Managing Partner, Mr. Dan Agbor; guest speaker/CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; chairman of the anniversary lecture, Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie; founding partner, Senator Udo Udoma and wife Sally Udoma, at the 30th anniversary lecture of Udo Udoma and Bello Osagie, Barristers and Solicitors, held at City Hall, Lagos, yesterday Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

House to probe alleged $1m inducement of APC Reps

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, directed the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate an allegation that defected members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, were induced with a bribe of $1million to cross carpet to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This was sequel to a motion brought on the floor of the House by Rep Kingsley Chinda, PDP, Rivers under

‘matters of national importance’.

Chinda after the presiding officer, Aminu Tambuwal, had given him the floor, brandished a national daily where it was alleged that lawmakers who defected on Tuesday were given $1million each to dump APC. He said,”the integrity of all lawmakers of this assembly before the electorate is at stake if the statement credited to the interim National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Lai Mohammed is not investigated imme-

diately. There is need to get to the root of the matter immediately by the Ethics and Privileges Committee and whoever is found guilty should be sanctioned. “ He stressed further that “this was how the Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, last week alleged that the lawmakers in his state that defected to PDP were bribed with N50m each”.

Also, the Rivers lawmaker explained that “it will be shameful if this matter is not investigated

immediately as it will adversely affect all the good things the seventh Assembly had done."

Ruling on the issue, the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal mandated the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe into the matter and submit its findings within two weeks.

However Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Leo Ogor, said the money for defection allegation levelled against the defected lawmakers was “a complete nonsense as there was nothing like that."

10—Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

$5.9m: Ajudua asks court to try Bamaiyi for money laundering

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH AGOS—LAGOS lawyer, Mr. Fred Ajudua, yesterday, urged an Ikeja High Court to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to press a criminal charge of money laundering against former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, (rtd).

In a fresh application brought before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, Ajudua challenged the competence of the anti crime agency to file a 14-count of fraud against him for allegedly defrauding Bamaiyi of about $5.9 million (about N1 billion).

According to his process, he submitted that in Bamaiyi’s petition and statements to the EFCC, he personally confessed to conspiracy, aiding and abetting, money laundering and corrupting of public officers.

The new application by Ajudua eventually stalled his planned arraignment by the EFCC. Ajudua had among other things asked the court to compel EFCC to prosecute Bamaiyi and others, and also quash the “frivolous charges” preferred against him.

He also sought for “an order directing and compelling the prosecution/ respondent to prefer a criminal charge and/or arraign the underlisted persons for the offencesofconspiracy,aidingand abetting, money laundering and corrupting of public officers viz: Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd), Lawal Yaro, Abdullahi Garba, Martha Bamaiyi, Garba Tagda, Mohammed Abubakar, Lt. Col. Timothy Chechet and Sam KwendoBandi.”

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VISIT: Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (3rd right), presiding judge, Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, Justice Monica Mensem (3rd left), Ogun State chief judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade (2nd right), Justices of Court of Appeal, Chidi Uwa (2nd left), Daniel Kalio (left) and Haruna Tsamman, during the visit of the Appeal Court Judges to Amosun in Abeokuta.

How APC Presidential candidate would emerge, by Tinubu zMediates in Osun school crisis

BY GBENGAOLARINOYE SOGBO—NATIONAL Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinnubu, yesterday, said the Presidential candidate of the party for the 2015 general elections would soon emerge.

Fielding questions from newsmen after a closed door meeting with the Osun State government officials led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola and leaders of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN ,over the crisis arising from the new education policy in the state, Tinubu stated that the party’s presidential candidate would emerge through an open and transparent system.

He expressed confidence that the party would take over from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the centre next year, stressing that the success of the just concluded registration exercise of party membership across the country was an attestation that the party was on the path of winning the 2015 presidential election.

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Lagos contributory pension fund now over N47bn bond certificates, worth N1.2

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO AGOS—LAGOS State government yesterday said its pension fund under the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, had generated over N47 billion since the state switched from the old pension scheme to the new system seven years ago.

Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, Mr. Rotimi Hussain disclosed this at the 10th presentation of retirement

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billion to 299 employees who retired from the State Public Service under the scheme.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on LASPEC, Mr. Wahab Dabiri, led the presentation of the bond certificate to the retirees at a ceremony in Alausa, Ikeja.

Hussain, described the bond presentation as another turning-point in the history and administration of the contributory pension scheme in the state and Nigeria in general.

Tinubu allayed fears of possible crisis in the process of selecting the party’s flag bearer, saying that there had never been crisis in the party and there would not be any crisis even after the selection of the party’s acceptable candidate.

On the proposed National Conference, Tinubu restated his earlier position, describing the conference as both deceptive and diversionary.

He said: “The National Assembly has devoted time to the

review of the country ’s constitution. What again is the purpose of Jonathan’s national confab? It is a way of fooling Nigerians.”

He insisted that there was no law backing the proposed confab, urging that whatever came out of it would be a nullity, saying; “I am not a confused man, so, I cannot support the confab. Those in support have proved to be confused.”

The APC leader also expressed optimism in the

victory of the party in the June and August governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states respectively, saying, “The PDP is not a threat to the APC in both Ekiti and Osun states and by the grace of God we are coming out victorious in the elections.”

Tinubu, while commenting on the crisis that greeted the new education policy in the state said the matter had been resolved amicably between the government and the Christian community.

Jega vows to deal with corrupt INEC officials

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BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI—THE National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega has vowed that the commission will not hesitate to sack any corrupt or partisan staff.

He, however, warned politicians against spurious allegations against the commission’s staff, insisting that politicians should always provide evidence whenever they made allegations.

The INEC boss spoke at election stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti yesterday, saying “If you have any evidence about any of us either being partisan with any political party, come out with it but don’t distract us with your spurious and unsubstantiated allegations. We will do our best to remain impartial in the way we conduct our duties. Anyone we see being partial, we will obviously deal with that.”

At the forum attended by leaders of political parties, traditional rulers, security

agents, former governors Niyi Adebayo and Ayo Fayose among others, Jega promised to prosecute about 77,000 Ekiti residents, who engaged in multiple voting in the 2011 registration exercise, before June 21 governorship election in the state.

Jega also condemned the breach of Electoral Act through

the erection of political billboards and posters ahead of the June 21 election and advised aspirants to remove same in the interest of peace.

He described the erection of billboards and pasting of posters as “purely illegal” ordering owners of such campaign materials to remove them without further delay saying the action contradicted the 2010 Electoral Law as amended

Aggrieved parents decry closure of Isheri school

BY CHINEYEREABIAZIEM

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AGOS—PARENTS and guardians of students in IVY School in Isheri area of Lagos State, have decried the closure of the school by the proprietress without notification to parents.

The parents, who expressed their frustration during a peaceful protest, accused management of the school of putting their children in difficulty.

A notice on the school gate

stated that the school has closed and urged parents to contact the law firm of Dele Ademola & Co for enquiries.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “IVY School fraudsters our children are at home,” “Ministry of Education, Governor Fashola come to our assistance,” among others, the parents alleged that some of them had paid the necessary school fees before the school suddenly closed down without notifying them.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 —11

Yoruba opt for regionalism at mock confab I

BY OLAAJAYI

BADAN—REGIONALISM yesterday topped the demands of sons and daughters of Yoruba that converged at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan to brainstorm on demands of the zone in the proposed national conference.

Afenifere Renewal Group led by Mr. Wale Oshun organised the programme tagged “Yoruba Constitutional Conference” held to harness views of people in the zone in preparation for the national conference.

Oppose Jonathan on no-go area

Opposing President Goodluck Jonathan’s stance that the unity of the country was a no-go-area, they said in a conference of that nature, there should be no restriction of any form.

Though, many of them were skeptical about the conference producing any result, but said people who represented the zone should not deviate from Yoruba agenda and if they did, the zone would be un inhabitable for them at the end of the conference.

then is President Jonathan refusing to come to terms with the fact that this dialogue should primarily be between ethnic nationalities? If the intention is to muddle up things, with the determination of the ethnic nationalities to seek justice for themselves, I ask you today to take note, and to challenge you to be ready to mark all Yoruba who might emerge as delegates to the conference, irrespective of which organisation they might emerge from.

the Yoruba cause would be dire. We would not, because we disagree with many of the modalities, play into the hands of detractors by abandoning the Conference as being suggested in some quarters. In accepting the challenge, however, we affirm our resolve to regard any Yoruba nominee, irrespective of nominating platform, as Yoruba ethnic national, and those wishing to mainstream or sell their kith and kin should better not accept their nominations.

On betrayal

Demands

“All potential Yoruba delegates should know and be fully aware that whichever platform threw them up, the consequences of betraying

“We state categorically that key Yoruba restructuring demands are well-known, demands that had crystallised in a period covering almost two decades in

the document now described as Yoruba Agenda which we have fully published in today ’s programme. Yoruba delegates shall not allow a return to the status-quo of a unitary mode of government, and may not mind being pushed out of the union if a true Federation is impossible.”

Groups in attendance

All groups that attended the event such as Agbekoya Reformed Group, Afenifere youth, Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America, Oodua Peoples Congress, Covenant Group, Atayese, Oodua Nationalist Coalition, Oodua Foundation and many others threatened that any Yoruba representatives who failed to put Yoruba agenda on table for discussion would experience fire back at home.

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—DISTURBED by the safety of air travellers and the security implication, the Ondo State government yesterday prohibited grazing of cows at the Akure Airport and within towns and cities across the state, giving cattle rearers 30 days to remove their tents and other property within the airport.

This was sequel to the alarm raised by the management of the Akure Airport that the activities of the cattle rearers were of grave security implication.

At a meeting with stakeholders including management staff of the Airport and the chairman of cattle rearers & butchers and Seriki Fulani in Akure, government said it would not compromise safety, security and respect for its environment.

Pedro lauds ACP on members' registration

Roll call

Among those that attended the programme included Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, represented by Chiefs Adebowale Adefere and Segun Eluyera, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana represented by Chief Olufemi Olaifa, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Chief Olusegun Odegbami, former Super Eagles player, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, Ashipa Olubadan, Iyiola Oladokun, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Mashud Erubami, Votas Assembly, Dr. Dipo Famakinwa, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, Oloyere of OyereIfe, Oba Adesiyan Mayowa and several others.

Speaking, Gen. Akinrinade said: “He should expunge the idea of no-go-area. I repeat my original position that the unity of Nigeria is negotiable.

It is the reason we are meeting. The Yoruba had always wanted a Nigeria accommodating all the ethnic nationalities but we must create a nation where no one is oppressed. We are mindful that failure to do so will leave each nation with no option but to find happiness in its own separate way. We need not create avenue for unnecessary intransigence by declaring that we must stay together by fiat abinitio.”

Welcoming participants to the event, Chief Wale Oshun, Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group, said: “Why

Ondo bans cattle rearers from airport

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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VISIT: From left: Member, Board of Directors, Odu'a Investment, Chief Sharafadeen Alli, Group Managing Director, Odu'a Investment, Dr. Adebayo Jimoh, Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Odu'a Investment, Chief Isaac Akintade, during the monarch's visit to Odu'a Museum and Hall of Fame in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Ogun PDP begins registration of members

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BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—THE Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, yesterday, said it would soon begin members’ registration exercise with a view to updating its register and accommodating new members.

This came as the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state traded words over alleged coercion of civil servants in the state to participate in the APC membership registration exercise.

PDP said it planned to register new members in all the 3,200 polling units and 236 wards in the state.

Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Adebayo Dayo, disclosed this during an emergency meeting at the home of the party financier and Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu in Ijebu-Igbo.

Dayo, however, explained that though, the party had started its

own registration since 1998, it would begin fresh one for the new members berating the APC, saying the party “ is only running up and down to register their members because they do not have register.”

He said PDP would continue to update its register to accommodate new members that were just joining the party.

He said: “People around have been asking, PDP when are you starting your registration? What we are going to start is a continuous exercise because this is what we have been doing from time to time. The registration has to be effective and a committee would be set up to conduct the exercise."

KURE—FORMER Deputy governor of Lagos State and Chairman, Ondo State registration committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Pedro yesterday said the large turn-out of people during the exercise showed that the people are desirous of a change in the state.

Pedro who spoke when leaders of the party from Ondo East and West areas of the state led by Hon. Bola Ilori visited him, said the turn -out was massive.

He said: “The registration was a huge success. People came out to register for the party. We exhausted our materials and had to ask for more."

....PDP flays Aregbesola over Osun school crisis increased in public schools since

BY GBENGAOLARINOYE

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SOGBO—OSUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned Tuesday’s visit of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to Baptist High School, Iwo, saying the governor only succeeded in trivialising the issue at hand.

Students of the school had last week thrown decency to the wind as some of them appeared in hijab and other religious

paraphernalia to the school.

PDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa in a statement in Osogbo, yesterday, said the visit of Gov. Aregbesola to Iwo where he wore uniforms was condemnable, arguing that he should “as a matter of urgency revert to the old uniform and stop forthwith the use of religious paraphernalia in Christian schools.”

The PDP chairman claimed the rate of crisis in schools had

the present administration in the state began the reclassification exercise.

Olaoluwa said the days of Aregbesola were numbered in Osun State “as the PDP has set machinery in motion to kick him out.”

The PDP chairman advised Aregbesola to reenroll after he might have been kicked out in Osun in one of the institutions so that he could be taught properly on governance.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Ugborodo crisis: FG shifts final resolution by one week zAs IMG begs Oritsejafor, Lori-Ogbebor to intervene

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—THE Federal Government’s mediation team on the leadership crisis in Ugborodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, has shifted final resolution on the crisis to Monday next week.

The extended time declared in Abuja at a meeting of the mediators and parties last Monday is to allow the Alex Ideh/David Tonweled faction come up with its 10-man list to make up the new Ugborodo Interface Committee on the Federal Government’s Export Processing Zone, EPZ, sited in Ogidigben.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the crisis in Ugborodo community as a bad chapter in the history of the Niger Delta.

IMG, in a statement by Mr Joseph Evah, pleaded with President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Niger Delta woman leader, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, to intervene in the crisis as neutral leaders of thought from Itsekiri land, adding that the outstanding qualities of the two elders made them global citizens.

“We plead with Pastor Oritsejafor and Chief Lori-Ogbebor to lead the peace effort by applying godly and traditional wisdom to make the warring brothers and sisters to reason that the hatred, if allowed to grow, will, God forbid, consume the present and future generations of Itsekiris,” the IMG said.

A source at the Monday meeting, who pleaded anonymity, told

Vanguard that the last meeting was meant to resolve all the issues. He, however, noted that the Ideh/Tonwe faction came unprepared as it failed to submit its 10-man list for the EPZ committee.

Another source, said: “You know, before last Monday's meeting, the Ideh/Tonwe faction declared that it would be represented by its legal counsel, instead of making a personal appearance. They had earlier also rejected the Delta State Government appointed Chairman for the new EPZ committee.

“So, it was no surprise that

they were not prepared when they later appeared in person. The Thomas Eriyitomi’s faction is conforming to the standing order and their list has been ready weeks before the meeting. It is up to Ideh and his team to submit their list not later than next Monday because the intervention committee will reach a final resolution binding on all parties that day.”

It was also gathered that both factions, as well as the intervention team led by Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear

Admiral Usman Oyibe Jubrin, who were both represented, were not satisfied with the Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr. Ovuozorie Macauley Peace Committee’s report to the Abuja gathering.

A source said: “Macauley’s report was so watery; both factions and all the mediators were unimpressed. The report was supposed to be a basis for progress on the matter, but Macaulay presented mere minutes of meeting without making a single recommendation, forcing stakeholders to start all over. That dragged the meeting for several hours.”

CONDOLENCE VISIT: From right: Mr. Victor Ochei, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly; Chief P.I.G. Onyeobi, former Head of Service, Defunct Bendel State and some traditional rulers, during a condolence visit to Mr. John Nani, member, DTHA, on his mother’s death.

Defection: We've handed Uzamere to God —Edo APC

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, HENRY UMORU & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—THE All Progres sives Congress, APC, in Edo State, says it has no ill feelings over the defection of Senator Ehigie Uzamere to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, noting that his action has been handed over to God and the gods of Benin Kingdom.

However, the chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Dan Orbih, welcomed the defection, saying it was a reaction to what he termed the failure of the APC-led government in the state.

“It is a reaction to the failure of Adams Oshiomhole’s government to develop Edo State. It is the worst government we have had in the history of the state with his policy of demolition of houses, all in the name of expansion of existing roads and primitive tax policy. The PDP is now repositioned and will create level

playing field for all members,” he said Meanwhile, the Forum of former Council chairmen in Edo South senatorial district, led by Mr Crosby Eribo, has described the defection of Senator Uzamere as betrayal and ingratitude, adding that “it is a lesson to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other APC leaders in future elections because it seems pretenders are sometimes rated higher than those who are dedicated to the party.”

Recall that Senator Uzamere, representing Edo South senatorial district in the Senate, defected to the then ACN from PDP in 2011 and was handed the ACN senatorial ticket at the expense of Mr Matthew Urhoghide, the current Publicity Secretary of PDP. Even after his candidacy was opposed by the old ACN members, Governor Oshiomhole campaigned vigorously for

him after he convinced other leaders of the party to accept Uzamere.

Following the support of the Oshiomhole political machinery, Uzamere defeated Senator Daisy Danjuma of PDP. Reacting to his defection, APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Godwin Erhahon, said: “We wish him goodluck in his political merry go round. We have no ill feelings towards him. We will continue to trust in God and depend on the judgment of our people. Our victorious train sails on towards the presidential villa with robust hope.

“That mandate was given to him by the people, but since he decided to sell it to PDP, we leave him with God and the gods of our land.”

On his part, Mr Matthew Urhoghide, the Publicity Secretary of the state PDP, welcomed the development, saying that he has no personal issues with Uzamere who took the APC Senate ticket from him in 2011.

Bayelsa oil communities allege neglect

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BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—THE host communities to the Oloibiri oil well, first commercial oil well in Nigeria drilled in 1956 at Otuabagi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday, said the area has nothing to show for its historic role in the economy of the country.

The communities lamented that several promises made by past administrations to develop the area and give their people a sense of belonging had remained a mirage.

A leader in the community, Chief Amangi Daniel, who narrated the plight of his people during a visit of Mr Jay Naidoo, a former Minister for Development in South Africa, to Oloibiri oil well, noted with sadness that the relics and pollution associated with oil exploration in the area were still evident.

He said: “Despite our peaceful disposition that led to uninterrupted oil production for several decades, development has eluded our community even as Shell Petroleum Development Company, which struck oil in the area, has also abandoned the well.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—13

Amaechi commends Nigerian Airforce

Police dock Delta monarch, four others for arson

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BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—POLICE in Delta State, yesterday, arraigned the traditional ruler of Abavo Kingdom, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, HRM Obi Uche Irenuma II, and four others before an Asaba Magistrate Court on a 16-count charge of attempted murder, arson, giving false information and breach of public peace.

There was, however, a mild drama in court, as the royal father was brought into the court room on a stretcher, with drip administered on him by a medical personnel, from a private hospital.

Defense counsel, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwulor, objected to his arraignment, arguing that the accused was not medically fit to stand trial.

But, the prosecution, led

by Mr. T. Okey, opposed the application, citing Sections 236 and 701 of the criminal code, which gives the court power to assume jurisdiction over the matter.

Ruling, the trial magistrate, Mrs. Q. Momoh, ordered that the monarch should be taken to police medical hospital for treatment and adjourned the matter till March, 11 for mention.

The charge preferred against the accused read, that “ you Obi Uche Irenuma, male, did give false information to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, a person employed in the public service of Nigeria to the effect that the Queen mother of Abavo kingdom had been kidnapped, an information which you knew to be false or did not believe in its truth, and caused the said Commissioner of Police to use his official powers to send armed policemen and police vehicles to Abavo kingdom, which made citizens of Abavo Kingdom to be apprehensive of breach of public peace punishable under section 125 of the Criminal Code law, cap C21 vol 1, laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.”

PRESENTATION: First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (left), receiving a painted portraite from the wife of Cross River State governor, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, at the State House in Abuja, Tuesday.

Southern Governors Forum underway —Uduaghan

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, said yesterday, that consultations were on to bring the governors in the Southern part of the country into one forum, to be called the Southern Nigerian Governors Forum.

A similar one exists in the North.

He spoke at the 4th general conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA, in Asaba, Delta State.

Leader of the South-South delegation/Coordinating Chairman of SNPA, Chief Edwin Clark, in his welcome address, challenged the governors in the South to emulate their counterparts in the North by coming together under one umbrella irrespective of their political differences for the common interest of the Southern region.

Governor Uduaghan said: “We (South-South) governors and South-East governors are meeting and we are making

moves to involve the SouthWest, so that we have the Southern Nigerian Governors Forum, if we are able to deal with our individual political differences. But we are making moves and I want to assure everybody here that when it is possible, that meeting will surely come on stream, because apart from the political differences, the issues that affect Southern Nigeria are better resolved when the leaders of the region meet."

Reacting to the lecture at the event by Ijaw activist, Chief Francis Williams, Uduaghan said: “I want to note that he (Williams) said Nigeria is gliding recklessly down the precipice. I want to assure him that the gliding is not as alarming as he put it. I also want to assure him that no ravaging fire of ethnic nationalism will consume this country.

If we do not believe that or if we believe that that will happen, we will not be here

in this hall. We have all learned our various lessons togather here to deal with the challenges we have in Nigeria. I call them challenges because there is nothing that is too difficult to handle especially when we have God on our side and we know that we Nigerians and the President have God on our side.

“I want to assure every Nigerian that Nigeria will not disintegrate during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan. That will not happen. I will give you that assurance. I am giving you that assurance is because I do know that though the President faces a lot of challenges, he is handling them with the maturity they deserve and like I noted, there had been no regime that has had so much security challenges than we are having now. But you will also agree that in the last two years, he has handled the security challenges especially the Boko Haram with maturity."

Auto crash: It’s a miracle I survived —Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said it was a miracle that he survived the auto crash on the BeninAbuja Road on December 28, last year.

Speaking at a Special Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate his survival, Oshiomhole said it was God’s mercy that made him and the other occupants survive the direct impact of the bus that hit his car and completely destroyed it.

Reflecting on the scriptures, he said “the essence of this occasion is to give testimony to

the fact that when we buy armoured vehicles, we are only thinking in terms of enemies, who might choose to use firearms to fire on their enemies. But as I saw on December 28, even the armoured vehicle is not sufficiently armoured to protect the vehicle itself from being hit in an accident.

“The real armour is the armour that God provides when we submit to his will.

It cannot be procured by money, it cannot be procured by the most potent arms makers. Only God can armour us against evil. We had a serious accident and the ar-

moured vehicle was itself destroyed. Those of us in the car, three of us, none of us was harmed and as you can see, we all came out of the armoured car unhurt and alive. The armoured car is off the road, but we the ordinary people covered by the Blood of Jesus, survived it.

“I pledge to rededicate myself to the services of the people of this great state. For the remaining time that I have, I will do as God directs me, to continue to use the instrument of governance to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of our citizens.”

IVERS State governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has commended officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force for remaining neutral and apolitical.

He said this was visible among the officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force in the state.

Amaechi, when the new Commander of 97 Special Operations Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Port Harcourt, Air Commodore Ajibola Jekennu, led other officers and men to pay him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt, said: “Let me welcome you to our Executive Council Chambers and to Port Harcourt. Let me through you, thank the (Nigerian) Air Force. You have been supportive of government and you have been very apolitical. What we will do is to encourage you to continue to distance yourself from politics.

“There is a difference between politics and governance. Politics is when you become a card-carrying member of a party and you are listening to the political party and doing things according to their dictates and governance is when you support the government that is in power to execute responsibilities that impact on everybody whether politician, civilian or military and that serves the interest of everybody."

UPF exco, leaders meet Feb 16

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N expanded executive, leaders and elders meeting of the Urhobo Political Forum, UPF, has been fixed for February 16, in Sapele, Delta State.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Ejaife Odebala, said the meeting will hold at the residence of the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly and National Vice Chairman UPF, Mr Monday Igbuya.

He said the meeting was mandatory for all the executives, leaders and elders of UPF, as important issues that will determine the political direction for 2014 and beyond would be discussed as well as the inauguration of the local government committees.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

YORUBA CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE IN IBADAN

From left: Oba Mayowa Adesiyan, Eyanla of Amiula-Ife; Oba Adeoye Adefarakan, Oloyore of Oyere-Ife and Chief Olufemi Olaifa, representing Olubadan of Ibadan at the Yoruba constitutional conference which held yesterday, in Ibadan. Pictures by Dare Fasube.

From left Senator Olabiyi Durojaye and Gen. Alani Akinrinade rtd.

From left: Olootu Omooba Leye Ashaye, Mrs Dupe Ahjayi Gbadebo and Engr. Bashir Awotorebo.

From left: Chief Mrs Sherriffat Yisa, Mr Idowu Alagbe Mr. Gbolahan Fakorede and Mr. Kunle Famoriyo.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—15

Southern Nigeria assembly reaffirms support for Jonathan •Rejects 75 % consensus clause

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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UBA CEO Awards. R-l: Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Group Executive Director, Finance, NNPC Mr. Bon Otti; GMD/CEO UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Dr. Awele Elumelu and Mrs. Jumai Oduoza, during the annual UBA CEO Awards ceremony organised to reward star performers in Lagos, weekend

OUTHERN Nigeria Peoples Assembly, yesterday, re-affirmed support for Jonathan in 2015, and faulted the 75 percent consensus clause in modalities for the national conference.

Statesmen and leaders of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, rose from its fourth general conference in Asaba, Delta State capital, with a call on President Goodluck Jonathan to run for 2015 presidential race.

The Assembly also unanimously agreed to participate

actively at the forthcoming national conference, declaring its resolve to see a united Nigeria devoid of any disintegration.

The five-point communiqué signed by the leader of the South South/host chairman, Chief Edwin Clark, Leader South East, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Leader South West, Bishop Bolande Gbonigi reads: •The SNPA believes that the national conference rather than lead to disintegration of the country will in fact strengthen the unity of Nigeria. Therefore, the Southern Assembly resolves to not only participate in the national conference but also enjoins all patriotic Nigerians to participate with the sole objective of contributing to the development of the country.

•That in line with global practices the 75 percent consensus clause in the modalities for the national conference needs to be revisited/ reviewed for ease of decision making.

•That the SNPA enjoins all governors of the seventeen states of southern Nigeria irrespective of their political affiliations to meet regularly to discuss matters of common interest. We crave that the inaugural meeting of the governors should be held as soon as possible.

•That in furtherance of the SNPA decision in our Lagos conference, the Southern Assembly re-affirms its support for the exercise of the constitutional right of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to seek reelection in 2015. The next meeting of the Assembly holds in SouthEast in June this year.

Dokpesi replies Clark

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AGOS—CHAIR MAN, DAAR Communications Plc, operators of Africa Independent Television, AIT, and RayPower FM, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, yesterday, responded to the tirade against him by the former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, saying the SouthSouth leader has become a liability to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dokpesi in a statement signed by his Executive Assistant, Okiemute Olori, said Chief Clark “belongs to the old generation that does not believe in the unity of Nigeria and has done more harm than good to the present administration in pursuit of his parochial interests."

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

President Jonathan places premium on grassroots devt — Sambo

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FLAG-OFF: From left, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu; Chairman of Chicason Group of Companies, Chief Alexander Chika-Okafor, and Head, General Commerce of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Limited, Mr. Folusho Raheem, at the flag-off of the mass housing scheme for public servants, which has FCMB as one of the selected banks for the project, at Abuja, yesterday.

ICE PRESIDENT, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, says the President Goodluck Jonathan administration places premium on the development of the grass-roots, as it is key to the realisation of his Transformation Agenda.

Sambo spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Umar Sani, yesterday, at the opening of a two-day Leadership Seminar on Local Governments, with the theme “Presidential/Executive System of Government and its Application at the Local Government Level in the Federal Republic of Nigeria” at the Peace Park,

Abuja.

The Vice President stressed that due to the importance attached to acceleration and development of the people at the grass-roots, the Jonathan administration had come up with various intervention policies and programmes that would impact positively on their fortunes.

According to him: “Although the 1999 Constitution is explicit on the powers and responsibilities of each tier of government, nonetheless, the Federal Government has offered various forms of support in critical areas through interventions,

especially in basic education.”

He enumerated some of the support programmes to include the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, which he said had ‘’repositioned agriculture as a lucrative business,’’ and availed farmers’ easy access to cheap funds and farm input, like fertilizer, through the e-Wallet system of distribution.

They also included access to basic education, through the textbooks initiative; the Almajiri programme; the girl-child education; as well as the out-of school- boy-child education programme.

39 killed, 2,000 houses destroyed as Boko Haram invades Borno

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI — GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State has said that members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect were better motivated to carry out attacks on innocent people more than the Nigerian security agents who were fighting them.

Shettima spoke in an interview with newsmen shortly after inspecting the magnitude of the destruction carried out by Boko Haram insurgents at Konduga, Tuesday evening.

Thirty-nine people were killed while about 2,000 houses were burnt by Boko Haram during the attack. ”Honestly, we as government believe that our security agencies are doing their best in fighting the Book Haram sect, but I have to be frank with you that the Boko Haram terrorists are much more motivated than our security operatives. ’’As I am talking to you now, I just received another call/message that the town of Izge in Gwoza council area of the state is under deadly attack by Boko Haram, but we will not be deterred, as we will do everything possible to ensure the restoration of peace in our dear state. ”I am using this opportunity to call on everybody to continue to pray for peace and unity in our dear state and the country at large.

"In fact, you journalists are here with me and you have seen the situation yourself.

"One would begin to wonder that even mosques are not spared, so if people are saying Boko Haram is a war to Islamise Borno or the country, why are they burning mosques?” Shettima asked.

He noted that about 75 per cent of the entire houses in Konduga council headquarters were set ablaze by the terrorists, but stressed that government would soon mobilise resources to rebuild the affected areas with the aim of rehabilitating displaced persons in the area.

Shettima vowed not to leave Konduga until trucks loaded with food items arrived the troubled town from Maiduguri

based on the directives he gave to some of his aides.

Those who sustained serious gunshot wounds were, however, said to have been rushed to various hospitals in Bama as well as the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH, among others for treatment.

Konduga with a population of over 10,000 is about 45 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital. It is located near the Sambisa Forest which also harbours many terrorists' cells in the state.

The area had in the middle of last year witnessed deadly attacks when some terrorists ambushed residents including some worshippers in mosques, killing over 50 of them before setting the mosque and other residential houses ablaze.

The gunmen, according to the Vice Chairman, Civilian JTF, Mr. Tijjani Peter, also set ablaze over 2,000 houses and shops as well as 50 vehicles even as thousands of residents fled for safety.

It was alleged that the terrorists also abducted some youths including some female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Konduga.

Tijani lamented that “we heard about three days ago that some terrorists were sighted by residents in a nearby bush in Konduga, but it was unfortunate that after alerting the security operatives, no action was taken.

"Only yesterday that we started hearing sounds of gunshots and explosives at about 4p.m., we tried our best to repell the attackers as three of them were killed by my colleaques, but they later overpowered us, killing many residents. ”In fact, the casualty figure could have been worse than this, but many residents were alerted that the town would be attacked, hence many of us ran into the bush to hide, leaving some old men and women as well as the under aged children,’’ he added.

The District Head of Konduga, Alhaji Zanna Masu Yale whose entire palace was razed down, said the terrorists also burnt down the Konduga Central Mosque, health clinics, maternity homes and hospitals.

A resident who gave his name as Mallam Baba Abubakar told Vanguard in an interview in Konduga that the gunmen came into Konduga at about 4pm, using two armoured personnel carriers, five Tata pick up vehicles painted in Army

camouflage colour, five motorcycles with other sophisticated weapons including Improvised Explosive devices, IED, and over-powered the security operatives on guard before launching attack on residents.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 17

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Dysfunctional social spaces, thieving rulers inadequate water supply as one of the first social problems of life and in my fifth decade of life, that problem has persisted! This story of water illustrates a major aspect of the deepening levels of dysfunctional living in our social space today. What I said about Ilorin can be extrapolated into other urban settings in our country. There is a collapse of municipal governance and the depth of

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LINGERING memory from my early child in Ilorin is the shortage of potable water in many homes in the city. During the 60s, there was a standing pipe which served hundreds of families, in a depression where what was then Oyo. Bypass (today ’s Ibrahim Taiwo Road), meets the Emir ’s Road. People will form long lines of buckets with regular outbreaks of fights as each one desperately attempts to get water for their family use. Often, those lines were kept for days, since water was not running each day. The old Ilorin waterworks had been built during colonialism and had become inadequate for the expanding population of what was a provincial capital that was to become a state capital by 1967. I grew up learning to fetch water into the nights early in life and for the city the respite about water was only to come during the military administration of the late General George Innih. For the first time, water became more readily available in Ilorin, for a couple of years.

But populations have kept growing and so is the demand for water. A succession of military and civilian administrations has used this need for water to fleece the state of billions of naira. Water contracts have remained the ultimate bonanza in Kwara.

Especially from 2003, the administrations have awarded all kinds of contracts that gave us a lot of food for thought but no water to drink. All over Ilorin, there are pipes stored away in various corners of the city; the story that is popular in the city is that whenever there is the need to scam the community, contracts are awarded, the stored away pipes are brought out as if recently purchased and after a show of their “arrival” has been made, they are returned to their places of hiding until the next round of contracts. It is incredible that I came into consciousness finding

make a show of attempting to solve problems when in truth those problems are seen as an opportunity to fleece the community. As it was with water, so it is with the traffic situation, in a city like Ilorin again. We will have to go back to the Innih period still, for some of the most far-reaching efforts at opening up new roads within the city. But the roads might have been adequate to serve the needs

Those who follow the social trends in Nigerian society today must be particularly worried about the new phenomenon which emerged after the 1999 transition to civil rule. We now have ex-governors who have become richer than the states they ruled for eight years

rot in the social space makes decent living almost impossible.

Those who rule us are merciless predators. They

organised study of patterns of purchases of vehicles in the society, logjams became a major aspect of daily existence. One of the steps that Bukola Srarki took in ostensibly trying to solve the problem, was the construction of an overhead bridge. A local engineering firm was sure it could be constructed for N700million, but Bukola Saraki expended N3.5billion on the project.

Overhead bridge of Nightmares

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of three decades ago, but because there is no sustained thinking in the governance structures about the use of road infrastructure or any

nfortunately, it has done far more to worsen the traffic situation than solve it, apart from the incredible sum used to construct it, on flat land and not in the swamps of the Niger Delta! It is one of the worst nightmares of movement within the city of Ilorin now, attempting to get from the GRA where I reside to go into the traditional areas of the city, where my extended family resides, especially under Bukola Saraki’s bridge, by the post office.

And on Sunday mornings, the road around the old Midland Stores is completely

Politicised religion, obscurantism and underdevelopment

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T the weekend, I spoke with Tunde Fagbenle, the PUNCH newspaper columnist, apropos of his last column. It had been titled “Let us kill religion before it kills us”. He had expressed misgivings about the recent crisis within the school system in Osun state, occasioned by reforms being carried out by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Fagbenle had illustrated his story with the conflicts between Muslim students dressed in Hijab in confrontation with Christian students dressed as choiristers. The following day, another group emerged dressed as Egugun worshippers.

These took place within the schools structures of Osun state!

I will not comment on the rights and wrongs of the reforms in Osun state, because I have not studied them. I have very serious reservations about Rauf Aregbesola, but even he is not the issue here today.

What is worrisome, is the way that politicised religion has become a very important element of the inter-elite rivalry

for power and advantages in our country today. There is a deepening of identity politics and the more negative manifestations have been more central within the nation’s social space.

Nigeria is already divided down the middle with each group claiming and attempting to secure advantages over the other, as competition for accesses to power and lucre becomes ever more fierce in our society.

There is hardly any social institution that is not bifurcated along religious lines. So it is no longer a surprise to see Muslim and Christian versions of professional organisations of doctors, lawyers or journalists.

Even the NYSC that was ostensibly established to unite young Nigerian graduates has its fair share of these divisions.

There is a deepening of obscurantism and a deliberate attack on rationality and logic in our national space. Religious identity and ethnic chauvinism are weapons of choice in the irresponsible politics which facilitates the fleecing of our

society. Top government officials who are caught in these elaborate heists quickly retreat into religious and ethnic laagers to fend off prosecution just as their co-religionists vacate all rationality in defense of the indefensible!

Defeat of underdevelopment But the most damage is being

done to the nation’s ability to defeat underdevelopment, since rational thinking, scientific inquiry and discourse have beaten a retreat in school systems that have become some of the worst in Africa today.

Children passing through schools often have no training in logical thinking or rational scientific questioning of phenomena.

A show is being made of how religious members of the elite are and more often than not, if members of the middle class elite are ever found to be reading books, they are likely to be religious scripts, motivational literature or how to become rich books, often of American origin! We are really

making a success of creating a country of religious bigots, tearing at each other ’s throat to prove the superiority of each one’s confession.

Nigeria is increasingly becoming a huge country of philistines and badly educated people who have very little knowledge even of their own country and history and are therefore unable to make a serious dent on the pervasive underdevelopment that is swamping us all.

What I am sure of, is that we will not conquer underdevelopment with how religious we are or how many religious battles we can fight against and among ourselves.

We have to rise to levels of rational scientific inquiry which can equip us to understand the phenomena of nature to be able to harness nature to serve the needs of our humanity.

What is being done now is to exploit politicised religion to deepen division so as to make exploitation of the people easier by unscrupulous groups of the ruling class!

clogged up, as a result of a weekly market in secondhand goods, from jeans trousers and T-shirts, shoes and sandals through to used bras and pants! Secondhand goods were popular and indicative of the relative poverty of the 1960s. But with the oil boom of the 70s, the market almost disappeared and people tended to dress far more decently in new clothing. But the ages of SAP and neoliberal capitalism as well as a rapacious thieving elite of rulers who steal everything in sight, has seen the deepened immiseration of the Nigerian people. Secondhand goods are back in vogue; and in the 60s, people hid behind walls to make their choices, but today, I see young and old alike, openly haggling to choose those expressions of humiliation and poverty. And a frightening adjunct to this is the way that urban poverty is being expressed in the levels of begging in a place like Ilorin today. Whenever I return home, it frightens me to see how elderly women beg all around the city. These are the old women that are the canon fodders of Bukola Saraki’s politics. They are the faithful supporters who have been dying in front of his house and campaign office in the past few years, unsung!

Their daughters are part of a ring of clandestine prostitution while the sons are the thugs running after the jeeps of the political nomenclatura, at social events in the city.

Those who follow the social trends in Nigerian society today must be particularly worried about the new phenomenon which emerged after the 1999 transition to civil rule. We now have exgovernors who have become richer than the states they ruled for eight years. Pastor Tunde Bakare made the same allusion early this week. He even pointed out, especially in respect of the new APC party, that many of the so-called “progressives” within have not only looted their states but are in fact bandits! Having been ensconced in the trappings of power for eight years, during which they mercilessly fleeced those states, especially using the dubious platform of PublicPrivate-Partnerships (PPP), to transfer state assets into their own private pockets using front companies and individuals, they often then workout unconscionable pensions for themselves out of power. Those states in their views have transformed into sole proprietorships that they own and can do as they please with. Puppets are installed as governors; they own all or most projects in their states and carry on as if all life depends on their whims and caprices. This is the nature of the dysfunctional social space in Nigeria today especially as it manifests in my home city, Ilorin and my state, Kwara; and the despair this is leaving in its wake, is threatening to consume the nation in the long run. In truth, dysfunctional social spaces cannot be sustained just as we cannot continue to sustain the level of thieving amongst the ruling elite in Nigeria. Something has to give in the long run!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 THE re-deployment of Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu to Police Headquarters, Abuja, and the posting of CP Joseph Ogunshakin to Rivers State, have heightened expectations that peace would return to the State.

It sounds as if Mbu, who was caught in the middle of the political disagreements between Governor Rotimi Amaechi, his former political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the presidential family, and the Minister of State other interest groups in the Rivers crisis. The for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike was the argument that removing Mbu would have problem. Was Mbu taking orders or issuing meant that governors would be dictating his? police chiefs that would be posted to their During the crisis, the actors in the crisis States lacks merit. helped themselves to series of measures that Matters came to a head when the opposition threatened the peace of the State. They were All Progressives Congress, APC, ordered its at the centre of the crisis that ensued from members in the National Assembly to block sacking elected officials of Obio/Akpor Local legislative activities until the Federal Government Council, the fracas in the Rivers Government addressed the crisis. Mbu was State House of Assembly, political rallies finally changed. between the contending parties, among other The coming of Ogunshakin provides issues. opportunity for peace to return to Rivers. It The Federal Government and the police would not be the case if the new CP continues authorities ignored calls for the rein the mould of Mbu. The Governor and other deployment of Mbu. Governor Amaechi first political actors should also not indulge in made the call, then National Assembly and

Post-Mbu Rivers State

politicking that induces tension and lawlessness.

All stakeholders should eschew politics of bitterness and the pre-election insecurity that it can generate. People should be allowed to enjoy their constitutional right of association, within the law and overriding security interests of the populace. The CP must accord the Governor his due regard as the elected leader of the State. Security issues are too vital to be lost in contest over control of Rivers.

The Governor and CP should work together for peace in Rivers State, and refrain from politicisation of issues. Further tension in the State, could pre-dispose it to armed militancy, which could threaten the economic and security interests of the nation.

We hope the new amity would be appropriate for restoration of the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which the National took over following the crisis in the Assembly, but which a court has ruled should be restored.

The Rivers crisis should be a lesson to all that unless nipped, impunity breeds more impunity.

OPINION

BY GODWIN ETAKIBUEBU

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ADAM, l am not too sure which side of the divide this open letter to you will put me because the line between conventional and unconventional is too thin for the uninitiated to observe. In addition, we are in the season of open letters but l can assure you that this is not one of those.

Pardon the means of delivering this to you so that you can take keen interest in the content. In other words, discard the messenger to concentrate on the message.

Madam, there are two reasons of writing this let to you which you need to know quickly before telling you the purpose. One, l am from the Niger Delta as you know but should you have forgotten, my name would easily tell you that fact. To that extent, you are my sister. The second reason is my difficulty getting across to my brother; your husband, President Goodluck Jonathan, for a few privileged advice that l need to give to him. Wisdom tells me that passing through you would clear me faster into my brother’s presence because of the urgency attached to what l must tell him. Now that you know the two reasons, let us go to the purpose.

There are various contentious issues begging for understanding of my brother; your husband, and it seems he does not know what to do about them at all. Yet these issues shall unfailingly decide his [meaning yours too] occupancy of the Villa as from 2015.

But for purpose of time and space let us take one today, hoping l shall, by the grace of the Editor, write more to you.

Let us look at Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the CBN claims that some C M Y K

Letter to Dame Goodluck Jonathan money of crude oil sales is yet to be accounted for by the NNPC. Madam, let us establish few facts from Sanusi’s presentation, both as recorded in his letter to the President and when he appeared before the Senate last week Tuesday as following: [1] Sanusi did not say money was stolen.

[2] Sanusi did not say there were thieves somewhere in the NNPC who stole the money in contention.

[3] Sanusi did not say that there are thieves within the systems, neither did he presents same [the thieves] for prosecution.

[4] Sanusi did present to your husband, ditto the whole country, facts of crude oil lifted and exported by the NNPC. [5] Sanusi, as a matter of fact, by simple mathematics, presented the America Dollar amount of the crude oil exported by the NNPC; fact pulled from NNPC account of export – to wit $67 billion.

[6] Sanusi, as a matter of fact, told us how much of that money [in Dollar] that NNPC paid back to the Federated account – to wit $47 billion.

[7] Sanusi concluded, by simple mathematics, that there is a balance of that sales yet to be remitted into the Federated account – to wit $20 billion.

[8] Sanusi, as a matter of fact, pointed to a Presidential [late Yar ’Adua] order prohibiting NNPC from paying subsidy on Kerosene.

[9] Sanusi, as a matter of fact, said that there has not been any other Presidential

Order [either from later Yar ’ Adua or Goodluck Jonathan] countering the originating Presidential [letter] Order.

[10] Sanusi, as a matter of fact, pointed out that NNPC still imports Kerosene at N150 per litre and “sell” same to “Nigerians” at N40 per litre. This can easily be verified.

These are just few facts of Sanusi’s presentation. Madam, permit me to reveal to you, on good authority of course, that every point Sanusi presented ORIGINATED, in the first instance, from NNPC records except the balance of the unremitted money. All the transaction is based on “how many barrel of crude oil exported”. Again, this could only have originated from NNPC. Once NNPC graciously gives out the figure of “exported crude oil”, NNPC cannot, l repeat, cannot gag anyone from arriving on what the balance of the remitted money is, for just one simple reason: the modus operandi of marketing, sharing formula of all the participating parties, prices of the exported crude oil, existence of a Federated account where the remitted money is paid into, plus other logistics along the line of transactions are all in public domain. This is the fact Madam.

It means therefore that Sanusi‘s presentation of facts are good enough to be looked into and good enough to be investigated. And if these are established, they constitute the “facts needed to secure conviction” in the courts, as the Law would

say.

Ipso facto, it shall never be enough just to throw these facts, of destructive corruption, away in a fiat all because of the idiosyncrasy of the whistle blower – Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Tell your husband, my sister, to separate the man – Sanusi - from the facts he puts before him, as well as in the public domain, concerning the NNPC matter.

There is uncontrollable stealing of Nigerians’ common wealth, going on at the NNPC on daily basis. There is a god of corruption presiding in the Kingdom of darkness at the NNPC at all times. The rule at the NNPC, which of course is the reflection of the Nigerian larger society, speaks of “a government of armed robbers for armed robbers by armed robbers”.

Madam, l shall send you another letter next week with other facts on the corruption and stealing going on at the NNPC and the Nigerian oil industry generally. I shall also, with your permission though, say few words about the man; Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, point out the admission of the Minister of Finance that money was actually missing, the wicked antics of the NNPC since the whistle has been blown and above all, the manipulative structure being put in place, including hiring of a consultant last week for this mess.

Please, read these letters Madam, as that becomes the only way for your husband, my brother, to have facts of the issue of corruption, acts on it with godly alacrity and secure his [ditto yours Madam] tenure of the Villa beyond 2015.

Your dearly cherished brother. *Mr. Etakibuebu, commentaor on national issues, wrote from Warri, Delta Stata.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014— 19

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HE simplicity of the Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, never fails to shock on first encounter. Take this sampler.

Sometime in November 2010, The SUN organised an economic summit for the South East in Owerri. It took place at the Hotel Concorde. Obi was to give a keynote address as the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum. He came late to the event.

When Obi came in he quietly took his seat at the back of the packed-to-the-rafters auditorium. He was eventually spotted by one of the protocol officers who virtually raised an alarm that the governor was here unacknowledged. The event had to be immediately interrupted to bring Obi to the high table on the insistence of the organisers. Left to Obi, he would have stayed put at the back because (as he explained later) he, as a late 0comer, had no right to disrupt the event.

About thirty minutes after this furore had died down; there was another stir in the hall. The very familiar, diminutive but

charismatic figure of Obi’s immediate predecessor, Dr. Chris Ngige, was in the doorway. Ngige disrupted the event, moving from one person in the hall to the other to shake hands and soaking up the cheers showered upon him by his admirers. It took about fifteen minutes before Ngige took his position at the high table.

What a contrast of characters!

Obi is big of frame, speaks with a tiny, hoarse voice, is cleanshaven and simple to ridiculous extents. Ngige is birdlike but larger than life, heavily bearded, moustachoid, rambunctious and colourful. Between these two, the high and mighty of Anambra State, the billionaires, the godufaddahs, the lords of the political establishment and the political wheelers that used to hold Anambra State to ransom were put in the political doghouse since July 10th 2003. The door was slammed in their faces, and it became possible for the state to begin the march to development.

Today, due to the sidelining of these cankerworms, Anambra has one of the best networks of

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roads in the federation. Ngige and Obi have, between them, made it possible for you to travel round the state within six hours.

While Ngige concentrated on roads, Obi also did roads and bridges as well as rebuilding of schools, hospitals, and virtually touched every aspect of development without giving priority to any particular sector, a strategy he called Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).

O

bi realised that the only way to develop his state with the meager federal allocation it gets every month was to block wastages and save funds.

He started in his home front. He called his wife, Margaret, aside and told her although she was the First Lady, only one person (between two of them) was voted for by the people. There would be no office of the First Lady, and no budget for it. Imo State spends

Climbing a tree from the top

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IGERIA reminds us of the case of the smart messenger with a short memory. This messenger soon turned his mother into a money spinning machine of sorts. One morning, he came to the office to announce that his mother was critically ill and he needed money to procure her medication. Out of genuine sympathy, we obliged him and also gave him time off to go and take care of the mother.

A few weeks later, he returned to announce that the mother could not pull through. She passed on. The messenger wept profusely and narrated how dear the mother was to him. Usually, when people weep like that, it is not so much about their closeness to the departed one but more of how to get the money for burial. We consoled him and assured him of sufficient assistance with the burial. We gave him N100,000 and wished him well since we were too busy at the time to attend the funeral.

About seven years later, our friend came to announce that his mother had been involved in a terrible accident and that he needed N50,000 for her blood transfusion at the hospital. Was this not the same mother that we helped to bury some time ago? Well, there was sufficient reason to give him the benefit of doubt. After all, in the African context, father or mother is a generic term that could apply to any older member of the extended family.

We made N50,000 available to him but this time around, the money was handed over to my Personal Assistant, PA, with instruction to accompany our friend to the hospital; pay for the blood transfusion; and assess the situation appropriately. On the way, he cornered my PA and suggested that they should share the money because his mother was not involved in any accident.

The early indications are that 2015 is a

ticket to the past. We just refuse to be guided by the lessons of history. As a result, we keep doing the same things, the same old way and we keep expecting different results. How else does anyone explain the fact that, 30 years after the demise of the Second Republic, we are still returning to the age of “Tako-Tako Mentality” in which old wines simply appear in new kegs? The NPN of 1983 believed on the band-wagon effect, which requires that you place the presidential election first and the party of whoever emerges President will sweep all the elections, even down to the local government level.

This has been widely criticised because of its propensity to aid rigging at the lower levels. In the elegant phraseology of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, this is like climbing the tree from the top. The ideal thing is to start the elections from the lowest rungs of the ladder.

In its memory loss, the NPN (oops, the PDP) of 2014 relies on the same old methods, thinking that if it worked then, it must also work now. But did it really work then? Their memory fails them in the obvious fact that the old methods only succeeded in bringing us to the sorry state in which we find ourselves today. They are even unable to realise that the political configuration has totally changed: in 1983, people moved from the smaller parties to the NPN but in 2014, the centre can no longer hold and the movement is from the big party to the smaller parties that were once in the opposition. So the band-wagon pendulum can also swing either way.

Rivers State has had a raw deal in seen and unseen ways. At the height of the terrorism threats facing the State, the Government devoted substantial budgetary outlays, sending men of the Nigeria Police Force in the State to Israel

more than three billion Naira on the “office of the First Lady ” under Governor Rochas Okorocha, for instance.

Obi travels virtually alone. He carries his own bags. He flies mostly economy class. Whenever he travels with his children, he puts them in the economy compartment, telling them they can fly business class when they grow up and make their own money. Obi does not disturb the peace with elaborate, sirenblaring convoys. Anambra state has the largest number of millionaires in Nigeria, and each millionaire and political heavyweight has his own armada of “sirened” convoy. Peter realised, early in his days in power, how futile it was to tamper with their lifestyle. So, he simply decided to ignore them.

And because of his frugality (someone once called him the former Chairman of “Araldite Bank”) musicians and praise singers at social events don’t like him. He does not give them anything.

Obi is the longest serving Chairman of the South East Governors. He is a fighter for Igbo interest. He attends every meeting, and has the patience and the salesmanship to alter settled positions. He has done so much to preserve Igbo language, culture and values. Obi does not address Igbo meetings in the English language, and he is truly at home speaking in vernacular in a world where few members of the elite can communicate fluently or sensibly in Igbo without veering into English or Engl-Igbo.

Obi is widely blamed for not playing the Bola Tinubu in the

and other places for training in group anti- and c o u n t e r -terrorism tactics.

No sooner did they return to the State than Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu scattered them to various obscure positions where their training became useless and the equipment procured for

,

As Peter Obi bows out…

Obi is big of frame, speaks with a tiny, hoarse voice, is cleanshaven and simple to ridiculous extents.

Ngige is birdlike but larger than life, heavily bearded, moustachoid, rambunctious and colourful

Their memory fails them in the obvious fact that the old methods only succeeded in bringing us to the sorry state in which we find ourselves today. They are even unable to realise that the political configuration has totally changed

,

their work made redundant. This was money flushed down the toilet! However, Mbu’s malfeasance is not totally useless.

At least, it provides the best reference point in support of the State police.

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he use of force is temporary. Mbu’s reign of impunity in Rivers State was a passing phase. We have been through this rough route before, no thanks to the same gang of people. In the Second Republic, we witnessed a reign of terror under a Gestapo, IGP Sunday Adewusi.

South East: funding the takeover of the zone by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). But those who say this fail to realise how difficult it was for Obi to keep APGA in power for eight years and succeed in transferring power from himself to another APGA governor, namely, Chief Willy Obiano. The political mentality of the people of the South West is not the same as those of the South East. The South West moves, unquestioningly, like a herd of cattle into any direction dictated by their current political leaders.

But in the case where APGA was able to add Imo State to its repertory, what happened next?

Okorocha framed his Deputy, Jude Agbaso, of contract scam and got him impeached in a shameless abuse of constitutional processes. Then, he took the mandate given to APGA by the electorate of Imo State and jumped ship to APC in his quixotic chase of the presidential seat. With the benefit of this experience, can one really say Obi was not wise to mind his own business in Anambra State?

Come March 16th 2014, Mr. Peter Obi’s era will be over.

Nobody knows exactly what Obiano will do with the opportunity Obi gave him as his successor. But Obi has made a bold statement that even in Nigeria, a governor can live the life of a normal person; that capital vote can be made to take the lion’s share over the recurrent, and that the high and mighty who used to stick to the public treasury like malicious leeches can be put at bay without spilling blood or even raising dust.

Under his reign of terror, Armored Personnel Carriers were first introduced into the Nigeria Police Force. They were instruments for cowing the opposition to submission. It was a wicked regime and so wickedly did it also end! In just the same way that there is no killing the beetle, you cannot destroy an idea whose time has come. Such is the fate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Finally, people are now celebrating the removal of Police Commissioner Mbu from the Rivers State police command.

Even in his departure, he carries on with his impunity. In a countr y that is supposedly under the rule of law, he is alleged to have released suspected PDP thugs who were earlier caught with large cache of arms and ammunition. He has introduced a new dimension to criminality. A pro-government prison warden who is deployed to a new location can now throw the prison gates open for inmates to flee to freedom. What a parting gift!

In its proactive stance, the APC has, for the first time in the politics of Nigeria, taken the registration of members to the grassroots, the unit level. The PDP feels threatened by this novel idea. Rather than stoop to be taught this new order, the PDP must resort to its evil machinations. They have invaded registration centres; killed and maimed some APC members; and carted away registration materials, apparently for destruction.

In all this, the change we need simply dictates that it is not always smart to be smart!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY,

FEBRUARY 13 , 2014

‘

d uka an e Mad k i u b i Ch other his m

The victims

Bizarre! How NSCDC arrested teenager for raping four children in Ebonyi … allegedly also slept with his biological mother

By PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI— THIS is an incident that shouldn’t have happened, a tale that mustn’t be told, and a situation that a moral mind cannot fathom, yet, it was allegedly perpetuated by one Chibuike Maduka, 17, at Ndibe in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

This revelation was made possible through the arrest of the suspect by men of the State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, on Monday February 10, 2014. The suspect was alleged to have raped four children and his biological mother, Mrs. Idam Augustina Josephine.

The NSCDC in Ebonyi State on Tuesday, paraded the serial rapist and homosexual who allegedly derives fun in raping young children of different parents in his community.

The suspect who blamed his strange sexual escapades on his mother, confessed to have had sexual intercourse with her (mother) on several occasions.

He claimed that he doesn’t know what usually induces him to have sex with children in the area.

Parading the suspect at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the State Commandant of NSCDC, Mrs. C M Y K

Ego Echendu stated that the suspect was rounded off after a tip- off by an informant in the area. She explained that the suspect had in confessional statement disclosed that he had sexual intercourse with his own mother on several occasions. ”We got a tip off from our informant and sent some of our men to follow up the information concerning an adolescent male who has been in the business of raping children in their tender age.

That kind of act baffled me and so we continued to monitor the suspect and fortunately at about 3pm yesterday, our divisional office at Afikpo North Local Government Area were able to round off the suspect and the victims, and their parents; and also the suspect’s parent who we reliably gathered was also a key player in the son’s sexual escapades. ”The suspect confessed to have been having sexual intercourse with his biological mother and we asked to know when it started and he said in 2013. He also claimed that the mother usually encourages him to sleep with children of such tender age. ”Because this case involves women and children of these age bracket, we want to transfer this case to the Ministry of Women Affairs in

the State for them to take it from there. He sleeps with his own biological mother who is in our custody right now; and again he also told us that he is a homosexual. He sleeps with other male friends. From my own personal analysis, I think he has some brain disorder ”. Vanguard Metro, VM gathered that the suspect who hailed from Amangu village in Nkpohoro Community in Afikpo North LGA began raping young

children since 2008. He is a Senior Secondary School, SSS, 1 student with Oziza Secondary School in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State.

According to the suspect, “I’m here because of my mother; she used me for ritual. I don’t know what I’m doing. If I see a little child I will rape her; this act started in 2008; it is not my fault but that of my mother. I have raped my mother and four

‘

I am 45 years and the mother of Chibuike Maduka; how can I teach my child to rape little children? Iam here because my son raped some children; he is telling a lie, he never had any sexual relationship with me

children.

My father is late. I don’t know myself again. I had homosexual activities with one Emmanuel three times at Amangu in Afikpo North local government area“ Reacting, the mother of the suspect, Mrs. Idam Augustina Josephine, 45, denied having any sexual involvement with his son insisting that he doesn’t know what was happening to his son. ”I am 45 years and the mother of Chibuike Maduka; how can I teach my child to rape little children? I’m here because my son raped some children; he is telling a lie, he never had any sexual relationship with me”.

One of the mothers of the victim (names withheld) who regretted the development said medical examination had been carried out on her daughter after she discovered some strange reactions from the victim’s private parts.

According her, the daughter had contacted sexually transmitted disease from the suspect. She said: “I am not happy with this act exhibited by this boy; I usually drop my child at school and then go to work; I really don’t know how it all happened.”

Calabar residents celebrate construction of airport by-pass

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s the six and a half kilometres Margaret Ekpo International Airport by-pass in Calabar, nears completion, residents of the area have expressed excitement at the project, describing it as outstanding.

Commending Governor Liyel Imoke, who was on an assessment tour of the project, a resident of the area, Apostle Kingsley Akpan said that people living in the vicinity are happy that the community would be linked by the bypass to other parts of the city. According to Akpan, who is the Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, Akwa Ibom State, “This road will open the area for further development and we are grateful to Governor Imoke for giving the people this road.”

Expressing surprise at the speed of work, Akpan said: “Nobody believed the road

will be completed because of its terrain. But the contractor handling the project has shocked everyone. He is committed and he is working hard to ensure it is completed on schedule.”

He said apart from opening up the area for further development, the road will decongest traffic within Calabar as it will create an alternative gateway.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Mike Aniah, had separately undertaken inspection tours of the project, where they lauded the workers for working both day and night.

Imoke was conducted round the bypass by the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbor, who related some of the challenges being encountered by the contractors to the Governor.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 21

Nigerian seaports remain most expensive — Terminal operators

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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EAPORT Terminal Opera tors Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has attributed the high cost of doing business in Nigerian ports to the multiple taxation and high duty on cargoes.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, the Chairman of STOAN, Princess Vicky Hastrrup, said that besides the high cost of running terminals, importers and other port users pay much more than what is obtainable in other ports due to lack of certain infrastructures like light and good roads.

Hastrrup also noted that apart from the issue of double taxation, various government agencies collect all kinds of levies from both importers that are not collected in other countries.

She explained that inflation has also taken its toll on the cost of cargo clearance, adding that apart from storage and cargo handling charges that terminal operators collect from importers and agents, other agencies collect levies and duties.

From left: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uche Orji; Deputy Governor, Economy Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Sarah Alade; Chairman, Board of Directors, NSIA, Alhaji Rasheed Ngaski, and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, during the Nigeria Power Sector Investors Conference in Abuja, Monday.

She said “ For instance, while the duty on rice in Nigeria is put at 110 percent, it is seven percent in Benin Republic and Zero percent in Cameroon, noting this high import has not only

encouraged smuggling, the government of Nigeria is also losing billions of Naira in revenue to other countries.

She said that terminal operators have added value to the Nigerian port system as the

ports are more efficient than they were eight years ago.

Hastrrup, who is also the Executive Vice chairman of ENL Consortium, operators of berths three and Four at the Apapa port Complex

Compel IOCs to respect Nigeria’s law, NUPENG tells FG

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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IGERIA Union of Pe troleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has called on the Federal Government to compel major oil marketers and International Oil Companies, IOCs, in the country to respect the nation’s labour law to avoid industrial unrest in the sector.

NUPENG claimed the major marketers and multi-national oil companies have continued to disregard the nation’s law, particularly the Labour Law on freedom of association, warning that should the perceived anti-labour practices and other nefarious activities by oil companies remain unchecked, the union would have no other option than to declare a nationwide strike.

In a statement by its President, Achese Igwe, the union called on President Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Labour and the National Assembly to quickly intervene before it

degenerates into industrial unrest.

According to the statement “NUPENG has watched with great concern the activities of oil majors and multinationals in the industry and warns of imminent fuel scarcity if their nefarious activities are not checked by embarking on nation-wide strike without notice.

“The new drive of the oil majors and multi-nationals amounts to sabotage and if not controlled, will lead to an unhealthy atmosphere in the sector. We call on Mr. President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Labour and the National Assembly to quickly intervene before the bubble bursts.

“These current actions are all efforts geared towards sabotaging the economy of the country and to impoverish its citizenry, particularly the contract workers in their system.

“Some of the provocative anti-union policies and decisions have remained unre-

solved despite the mediatory role played by the NNPC, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. These include the unresolved transitional issues of the Chevron contract workers who transited into new contracting companies since January, 1, 2013, and 14 months after discussions, some of the issues are yet to be resolved.

“NUPENG lamented that it made several attempts at reopening discussions on the outstanding transition issues but all to no avail, saying the understanding reached that NAPIMS should convene a meeting to resolve the outstanding transition issues as they affect the contract workers has not materialised.

“The new labour contractors are resisting unionisation of the workers with tacit support from Chevron management.

NUPENG reveals that in recent times, some of the mul-

absolved terminal operators of the blame of high cargo cost at the ports, adding that what terminal operators collect are statutory charges.

She further explained that the efficiency exhibited by the operators in their various terminals has also resulted in increased cargo volume and ship traffic in the country. She also noted that the congested port access roads in and around the port area has not helped matters as the congested roads cause delay for importers to take delivery of their goods just as empty containers find it difficult to come back to the port.

“Access to the ports is our greatest challenge; we have right now because it is becoming an enormous task for those that are coming to load or take delivery of their cargoes and I think that is very frustrating.

Sometimes, we cannot even discharge as much as we can possibly do because the trucks cannot even have access to the terminals. She also disclosed that most terminal operators run on generating set for 90 percent, which adds to their cost of operation. “It is actually much more expensive to run terminals in Nigeria than in other countries. Let me say it loud and clear here that the concessionaires are not increasing cost, you have double taxation and all sort of levies, even the industrialist can attest to this.

ti-national companies have began a systematic lay off of our members who work as labour contract workers in their companies and thereafter replace them with service contracts.

These companies include Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimit0.2 135.9 ed and Agip Oil Company Limited.”

2,904.00 -18.00 “The management of Mobil Producing 15.64 -0.09 on November, 30, 2013 laid-off over 200 contract workers under the 108.79 -0.78 guise that the 100.05 +0.17 contracts have expired and that new contracts will also CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING commence to reDOLLAR 154.75 155.25 155.75 place the old ones POUNDS 253.7281 254.5479 255.3677 EURO 211.0016 211.6834 212.3651 forthwith.

FRANC 173.0306 173.5885 174.1464 “In the case of the YEN 1.5151 1.52 1.5249 Nigeria Agip Oil CFA 0.3013 0.3113 0.3213 Company Limited, WAUA 236.5843 237.3487 238.1131 over 50 labour conRENMINBI 25.5371 25.6201 25.703 RIYA 41.2623 41.3956 41.5289 tract workers have KRONA 28.269 28.3603 28.4516 been penciled down SDR 237.8508 238.6193 239.3878 for termination without adherence to CBN Exchange rate as at 12/02/2013 due process.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Prospects for business declining in Africa — ACCA, IMA survey Stories by BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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inance professionals in Africa reported further decline in confidence and prospects for businesses across the continent in the last quarter of 2013.

This was the highlight of the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in their Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS).

GECS, the largest regular economic survey of accountants in the world, gauging the views of ACCA and IMA finance professionals globally, revealed that 35 percent of respondents in Africa reported a loss of confidence in the prospects of their organisations over the last three months, up from 33 percent in the third quarter of 2013.

Manos Schizas, ACCA’s Senior Economic Analyst, said: “Getting small businesses set up and enabling them to grow in Africa will be one of the key components to ensuring healthy recovery within the continent. SMEs are the growth engines that are fuelling African economies and creating employment.

“Business opportunities have continued to fall significantly throughout Africa in the fourth quarter of 2013, ending up very far from their peak at the end of 2012. What we’re seeing are the net effects of a heavy reliance of investment from Asia.

As the slowdown in Asian economies continues to gather pace, African economies continue to

feel the effects of the far-east slowdown. This is why investment in locally grown SMEs will be crucial to future prosperity.

“These developments are not surprising, as despite a small uptick in business and investment opportunities, the fundamentals in Africa have gener-

ally deteriorated. Access to growth capital, demand and cash flow conditions have consistently tightened through the second half of 2013 and continued to do so in Q4, while input prices and exchange rates destabilized further in the last quarter.

GECS, now in its fifth year,

From left: Thelma Chineze, Wilfred Danola Ikatari, all members, Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST); Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema and Chairman, IST, Dr. Ngozi Chianakwalam on a courtesy visit to the NSE.

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hen it came to their own organisations, however, finance professionals’ confidence may have fallen marginally in the last quarter of 2013. About 30 percent reported confidence gains, up from 28 percent previously, but 35 percent reported losses, up from 32 percent in the third quarter. Despite this, the Q4 2013 results still represent the second-strongest year-on-year confidence gains since mid2010.

Manos Schizas said: “SubSaharan Africa needs to embrace enterprise. Small businesses sometime constitute virtually all the enterprises that exist in some African nations.

The exception to this would be government-run organisations and few large institutions, mostly multinationals.

“With the right approach and management, SMEs are likely to develop into formidable enterprises, especially if supported by the development agencies and government to address the access to finance. issues they periodically face.

Also crucial for growth is not overlooking the infrastructure that markets rely on, both tangible and intangible. Payments, clearing, settlement and custody systems are crucial to ensuring the correct function of markets and connecting these systems is a prerequisite for market integration at the regional level.”

Net forex inflow drops to $7.56bn in November — CBN

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ET foreign exchange inflow into the country dropped by five percent to $7.56 billion in November

2013. The CBN disclosed this in its economic report for November released on Tuesday.

The report said, “Foreign ex-

Firm to empower Nigerian entrepreneurs

By PETER EGWUATU

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revealed that at the global level, finance professionals had more faith in the strength of the wider economic recovery in Q4 2013 that at any time over the last five years: 55 percent believed conditions were improving or about to do so, up from 53% in the third quarter of 2013, while only 42 percent felt that economic conditions were de-

teriorating of stagnating, down from 43 percent in the previous quarter.

EEK Gone Global, a business group from Atlanta has said it is poised to encourage Nigeria and African entrepreneurs to achieve their individual set goals and objectives and thus improve the economic growth of their economies.

Geek Gone Global is a conglomerate of 16 companies who came together to offer solutions to the various challenges being faced or confronting African rural communities.

The company visited Nigeria as part of its effort to impact Nigeria business environment as well as to encourage Nigerian business people.

“We are poised towards encouraging African entrepreneurs to achieve their individual set goals and objectives. We believe Africa is ripe for investment, especially in the areas of software development, energy distribution, water, and most especially, encouraging and supporting them to utilise the local materials to achieve their manufacturing goal through

professional knowledge and innovations,” said Faruq Hunter , CEO GeniusCorps, USA. “The overall objective of our visit is to allow people to take control of their own lives and destiny. We urge African countries to shun importation of food and make use of their local materials to boost their economy; they should engage more in exportation rather than importation because this continent is naturally blessed. To me, I strongly feel that the problem isn’t about opportunity; rather, it’s about awareness,” he said.

Alhaji Hassan Sharafadeen, the Managing Director of Shod Systems Nigeria Ltd, Lagos, whose organisation also share in the vision set out by the conglomerate said that this task is to encourage Nigerians especially the youths to make use of their talents in science and technology to boost Nigeria economy.

“My company has in the past engaged in training many young people who are now doing well in their respective business, we still have the facilities here that you can make use of by Nigerians.

change flows through the economy resulted in a net inflow of $7.56 billion in the review month, compared with U$7.96 billion and US$6.32 billion in the preceding month and the corresponding month of 2012, respectively. The outcome reflected, largely, the decline in receipts from invisibles through autonomous sources during the month.

“Provisional data on aggregate foreign exchange flows through the economy indicated that total inflow was US$11.44 billion. This represented an increase of 2.1 and 11.7 per cent above the levels in the preceding month, and the corresponding month of 2012, respectively. The increase in inflows, relative to preceding month was driven mainly by the rise in autonomous inflow from autonomous sources, particularly the nonoil exports. Inflow through the CBN accounted for 27.4 per cent of the total, while inflow from autonomous sources accounted for the balance of 72.6 per cent.

“At US$2.73 billion, oil sector receipts fell by 0.4 per cent below the level in the preceding month and accounted for 23.9 per cent of the total inflow. On a month–on–month basis, nonoil public sector inflow, at US$399.38 million, fell by 13.0 per cent and accounted for 3.5 per cent of the total inflow, while autonomous inflow, at US$8.31 billion, rose by 3.6 per cent and accounted for 72.6 per cent of the total. At US$3.88 billion, aggregate foreign exchange outflow from the economy rose by 19.8 per cent above the level in the preceding month.

“Foreign exchange inflow and outflow through the CBN in the month of November 2013 were US$3,125.45 million and US$3,837.84 million, respectively, resulting in a net outflow of US$712.39 million, compared with net outflow of US$2.44 million recorded in October 2013. Relative to the level in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2012, inflow fell by 1.6 and 26.8 per cent, respectively.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 23

EU grants SON, CPC, others N2.6bn to boost capacity

By FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE European Union (EU) is granting Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Consumer Protection Council and other quality control bodies in the country •12 million (about N2.6 billion) to boost their capacity and enhance the market value of products made in Nigeria for regional and international markets.

Asides SON and CPC, NEPC, SMEDAN; Weights and Measures Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, including NAFDAC and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) are also to access the fund to develop policies and measures to improve competitiveness and diversification in the non-oil related sectors of the economy.

This was contained in the document ‘The National Quality Infrastructure Project for Nigeria (NQIP) (2013-2017) exclusively obtained by Vanguard from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) the implementer of the project.

According to the document, Nigeria lacks an internationally recognised National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) with the capacity to ensure safety, integrity and marketability of goods and services, and the removal of technical barriers to local, regional and international trade.

“With financial support of •12 million from the European Union (EU), UNIDO assists the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in implementing its strategic framework, vision 20:2020 and transformation agenda, with the aim of developing policies and measures to improve compet-itiveness and diversification in the non-oil-related sectors of the economy.

“The project aims to strengthen the capacity of trade support institutions, improve business and investment climate, enhance consumer protection, and facilitate domestic and international trade. This will contribute to job creation and poverty alleviation.

“The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments (FMITI) and its dependant Standard Organiza-

tion of Nigeria (SON) are at the centre of this initiative, which is technically supported by UNIDO as the implementing agency, and financed by the EU.” Earlier, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, said “part of the government transformation agenda is to restore Nigeria as a global non-oil trading nation, competitive in production and

From left: John Harcourt Cook, Managing Director, Coastal Hire, South Africa; Abayomi Onasanya, Managing Director, Coastal Hire Nigeria; and Bex Nwawudu, Director CBO Capital at the official launch of Coastal Hire Nigeria, in Lagos.

Companies jostle for space in centenary trade fair

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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S Nigeria centenary celebrations is drawing near, local and international companies and individual entrepreneurs are jostling for space in the forth coming Centenary Trade Fair in Abuja.

The fair billed to hold from March 20 to April 2, 2014, is

being organised by Abuja Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) to showcase the achievements of the country’s industrial sector since inception. Mr. Joe Wenegieme, ABUCCIMA’s DirectorGeneral said at a press

African Capital Alliance launches foundation

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frican Capital Alliance (ACA), a premier private equity firm in Africa will publicly launch the ACA Foundation today with a nation-building workshop.

From inception, ACA has been committed to nationbuilding via varied platforms and partnerships with different organisations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. According to Okey Enelamah, CEO of ACA, “the ACA Foundation has been established to further deepen and widen ACA’s positive impact on the Nigerian economy and, subsequently,

preferred destination for business and investment.”

He added that the relationship between Nigeria and Europe had come a long way, spanning over 300 years.

“In this centenary anniversary of Nigeria, we must boost trade, improve our productive capacity, thereby creating jobs and reducing poverty,” the minister said.

Africa’s, as ACA itself originated from the nationbuilding work of the founding partners, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Pascal Dozie, Dick Kramer and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.”

The launch event is a culmination of work that has been done over the past eighteen months, since the idea for the Foundation was conceived in September 2012. The event will feature a special presentation by Professor Catherine Duggan from the Business, Government and International Economy

(BGIE) unit at Harvard Business School, whose specialty research focuses on sub-Saharan Africa. The event will also bring together Mr. Bode Agusto of Agusto & Co., Mr. Doyin Salami of the Lagos Business School and Mr. Frank Aigbogun of BusinessDay, who will facilitate breakout group discussions on how Nigeria can achieve its full potential and what the ACA Foundation can contribute to this process.

briefing that over 1,000 participants including states government, federal government agencies, local and international companies have already indicated interest to be part of the 100 years of the country at the fair.

He said that it would focus on showcasing only Made-inNigeria goods and services.

“We as a chamber of commerce decided to organise this centenary trade fair in order that we can showcase Made-inNigeria goods and services."

“And use that centenary celebration as a unique opportunity for us to focus global attention on our country, our history, the people, their achievements, and aspirations and above all business opportunities in Nigeria,” he said.

He disclosed that the theme of the fair is ‘Celebrating creative industrial excellence in production and innovation through unity in diversity.’

“If you look at the theme, we say we are celebrating our industrial excellence in production innovation through unity in diversity. So we want to see what we have been able to do for ourselves,” he said.

Coastal Hire opens equipment hiring outlet for artisans

By FRANKLIN ALLI

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OASTAL Hire Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Coastal Hire South Africa, has opened an outlet in Lekki area of Lagos for renting equipment to artisans in the construction and industrial sector for quality jobs.

“For example if you have a job and you need to get access to high quality power generators or a Lister, Coastal Hire provides that access which was not there before. We also ensure that the operators are trained on how to use the equipment on site,” said Abayomi Onasanya, Managing Director.

“We are looking at empowering the artisans, who may not have the capital necessary to purchase high quality equipment necessary to do the best work by creating the opportunity for them to rent such equipment at reasonable rates.

“This is a one stop shop for all kinds of construction equipments. We will deliver to you anywhere you want it and when you are through we pick it up. We are here to sanitise the rental market and our plan is to open more shops in different parts of the country,” he said.

He explained that the key objective of bringing the brand to Nigeria was to provide viable, cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to the construction and industrial sector of the economy.

John Harcourt Cooke, CEO Coastal Hire South Africa, who was in the country to open the office at Lekki in Lagos, said: “We are eager to partake in and support the impressive development that has marked certain sectors in the Nigerian economic space.

Director of CBO Capital, Bex Nwawudu said: “As an investor in this business, we are pleased to have demonstrated that we can deliver on projects and transactions. We believe that the Coastal Hire model is one that can be replicated successfully, especially in a country like ours that is economically vibrant and diverse. We are proud to back the management of Coastal Hire Nigeria, and will work hard to support their expansion plans.”

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Godwin Emefiele takes Zenith to greater heights

BY OMOH GABRIEL

Z

•Godwin Emefiele, MD, CEO, Zenith he took over stand him out as an accomplished banker and erudite manager of human and material resources. His capacity for leadership and eye for growth opportunities is evident in Zenith’s performance and geometric progression on a number of parameters.

A system’s-person and un-

,

ENITH Bank PlC has continued to grow in leaps and bound to deliver value to shareholders.

The Bank under the current Managing Director Mr Godwin Emefiele has surpassed the expectations of key stakeholders in the industry.

The share price of the bank has appreciated and the bank balance sheet has also grown in the last few years.

It is no surprise to market makers the performance of the bank as its current Managing Director Godwin Emefiele, is a University of Nigeria, Nsukka trained banker and Harvard University trained Financial Stratesgist. He graduated as the best MBA student (Finance) from UNN after obtaining a Second Class Upper degree in Banking and Finance in 1984. He went on to deepen his knowledge of Macroeconomics at Oxford University having obtained various qualifications and Executive Education studies in Negotiation, Strategy, Leadership, Critical Thinking, Delivering Value/Profit from Harvard University, Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania (Wharton Business School).

Emefiele who joined the bank since inception was appointed Deputy Managing Director in 2001. Prior to this appointment, he was the bank’s Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning. He has over twentythree (23) years banking experience. He became the Group Managing Director/ CEO on 1st August, 2010 He took Zenith Bank to another high last year when he became the first GMD/CEO in the banking industry to achieve N100 billion after tax profit in a financial year: 2012. He is an astute manager of people and resources and a corporate governance savvy professional banker who has earned several personal and corporate endorsements and achievements.

Godwin Emefiele is a man who is an expert in forecasting and takes steps, leveraging on his excellent acuity and calculated-risk-taking skills to crystallize any benefits from existing and future opportunities.

Zenith which by balance sheet size and other positive financials has shaped and is shaping certain critical aspects of developments in the subsector is in sheer entrepreneurial energy and verve a bank without equal and one which has taken after its lead-manager. The several achievements of Zenith Bank Plc since

gaged in. He is a dyed-in-thewool banker, very steadfast at what he does and has remained strong in the Zenith tradition of producing results.

And those results have been manifested in the laurels and recognition that the bank has received both locally and internationally

Emefiele who joined the bank since inception was appointed Deputy Managing Director in 2001. Prior to this appointment, he was the bank’s Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning

assuming achiever, Emefiele knows and understands banking and the unique Nigerian economy like the palms of his hands. He had been part of the core people who built the Zenith culture, and understands the direction of the board and shareholders of the bank viz-a-viz the realities and focus of the larger economy.

He knows and understands that the responsibility to deliver is non-negotiable.

Before he came into banking he was a University don at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and the University of Port Harcourt, where he lectured in finance, bank management and insurance. He is a banker whose years of experience are backed by sound academic knowledge of the job he is en-

,

Currently, Zenith bank is the largest bank in Nigeria and the seventh largest in Africa by tier1 capital. Forbes & CNBC Africa ranks Zenith bank as the 3rd biggest company in West Africa. Capital Finance International (CFI) adjudged the bank the ‘Best Commercial Bank in Africa. World Finance voted the bank as the best Nigerian Bank in Corporate Governance in 2013. The Corporate Governance award is in recognition of the bank’s ability to set an industry-wide example of best practices in Corporate Governance. The bank was evaluated on a wide range of criteria that included quality of policies and procedures, quality of disclosures, elements of innovation in Corporate Governance practices and excel-

lence in stakeholder relationship management. In 2013, Zenith bank was recognized as one the 20 Global super brands and KPMG rated the bank as the ‘Best CustomerFocused Bank.

In January 2009, the bank was adjudged to be the ‘Most Customer-focused Bank in Nigeria” according to a survey conducted by KPMG. The survey which focused predominantly on corporate customers of banks, including companies in a variety of sectors found that customers were most satisfied with the services offered

by Zenith Bank.

The Bank was rated as the “Best Bank in Nigeria in 2012”

by BusinessDay Newspapers following a survey of all the banks in Nigeria. Zenith Bank also won ‘Bank of the Year Nigeria 2013 by The Banker Magazine, a publication of Financial Times of London.

Nominees for The Banker award were judged by their ability to deliver shareholder returns and gain strategic advantage in terms of market visibility and positioning. According to The Banker Magazine, Zenith Bank was selected based on the overall performance of the institution and the opinion of leading financial analysts from the world’s financial markets. The award also indicates the level of trust and confidence on the brand and is a testament to the strong management, sound business model and prudent risk approach of Zenith Bank Plc. Zenith Bank has greatly impacted banking in Nigeria, literally lifting the sector from the era of over-conservatism to one of healthy conflict and dynamism, characterized by a culture of excellence and global best practices. This has been achieved through a combination of the power of vision and a skilful union of banking expertise and cutting-edge technology to create products and services that meet and anticipate customers’ expectations.

Under his leadership, Zenith Bank has grown its Agric loan portfolio ranking amongst the highest contributors in growing the industry agric portfolio from 1% in 2010 to over 4% in 2012. The bank also took active part in financing some of the power projects that changed hands from government to the private sector investors. With this in mind, Zenith Bank’s contributions to Nigeria’s macroeconomic growth are seen to be very commendable.

The bank is adjudged to be of incredibly high standard not just on a national level but an international one. Testimony to Emefiele’s leadership qualities is a succession of excel-

lent ratings from local and international agencies. Zenith bank ranks amongst the world’s 500 valuable brands.

Brand Finance Plc ranked Zenith Bank as the 11th most valuable brand in Africa.

Zenith bank has a culture of retaining and rewarding its senior management and had never hired any Director level staff from outside. All its Directors evolved through the ranks and are insiders who are literally embodiments of the Zenith philosophy. This has ensured and sustained a culture of commitment, loyalty and consistency as well as ownership of the ideals of the Zenith brand.

Under Emefiele’s watch, Zenith Bank shares currently trade on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) following a listing of the $850 million worth of its shares at $6.80 each in a major step aimed at improving liquidity in the stock through Global Depository Receipts.

Impressive performance parameters such as these are an eloquent indication of Emefiele’s rare penchant for banking and unflinching ability to mitigate existing inefficiencies that often exist in business.

Speaking at a forum on 2014, he says, “year 2014 is obviously a harbinger of change in several aspects of our endeavours and it is not unlikely that even business-tobusiness and business-to-customer interactions will be recalibrated. The reform in Agriculture and power will begin to take roots and positively impact Nigeria and the citizenry and at Zenith, we are well poised to take advantage of opportunities there-from in a manner that would support the Nigerian government determination to ensue and sustain achievements in the social and economic realms of our livelihood.”

He says, “We will leverage on new experience gathered, knowledge acquired and successes achieved but in large part, we shall make conscious effort to contribute to the overall development of the economy the best we can. We shall focus on creating greater mileage from our engagements through a deliberate diversification of our approaches, expectations and focus. “ Emefiele is confident that going-forward, with the rich experience garnered over the years and his institution’s collective commitment and determination to its corporate goals, Zenith Bank shall achieve even better results and further impact the economy in the years ahead.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 25

•From left: Vice-Chancellor, UNIPORT, Professor Joseph Ajienka, Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte and the Chairman, Rivers State Economic Advisory Council, Professor Nimi Briggs at the Education Sector Strategy Plan and Education Service Charter held in Port Harcourt on Monday. Photo

by Dayo Adesulu

Education for all, not likely till 2086 — UNESCO W

HEN the Educa-tion for All by 2015 Millennium Development Goal was postulated in 2000, skeptics doubted the ability of countries like Nigeria to live up to that goal in a 15-year time frame. One year to the 2015 deadline, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, in a 2014 report, said that it would take more than 70 years before all children will have access to primary education.

The two week-old UNESCO report, based on the latest data which is from 2011, shows that there are still 57 million children who did not even get the first basics of schooling. The greatest problems are in sub-Sahara Africa, with particular weaknesses in parts of West Africa, it added.

Entitled 70 Year- Wait for Primary School, the report says 57 million children, over 10.5 million of whom are Nigerians, remain without schools and at the current rate, it will be 2086 before

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access is reached for poor, rural African girls. In poor countries, one in four young people is unable to read a single sentence. The study also raises concerns about the quality of education in many poorer

teachers, are properly trained so that they can effectively impart their knowledge to the students.

“Presently, the Federal Gov-

ernment has demanded that teachers be upgraded and this is being done in collaboration with the Nigeria Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna. In the next couple of years, we will begin to see improved quality of education in Nigeria, given the efforts of the Federal Government towards this effect presently.”

In disagreement is the National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Mr. Hassan Soweto, who stressed that things are getting worse by the day in the education sector.

“In 2004, there were about 7.3 million out-of-school children, today, there are 10.5 million,

Deduction of Rivers State revenue: Amaechi slams FG, vows to continue free education

Obi’s N10m project fund to Anambra school tears PTA, school principal

Education is doing. Apart from the various restructuring programmes he is undertaking to ensure that our education system is uplifted, he has also ensured that those managing the education system, particularly

,

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI & LAJU ARENYEKA

Nigeria is one of the only 15 countries that the report projects will have fewer than 80 per cent of its primary school age children enrolled by 2015

countries. There are 130 million children who remain illiterate and innumerate despite having been in school. It means that a quarter of young people in poorer countries are illiterate, which has far-reaching implications for economic prospects and political stability.

Speaking on the issue, the Special Assistant to the Supervising Minister of Education, Bar. Nyesom Wike, Mr. Lambert Oparah, said, “I don’t know where they got the statistics from but I am particular about Nigeria, especially what the Supervising Minister of

,

Pg. 26

Pg. 27

while the number of applicants to our universities have increased with no corresponding increase in number of schools.

“According to the 11th Education for All Global Monitoring Report by UNESCO, Nigeria’s education sector faces such a bleak future that it will definitely not meet EFA’s Goals 1, 2 and 4 by the year 2015.

“Furthermore, Nigeria is one of the only 15 countries that the report projects will have fewer than 80 per cent of its primary school age children enrolled by 2015. In addition, Nigeria’s outof-school population not only grew the most in terms of any

SSANU seeks comprehensive bailout for universities Continues on page 26

Students share their experiences in Americanstyle university Pg. 29

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Deduction of Rivers State revenue: Amaechi slams FG, vows to continue free education

By DAYO ADESULU

G

OVERNOR Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has stated that the reduction of the Federal allocation from N20 billion to N13 billion which has affected the Rivers State developmental projects will not hinder his passion for progress in the state.

“I never thought that there will be a time that our revenue in Rivers State will fall from N20 billion to N13 billion," he said. “In the past six months when the deduction started, Rivers State has been struggling to pay salaries."

Amaechi disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Monday while speaking at the public presentation of the ‘Education Sector Strategy Plan and Education Service Charter.’

He hinted that he would be having "meetings with Vice Chancellors of Rivers State University of Science and Technology and the University of Education so as to make a lot of salary corrections in the Rivers State Science and Technology so that we can save more money.

"We were paying N7.5 billion but it now rose to N7.8 billion and if we start paying the new intake of teachers, it will become N8.9 billion.

Where will the money come from if we receive N13 billion?

•From right: Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, wife, Dame Judith Amaechi and the Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee during the Education Sector Strategy Plan and Education Service Charter held in Port Harcourt on Monday. photo by Dayo Adesulu

He urged workers in the state who are willing to receive salaries unabated that they should be more committed to their duties to justify their pay. Amaechi who maintained that the River sState government pays higher salaries than any state in the federation, including the Federal Government added that, “the mistake was made under Dr Peter Odili and all efforts to correct it have been proved difficult.”

Governor Amaechi who insisted that he was not going to collect school fees from stu-

dents despite the state financial challenge, went on to source out fund to feed the students. He, however, charged the teachers in the state to justify the huge sum of money expended on them.

“I hope that the teachers will be able to pay us back in equal terms the amount of money invested in education.

We started with training of teachers, employing more teachers and creating a conducive environment for teachers to be able to impact knowledge to the students.

The governor who spoke

passionately on education development in the state said, “This morning, I looked at the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, results of the state for three years. I discovered that Rivers State has consistently maintained third position. Why cannot we aspire to be first in Nigeria going by our investment in education?”

He charged the teachers to be more committed to their work and the academic programme Rivers State is pursuing so as to get the desired goal for the students. He said that teach-

Education for all, not likely...

Continued from page 25 country in the world since 2004-2005 by 3.4 million, but also had the 4th highest growth rate.

“Nigeria’s capitalist ruling elite have no shame otherwise there is no reason why a country this blessed should parade this kind of negative indices in the area of education provision. For instance, Nigeria has over 40 million illiterate adults, 53 years after independence when the benefit of education is no more a matter of argument, 40 per cent of our youths are stark illiterates, while 5 per cent of the poorest young women are literates compared to 90 per cent of the richest.

With four years of schooling in Nigeria, less than one in 10 children emerge literate while after 5-6 years in school, less than 30 per cent are able to read even a single sentence. In addition, about 212,000 primary school teachers, 13 per cent of the global total, will be needed between 2011 and 2015 alone to shore up the astounding pupil-teacher ratio.

“These and many more are the crying needs of the sector which the 2014 budgetary allocation to education cannot sufficiently address. If President Jonathan has any concern for public

education, this should be the time to put together the resources- though hugeneeded to begin to repair the fortunes of our education sector.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training of secondary school teachers in Lagos State, the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, the Head of National Office, HNO, WAEC, Mr. Charles Eguridu, expressed dissatisfaction with the declining performance of students in examinations, which he attributed to drop in the quality of teaching and learning.

“We are very worried about the drop in students’ performance in public examinations and from our analysis, we discovered that there is a general decline in the quality of teaching and learning, and even those assigned with the responsibility of teaching are not properly equipped to do so, and if teachers don’t have the competences to teach the students, there is no way students can perform well.”

On what can be done to improve on the quality of teachers, Eguridu said there needs to be constant training and retraining of teachers to ensure that they are up to speed with global best practices.

“The Council believes that a better in-

formed and equipped teaching force would greatly improve the quality of teaching and learning which will have positive impact on the educational development of Nigeria.

“In response to the dwindling educational standard in Nigeria, we are making this training programme available to all teachers across the country to enable them understand the process of curriculum implementation, be proactive and take initiatives in the use of teaching aids and monitor and evaluate teaching and learning outcomes by managing performance indicators, among others.”

In the same vein, the Vice-President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Mr. Smart Olugbeko, said access to education is beyond just putting children in school as it has to do with the quality of education being provided and the quality of life of the nation’s citizens.

Even when the schools are free, some parents have to pull their children out of school to help raise money for the family’s basic needs. You don’t expect children to stay in school if they do not have food to eat at home. In the hierarchy of needs,

“

Continues on page 28

ers should key into the quality assurance programme of the state to fulfill the purpose of why it was set up.

Amaechi urged the teachers to sustain the quality of education in the state, noting that the proof of success is the quality of graduands from the schools. He disclosed that were it not because of fund, the vocational education would have started in the state. “We are owing only N30m and the equipment will be shipped to us,” he said.

"Also, we must fund all the schools in the state to ensure that computers are installed in all the classes. The computers have only been installed in 85 schools out of 300 hundred schools. We must get to the end. Amaechi urged all and sundry in the state to pay their taxes in order to generate enough Internal Generated Revenue to fund projects in the state.

On her part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Barr Dame Alice LawrenceNemi said, “In order to sustain the giant strides in the education sector which was in shambles before the advent Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s administration, he set out to deliver on his promises by the construction of ultra modern schools known as model primary and mega model secondary schools across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.”

According to her, the Rivers State Government in a bid to sustain the achievements in education sector, took into cognisance the need for recruitment of qualified teachers.

Lawrence-Nemi also pointed out that the Ministry of Education in its drive for sustainability has established policies to guide the effective application of its goals adding, “the Ministry formulated the school based management policy and guidebook for junior and secondary schools, and trained stakeholders to ensure community ownership of the schools; the State Government established the Rivers State Education Quality Assurance Agency, which has commenced it’s work of monitoring and supervision of schools; It has commenced procedures for conducting the Teacher Development Needs assessment.”

Explaining the development in technical education, she disclosed that the state government has boosted technical/vocational education by establishing the Port Harcourt Technical and Vocational Centre.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—27

Samsung partners FCTA to train future electronics engineers

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

S

Mr Neil Edwards, Vice President, Finance, Europe and Africa, Moneygram, distributing notebooks to pupils of Bishop Taylor Memorial Schools in Vctoria Island, Lagos during the book donation by Moneygram to the school on Tuesday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

Obi’s N10m project fund to Anambra school tears PTA, school principal

O

NITSHA - Crisis erupted at Awada Secondary School, Obosi, Anambra State following a disagreement between the management of the school and the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) over the manner in which the N10 million relief fund donated to the school by Governor Peter Obi for renovation was spent.

The school was among the recipients of Governor Obi's parting gifts to private and public institutions, including primary, post-primary schools and tertiary institutions, as well as hospitals he visited in the state in recent times as renovation fund for their respective institutions.

But in their own case, crisis erupted in the school as the PTA of the school under the chairmanship of Chief Anthony Ezebube, accused the school principal, Mrs Felicia Ogbunude of spending the money single-handedly without consulting the PTA leadership which claimed to be a major stakeholder in the fund.

Other allegations levied against the principal were that she said the money was not the business of the PTA and that new entrants to the school upon registration, were each requested to bring one plastic chair as a condition for admission which the parents and guardians demanded to know the whereabouts of the plastic chairs.

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The PTA members said contrary to an agreement that general meetings of the body and the school management would be held two times a term and and emergency meetings at the instance of the principal when the need arose, none was done throughout 2013 to know the state of affairs in the school.

According to the PTA boss, “I was told that the money was given by Governor Obi but I was not told how the

money was lodged into a bank. And I also heard that she said that the money did not concern the PTA. We need an account of how the money is being spent.”

Ezebube who spoke at the school hall during a meeting between the school management and the PTA last weekend to put records straight, said the PTA members are insisting that whoever would take up the contract of repair jobs at the school would be coapproved by the PTA and the school authorities.

NAPS begs Jonathan to intervene in ASUP’s strike

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

T

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

AMSUNG Electronics West Africa has part nered with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA to address the issue of technical and engineering skills shortage in Nigeria.

Speaking at the commissioning of Samsung Engineering Academy, the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Bravo Kim said that the Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy was undertaken in response to the need to train skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth.

Kim reiterated Samsung’s commitment to fulfilling its brand promise of inspiring the world and creating the future through its commitment to bringing new and meaningful innovations to the doorsteps of customers.

In addition to ensuring that Africa develops an adequate pool of engineering skills, the academy also provides learners with well-paying job opportunities, a commitment that supports the Nigerian government’s drive to address the issue of youth unemployment.

Kim said the firm’s interest and commitment is to facilitate a better future for Nigeria by training a skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth.

According to him, “At Samsung, we understand the importance of investment in quality education and its role in youth empowerment. Today’s ceremony is yet another significant milestone for

he seven-month-old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, has indeed taken its toll on polytechnic students around the country.

With no end in sight to the strike, the National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, has called upon President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the situation.

In an open letter to Mr. President signed by the Senate President of the association, Mr. Adeyemi Lukman, the polytechnic students urged the president to negotiate with ASUP leaders as he did with the leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

It read: “Sir, we appreciate the efforts in single-handedly intervening in ASUU strike which took you more than 10 hours with the union leaders to ensure our colleagues in the university return to class after six months of strike. We would like to request that this same honour be accorded the polytechnics. The Nigerian students of polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of

education and colleges of technology which we represent, clearly understand that the 13-point agreement which the Federal Government made with ASUP in 2009, is for the betterment of Polytechnic education.”

Continuing, Lukman said: “Sir, we crave your indulgence to meet the following demands by ASUP on or before February 17, 2014, or we will we forced to take up residence in protest at the office of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja until the strike is over. They include: *Immediate conversion or extraction of National Polytechnic Commission (NPC) from National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as obtainable for Nigerian universities governed by Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Colleges of Education govern by Nigeria Commission for College of Education (NCCE) and Nomadic education governed by Nomadic Education Commission.

Samsung in Africa, as it represents our vision to ensure that empowerment opportunities that exist on the continent are shared by all, even as we continue to expand the programme here in Nigeria and across the continent.”

The academy is one of several community development projects undertaken by Samsung over the past few years, in furtherance of its corporate social investment initiatives.

Samsung started the first phase of the academy in South Africa in March 2011 which graduated its first class of students in January 2012 in its pilot phase. In February 2012, it launched a second academy in Kenya and in Nigeria in July 2012 at Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos and Government Science & Technical College, Abuja on January 21, 2013 and efforts are on to open one in Ekiti and it is expected to move to more African countries by 2015.

However, GSTC has agreed to partner with Samsung in the provision of physical infrastructure for the academy.

GSTC has also told Samsung that it has the requisite expertise to identify and appoint the learners from within the FCT that can be trained in the practice and theory of electronics engineering and aftersales services in respect of Samsung products.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, GSTC Principal, Mr Moh’d Idris Ondekus who appreciated the social responsibility of Samsung to education sector, said if only all other companies can invest in education, the sector will be better off than it is currently.

Ondekus recalled that the Samsung project started on August 10, 2012 during the Science Teachers’ Association meeting. Samsung picked the GSTC, carried out their feasibility studies, renovated the place and put all necessary equipment in place.

“GTSC has about 884 students who learn about nine different trades ranging from motor mechanic, refrigerators and air-conditioning, electronics, computers among others.”

Again, he said the training is not restricted to only GSTC students but all other schools within the FCT can benefit from it.

On the maintenance and security of the equipment, Ondekus said the school has about eight security men on guard plus all security personnel organised by Samsung, adding that all the security personnel work together to secure the equipment and the school environment.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Wike urges Total to adopt King’s College WITIN boosts girls’ ICT

access with technovation challenge

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

T

HE Supervising Minister of Edu cation, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has called on the management of Total Upstream to adopt King’s College Lagos, to help bring back the lost glory of the college.

Speaking at the commissioning of projects worth N150 million by Total Upstream at the King’s College, Victoria Island campus, Lagos, the Minister, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Lambert Oparah, said the adoption of the college is in order as both brands represent excellence in the nation.

“This gesture by Total Upstream portends good omen to our drive towards excellence in the education sector, which is also in line with the avowed policy of exploring partnerships and collaborations for the promotion of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

Like Oliver Twist, government would like to use this medium to appeal to Total Upstream to adopt King’s College as its school for continued assistance since both represent twin brands of excellence.”

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

A

*From left: Wife of Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs. Azeezat Tijani; Fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN)/Vice President, Personnel Practitioners Consultative Association (PPCA) and Vice-Chairman of Council of CIPMN, Mr. Anthony Arobome; Human Resources Executive, MTN, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola and Fellow, CIPMN/immediate past President and Chairman of the day, Mr. Abiola Popoola at the PPCA (Lekki, Ajah, Badore) Inauguration/Lecture which held at Oriental Hotel, VI, Lagos

The Minister called on other corporate organisations to emulate the good gestures of Total.

Thanking Total Upstream for its contribution to improve the learning environment for students, the Principal of King’s College, Otunba Dele Olapeju, assured that management would ensure that the facilities would be used for their intended purposes.

“A learner-friendly envi-

ronment is necessary for improved performance of students and what we have here should be the minimum to be replicated in other schools so as to boost students’ learning.”

Promising that measures have been put in place to safeguard these facilities, he charged the Federal Government to allow King’s College run Higher School Certificate, HSC, especially as the facilities for such pro-

gramme are lying waste in the school.

The commissioned projects include twin lecture halls, assembly hall and a 30kva generator undertaken by Total Upstream; a senior staff quarters built by the Federal Government; and college bakery, dining hall extension, junior staff quarters and new JSS1 classroom constructed by the school.

Thomson Foundation to train Promasidor Quill Awards Best Winner in UK Baker, Chief Executive of Thomson Foundation said they were very proud to work with Promasidor Nigeria on this ROMASIDOR Nigeria Limited, initiative, adding that it will open new makers of Cowbell Milk, in opportunities for journalists in Nigeria. collaboration with Thomson He said the beneficiary journalist Foundation, UK, will train the best of would have the opportunity of participatthe winners of the Promasidor Quill ing in a five -week course in the UK Awards in a five-week training prowhich would put him on the cutting gramme in the UK. This was disclosed by the in-coming edge of the profession.

The Promasidor Quill Awards was Chairman of Promasidor Nigeria, instituted as a way of rewarding excelChief Keith Richards, who said the essence of the partnership is to have a lence in journalism in Nigeria for dedicated news reportage on industry, champion of champions among the winners of the seven categories of the education, and corporate social responsiawards go for a training programme in bility & nutrition issues all year round.

Winners from the maiden edition the UK. received state-of-the-art tools for the Founded by Roy Thomson in 1962, trade as well as a six-week certificatethe Thomson Foundation champions awarding course at the School of Media free, fair and open media in the and Communications of the Pan Atlantic developing world, and since incepUniversity, Lagos, in order to further tion, the foundation has played vital equip them with new knowledge to do role in journalism standards around more. the world and has helped some key Entries for the 2014 edition have media organisations achieve media opened and would close by the end of excellence through training, consulApril. tancy and expert advice. Mr. Nigel

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

P

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s part of measures to further bridge the gap between girls and boys’ access to information and communications technology (ICT), the Women in Technology in Nigeria, WITIN, recently hosted the 2014 edition of the Iridescent’s Technovation Challenge for over 50 girls from about 13 secondary schools in Lagos and Ogun states.

The technovation challenge, according to WITIN, is a global technology entrepreneurship programme for girls, created to discover their ingenuity in apps development and programming.

Coordinator and President of WITIN, Mrs. Martha Omoekpe Alade, explained that the chal-

lenge is the largest and longest running global technology competition exclusively for girls to inspire the pursuit of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM. “This contest allows girls to learn how to code and develop mobile apps, conduct market research, write business plans, and create a ‘pitch’ for funding. They are also taught life skills such as how to identify a problem, design and test a solution, collaborate with a team, and communicate to different audiences.”

According to her, the initiative is in line with the Ministry of Communications Technology’s drive to bridge the growing gap in ICT between young females and their male counterparts.

MHS Ibadan clocks 53

T

HE 53rd anniversary of Methodist High School, Expressway Ibadan, comes up on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at the new school hall which is under construction. Time is 10am.

The alumni national president, Dr Fadeyemi Akinrinmade said the event will feature the relaunch of the school hall. The event will also showcase a brief get-together as well as the need for old members to brainstorm towards rebuilding the school’s lost glory.

Education for all, not likely...

Continued from pagee 26 physiological needs such as food and clothing come before every other thing and a lot of Nigerians lack this. Government must, therefore, seek, as a first priority, the welfare of the people and must also stop all these policy somersaults and give proper funding, and pay more attention to education.

“Our union, COEASU, has been on strike for over a month, yet we haven’t even been called for negotiations. Nobody cares about the situation because it is the common man that attends Colleges of Education.

“Little wonder nobody wants to be a teacher in this country due to its unattractiveness and the way teachers are being treated. If we do not pay more attention to teacher training, the quality of education will definitely suffer.”

An education policy consultant, Mr. Wale Samuel, sums it up by saying education remains at the heart of development; likewise issues around adequate teacher recruitment and training remains at the heart of good education.

“One year to the landmark year of the MDGs, Nigeria lags far behind in the attainment of MDG

2 and unlikely to meet the goal by 2015. Though a major indicator of MDG 2 concerns itself mainly with increasing enrolment, current findings in Nigeria argue that the issue of poor quality plays a key role in enrolment, retention and completion.

“Aside from inadequate teacher training and re-retraining, one of the biggest constraints to achieving MDG 2 in Nigeria – and the critical reason why massive increases in enrolments are not guaranteeing children a quality education – is the failure to deal with the huge gap in professional, well-supported teachers. Of the 139 countries reporting UNESCO data for 2010, three would need to recruit more than 200,000 teachers in total by the year 2015.

“Consequently, it could be argued that for the MDG 2 to be achieved and the right to primary education for every child realised, much improved training and support for teachers is needed.

Several interventions that have focused on improved teacher pupil relationship have helped pupil retention in schools but this can only be very effective where teachers are trained and motivated to do so.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—29

Students share their experiences in American-style university Ithas been said that any university that is not impacting on its community is not worth its salt, therefore, in this enounter with Vanguard Learning in Yola, five undergraduate students of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) share their experiences, saying they are being trained to bring about the much needed change in Africa, especially through their community service programme.

Excerpts:

E

BUKA Ukoh Williams is a fourth year student of Communication and Multimedia Studies, concentrating in advertising at the university.

"We learnt a lot of wrong things growing up but here, we are taught to unlearn some of them and learn the things we should be learning. We are made to understand that how successful you are is not in being the king of the jungle but in how well you are able to live and society is grateful that you exist because you are making meaningful contributions," said Ebuka, a member of the Honours Society (people who have excelled in academics, leadership and scholarship in AUN). He left the federal university he was attending in the South-West in his third year because “learning in class for me, was not what education is supposed to be all about.

"It was like things were dropped in my head and I was expected to pour them out in an exam hall. That was not what education is all about. If that was it, then I wanted none of it. The fact is that consumption is good but any consumption that does not underscore production is nuisance.

Model UN conference "Our bane in the past 50 years has been that we always produce what we don’t consume and consume what we don’t produce," he said, adding that he has been involved in a lot of projects such as representing AUN on various platforms like the Model UN Conference, hosted some major events such as Commencement, Founder’s Day, the first Homecoming, and others. He noted, however, that "of all my experiences, my involvement with the community stands out a great deal.”

Describing the community service programme as awesome, he said: “In my first semester, I helped about 15 orphans go back to school by paying their school fees for a whole year. I was involved in the Karatu Library Project. We went to the library on Saturdays and read books to little children. There is the adult literC M Y K

acy programme, teaching adults to read, write and speak. We have also gone to high schools and to primary schools to prepare pupils for the Common Entrance exams.

I dedicated two hours everyday to help them prepare adequately. Statistics show that 80 per cent of the students who took the exams failed, we tried not to blame the devil or the Nigerian soil. The point is that these children were not being taught. I saw the need to help because every time I looked at these less privileged ones, I know it could have been me, so I owe it a duty to give back to the community.

"My development as an individual hinges on how well I am able to make meaningful contribution,” said Ebuka, a Board member of All Literacy Age Programme.

"I am moved to tears when I see people who I don’t know, grateful that I am existing.”

Ifunanya Hephzber Obiora, is a third year (junior) student of English Language and Literature. The 2013 Miss AUN says: "AUN has impacted me so much especially in the aspect of writing. For long, Nigeria has not valued her writers. We regard them as people who do not know enough because we are only after science/technology but we forget that when people use their talent, they usually go far.

Nigeria does not need science/ technology for the sake of science/

,

ByEBELEORAKPO

I am moved to tears when I see people who I don’t know, grateful that I am existing

,

technology, no; Nigeria needs people who are talented, who are good enough at what they do.

"We should not push everyone into law, medicine or engineering. Let us not just concentrate on science/ technology," said Ifunanya who has written two books and a couple of poems.

Blessing Douglas, a second-year student of International and Comparative Politics thinks a lot of things have gone wrong in our society and that politics is not being practised the way it should be. "Worldwide,

•Ebuka Ukoh Williams

• Ya s m i n e Abdulkadir

•Ibrahim Radda

•Blessing Douglas

there are basic rudiments of democracy and certain rudiments like rule of law, sovereignty, individual respect, human rights etc., but how many of them are in place in Nigeria? We need a lot of reforms in Nigeria individual, political, cultural and institutional reforms which will help us to move forward and curb corruption and every other factor that is hindering our growth."

Blessing who is also a writer, advises voters not to cast their votes based on cultural bias and

ethnocentrism, calling for a strong judiciary.

Ibrahim Abubakar Rada, a year two Environmental Sciences student says: “We study Environmental Science for development. When the environment is being degraded, civilization is on the way to ruin the same way. Here at AUN, we embark on different projects to see to the protection of the environment. We are engaged in recycling, energy conservation and renewable energy. Recycling

•Ifunanya Hephzber Obiora protects the environment. We encourage energy conservation because sustainability is all about meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs. He noted that most of their activities are aimed at protecting the environment and creating wealth for the community to to improve their social standards.

I never thought there was a need to protect our environment, but now, I have seen the need."

Yasmine Abdulkadir, a year two Petroleum Chemistry and Mining Economics student says AUN has taught her the importance of service to community.

"Two-thirds of the population in Yola are in poverty and we created something innovative to solve a social problem because AUN as a development university, is interested in improving the lives of people."

So they came up with the Jathropha project to engage the poor people of the community to enable them improve their personal lives as well as provide a cleaner energy source, improve the soil and fight desertification."

Educationist harps on continuous training

By William Jimoh

P

rofessionals in all fields of endeavour have been urged to update themselves regularly to cope with the ever-rising demands of the constantlychanging business environment or risk losing their jobs or face business collapse.

This advice was given by Dr. Zenon Adamek, the Principal of Peacock College UK, in a statement issued in London while presenting the school’s 2014 professional academic programmes billed to commence in February.

He said: “Many have lost their jobs not necessarily because of the need to retrench but because such professionals have, over the years, failed to see the need to continually upgrade and update themselves to remain relevant and efficient in today’s business world.”

On the school’s professional and academic programmes for the year, he said they

were designed to provide solutions to the difficulties that prevent professionals from pursuing further knowledge.

“One major reason why most professionals fail to pursue further education is their tight work schedule. But we have also found out that when decisions are to be taken on productivity, what saves a job is not necessarily hard work, but efficiency based on sound knowledge.

“This is, therefore, why our academic programmes are designed in such a way that even those with very tight work schedules, who cannot participate directly at the college, can participate through online arrangements. All our programs are available 100% online.”

The programmes, according to him, include master’s top-up courses, corporate and management courses, professional academic courses in business & Organisational strategy, travel and tourism, and information technology, among others.

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

520 teachers possess fake certificates in Kogi

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA

K

ogi State Universal Education Board, SUBEB, has made a rattling revelation that about 520 teachers employed by the State Government for the primary school sector possessed fake certificates.

The Chairman of the board, Alhaji Usman Jibrin disclosed this to the House of Assembly Committee on Education during the appraisal of the 2013 budget and the 2014 budget defence at the State House of Assembly complex.

Jibrin while commenting on

the qualities of the teachers in the employment of the SUBEB said the Board discovered the figures during the ongoing certificate verification exercise.

He, however, assured the House committee that affected teachers with the fake certificates will soon be shown the way out after the completion of the verification exercise.

The SUBEB chairman also revealed that the delay in the payment of teachers' salaries was caused by the Education Secretaries who made undue interference and illegal deduction in the teachers' sala-

ries.

He, however, hinted that arrangements are ongoing to introduce the e-payment system in order to forestall the influence of Education Secretaries in the payment of teachers' salary “With the e-payment, all illegal deductions from the teachers' salaries will henceforth stop as Education Secretaries will have no access to tamper with the salaries of teachers.”

He said teachers have been directed to go and open an account with banks to enable them flow with the new development in the system.

*From left: Head, Legal and Public Relations, Mr. Andrew Enahoro; in-coming Chairman, Chief Keith Richards, both of Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Chief Executive, Thomson Foundation, Nigel Baker; and Olivier Thiry, in-coming MD/CEO of Promasidor Nigeria, at a press conference on Promasidor/Thomson Foundation partnership on Quill Awards in Lagos.

Corona Press Club donates freezer to maternity centre A

s part of its 2014 Press Day, the Press Club of Corona Secondary School, (CSS), Agbara, donated a deep freezer to the maternity centre of Ketu Adie-Owe, in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government of Ogun State on Wednesday, February 5, 2014.

The donation was aimed at assisting the maternity centre to overcome its challenge of storing its vaccines and reagents and further provide meaningful health care delivery to nursing mothers and pregnant women in the area.

The donation was also in line with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), initiative C M Y K

of CSS, which has the aim of assisting the less privileged in the society and making CSS to inculcate in its students, the notion of community development and responsible citizenship.

Mrs. AdetokunAyobami Ramon, the Matron of the Maternity Centre at Ketu Adie-Owe who received the donation on behalf of the centre, thanked the Press Club members of CSS for their kind heartedness as displayed through the donation which will eliminate the need to travel to Sango-Ota to preserve the centre’s vaccines and reagents. She therefore promised to put the freezer to good use.

Private one-man universities can also fold up T

HE first generation builds, the second generation inherits and the third generation demolishes.” Chinese saying.

That bit of folk wisdom credited to the Chinese had been with regard to business enterprises or other organisations. It is not clear if it applies to private universities.

Less than 50 separate universities are listed under China, with a population of over one billion; Nigeria with one sixth of the population already has 128; and more are on the way. But, I can imagine that the Chinese universities have satellite campuses to handle the millions of kids university-bound in that country.

However, the Chinese must be really fortunate if their successful businesses get to the third generation before collapsing like a sand castle built by a kid on the seashore. No Nigerian business, to the best of my knowledge had gone past the first generation.

Once the founder dies, the business goes into sunset.

Lest you are wondering what that has to do with the sustainability of private universities, let me spell it out for you.

Let me also remind you that what brought this topic to the front burner of our concerns about Nigerian universities was the disclosure that St Paul’s College (University), Virginia, U.S.A, which Nigeria’s current Minister of Aviation, Princess Oduah, allegedly attended, was in the process of closing down when media people went to verify if she actually collected an MBA from there.

The important part of the story rests in the fact that St Paul’s folded up.

So have several private universities started and funded by individuals, who at the height of their financial achievements had started universities to immortalize themselves.

But, the sad history of American private univer-

sity education rests on the fact that once the fortune on which they were established gets exhausted or the endowment funds fail to keep pace with rapid changes in the economy, they lose ground to competitors and eventually have to close down.

Today, in Nigeria, there is not a single one of our private universities which does not depend on the goodwill, as well as good intentions of its founder. At the moment, there is no Nigerian university whose founder has died; so we have no example to which we can point about what happens thereafter.

But, we have the examples of what had happened to other Nigerian business empires which could have provided the funds to establish universities if the wealthy individuals had been allowed to establish private universities before 1999. By then, Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, perhaps, comparatively, the richest Nigerian ever; Mr. Da Rocha in Lagos, whose sources of wealth remains shrouded in mystery till today; Alhaji Dantata of the 1950s and Chief M.K.O. Abiola had all passed on.

Granted, history only tells us what had happened in the past; it never quite tells us what might have happened.

But, given the collapse of those financial empires, or their slide down the greasy pole of fortune, one can ask a pertinent question: Would the descendants of Ojukwu, Da Rocha, Dantata or Abiola, have had the zeal or the funds or both to continue the universities today?

Starting a university is not an undertaking for mere millionaires in any age.

It is a business quite unlike others because its products, generally lumped together as knowledge, are not static. In fact, everything about them is so dynamic, calling for new investments in everything from buildings to equipment and manpower at a rapid rate.

Visit: www.delesobowale.com or www.facebook.com/biolasobowale

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—31

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*Corona Secondary School Press Club, presenting a deep freezer to maternity centre at Ketu Adie-Owe

Exam Ethics Marshal International lauds provost on curbing malpractice

By DAYO ADESULU

T

HE Exam Ethics Marshal International has praised the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Eha Amufu, Professor Benjamin Mbah, for his efforts at entrenching ethical examination and assessment practices in the school.

Since he was appointed pro-

vost in 2010, Founding Chairman of the Exam Ethics Marshal, Mr Ike Onyechere said Mbah has made a lot of efforts to check examination malpractice in these areas as well as curb the practices of unscrupulous academics who sell grades to students.

Onyechere said in a statement that Mbah sent 30 lecturers to be trained and inau-

gurated by Exam Ethics Marshal in 2011, who since then have been working to instil ethical practices in the school, and mentor students who are members of the Exam Ethics Club.

He said: “Professor Mbah sponsored 30 lecturers to be trained and inaugurated as Exam Ethics Marshals.

Moneygram donates books to school

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

L

EADING global payment services company, Moneygram International Corporate, has donated exercise books to pupils of Arch Bishop Taylor Nursery & Primary School, Victoria Island, Lag o s .

Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice President, Africa & Emerging Channels, Mr. Carl-Olav Scheible, said the donation was necessitated by the fact that Nigeria is the fu-

ture of Africa while the future of Nigeria are the children.

“We see Africa as an important market for sending and receiving money and we have donated books worth over $5 million while 30 per cent of that amount comes to Nigeria. We have worked with 17 countries in Africa and, in partnership with UBA, also sponsor some educational programmes for undergraduates in Nigeria”, Scheible said.

Expressing her apprecia-

tion, the Head Teacher of the school, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olusayan, said the gesture would boost learning, especially when considering the background of the pupils.

“This means a lot to these kids as most of them are children of gatemen and househelps and hardly have writing materials. The kids are happy and this would make them eager to learn because having writing materials makes it easier to learn and write.”

Nigeria to participate in Global Education Summit in US

By LAIDE AKINBOADE

N

IGERIA will be among the 80 countries that will participate in the Global Education Summit to be organized by the British Council in the United States in May this year.

Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, stated this yesterday, in Abuja when he received the Country Deputy Director of the British Council, Amr Ramzon.

The Minister stated that Nigeria is interested in participat-

ing in the summit because it plans to share its successes and challenges with the international community in order to further improve on the nation’s education sector.

He said that Nigeria agreed to fully participate in the summit because such international engagements open the way for greater collaborations that enhance educational delivery at all levels.

Barr. Wike said: “We have accepted to participate in this international summit being orga-

nised by the British Council in the United States because it is another opportunity for us to share our experiences, successes and challenges with the entire world.

Earlier, the Deputy Country Director of British Council, Amr Ramzon urged the Federal Ministry of Education to actively participate in the Global Education Summit to be held in Miami, United States.

nce upon a time, a citizen was arrested by one of the Barons and shut up in a dungeon.

He stayed in the dark dungeon for twenty years. Each day the jailer would come into the cell to give him a pitcher of water and a loaf of bread and immediately afterwards the door was closed again.

Well, after twenty years the prisoner had reached his threshold limit and he decided he wasn’t going to continue living in that condition any longer so he planned that rather than committing suicide he was going to assault the jailer who would then kill him in self-defence. Therefore, he decided to test-run his plan, as he caught the door handle and turned it, to his amazement the door opened. On close examination he discovered that the door had never been locked and in fact there was no lock upon it and never had been. In all those twenty years that he was in the cell he had not been locked in, except in his mind. He found his way out and the soldiers around never paid attention to him; he walked out a free man. For twenty years he had been living in an illusion rather than in reality; he was held captive in his own thoughts; he was imprisoned in his mind. In life,it is the mind that imprisons and it is also the mind that sets free.Your mental concept determines your life condition.

A out

new year has begun. Will you make the most

Page 32out of of the year? You can never make — the most the year until you make the most out of life; you can never make the most out of life until you make the most out of yourself; you can never make the most of yourself until you make the best use of your mind; you can never make the best use of the mind if you are not in control of your thoughts; you can never be in control of your thoughts if you do not choose your thoughts wisely. The New Year is an inanimate thing; it does not bring anything to anybody. It is not really the New Year that counts; it is what you bring into the New Year that counts and what you have brought into the New Year is you.

The year 2014 will probably be like the previous years if you carry the same mind-set you had in previous years into the New Year.You see your physical world is a print-out or a reflection of your inner world- mental world; emotional world and your spiritual world. And if you want to change your physical world, you must first change your inner world. And your inner world is rooted in your mindyour thought life. We must realize and understand that our present condition and circumstance is a product of our level of thinking. As the story above reveals; many people are held captive by their own minds-imprisoned by poverty; marital disharmony; lack of inner peace; lack of true happiness and the joy of living; lack of job satisfaction; wrong and unhappy relationships with people; bad habits; the list goes on and on. The unfortunate thing is that blaming the government; economy; people; circumstances and everything except ourselves only worsens our present state. Blaming and complaining in a universe that is governed by laws only makes us sink deeply into despair and frustration. As Stephen Covey rightly states, “When you think that the problem is out there, stop, that thought is the problem”. You can never rise above your circumstance until you rise above the thoughts that had attracted the circumstance. In life you attract the events; people; circumstance that are in harmony with your most dominant thoughts.

Therefore, your state of life is determined by your state of mind. An improved life is a result of an improved mind. I’ll be taking you through a series of mind transformation.

Remember, mind transformation leads to life transformation.

32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

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32 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 33

34 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Matic urges Chelsea to fight on A N

EMANJA Matic insists Chelsea must not dwell on dropping points at struggling West Brom as they battle to win the Premier League title.

The league leaders missed the chance to go four points clear of Arsenal and five ahead of Manchester City when they drew 1-1 at The Hawthorns.

Vi c t o r A n i c h e b e ’ s late goal dened Jose Mourinho’s side, but January signing Matic is eager to put that disappointment behind him.

“I said after the Man City game (which Chelsea won 1-0) that we’ll fight until the end of the season,” Matic told the club’s official website.

“We need to take it game by game and

•Matic play as well as we can in order to win matches.

At the end of the season we’ll see if we can be champions.

“We always believe, we

just try to improve and give our best. We have a young team, we are not favourites but if we have a chance to be champions we want to take it."

RSENAL forward Lukas Podolski has admitted his regret at leaving Bayern Munich to join Cologne in 2009.

The 28-year-old fell down the pecking order during his time with the European champions and opted to return to the RheinEnergieStadion, where he eventually suffered relegation in 2012.

And Podolski believes his decision to leave the Bavarian giants had a negative impact on his career.

“I believe that if Jupp Heynckes (Bayern interim coach) had arrived one or two weeks earlier in 2009, I would probably still be at Bayern now,” he told Bild.

“He was desperate to keep me.

“From a purely sporting perspective, returning to Cologne was certainly not helpful.”

Podolski was linked

Podolski regrets leaving Bayern with a move away from Arsenal in January after failing to break into the starting line-up following his recovery from injury, but the 28-year-old never envisaged leaving the North London club.

“There was absolutely no truth in it,” he asserted. “The coach (Arsene Wenger) told me as such, and I knew there was no truth in it.”

Neymar will not be rushed BARCELONA head coach Gerardo Martino has hinted he is unlikely to rush Neymar back from injury for their Copa del Rey semi-final.

Barca take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Copa match-up against Real Sociedad, and are on the verge of an ‘El Clasico’ final with

Ince: United need leaders P

•Rooney

AUL Ince believes Manchester United’s lack of on-field leadership has played a big part in their disappointing season so far.

The Premier League champions face a battle to qualify for the UEFA Champions League as they are seventh in the table, nine points behind

fourth-placed Liverpool.

David Moyes has endured a disappointing first campaign after he was charged with the task of replacing Alex Ferguson and former United captain Ince believes the Scotsman is suffering due to the lack of players in the mould of Roy Keane.

•Podolski

•Neymar

rivals Real Madrid should they preserve their advantage at the Estadio Municipal de Anoeta on Wednesday.

Martino said Neymar who has been sidelined with an ankle injury got through training this week, but with a UEFA Champions League last16 clash with Manchester City on Tuesday, the coach hinted the Brazilian star would remain on the sidelines as a precaution.

“Neymar got through training today with the whole team and he did it well without any pain,” Martino said.

“Physically, he is alright, so we will see if we put him in tomorrow, or Saturday versus Rayo Vallecano. Obviously, we want him fit for Manchester City.

Geisenberger wins by biggest margin since 1964

N

ATALIE Geisen berger (Germany) has won luge’s women’s singles with the biggest winning margin in any luge event at the Olympic Winter Games since 1964.

Geisenberger’s winning margin of 1.139 second over silver medallist Tatjana Huefner (Germany) is the second biggest in any luge event at the Winter Games.

The only bigger margin between gold and silver was recorded in 1964, when Ortrun Enderlein beat Ilse Geisler by 2.75 seconds, also in women’s singles.

Geisenberger won her second Olympic medal after a bronze in this event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

Huefner took silver and equalled Silke Kraushaar-

Pielach (Germany) on a record three medals in this event. Huefner won gold in 2010 and grabbed bronze in 2006. Erin Hamlin (USA) took bronze.

Horror crash as skier is stretchered off slopestyle final

C

Women’s singles luge event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, at the Sanki Sliding Center in Rosa Khutor

ANADA’s Yuki Tsubota was taken off the course on a stretcher after the 20-year-old suffered a very heavy fall in the final of the women’s ski slopestyle in Rosa Khutor Extreme Park yesterday.

Tsubota lay prone on the snow after landing heavily and rolling down the slope, and course officials and medics moved quickly to get her on to a stretcher and off the course for treatment.

Olympic champion Kim Yu-Na is not afraid of a rising Russian star

Kim Yu-Na not afraid of rising The 15-year-old LipRussian star nitskaia became the

S

OUTH Korea’s reigning Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-Na is determined to fight for her title with teenage Russian prodigy Julia Lipnitskaia as she left Seoul for the 2014 Winter Games.

youngest female figure skater in 78 years to win a gold medal.

Now she has her eyes set on preventing Kim Yu-Na becoming only the third women ever to win back-to-back figure skating golds at the Winter Games.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 —35 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

AQUARIUS: This is the wrong time to gamble either with your physical cash or your source of income. Take nobody for granted. Take love more seriously PISCES; Partnership related issues are becoming more important and if you try to sweep anything under carpet now, it’ll back-fire sooner than expected. Take your love life more seriously than before.

ARIES; Hard work will not go unrewarded if not today very soon. Important development coming through your working arena soonest will place you at advantage position. The more practical you are the better.

TAURUS; Love, romance and sentimental things can not be ignored completely today unless you want your concentration to waver .Be more enterprising in the business world Anyway success indicated for you today..

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

guess you are won dering whether tomorrow is a physical thing that you can see. You see, what we are simply asking you is: what is your vision for your future.

If you don’t have a vision for tomorrow, honestly, I will say, it

Can You See Your Tomorrow? is a tragedy.

Everyone that must be somebody should have an idea of how his future will look like. And in order to realise his vision, it

should have a realistic feature. For example, if you want to be an Engineer, you must be seen to be engaged in things that could lead you to

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

to be an engineer – do the necessary examination etc.

Be an active participant in the business of life. Have a clear picture in your heart of what you want from life. Remember, there can’t be a place for you in the future that you can’t picture.

By Lanre Kehinde

GEMINI; Happenings within your base of operation (both at home and at work) must be taken more seriously now, more especially as there’ll be Solar eclipse in Virgo tomorrow.

CANCER; Both your mood and element of luck may not be as friendly as you’ll like.. Matters of the heart may top priority lists of some of you. But mind you your mood will change tomorrow.

LEO; If financial success is your priority you’ll need to redouble your efforts today and tomorrow. Be protective of your possessions and personal family.

VIRGO; Placement of the Moon gives you the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the admiration of other people. You can make it a romantic day. Experiment with your personal ideas.

LIBRA; Here is your day when element of luck will work favourably for you. Secret lovers are in for an exciting and memorable day. Keep your secrets please.

SCORPIO; If you wait till tomorrow before you make an important move ,you may be disappointed , because tomorrow’s influence will bring you more challenges than you can rightly anticipate now. But greater success indicated for you today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

SAGITTARIUS; Very soon there’ll be important development along your career line. But today will offer you best of opportunity and good luck to achieve your desired results. Be more ambitious now CAPRICORN; Here is a loving day for those of you willing to give priority attention to matters of the heart.

Planning for both immediate and far future’ll not be out of place. And it’s good to think money.

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

What’s my social life?

Dear Joshua, I want your analysis and tell me about my social life, luck and the time I am likely to have my much desired break-through in life; kindly tell me about my social life and luck Akeem, Ilorin.

Dear Akeem, What you will find here-under will answer your questions. Social life will always bring you attention good luck envy opposition and possibly fame. Aquarius and Leo are two most active social Star signs. And you will notice that your natal Venus in Taurus, Moon in Aquarius and Uranus in Leo formed T-Square aspects putting Venus as point-focus, meaning that the best way for you not to be constant loser in the social world is to always study situation practically and know that your finance will not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from the setting before taking responsibility.

As for influential friends you will have them but never always take them for granted. Yes you can be a self made man but it is indicated that there will be times when both human and divine assistance will lift you up. You will have more to gain by your being spiritual .Saturday born people are favoured by BLACK and golden colours.

Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your 38th year on earth and will serve as a break-through year you can build great foundation of endless success on. But the same 48th year will bring love related challenges you must manage with all maturity or else it will linger till after your 50th year on earth.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

CDWR condemns Lagos assembly’s plan to ban strikes

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HE Campaign for Demo cratic and Workers’ Rights ( CDWR) has condemned in strong terms, plans by the Lagos state House of Assembly to criminalise labour strikes in the state.

THE CDWR quoted a member of the Lagos Assembly, Mr. Ajibayo Adeyeye who disclosed that a proposed bill is “to make strike an offence for any group of workers in the state to embark on industrial actions or take part in any of such strike actions declared by unions in the state.”

The non-governmental organisation in a letter to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji told the assembly “This is tragic and quite laughable that a House of Assembly in a civil rule could ever contemplate such a bill in the first instance when its mandates include expanding the vista of democratic rights of citizens as well as workers of which protests and strikes are features of their legitimate expressions of fundamental human rights”.

Edo NUT's doublespeak

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HE on going dispute be tween the Edo state government and the Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT) Edo state branch over a reassessment exercise for teachers in the state appears to be a case of " the more you look, the less you see". A source close to the union confirmed that the union leaders at the meeting with government agreed to the exercise. However, the same union leaders who attended this particular meeting urged the teachers to embark on strike over the issue.

"If we don't do that, the teachers will not respect us. After all, Oshiomhole is a known striker," he said. However a government house source said the state would go on with the exercise because the state cannot have poorly educated teachers in the schools.

He said: "Imagine, the governor went to a school with foreign guests and asked one of the students who is your teacher and a teacher replied "Na me be im teacher."

Why would those imparting knowledge not want to be assessed? The government official asked rhetorically. In Ekiti, a similar exercise was conducted and the NUT protested. All efforts to speak with the national president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Michael Alogba were abortive. Where is the Nigeria Union of Teachers in this?

of the applicant's employment by the first and second respondents through their agent, the third respondent, simply because she refused to succumb to the sexual harassment from the third respondent, the ratification of same by first, second, third respondents and the subsequent conduct of the respondents constitute a violation of the applicant's fundamental right to human dignity and freedom from discrimination as guaranteed by Section 34 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2, 5, 14, I5 and Nigerian women discussing gender discrimination at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Bamako, 19 of the African Charter on Mali, recently.

Human and People's Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, CAPA9, Laws of the Federation, 2004. *The termination of the applicant's employment by the first and second respondents through their agent, the third respondent, who had failed to desist from acts of assault and continuous This edition of Labour Vanguard concludes the story of Mrs. Ejieke Maduka, sexual harassment of the applicant which then an employee with Microsoft Nigeria Limited who was sacked over issues resulted in retaliatory acts and conducts bordering on sexual harassment. She filed a suit at the National Industrial Court by the third respondent and the ratifica(NIC) and the case was decided in her favour. The first part of this story was tion of same by the first and second republished last week. Here is the concluding part which states the presentations spondents and the subsequent conduct of of the employer, their witnesses, applicant and the verdict of the presiding all the respondents constitutes a violation judge. A story for the records, readers reactions could be sent to of the applicant's Fundamental Rights to Human Dignity and Freedom from Diskomolafe21@yahoo.com crimination as guaranteed by sections 34

BY INNOCENT ANABA tolerated and ratified the third and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) HE parties to the dispute are ap respondent's conduct which is against and Articles 2, 5, 14, 15 and 19 of the their policy of prohibition and nonplicant, Mrs. Ejieke Maduka against African Charter on Human and People's first respondent, Microsoft Nigeria tolerance of sexual harassment, gender Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act discrimination and retaliatory action.

I Limited, second respondent, Microsoft Cap A9, laws of Federation, 2004, hold that they are both in breach of their Corporation, third respondent, Mr. *The acts of the third respondent, an duty of care and protection to the appliEmmanuel Onyeje and the fourth agent of the first and second respondents, respondent, Mr. Adefolu Majekodunmi. cant and are vicariously liable for the acts incessantly handling the applicant's waist of sexual harassment carried out by the Having listened to the presentations of against her will and without her consent, third respondent within the apparent the parties, the trial judge at the National constitutes assault and trespass on the scope of authority they entrusted to him.

Industrial Court (NIC), Justice O. Obaseki person of the applicant. after listening to all the parties said: “I “The applicant has asked for an award * Each of the respondents (Ist, 2nd and of general damages and exemplary and find that the first respondent has not aggravated damages. Eximplemented the sexual harassment emplary damages are policy.

The applicant's fundamental awarded in very restricted “The second respondent on becoming rights have been violated. Her and enumerated situations aware launched an investigation in the pride, dignity and sense or self as a punitive measure United States of America. This is confirmed where malice or gross disby the third respondent's witness. There worth have been injured by the regard for the law is is no evidence that the applicant was actions of the respondents. I think proved. The applicant's invited or interviewed in respect of her an award of general damages fundamental rights have allegations when the investigation combeen violated.

Her pride, which she is entitled to will meet menced, neither is there any evidence of dignity and sense or self the outcome of the investigation. Indeed, the justice of this case worth have been injured the second respondent in its counterby the actions of the respondents. I think 3rd ) is to pay to the applicant the sum of affidavit deposed to the following facts: an award of general damages which she N13,225m as general damages for the that being domiciled in the United States is entitled to will meet the justice of this violation of the applicants rights as guarof America, and a separate legal entity, it case. She has deposed to the fact that anteed under Sections 34 and 42 of the is not in a position to investigate allegaher annual base pay is NI3. 225m.This Constitution of the Federal Republic of tions or meddle in matters involving the has not been denied by the respondents. Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles first respondent's employees; that it did Consequently, and on the authority of 2, 5, 14, 15 and 19 of the African Charter not direct the first respondent to terminate section 19 (d) of the National Industrial on Human and People's Rights (Ratificathe applicant's employment; that it did not Court act, 2006, I make an award of gen- tion and Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws violate the rights of the applicant and does eral damages in favour of the applicant of the Federation, 2004. not owe her a duty of care and protection as follows: each of the respondents is to * The first and second respondents are to because she is not its employee. pay the applicant, the sum of N13.225m, immediately implement the sexual harass“This I find to be completely at variance which represents her annual base pay ment policy to prevent a recurrence of a with its solicitors letter earlier reproduced for sexual harassment and a breach of hostile working environment, sexual haabove and is indicative that the second her fundamental human rights. respondent did not tell the truth on oath. rassment in the first respondent. The sums “I hereby, declare and make the are to be paid within 30 days.”

I find that by the inaction and silence of following orders, that the termination the first and second respondent, they both

Sexual harassment: NIC awards N40m against employer zEach respondent to pay applicant N13.225m

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BITS Bits

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—37

Savings Accounts of their workers registered under the scheme.

Statistics from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) also shows that Lagos State has continued to remit the highest figure”.

An earlier report from PenCom indicated no state in the SouthEast had complied with PRA 2004, only Lagos State fully complied with the act in the SouthWest. Kano and three other states in the North-West zone of the country are yet to key into scheme.

Transferred pension funds

OPENING: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right), cutting the ribbon to officially open the South-West Zonal Office of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) at Oduduwa Crescent, GRA Ikeja. With him are Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2nd right), his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi (middle), Acting Director General, National Pension Commission, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (2nd right) and the Deputy House of Representative Chairman Committee on Establishment, Pension and Training, Hon Abdullahi Khalid (right).

28 states yet to fully embrace contributory pension scheme ...Lagos pays N21billion

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

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EPORTS emanating from the Pension industry in Nigeria has revealed that 28 out of the 36 states are yet to fully embrace the contributory pension scheme, CPS, introduced over nine years ago following the Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2004.

Similarly, only six of 21 state governments that have enacted their laws on the CPS have remitted N26.17billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts, RSAs of their workers under the scheme.

These were some of the revelations at the recent pre-retirement seminar organised Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, in collaboration with the state’s approved Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, and insurance companies, for workers who will be retiring from the public service between January and June, 2014.

No fewer than 1,200 prospective retirees attended the seminar. There are already RSAs of 3,900 retirees, under the CPS with N21, 492,107,232.77 as at the end of December 2013.

Speaking at the event, DirectorGeneral, LASPEC, Mr. Rotimi Adekunle Hussein, said the seminar was designed to broaden the knowledge of the would-be retirees on how best to prepare for their retirement and access their retirement benefits under the CPS. According to him, "the seminar organized in collaboration with the State’s approved Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Insurance Companies, is designed to further

broaden the knowledge of the would-be retirees on how best to prepare for their retirement and access their retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)."

“The Pre-Retirement seminar programme is aimed at assisting the prospective retirees to adequately prepare for their physical, emotional and financial wellbeing in retirement as well as afford them the benefit of being in a better position and frame of mind to build a comfortable and rewarding life in retirement”.

He noted that the seminar would among other benefits, explain the procedures for process-

ing the end of service benefits; how to monitor and ensure that a retirement savings account is up to date with payment of the statutory monthly contributions and also expatiate on the two exit options of programmed withdrawal provided by the PFAs and the annuity for life option provided by the insurance companies.

The Director-General explained that other areas covered include, “healthy living in retirement and making good investment decisions”, stressing that, “it will also assist the prospective retirees to adequately prepare for their physical, emotional and financial well-being in retirement as well

as put them in a better position and frame of mind to build a comfortable and rewarding life in retirement.”

The Director-General expressed his Commission’s appreciation to Governor Fashola for the achievements recorded so far made in the administration of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the state.

According to Hussein, “Reports emanating from the industry recently show that 28 states in the country are yet to fully subscribe to the Contributory Pension Scheme while only six out of 21 state governments that had enacted their laws have remitted N26.17billion into the Retirement

The other states are Kebbi, Katsina and Sokoto. Though Kano state enacted its law on the CPS in 2006, it is yet to appoint Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, and has not transferred pension funds for management, while Katsina state drafted a bill on the CPS which was reviewed by the National Pension Commission, PenCom, and found to be largely in conformity with the PRA. It has however not translated the bill into law Although Zamfara state adopted the CPS, enacted its law in 2005 and registered 63,254 employees and remitted N534.4 million as employee portion of the contributions as at November, 2013. It is yet to commence remittance of the employer's contribution from the commencement of the scheme.

While speaking at the official opening of the commission’s North-West zonal office in Kano, Acting Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo AnohuAmazu, explained that whereas the Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, manage the funds, they have no access to same as custody was vested in the Pension Fund Custodians, PFCs, and the Commission ensured both parties adhere strictly to regulations governing the funds.

Employers phasing out pension, gratuity in downstream, PENGASSAN laments

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Ni geria, PENGASSAN, has raised an alarm on the gradual phasing out of pension and gratuity by indigenous employers in the downstream sector of the economy.

Lagos zonal Chairman of PENGASSAN, Revered Folorunsho Oginni, in a chat with Pension & You, lamented that downstream operators were increasingly casualising their workers without plans for life after work.

He specifically accused African Petroleum, Conoil among others of being in the vanguard of this new employment policy that guarantees no future for workers where neither pension nor gra-

tuity is assured.

Speaking on the state of pension in the oil industry, he said, “We have different organizations, when you talk of the downstream; it is not the same thing they are doing in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, or the upstream. There are Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs that handle the pensions. Prior to this time, there were Closed Pension Funds and that is what most of these International Oil Companies, IOCs, have, including NNPC. Most of the workers in the companies with the advent of the new contributory pension scheme, have migrated their money to the PFAs. The companies no longer handle pension contributions. It's the PFAs . Except when one is leaving like we have seen in the downstream

where companies like African Petroleum.... you cannot see any permanent staff. What they have now are casual workers. If you go to Conoil, it is the same thing. They do not even belong to unions anymore. Before they are given letters of employment, they are asked to sign an undertaking that they will not belong to union.” “As we speak, there are no unions in these companies but before some of them left, they were migrated to PFAs. So, it is PFAs that now administer their pension. As it is today, many employees, if they are sacked today, they go home with nothing because there are no more unions. Nobody negotiates gratuity for them. So, when they are sacked or they leave on their own, they cannot talk of gratuity, they cannot talk of severance pay and other terminal benefits.

This is what is happening in our nation, Nigeria.”

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

The rift between INNSON Group and GTB of note that the totality of a manager’s HAT an association like SEAMATA human nature, to a large extent with millions of members spread determines the approach of his across the entire country will find it organisation to issues, yet it is wrong expedient to intervene in the matter judgment for a bank to subject an between INNOSON GROUP, Chief industrialist of international repute, and Innocent Chukwuma, who is also their one of Nigeria’s highest employer of patron and Guarantee Trust Bank , GTB labour to indignity and dishonor.

Chief Innocent Chukwuma is a notable speaks volumes. as the manufacturer of the first made in First and foremost, it is worrisome that a bank will under any circumstances Nigeria vehicles and a patriotic condescend to using strong arm tactics Nigerian who has invested several against its customers. Bank officials all billions of Naira to set up many factories, over the world are notable for sterling which today are helping to create the character traits and customer elusive jobs for Nigerians.

Already, it is a well known fact that friendliness. the INNOSON Group has been It therefore becomes worrisome when partnering with the Federal and State we begin to read about banks engaging in extra judicial means to achieve an Governments to provide jobs for objective. It is even more disturbing if Nigerians and the bank should not be the objective is questionable, and one seen to undermine this laudable effort capable of denigrating our justice or pose a stumbling block for the system, or perpetration of obvious realisation. By its actions, GTB must be seen to be in the forefront of the campaign to reduce It is even more disturbing if the unemployment in our and this can objective is questionable, and one country, only be achieved capable of denigrating our justice when they positively big system, or perpetration of obvious support companies like INNOSON to create illegality jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. illegality.

In truth, corporate organisations The bank ought to clearly demonstrate including banks owe it a duty to operate that it is not on a mission to hamper the as responsible corporate citizens without economic progress of any section of inclination to religion, ethnicity or tribe. Nigeria, and that a level playing field It is therefore a betrayal of trust for any is provided for all businesses to thrive.

Moreover, it is in the interest of the bank or indeed corporate body to single out a person or group for any kind of bank not to be seen or perceived as a bank which transactions with customers maltreatment whatsoever.

In fact, the principle of corporate social cannot be relied upon. Since honesty, responsibility is a direct corollary to truth, due diligence and transparency society’s expectation from corporate are the hallmarks of the banking bodies. This is the reason why institution, any attempt to compromise responsible corporate bodies enshrine these standards will adversely affect the corporate social responsibility, ethics banking institution and create doubt and values in their overall corporate among the public.

This has the potential to jolt the policy. Adherence to this policy is nation’s recovering economy, and may strictly enforced in most companies all erode investors’ confidence in our over the globe.

For the banks, the stake is even higher economy.

By Boniface Nwufo considering the sensitive position they Abujabased trader. occupy, in terms of securing peoples’ money and other valuables, which is the life wire of any person, or organisation. From a v a i l a b l e information, the traders felt disenchanted that Dear Sir, GTB rather than rather slow pace. I visited adopt an approach of Imo State in January and ERMIT me to use your customer friendliness was privileged to drive widely read newspain handling the through the dusty road per to appeal to the Imo complaint of excess which construction had State Governor, Owelle charge on Chief over the years been stalled Rochas Anayo Okorocha Chukwuma’s account by unhealthy political difto use his good offices to with the bank; they ferences. Now that Owelle complete the construction resorted to other has taken the initiative to of the road linking Uzoagmeans.

This construct this all-important ba in Ikeduru Local Govapproach, to all road, I plead with him to ernment Area and Umuintents and purposes expedite action on it so that nahu Uratta in the Owerri is disheartening, it would be ready for use North LGA. regrettable especially before the next rainy seaThe road in question is in a democratic son in two months time. being handled by a local dispensation.

•Pastor Chinonye Uzocontractor but work apThough, it is worthy ma, Lagos Island pears to be going on at a

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Okorocha should complete Uzoagba-Uratta road

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Stella Oduah and Jonathan’s administration Why has Mr. President refused to remove Stella Oduah despite all the allegations against her? Allison Madueke is also enjoying liberty, despite all the crime she is allegedly perpetrating. And you think Jonathan will not be under pressure?

Nigerians will not give in until he is out of government.

Anonymous 08057118717

Defection of PDP Governors The MOU the APC national leadership signed with the defecting PDP governors that gave the newcomers control of the APC structures in their states was ill advised and should be urgently reviewed. It is political naivety to put 100 per cent

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Dear Sir,

civilian. So, he knows what he is saying. Nigerians should take him serious.

Anonymous writes in via email

Still on OBJ’s open letter to President Jonathan I felt bad when I read that some people are calling Olusegun Obasanjo hypocrite because of the letter he wrote to President Jonathan.

Rather than Nigerians speaking with one voice against Jonathan’s bad administration, they are making excuses. Who doesn’t know that there maladministration and corruption in in Nigeria?

Who doesn’t know that Jonathan is heating up the polity for his selfish interests? Must he

The MOU the APC national leadership signed with the defecting PDP governors that gave the newcomers control of the APC structures in their states was ill advised and should be urgently reviewed

trust in strangers just coming in while those they met on ground who should have been credited and rewarded for nurturing the party to that level in their respective states would now be onlookers. It is absurd and preposterous.

Peace 08167080569

Rivers state and PDP crisis I don’ t know what gave Patience Jonathan the effrontery to say she is higher than Governor Rotimi Amaechi in the political hierarchy in this country.

Why Amaechi should take orders from her? It is only in a country like Nigeria that such a thing can happen. Nobody voted for her; they voted only for her husband.

Alhaji Hassanu 07057789779 OBJ’s open letter to President Jonathan Obasanjo had passed through the path Jonathan is passing now. He had ruled this country thrice; once as a military head and twice as a

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rule for a third term? Is he sincere to say that he did not have a gentleman’s agreement that he will not run in 2015?

Joy 08077986629

Udu bridge in Delta Central As far back as the 1970’s, Ogbemudia built a very solid bridge across Udu River. This bridge has contributed significantly to the economic growth of the area.

Unfortunately,both previous and current Governments in the State have not done anything to either build a new bridge or renovate the current one. I am appealing to our amiable Governor to do something about the bridge to avoid possible disaster.

I am also appealing to elders of the Local Government including the Deputy Governor to put pressure on the State Government to rehabilitate the bridge.

Dedemo 2348033783758

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS The game of life is the game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deed and words return back to us sooner or later. Be kind to get kindness back in return.

Simon Adewale08056180103, Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 39

40— V anguard, THURSD AY, FEBRU ARY 13, 2014 Vanguard, THURSDA FEBRUARY

BYJAPHETALAKAM

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HE emergence of the secondary art market otherwise known as art auction in Nigeria has generated a lot of debate among stakeholders in the industry. While many see it as a welcome development that has somehow changed the fortunes of many artists, some still see it as another conduit pipe for sapping the labour of the artists.

This was the topic that brought together major stakeholders from the Nigerian visual arts to brainstorm on the challenges of the rapid growing secondary art market. The lecture which was the first OYASAF lecture of the year was put together by Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation, OYASAF, in line with its mission of promoting art in the country.

The well attended lecture held in Lagos was delivered by Prof. Ozioma Onuzulike, Ceramic, Art History and Art Criticism lecturer of University of Nigeria Nsukka.

In the lecture tagged, “Art Auctions in Nigeria: Ladders of Progress or Shots in the Artists’ Feet?” the ceramic lecturer took a critical look at the locally-organised auctions, challenging among other things the prevailing notions of progress.

Ozioma who told the audience that,“My goal is to provoke healthy debates and productive dialogues around the presence or absence of credible and sustainable art auctioneering structures in the country in a manner that helps us to critically review their low and high points.” actually lived to his words as the lecture gener-

A typical art auction going on in Nigeria

OYASAF lecture opens more debate on state of art auctions ated a lot of debate at the end.

Relying on a review of reports and debates on the history, structures and operations of art auctions in Nigeria, the lecturer examined the current euphoria surrounding the generally held point of view that Nigerian art auctions have provided ladders of professional and economic progress in the country’s visual art sector by raising the level of art appreciation/awareness in the country and energising the local and international art markets in a phenomenal manner.

He told the audience that

a preview of past art auctions reveals that Nigeria art auctions have made silent progress and there has been a steady growth

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Mission of promoting art

Apart from the exciting prices being recorded at the auctions, it has also brought greater interest and attention to Nigerian contemporary art locally and internationally

and appreciable impact in the visual art sector, locally and internationally. Apart from the exciting prices being recorded at the auctions, it has also brought greater interest and attention to

Johnny Walker to commence Season 1 of Freestyle TV show

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EDIA personality Johnny Walker, also known as Johnny Jam Jam is set to bring to TV and Online screens, a new concept in music freestyles and lyrics .

John Walker who started his career as a music and media publisher of the Ascology Company before he ventured into social media affiliations such as the famous Nigeria News Desk on twitter, disclosed that, he is trying to bring to Nigerians, Africans and of course the global entertainment industry, a new concept in music which allows artist to be entirely free in communicating with their fans through the delivery of their lyrics.

He stated that, the culture of free styling in music is not new, but I’m creating something fans can relate with, enjoy, appreciate and respect individual performing artists for.

According to him, episodes from the Johnny Jam Jam series will be aired on sev-

Nigerian contemporary art locally and internationally which in turn led to the organisation of African art auctions in New

eral Nigerian TV stations as well gather attention on several social media blogs and websites.

Asked about the possibility for upcoming artists to come on the show, he said “100% yes, Of course, there’ll be terms, there’ll be restrictions but delivery is a major factor and once we believe you’ve got that, well hit us up on Twitter or something and let’s get it started”Shooting for Season 1 of the Johnny Jam Jam series is set to commence in few weeks with artists such as Olamide, Vector, Reminisce, Phyno, Cartiar, Buckwylla, Yung6ix, Terry Da Rapman, Ice Berg Slim, and others who will showcase their freestyle talents and lyrics delivery to an awaiting audience of mostly hip-hop fans.

Public Relations Manager for Ascology, Jerry Kabiri also hinted that plans are on the way to bring international artists such as Sarkodie, Wale, Jadakiss, Twista, Joe Budden, Tyler the Creator among many others on Season 1 of the Jam Jam series.

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York in 2010 by Bonhams and Phillips auction houses.

But on the other side, he however raised some topical issues that hinges on structures that are in place to create and sustain credible art auctions as against what can be described as ‘elitist sale-spots’ in Nigeria? Such issues include, lack of documentation by artists, dearth of art historians and professional valuers for art auction houses, art forgeries or fakers, lack of transparency transparency and confidence on the part of the auction houses on the professional specialization and pedigree, as well as interests, of those who decide the fate of artists there, among others. Pointing out that the absence of such falls short of standard practice.

The audience while react ing to the lecture though agreed on some of the issues raised but noted that given the relative newness of art auctions in the local art scene, the key-players in the business deserve commendation and not condemnation. They were of the view that most of the criticisms is based on

the fact that art auction is relatively new in Nigeria so there is need for patience as it will definitely improve.

On the issue of documen tation, Ademola Azeez agreed with the lecture and said that the reason is because the attention of professionals is focused mostly on production and as long as that is concerned other areas will suffer.

Kavitta Chellarams, founder of Arthouse Contemporary Limited, organisers of most of the auctions in Nigeria who saw some of the criticisms as a result of the fact that art auction is relatively new in Nigeria, however said that forgery is everywhere and that even old and reputable auction homes in the west are not exempted.

Kridz Ikwuemezie of Fine and Applied Arts of UNN said that there are enough art critics and historians in the country. Oliver Enwonwu, SNA president said that there has always been cases in the society and that the body does not condone forgery but that efforts to put an end to it is always frustrated by the Nigerian law enforcement agencies. While Filani Kunle, on his part warned against turning art into a commodity.

For the elated OYASAF founder, Yemisi Shyllon, “it was indeed an intellectual discussion, a critique of what has been happening in the art auction. So it is left for all to go home and work on it.”

Vanguard, THURSD AY, FEBRU ARY 13, 2014 THURSDA FEBRUARY

I always wanted to record moments of beauty, moments of knowledge. Art is life. Without art, life would be frozen.”

The icon has in over 30 solo and group exhibitions around the world, showed the diversity of his themes but his last two exhibitions, Networks and Voids held at Omenka Gallery, Lagos in October and Voyage Retour, at the Federal Government Press building,also in Lagos, in December, seemed to have summarised the photographer’s adventurous lens as a parting gift to his admirers.

The life and times of Pa J.D.Okhai Ojeikere

BY JAPHET ALAKAM & PRISCA SAM-DURU

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IGERIA’s art communi ty and indeed, Africa, were thrown into mourning when the nation's first Photographer and one of Africa's most prominent photographers, JD ‘Okhai Ojeikere, was announced dead on Sunday in Lagos, after a brief illness.

The family of the late photography icon, who transversed all over the world with his magic lens, best known for his work with unique African hairstyles, confirmed his passing at the age of 83.

The veteran portrait and documentary photographer, J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere who had two exhibitions within two months period last year in Lagos, was best known for his series of about 1,000 black and white photos of African hairstyles.

A selection of the works were shown at the Venice Biennale last year as well as earlier in 2007, and in many galleries and museums.

tographer for the Western Nigerian Broadcasting Services, and in 1963, moved to Lagos.

He started working on his Hairstyle series in the late 1960s after he joined the Nigerian Arts Council and began documenting the country’s culture.

In 1967, as a staff of Nigerian Arts Council, and during their festival the following year, he began to take series of photographs dedicated to Nigerian culture. “This body of work, now consisting of thousands of images, has become a unique anthropological, ethnographic, and documentary national treasure.”

Most African photographers of his generation only worked on commission; this project, unique in its genre, flourished without any commercial support. The Hairstyle series, which consists of close to a thousand photographs, is the largest and the most thorough segment of Ojeikere’s archive.

“To watch a ‘hair artist’ going through his precise ges-

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Parting gift to admirers

*J.D. Okhai Ojeikere, finally said bye to his lens

tures, like an artist making a sculpture, is fascinating. Hairstyles are an art form,” Ojeikere has commented.

“He photographs hairstyles every day in the street, in offices, at parties. He records each subject systematically: from the rear, sometimes in profile, and occasionally head-on. Those

from the rear are almost abstract and best reveal the sculptural aspect of the hairstyles. For Ojeikere, this is a never ending project as hairstyles evolve with fashion: “All these hairstyles are ephemeral. I want my photographs to be noteworthy traces of them.

At the Voyage Retour, Ojeikere’s work was described by the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Michael Derus, as the star presentation. Apart from the fact that his works on display at the event were “never seen before in public space anywhere in the world,” the exhibition also provided a 30 minutes video documentary fresh from the cutting room as produced by Tam Fiofori. It captured the photographer’s over 50 years career in brief.

Though the exhibitions featured other artists, the contents, thematically, were vintage Ojeikere.

In the two-man show, Networks and Voids that featured American painter Gary Stephens, the theme was headdress. Indeed, one of the most pronounced themes of Ojeikere is lady’s headdress, particularly the gele and woven African native hairstyles.

Galleries and museums Ojeikere was born in Western Nigeria in 1930 and began taking pictures when he was 20 years old. He was trained by a local photographer, Albert Anieke in Abakaliki, Enugu.

Pa Ojeikere will be remem bered as a man who pursued a future in photography, which was out of the ordinary for people in Nigeria, especially those in his village when cameras were not of high demand and were of low priority as they were considered a luxury. However, ‘Okhai Ojeikere was passionate about photography and in 1950, bought a modest Brownie D camera without flash, and had a friend teach him the fundamentals of photography.

In 1954 he began working as a darkroom assistant in the photographic department of Ibadan’s Ministry of Information. Five years later, shortly after Nigeria gained independence, he became a pho-

2014 Vision of the Child competition kicks off PRISCA SAM-DURU

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REPARATIONS have been concluded for the 3rd edition of “Vision of the Child” which is being organised by the Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF) in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Education.

The Vision of the Child, a component of the yearly Lagos Black Heritage Festival (LBHF) that focuses on the individual vision and artistic inclinations of children in Lagos State, this year, features a painting competition and literary arts themed “The Rule of Law and the Law of Impunity”.

The Festival holds from April 14 through 21 on Lagos Island and Badagry.

Designed as an interactive test to stretch youthful creativity even more than in previous editions, instead of the uni-disciplinary interpretation of the given theme, participants will be afforded the opportunity to express their vision in both Painting and the Literary Arts.

This year, the competition begins with the literary section which features poem, essay or short story of 300 to 500 words, on the theme while invitation to the festival’s base, Freedom Park, Lagos will be based on those who scale through this first hurdle. “They would be provided with brushes, paint and easel and set to illustrate their literary presentation in the complementary

medium of Painting.”

According to the organisers of the yearly event, “this is the premiere edition of what can be regarded as a mini Artistic Decathlon, tailored to the capabilities of the child. The Festival already envisages an even more intensive contest, with a disciplinary repertory whose menu will change from edition to edition in the future.”

LBHF invites parents, participating schools and their teachers to the educating programme as Prizes will be presented to the winners by Diamond Bank – co-sponsors of the competition with the Lagos State Government.

As part of the preparation, an exhibition of the paintings from last year’s theme, “The Thousand Faces of Corruption”, is set to tour selected sites in Nigeria. he competition is open to children between 9 to 12 years, in any public or private primary or secondary schools in Lagos State while registration opens from 10th of February 2014 and closes on the 14th of March 2014. The registration forms can be obtained online from the Black Heritage’s website or through the Festival’s office at the Freedom Park, Lagos.

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42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Dilemma of 11 defecting senators:

Merry go round N

O doubt, the Senate President, David Mark, has temporarily won the battle against the 11 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party senators.

The senators have since January 20, given him a letter on their defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. But Mark last Tuesday declared that he would not read the letter until the case on the issue pending in the court of law was dispensed of.

The senators are now forced to continue sitting in the ranks of the PDP in the Senate even though they are now registered and card carrying members of the APC. They had earlier threatened to bluff their way through by moving on their own to sit in the seats reserved for the APC. However, they were forced to have a rethink when they got word that the Senate President would declare their seats vacant should they take the law into their hands with that effort.

Faced with that threat, they quickly backtracked.

Defection letter By still sitting with the PDP senators in the Senate chamber following non reading of their defection letter by the presiding officer of the Red Chamber as constitutionally required, despite their possession of their new party’s membership cards, therefore means that they have not defected and any contribution (s) made on the floor of the Senate by the affected senators would be counted on the side of their estranged party. So in essence, they are PDP senators in the chamber and APC senators outside.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South, confirmed this at a media briefing when he said: “As far as the issue of the 11 senators are concerned, we are still seeing them as one; they are in the PDP and not the APC.” Those who had thronged the

Senate Chamber before the commencement of the day’s sitting last Tuesday, knew that trouble was lurking even before the commencement of sitting.

The suspicion emanated from the fact that apart from the unusually early and complete attendance of all APC senators for the day’s plenary, they were the only senators seen fully seated while PDP senators were either still outside the chamber or yet to arrive the premises of the National Assembly. The 11 defecting senators were seen quietly and uncomfortably seated on their seats on the PDP side of the chamber.

What put fear in the minds of observers most was that the APC senators were all seen in an unusual manner, putting their heads together while discussing in hush tones.

The fears were confirmed when the opposition senators stood up to acknowledge the entry of the minority leader, Senator George Akume, but chose not to welcome the Senate President when he entered the chamber.

Those on the opposition side concentrated on their hush discussion.

Noticing that all was not well, Senator Ayogu Eze, PDP, Enugu North, crossed over to the side of the APC senators and teased: “What is happening to you people, you won’t even look and greet your leaders?”

And sensing too, that certain

,

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

a point of order, citing Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rule that deals with privilege.

Standing on this, he reminded the Senate President that they have since left the PDP to join APC, having earlier submitted letter to that effect and as such, requested that the Senate President read their letter of defection which he disclosed, was sent to the Senate President on January 20, 2014.

But relying on Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 as amended, the Senate President, David Mark, declared that their defection was null and void and of no effect until a court of law says otherwise, given that the affected issue was pending in court.

Pending in court Seeing that they had been blocked from realising their plans, they resorted to Plan B, by verbally and individually announcing their defections to the APC, while still citing Order 14, which deals with privilege of senators. First to speak was Senator Bukola Saraki, Kwara Central, Abdullahi Adamu,Nasarawa West, Aisha Alhassan, Taraba North, Magnus Abe, Rivers South East, and Wilson Ake, Rivers West in that order. But the Senate President remained defiant and again, ruled all of them out of order, while still citing the pending court case

What put fear in the minds of observers most was that the APC senators were all seen in an unusual manner, putting their heads together while discussing in hush tones

things were wrong, Mark, having waited on his seat for about 20 minutes for the PDP senators to increase in attendance, possibly to contend any trouble from those in the opposition, called for a close door session which was the third time within one week.

The session ended in just 15 minutes due to irreconcilable differences. As they hurriedly reconvened the plenary, to take some items slated for treatment on the day, Senator Bukola Saraki, Kwara Central, raised

•Mark: Bared his fangs

,

as his sole reason. He then referred them to the Senate Order 53(5) which reads: “reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might in the opinion of the President of the Senate prejudice the interest of the parties thereto.” Even when Senators Akume and Anthony Adeniyi tried to convince the Senate President that the case in court was an injunction stopping the Senate from declaring vacant seats of the affected senators and not stopping them from

•Saraki: Leader of the G11 defecting to the APC, yet, Mark remained adamant.

Akume raised Order 14 which reads: “Any Senator may rise at any time to speak upon a matter of privilege suddenly arising, and he shall be prepared to move, without notice, a motion declaring that a contempt or breach of privilege has been committed, or referring the matter to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, but if the matter is raised in Committee of the Whole Senate, the Chairman shall leave the Chair and report progress.”

After citing this Order, Akume went further to say, “this is a legislative house and privileges are guaranteed by law. This is an issue that has dragged on for so long. We cannot stop people

from associating.

By the power conferred on me as the Minority Leader, I have the right to speak on behalf of my p e o p l e .

Therefore, I move that the Senate President should read the letter now. I so move.”

But Mark again replied Akume, saying, “tell me your privilege that is being breached and I will rule on it. I do not want to shut you out, but there shall be no further reference made on it”. He then ruled him (Akume) out of order, declaring that by the power conferred on him by Order 14 which Akume referred to, he was not satisfied by his explanation. One of the senators, Magnus Abe, Rivers South, who spoke after the drama at the Senate chamber, begged for a political solution to the issue. “We still believe that this is a problem that has a political solution and what we need to do as senators under our leadership is to look for a solution that will satisfy the desires of individual senators, satisfy the desire of the people of this country, to see greater democracy satisfy the wish of the constitution to allow free association of persons and I think the challenge before the senate is to look for that solution so we are still working together."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—43

OSUN GUBER FACE OFF: No, his govt is all Aregbesola has lived up propaganda — Odeyemi to expectation — Dare DR Adetunji Dare is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress , APC, in Osun State. Dr Dare, who is also the Chief Medical Director of Hope Medical Centre in Ila Orangun, Osun state, in this interview, gives a thumb up to the Aregbesola administration for transforming the state.

Excerpts: STORIES BY DAPO AKINREFON HAT is your opinion on the school reclassification policy in Osun State?

I sincerely believe that the vilification of the governor as a result of his decision is unfair. When he came on board, what he met on ground was nothing to write home about- there was no sense of direction. As a matter of fact, the reclassification is to rejuvenate the education sector in the state.

We have a system that does not have a sense of direction and does not have a policy template. Now that •Dare: Aregbesola is doing well we have seen a governor that is focused, I think those criticizing him are doing area. that out of ignorance.

Are you saying that it is an avenue But don't you think it is contributing to generate funds for the state? to the confusion in the education sector No, but to create employment for of the state? people.

As a matter of fact, some of us believe By building an interdenominational that whether you are a Christian or you centre? are a Muslim, the bottom line is, 'are Yes. If you go for a crusade, you will you getting the right kind of education?' not sleep on the ground because there Are you being given what you should will be satellite villages around there. get from the government? In any case, That is a way of generating good education does not have to be employment for people. provided by any religion.

Why should the people of Osun state vote for Aregbesola for a second term Government because the argument by the opposition is that he has performed policies below expectation?

I can say it without mincing words People are only crying wolf where there is none. I believe that religion that since the inception of Osun State, should not be brought into government the only regime that can be compared policies. I quite know that the state with this one is that of Chief Bisi governor does not have it in mind to Akamde in terms of provision of dividends of democracy. rubbish any religion.

He has performed above board in Governor Aregbesola has also received hard knocks over his plans to every facet of the state. The construct an interdenominational achievements are so overwhelming. worship centre. What is your opinion Some of us even wonder what the opposition will use to campaign on this?

The governor told everybody when he because there is no facet that has not was campaigning that he was going to been touched by him.

Do you see INEC conducting a free run an unusual government and most and fair election in the state? of the things we are witnessing in Osun I think INEC has no choice. Even if State are very unusual. They are unusual on a positive note. Most of these INEC does not want to conduct free criticisms are based on lack of what is and fair elections, we are not going to support it. going on.

Is your party not worried over the What the government ought to have done to minimize this vilification is to possible use of federal might during sensitize the people on the advantages the polls?

I doubt if there is a federal might that are accruable to this wonderful and because the umbrella is already torn. commendable innovation.

One thing that we lack in the state is We are not afraid of any federal might money, but not until the advent of this because Nigerians are wiser now. I government, previous governments did only pray that Jega will not allow not take it upon themselves to generate himself to be used in this visionless funds for the state. If you have that agenda.

In Osun State, I want to assure you interdenominational centre, it will that nothing will scare us. We are going definitely enhance the economy of that to vote and wait until the votes are counted.

PRINCE Diran Odeyemi is the publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun state. In this interview, he takes a swipe at the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the reclassification of schools in the state and the planned construction of an interdenominational worship centre. Excerpts:

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•Odeyemi: Aregbesola is propaganda

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HAT is your party’s position on the decision by the state governor to reclassify schools in the state?

At the beginning of Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration, he did declare to people of the state that he was going to run an unusual government. When he said that, people felt the unusual aspect was going to be to the benefit of Osun people.

Unfortunately, when he started the programmes, we discovered that his unusual programmes were in the negative. We want to believe that Aregbesola is not being original. There is no state where this reclassification is being done. He has destroyed the educational system in Osun State by taking such steps.

This is uncalled for because already, religious bodies have kicked against his actions. But we have a governor who does not listen. Aregbesola’s government is a government of propaganda. But we hope that all this will come to an end when the PDP wins the August elections.

What is your view on the construction of an interdenominational worship centre by the state government?

What is the business of government in building churches? It is only a confused government that will embark on this kind of project. Here is a governor who believes that because we have Christmas Day for Christians and a public holiday for the Muslims, he decided to create a public holiday for the traditionalists.

Every October 20 of each year has been dedicated to them as public holiday. Is this what he is supposed to spend government funds on? He has no business embarking on such a project.

I see that as a kind of confusion for somebody who is not ready to govern the state. That is why we are saying his term must expire soon because the people of Osun State are tired of him.

What will your party do differently from what Aregbesola is doing?

It is an open secret that Aregbesola lived most of his life in Lagos but that is not to say that he is not qualified to be the governor of the state. He is a stranger and

he has not been able to know the programmes he should embark on in the state.

The PDP knows what the people of the state need. What we are going to do differently will be to revamp the agricultural sector, we also intend to revamp the education and health sectors and at the same time, make Osun State a tourist attraction. As a matter of fact, we are embarking on a five point cardinal programme, which we believe that with sincerity and vision, we are going to execute as a political party.

Is it true that your party has adopted a consensus candidate for the governorship election?

That is not true. We have Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Hon Oluwole Oke and Senator Iyiola Omisore. There is nowhere you can have peace in any political party all the time, but what matters in politics is how to manage the crisis.

Even if one hundred people are contesting for a position, only one of them will emerge. People who want to defect will move but people will also come in, that is politics.

Management of crisis In fact, managing crisis is also part of politics but as far as we are concerned, we do not envisage that anybody will join any other camp.

But is the former governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, still with the PDP? I personally believe that he is still with PDP in the state. He has not publicly declared that he is now with the APC and in as much as he has not done that, he is still part of us. It will be to the detriment of the PDP to lose someone like that.

So I want to believe that he is still part of us but what is happening is an internal problem but we believe that with the coming in of a new national chairman, all these will be resolved.

How optimistic are you that the PDP will emerge victorious in the coming governorship election?

You see, politics is very dynamic because it is about your manifesto and wooing people. The time has gone when ballot boxes are snatched, but this is an election where peoples' votes will count. Politicians must appeal to the electorate and that is going to be our style.

We are directing our energy towards ensuring that we win this election at the polling booths. We will tell the people what we can do and not what Aregbesola has not done. We, in the PDP, will ensure we appeal to the people of Osun State to cast their votes for us.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Group wants FUPRE council dissolved over non appointment of principal officers

BY FESTUS AHON

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G H E L L I — Coalition of Urhobo Youth Organization, CUYO, yesterday, called for the dissolution of the governing council of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta State, over its alleged reluctance to appoint principal officers for the institution.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after a meeting of CUYO in Ughelli, spokesman of the group, Mr. Stephen Ohwokirerhuo, alleged that since the institution advertised for the positions, the governing council had considered no one qualified to occupy the positions of the Registrar, Bursar and Librarian for selfish interest.

“We are aware that the governing council headed

by Senator Nimi-Brigha Amange is grooming somebody, who is expected to be promoted in April this year to the position of a Deputy Registrar in one of the federal universities in the country, so that they can advertise again to enable him apply for the position.

“The position of a bursar was also advertised and when people with over 10 years experience as Deputy Bursars in Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities applied, the governing council said they are not qualified.''

House Majority Leader, Akande mobilises women for 2015 polls

BY SONI DANIEL

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BUJA—Not satisfied that women have not been adequately represented in both elective and appointive positions in Nigeria, Leader of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, is mobilising women across the country to strategise on how to assert themselves more on the political terrain.

The House Leader told journalists in Abuja that a conference, which is being organised by her office, seeks to bring women across the country irrespective of their political parties and leanings together with a view to extracting the needed

commitment from the political leaders for the women.

Adeola-Akande said it was appalling for women’s participation in the National Assembly to drop to a paltry 32 out of the 469-member legislature, depicting a downward trend of only seven percent representation of women in Nigeria.

She said her office would seek to link up with the work by all the stakeholders for a robust conference that would harness and review initiatives, commitments and strategies towards the 2015 general elections and beyond.

On the aim of the conference, Adeola-Akande said it would galvanise a pool of stakeholder

Delta 2015: Forum backs Ugbomah for guber race

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political pressure group, Delta Vision 2015, has thrown its weight behind the governorship ambition of the Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Chief Omordi Ugbomah to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.

In a communiqué at a meeting of the group in Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state, the forum’s leader of the Ndokwa East legislative arm, Mr Victor Mbanugo and and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the area, Nnamdi Osadebe, said that after due consultations and considerations of all the governorship aspirants from Delta North senatorial district, the Ndokwa East Chapter of Delta Vision 2015, has resolved to call on Ugbomah to join the governorship race.

It urged him to run for the position because of “his antecedents, pedigree and wealth of experience both in

private and public endeavours.”

The forum described Ugbomah as a “committed and loyal party man, who has served his party, the PDP, faithfully and coordinated the party in Ndokwa council to several electoral victories.”

intervention and strategies towards greater electoral victory for women in 2015 and assess and agree on practical political interventions for increasing the role of women in political parties.

She added that the conference, slated for next week in Abuja, would also revisit political parties’

Utuama highlights late Omotola’s contributions to Land law

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NUGU—Delta State deputy governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama, SAN, has highlighted the contributions of the late Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Jelili Omotola, describing him as exceptional.

Omotola's commitment and interest in the research and teaching of Property Law, he said, was “unparalleled.”

Utuama spoke at the public presentation of the book, ABC of Contemporary Land Law in Nigeria, written by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, in Enugu.

Utuama, who was the

Bomadi women rally support for Mutu

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UNDREDS of women thronged the Bomadi/ Oboro Road, Delta State, yesterday, asking Mr. Nicholas Mutu, member Representing Bomadi/Patani federal constituency in the House of Representatives to re-contest the seat in 2015, so as to concluded his on-going transformation of the constituency.

Mrs. Patricia Akpe, President of the women group, under the aegis of Progressive Ladies of Bomadi, PLB, told the women that the call for Mutu to continue in office became necessary following the limited time he has

to actualise his dreams.

Akpe said Mutu’s antecedents since he was elected clearly shows that he was a legislator with a proven character, urging him to heed their clarion call and declare his ambition, noting that all those aspiring to contest the constituency seat in 2015 have woefully failed their representatives and do not have the pedigree for the office.

Contributing, Mrs. Esther Tekeme, Secretary of PLB, pledged that the group would mobilise market women, youth groups and the elderly on the need to vote for Mutu.

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

statutory gender provisions and generate practical commitments to actualise the provisions.

“Beyond that, the gathering is targeted at encouraging more women to participate in the 2015 general elections by registering as members of political parties and contesting as candidates, so as to actualise the 35 percent Affirmation Action for Nigerian women,” she added.

chairman of the occasion, noted that Justice Umezulike and himself were beneficiaries of Prof. Omotola’s knowledge in the subject, which gave him immense insight into Property Law during his academic sojourn at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

He noted that the late Prof.

Omotola was unequalled as a doctrinal researcher and teacher.

He said, “Prof. Omotola’s seminal writing on the Land Use Act remains of immense assistance to members of the legal profession, like lawyers who argue before the courts, and this helps law students and bureaucrats in understanding its policy and principles. His works remain most authoritatively outstanding, cited and relied upon by the very best in the legal profession.”

He commended Justice Umezulike for dedicating his work to Prof. Omotola and bringing the memory of the legendary legal scholar back into reckoning.

Present at the event were Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, represented by his Commissioner for Justice, Anthony Ani, the Chief Judges of Benue, Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi states, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President Ken Nnamani and others.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (nwamad@yahoo.com)

On House query to Okonjo-Iweala over N7.1trn debt

One thing we keep seeing is the huge allowances and emolument paid the National Assembly members for doing almost nothing. Cutting their emolument will be a right step. Why won’t Nigeria owe N7.1trillion debt with such allowances? Ms Mbuko Stephanie - Student

The commitment of the Finance Minister to national transformation can't be questioned. Her policies on issues since the beginning of our democracy has been what is helping the country against those with selfish interest in politics. Dayo Aliu - Student

NASS members never consider their salaries and allowances as part of the waste, but keep looking for whom to antagonize because the law has permitted them to do so.

I am sure that this is another form of attack.

Mr. Mustapha - Alaro, Furniture maker

Probably, the House was annoyed with Ngozi for stating in her budget speech that the recurrent expenditure on running the legislative is high. They do not want anyone to say the truth, so they rather attack her at every little opportunity. Ms. Adaobi Adigwe - Businesswoman

Madam Ngozi, be careful, so that your reputation will not sink.

There are people you can’t afford to work for and with. Have you asked yourself why Barack Obama has refused to come to Nigeria?

Mrs Adeola Olanrewaju - Teacher

Government should get a lecturer on Economics to be holding evening classes on macro and micro Economics for the House of Reps members. These reps know that the Finance Minister is someone that will not succumb to their intimidation. Ms. Dike Chidinma- Student

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—45

NSIA set up to save for future generations, says MD

Azigbo moves political activities to Okpe LG

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— MANAGING Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, has said that the institution was set up to save for the future generations of the country.

Speaking at the third Founders Day lecture of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Orji said that the NSIA will transform into a world class fund manager, adding that it was created by an Act of the National Assembly and signed into law by the President in 2011.

He said funds of the NSIA come from the “excess crude oil revenue above the budget amount. The National Assembly approved an initial f $1 billion for the establishment, while subsequent funds will come from the excess crude oil revenue.”

He added that the NSIA will focus on roads, rail, aviation, power, water resources, affordable housing, agriculture and healthcare.

There are many other sectors as well that we are looking at, but our investments will be driven by the assets under management.”

Delta community decries poor state of infrastructure in school

VISIT: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right), presenting a souvenir to Rear Admiral Harry Ngonadi, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, during a courtesy call at the governor's office, Uyo.

Appoint Edo son as Oghiadomhe’s replacement, Edebiri urges Jonathan

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE Esogban of Benin Kingdom and Chairman of the Benin Forum, an umbrella body of the Binis, Chief David Edebiri, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint an Edo man to replace the sacked Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, saying that Edo State has been marginalised in terms of appointments in Jonathan's presidency.

He said Oghiadohme's sack did not come to him as a surprise because the former Chief of Staff failed to utilise his position in favour of his people, adding that the President must ensure that

GHELLI—THE people of EkrerhavwenAgbarho, in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, have decried the dilapidated state of the Erhavwen Primary School, Ekrerhavwen, calling on the state government to take urgent steps to provide conducive learning environment for the pupils.

Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, one of the community leaders, Mr. Samson Udoma, said that the primary school was yearning for government attention, lamenting that the school has “no single good building.”

said: “As a person, I have nothing to regret about the exit of Oghiadomhe as Chief of Staff to the President because for the whole period he spent in the Presidency, Edo people did not have the feeling that their son was occupying such an important position.

“While I wish him luck in his future endeavour, I call on President Jonathan to ensure that whoever replaces Oghiadomhe comes from Edo State. If that is not done, it will be taken that the Federal Government does not count Edo State as one of the areas it should carter for.”

2015: Delta North should fight, not beg for gov —Ikpo

BY FESTUS AHON

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another Edo State son or daughter was appointed as replacement.

This came as the people of Fugar, in Etsako Central Local Government Area of the state, where Oghiadomhe hails from, warned the former COS to forget about his senatorial ambition “because we are backing Senator Domingo Obende, who is from Akoko Edo as he has performed and not Oghiadohme, who never did anything for us in Fugar,” Akfenokhai Kaseem, spokesman of Fugar community told Vanguard, yesterday.

However, Chief Edebiri

BY EMMA AMAIZE

L

AGOS—SECOND Republic Senator, Obi Nosike Ikpo, yesterday, said that Delta North senatorial district should fight to get the governorship position of the state in 2015 and not beg the other senatorial districts, Central and South, to allow it produce the governor.

Speaking to Vanguard on phone, he said: “I am surprised that some groups from Delta North are going to leaders in the Central and South senatorial districts to beg them to allow the North (Anioma) to produce the governor in 2015.

“Politically, I do not see the possibility of the leaders of Central and South senatorial districts allowing the North to produce the gover-

nor in 2015. Governorship aspirants from Delta North have to indicate interest for the position, campaign and fight for it like others. They have to move round the state for people to know them and assess if they are serious.

“I am not aware of any agreement on zoning of governorship to Delta North in 2015, but it is the general belief that since Central had ruled for eight years and the South is about finishing two terms of eight years, it is the turn of the North. Nevertheless, nobody allows anybody to take over power. Whoever wants power must fights for it.

“The North supported the

South in 2007 and 2011with the belief that it will get the support of their brothers in the South and Central in 2015, but like I said, the people have to battle for it. Former governor, Chief James Ibori, contested for it in 1999, nobody gave him the chance to become governor, he strongly fought for it.

The late Dr. Joshua Enueme from the North challenged him in 2003.

“In 2007, the incumbent, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan also fought for it, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and others from the North senatorial district contested against him. He (Uduaghan) came to me and I told him that I was supporting a Delta North candidate, but if he won the primaries, I would support him."

APELE—FORMER member of the House of Representatives, under the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, Mr. Edesiri Azigbo, has been welcomed to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at his home town in Ojedi, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

The event had in attendance, a crowd of party faithful, including the National Chairman of Urhobo Political Congress, UPC, and former Secretary to the State Government, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, his deputy at UPC and Delta State Chairman on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Tom Amioku, PDP stalwart Elegbete Moses Odibo, former House of Representatives member representing Sapele constituency, Joyce Overa and PDP Chairman in Okpe council, Chief Cosmos Ighoraye.

Addressing the crowd, Azigbo said he remains a staunch PDP member and that he has decided to move his political activities from Sapele Local Government Area to his home Okpe council in accordance with the directive of the National Chairman of the party as well as the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to the effect that all party leaders should go and deliver their units, wards and local governments to the party at subsequent elections.

Umudi hosts Ekakpamre PDP Exco

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S part of his drive to woo aggrieved members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, back to the party, prominent political leader of the party in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Simon Umudi, yesterday, hosted his Ekakpamre unit and ward leaders in his country home, Ekakpamre.

Addressing members, Umudi thanked the unit executive, ward executive and leaders of the party who were present, saying that their roles during the Delta Central senatorial bye-election which PDP won landslide was unquantifiable.

He said “I appreciate your struggle towards the victory of PDP during the Delta Central senatorial election."

46 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

NDDC promises quality education in Niger Delta

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — THE management of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reiterated its determination to improve the quality of education in the nation’s Niger Delta.

Managing Director of NDDC, Sir Bassey Abia, stated this while commissioning the commission’s 174-room prototype hostel constructed in Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO. Abia disclosed that already, the commission had provided educational facilities, including science equipment, to several secondary schools within its area of jurisdiction.

According to him, the commission has trained no fewer than 500 science teachers and 225 principals and vice principals for capacity enhancement in school management.

Alleged injustice: NCPC warns former commissioner

President Jonathan storms Imo to receive returnees into PDP

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI — SPECULATIONS are rife that President Goodluck Jonathan will storm Owerri next week to formally welcome former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, family.

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nied to the planned grand PDP rally in Owerri by members of the National Working Committee, National Executive Council and Board of Trustees of the party.

Vanguard recalls that Udenwa, Araraume, Iheanacho and Eze dumped the PDP for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which later fused into the All Progressives

INVESTITURE: From left, Mr. Ernest Ebi (former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria), Chairman of the occasion; Mr. Daisi Omidiji (chairman of BusinessWorld Newspaper); Dr. Uche Ogah (President, Masters Energy Group), and his wife, Ngozi, during the investiture of Dr. Ogah, as BusinessWorld Man of the Year 2013 on February 8, 2014, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Congress, APC. It will also be recalled that Senator Anyanwu dumped the PDP a few weeks to the 2011 general elections and actualised her dream of returning to the Senate on the wings of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. There was also a story that an Owerri-based legal practitioner and former chieftain of APC, Chief Mike Ahamba, had equally concluded plans to return to the PDP. Careful political watchers in the state are of the view that should President Jonathan accept to come to Imo as he did for Sokoto, it would be the first time since the immediate past governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, left office.

People spoken to, were of the view that “with all the big names in Imo politics returning to the PDP family, they will give APC, personified by Governor Rochas Okorocha, a run for their money.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of PDP Contact and Reconciliation Committee, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, said there would be no imposition of candidates in the next general elections.

Chukwueke, who made the promise while addressing PDP loyalists in Ideato South local council area of the state, also welcomed into the PDP family over 2,000 decampees from other parties.

Police nab two kidnap kingpins in Aba

BY ERIC UGBOR

BY CALEB AYANSINA

BUJA — THE Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, has called on one of its former federal commissioners representing SouthSouth geo-political zone, Rev. Robinson Oritsuwa, to desist from campaign of calumny against it.

Oritsuwa, who served as commissioner from 2008 to July 2013, recently in a media report, called for a probe into the injustice meted out on him by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr. John Opara, alleging that he was unjustly replaced with Pastor Mike Abrakata by Opara in 2013.

NCPC in a statement by its Head of Media, Mr. Celestine Ogugua, yesterday, in Abuja, said it had no power to appoint or remove any commissioner, except Mr. President.

The statement read: “It is saddening for Rev. Oritsuwa to claim that Mr. President actually approved his return to the board, but was replaced by the NCPC boss. What evidence does Rev. Oritsuwa have to support this? Certainly none!"

Other big-wigs rumoured to have perfected their plans to return to the PDP fold include Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Chukwudi Mayor Eze, Col. Lambert Iheanacho (rtd) and all their supporters.

Our correspondent gathered that Jonathan will be accompa-

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BA — TWO kidnap kingpins, Lekwa Uzor and Reuben Okezie, suspected to be behind the abduction of a

Chinese national, Mrs. Tang Kalu, married to a Nigerian, Mr. Christian Kalu, have been arrested by the police in Aba, Abia State.

Vanguard gathered that the

duo, who were apprehended following a tip-off at different locations of Aba, the commercial nerve city of the state, belonged to a syndicate that had been terrorising the city in recent times, and other

Anambra 2014: Youths want tribunal to determine true winner

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

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NITSHA — YOUTHS from Anambra North senatorial zone of Anambra State have charged the governorship election petition tribunal which just commenced sitting in Awka, to come out with the true winner of the November 16 and 30 polls in the state.

The youths, operating under the aegis of Odimma Anambra North Youths Initiative, expressed optimism that the tribunal and various courts of competent jurisdiction, would look into all that transpired during the elections in the state and come up with a true verdict on the winner.

Chairman of the group, Obiora Okafor, who gave the charge at Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of the state, expressed satisfaction that the zone had at last produced a governor for the state.

Obiora contended that whoev-

er the tribunal or upper courts finally decided as the actual winner of the elections would be acceptable to the youths, provided such a person was from Anambra North senatorial zone.

Okafor noted that the youths had for a long time clamoured for the emergence of a person from Anambra North zone since none

had governed the state since its creation in 1991.

He, however, noted that now that Chief Willie Obiano from the same zone had been declared elected under the platform of APGA and his opponents had gone to the tribunal, "we are now waiting patiently for the courts to decide who actually won.

members of their gang, according to reports, were still at large.

The source said the command was collaborating with other divisions under the command to ensure that the abducted Chinese woman was rescued unhurt as soon as possible, adding that the suspects were already making confessional statements that could lead to the location the woman was being held.

The Police, while calling on medical doctors and chemists to be careful about how they treated patients with bullet wounds, warned kidnappers still in Aba and other parts of the state to relocate to other states, saying they were poised not only to make their business fruitless, but also bring them to justice.

FRSC de-marshals 55, suspends 27 in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI — THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has de-marshalled and suspended 82 special marshals in Ebonyi State, following inability to meet up with the assessment parameters of the Corps.

In a statement by the State Sector Commander of FRSC and State Coordinator, Special Marshal and Partnership, SMP. T.G

Eseyin and Dr. Henry Uro-chukwu respectively, the agency emphasised that members of the special marshal were expected to be men and women of proven integrity with means of livelihood in society.

It stated that the Corps was ready to partner other agencies to ensure that the objective behind the enlistment of special marshals in the country was achieved.

The FRSC warned the affected

special marshals against withholding security materials in their possession as any action in that direction would be termed a criminal offence.

The statement read in part: “All affected special marshals are to submit all FRSC stickers, documents, materials, regalia, ID cards (including expired ones) to the Sector Commander, Unit Commanders of Afikpo and Ishiagu on or before February 20, 2014.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

- 47

SUSTAINABLE CONVERSATION: From left: Professor of Counseling and Psychology, University of Lagos, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, Chairman of Council, West African PRESENTATION: HRM Richard Okorefe I, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor, Examinations Council, WAEC, Prof. Pai Obanya, Chief Academic Officer, Kepler, presenting land documents to Brig.-Gen. Clement Ojo of the Army Chrystina Russell and Director, Leadership & Organisation, Etisalat Nigeria, Rabi Isma, Engineering Directorate, during a visit by the land inspection team from the at the ThistlePraxis Sustainable Conversation, sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in Lagos. Force Headquarters, Abuja to the monarch at Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.

BRIEFING: From left: Assistant Director, Press/Public Relations, Mr. Babatunde Adele, General Manager, LASRRA, Ms. Yinka Fashola and Deputy Head of Admin, Mrs. Bolatito Jaji, during the briefing on the ongoing residents registration in Lagos.

Hon. Temitope Shitta-Bey, registering as All Progressives Congress, APC, member, at Surulere Constituency-1, in Surulere Local Government Area, during the APC's nation-wide registration exercise in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

AWARD: MD, Zenon So-Fine Cosmetics, Mr. Gabriel Edeogbon and his wife Melvina (left), flanked by Mr. John Edeogbon (right), Director of Operations, during the presentation of a Kia Picanto car to Mr. Charles Isintume (2nd left), winner of Zenon Distributor of the Year 2013, in Lagos.

From left: Council Manager, Mushin Local Government, Mr. Rasaq Oladeji, HouseLeader, Hon. Awotunde Omolewu and Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Adepitan, at the stakeholders' meeting on the council's 2014 Budget.

All Progressives Congress, APC, Tudun Wada Senatorial aspirant, Comrade Shehu Sani (left) and APC Chairman, Kaduna South Local Government, Alhaji Bashir Gote, during the APC's nation-wide registration exercise in Kaduna State. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

From left: MD, Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Ltd, Mr. Ben Langat; NBC dealer, Prince & Mrs. Adeleke Gbadebo, and National Commercial Director, NBC, Mr. Matthieu Seguin, at the 2014 NBC commercial convention in Lagos.

RECEPTION: Mr. Edesiri Azigbo (right) and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Okpe Local Government Council, Chief Cosmos Ighoraye, during his reception by party members into PDP Ward 4, in Odije community, Okpe Local Government Area, Delta State.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Kogi gov grants pardon to 22 prisoners

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA —GOVER NOR Idris Wada of Kogi State, yesterday, granted unconditional pardon to 22 prisoners.

Wada who announced the state pardon during a state-wide broadcast said seven of the convicts had been on death row for more than 20 years, while others were serving three years in jail and had served for two and a half years each.

Six others had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

“The State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, acting in consonance with the provisions of the Kogi State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy Law, 1995, undertook visits to various prisons in the Country, where Condemned Convicts and other categories of convicts of Kogi State extraction were serving various terms of imprisonment.

"After intensive study and scrutiny of the records of the inmates, and digest of recommendations received on the behalf of the inmates, I have come to the inescapable conviction and conclusion that some of the inmates come within the warm embrace of my prerogative.

“Inspite of the current overwhelming weight of opinion, that keeping criminals in prisons do not work, I harbour the conviction that some form of incarceration must be retained in a country like ours. In other words, I do not share the view that prisons should be abolished for other forms of punishment.

"I think we should prefer it, for now, even with all its imperfections, inhumanities and degradation to anarchy. I believe, that the nature of prison, no matter how humane it looks, produces an environment which inevitably is devastating to its residents, and if, and when a duty is cast upon us, as custodians of the Constitution, I believe we should be free to tamper justice with mercy."

Belgore, others defect to PDP in Kwara

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI AND GABRIEL EWEPU ILORIN—AFTER weeks of political calculations,the gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Kwara State in the 2011 general elections and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mohammed Belgore,

SAN, yesterday defected to the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with his supporters.

Belgore made this known at a political gathering in his GRA campaign office, Ilorin, the state capital.

This was even as the PDP, in Kwara State had vowed to recapture the state from the

APC, in the 2015 general elections as the party welcomed massive number of defectors from opposition parties.

Former Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Ezekiel Benjamin, who spoke after a rally held to welcome chieftains and supporters of the defunct Con-

From left: The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada and the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Momoh Jimoh Lawal during the presentation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill to Governor for his assent in Lokoja.

Same-sex Law: EX-MILAD, Oyakhire blasts US, others for mounting pressure on FG

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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AGOS—FORMER Military Administrator, MILAD, of Taraba and Oyo states, Dr Edore Oyakhire, has lampooned the West for putting undue pressure on the Federal Government to discard the law against same sex marriage in the country.

The United States government had said, Monday, that it would not give up on its opposition to the same sex prohibition law recently signed by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying it would continue to pressurise Jonathan to ensure that the antigay law was abrogated.

However, Oyakhire said that "same-sex marriage is against the will of God," pointing out that although "God is tolerant, but could be angry and punish mankind for committing such grievous sin."

In a statement in Benin, Edo State capital, yesterday, Oyakhire who retired from the police as an Assistant Inspector General, AIG, commended Jonathan for signing the anti-

gay law, adding that "same sex marriage is a sin, unnatural, ungodly and not in our culture as Nigerians."

According to him, "same sex marriage is also wrong because, it will end procreation. Mankind will go into extinction if continuously practised.

"We are commanded to go into the world and multiply.

All the 25 scriptural prophets married except Jesus Christ.

This clearly shows that celibacy is against God. "God said it is not good for a man to live alone and as such, He created the woman and brought her to the man.

He did not create man and man, nor woman and woman.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas Greenfield, had Monday, expressed the hope that Nigeria and other African countries would yield to US pressure to discard their opposition to same sex marriage.

Greenfield spoke during a live-web chat programme with journalists in African countries.

“US is opposed to the legislation targeted against the gay people and we will continue to press forward to see that it is changed so that those group of people will have freedom to exercise their rights.

“We are of the view that criminalisation against anybody on the basis of their sexual orientation and affiliation is wrong and we will continue to press Nigeria government and the legislators to change the anti-gay law,” Greenfield said.

Commenting on the US relationship with African nations generally, she said her government signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the African Union in different areas with a view to building African capacity to solve crisis within the continent.

gress for Progressive Change, CPC; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, and Labour Party, LP, said that the game was up for the APC in the state.

Belgore, however, said the decision to leave APC with his supporters became necessary because the leadership of the party has let them down by the way it handled the defection of PDP to APC in the state.

“We are here to make a pronouncement on our political future.The expectations and the anxieties are understandable, given the happenings in the APC which we laboured so hard to nurture to a party of choice in Kwara from its ACN days.

“The struggle for socio-economic development of our dear state which we began in 2010, would be better served under a stronger and broader political platform; an alliance of those who yearn for change and development and those who desire to maintain the status quo of oppression and denial of opportunity was suddenly foisted upon us.

“By that alliance, the politics of patronage, of denial of merit-based opportunity, of running the state like personal assets, of deploying public wealth for the union to a select few; of selling the state assets to shadowy private concerns was given a new life.

“APC has let us down. We have therefore decided not to be part of an arrangement that puts us in the same ship piloted by the oppressors.

“We are therefore joining the PDP which - as fate now has it - has shed the very core of the liabilities that made our people run away from it.

“We are joining hands with other like minds in the PDP who were unjustly shut out because of their progressive bent to endear the party to the people of Kwara State,” he said.

Notable chieftains who defected with him include: Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, Rev Bunmi Olusona, Alhaji Idris Mahmoud, Dr Sa’ad Omoiya, Alhaji Isa Afon, Hon Agboola Ismail, Alhaji Toyin Ayinla, Funsho Sa’ad, Alhaji Atanda Soro, Alhaja Khadijat Abdullateef, Alhaji Ganiyu Onikere, and thousands of supporters across the state who were former members of APC. Meanwhile, the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ezekiel Benjamin, said Kwara State had remained under the siege of poor governance for many years, and Kwara people were ready to push the ruling APC out of power with their votes in 2015.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—49

PEF saves N14.4bn through e-loading system in 11 months

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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BUJA — EXECU-TIVE Secretary of the Pe troleum Equalisation Fund, PEF, management board, Mrs. Adefunke Kasali, said yesterday that the Board has saved over N14.433 billion for the nation through Project Aquila between January and November last year.

Kasali, who disclosed this in Abuja, explained that Project Aquila was a high-tech electronic loading and delivery system initiated by PEF to check leakages and enthrone transparency and due process in the process.

She said PEF had been able to check fraudulent activities among marketers and ensured transparency in the system.

“The new initiative, also known as the ‘e-loading’, ensures delivery of petroleum products at the right destination and has saved the nation huge sums of money by curtailing unwholesome practice of some marketers,” she said.

Kasali said that through the project, the agency had been able to reduce period of payment of claims to marketers from one year to four weeks.

She said the project had also been able to remove encumbrances that normally caused distortions in supply chain, such as the issue of prompt payment of bridging claims.

Bridging claim is the money paid marketers to take care of logistics in movement of products and ensure uniformity in prices of petroleum products across regions in the country.

Kasali said the project, which had been successfully deployed in all parts of the country, ensured automated data capture and enhanced processing and payment of claims.

She said that PEF was set to deploy phase two of ‘Project Aquila, adding that the Project Aquila 2 was intended to fasttrack payment within one week.

“We are confident that one week payment of verified claims is achievable.

“By the time we roll out ‘Project Aquila 2’, which is intended to monitor movement of products from the depots to retail outlets, this will enable us have the required information within a very short period of time. We should be able to make that happen,” she said.

Kasali said the second phase of the initiative would not only ensure prompt delivery of products from depot to different outlets, but also ensure their availability.

The PEF boss, who noted that the project would also help in checking diversion of products or any other fraudulent act, said PEF was working on the final detail to be able to monitor products from depot to the outlets.

CONGRATULATIONS: President Goodluck Jonathan, congratulating the Special Adviser to the President on Legislative Matters, Senator Sulaimon Ajadi, after his swearing-in, at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

Confab: Ethnic nationalities' forum rejects no-go area ....Nwabueze insists on right to self-determination

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA — A forum of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja rejected the imposition of a no-go area on the planned national conference.

The 25 ethnic nationalities represented at the forum, canvassed an all-inclusive agenda in the forthcoming confab being organised by the Federal Government.

The groups, which expressed optimism at the possibility of using the opportunity offered by the conference to move the country forward, also faulted the composition of the delegates.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day mini-conference of ethnic nationalities organised under the auspices of Ethnic Nationalities Movement, ENM, chairman of The Patriots and a foremost constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, said any conference that excluded discussion on the right to self-determination by the ethnic nationalities had not done justice to the aspirations of the people.

Secession

He said there was need for the country to consider enshrining in its constitution the right for any ethnic nationality to secede if it so desired, as a means of checking the excesses of government and protecting the interests and rights of the co-existing nationalities.

According to him, the idea of insisting that discussions over the unity of the country should be no go area is not good.

He said the conference should rather allow a cross-ventilation of ideas and opinions on the rationale or otherwise for us to continue to co-exist as one Nigeria.

While faulting the composition of the conference delegates,

Nwabueze said ethnic nationalities were the primary stakeholders in the national conference, adding that all the other groups and professional associations were mere appendages.

He criticised the Federal Government’s allocation of nearly 50 per cent of the delegates to the conference to professional bodies and associations which, according to him, have nothing to do with the plight of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.

“We must recognise that as nationalities, following the example in the constitution of Ethiopia of 1995, of which I was the constitutional adviser for the drafting and making of that constitution, there is a right inherent in the Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.

“They have the right because they existed before Nigeria. You can’t take away that right and the right to self-determination. That right should not be denied. It is the inherent right to self-determination.

“They said once you grant that right, Nigeria will disintegrate, every ethnic nationality would want to secede. That right of selfdetermination is in the Ethiopia constitution, including the right to secede. It is well entrenched, enshrined in the constitution of Ethiopia.

“Since 1995, the important function it performed was to restrain government or any group in control of government from using its power to oppress others and create a state of instability in the country. Nobody wants to be oppressed in a country.

“And now we have a conference that says that the indivisibility of Nigeria is a no go area. Does that mean that we cannot even talk about the inherent right of the ethnic nationalities to secede?

That we have no right to self-de-

termination? Is that what it means? If we can’t even discuss it, that excludes the right of the delegates to talk about self-determination. This is a burning issue.

“We the Ndigbo, have already decided to insist that that right of self-determination must be there.

I use this opportunity to invite other ethnic nationalities, the Yoruba, the Hausa, the Edo people, the Itekiri, the Ijaws, the representatives of the Ijaws are already demanding it. We must all come together to discuss it, “ he posited.

Most of the 25 ethnic nationalities of the 389 recorded ethnic groups in the country which attended the meeting, urged the Federal Government to allow all issues to be discussed at the conference without any form of restrictions.

They also demanded the review of the list of ethnic nationalities to include some of the groups currently excluded in the composition.

True federalism

Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, who said the country needed restructuring, advocated the return to true federalism as the only way to ensure equity, justice and vibrancy in the country.

The governor, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant, Research, Planning and Policy Implementation, Mr. Olusegun Bada, said ethnic nationalities should form the bedrock of a sovereign conference to resolve the burning issues affecting the nation’s existence.

“With true federalism, we will have a mutually evolved system where none of the federating units is inferior to another, and each derives its powers and exercises them within the framework of the

constitution.

“To be sure, at a time in our history when true federalism was practised based on the regions, the country as a whole was better for it. It was the days when each region thrived on its own resources, cocoa in the Western Nigeria, palm kernel in the East and groundnuts in the north, “ he said.

While welcoming delegates at the forum, a prominent legal practitioner, Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN), said the country’s 1914 amalgamation could not be said to be fruitful, hence the fear of those who felt that discussing Nigeria’s union at the conference will lead to dissolution.

He said the conference of ethnic nationalities was important because as primary stakeholders, they were the ones to define what Nigeria should be.

Said he:”As a federation, Nigeria is a failure and all these explain why Nigeria is not working and why we must take this opportunity offered to us by the present administration for a national conference very seriously, “.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, a representative of Ika ethnic nationality, Chief Daniel S. Usifo deplored the emphasis placed on major ethnic groups in the country to the disadvantage of minorities.

“It is very obvious from what we are seeing that if you add up all the minority nationality groups,we are probably more than the majority ethnic groups in the country, “ he said.

He said the reason the minorities in the country were marginalised was because they had not been organised before now.

C M Y K

50— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

4TH GENERAL CONFERENCE OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA PEOPLES ASSEMBLY (SNPA) PIX BY HENRY UNINI & NATH ONOJAKE

From left; Coordinating Chairman in-charge of South-South for Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, Chief Edwin Clark; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; former Vice President of Nigeria, Chief Alex Ekwueme; former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former Governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba at the opening ceremony of the 4th General Conference of Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA), in Asaba, yesterday.

From left: HRM Prof. Obi Chike Edozien, Asagba of Asaba; Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State and Chief BSC Elue, former deputy governor, Delta State.

A cross section of traditional rulers and elders at the event.

From left: Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi and Chief Francis Williams.

Chief Olu Falae (left) and Chief Edmond Daukoru.

From left: HRM Orhue I Orodje of Okpe and His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abari, Obong of Calabar.

A cross section of participants.

From left: Chief Teye Ogunsluyi and Chief Gani Adams.

From left: Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Gary Enwo-Igariwey, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—51

Anambra: Varsity to upgrade infrastructure with N5bn

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — INFRASTRUCTURE development in Anambra State-owned Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, has taken off.

The projects are expected to gulp N5 billion in both the Uli and Igbariam campuses of the institution.

The Federal Government provided N3 billion of the amount

under the Tertiary Education Fund, TETFUND, while the state government provided N2 billion.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Fidelis Okafor, said at a news conference at Uli campus of the institution that the money was tied to specific projects, including the construction of the state of the art faculty of engineering building at Uli and faculties of agriculture, science, petroleum studies, among others at the Igbariam campus.

...governorship tribunal: Lawyers argue on ways to beat time

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA — COUNSEL to the parties in Anambra State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Awka, yesterday, engaged in legal fire-

Group calls on Sanusi to resign

BY GBENGA OKE

A GROUP, New Nigeria Initiative, NNI, has called on the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to resign.

The group accused Sanusi of throwing caution to the wind by alleging missing money in the sale of nation's crude, while reconciliation was still on-going.

In a statement, yesterday, in Abuja by Dr. Maccido Abdullahi, the group said Sanusi has turbanned himself as emperor of financial institutions in Nigeria, adding, "we shall let him know that we do not recognise the illegal turbanning which he conducted all by himself.’’

It also pointed out that Sanusi's assertion that the fiscal terms of the Production Sharing Contracts, PSCs, could be re-negotiated without recourse to Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, might not be true.

works over the best way to ensure that the four petitions before it were disposed of within the 180 days allowed for the exercise.

Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, lead counsel to Senator Chris Ngige and APC had, in a motion on notice, suggested that all objections challenging the competence of the petition be placed before the tribunal so they could be handled together to avoid unnecessary waste of time.

He said: “We know that election petitions take time such that in some cases in the past, tenures expired before the petitions were determined.

“That time, all those involved in election petition were blamed, including members of the tribunal, lawyers and even the framers of our constitution.

U

MUAHIA — ABIA State gov-ernment has denied the rumour that it was relocating markets in Aba, the commercial capital of the state, including the popular Ariaria International Market to new sites, describing it as the handiwork of enemies.

The government made it clear that it had no inten-

Robbers terrorise residents of Aba, Umuahia

BY ERIC UGBOR

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BA — RESIDENTS of Aba and Umuahia in Abia State are now living in fear, following the exploits of armed robbers in the cities.

Only last weekend, armed men, numbering over 15 invaded No. 4 Nwachukwu Street, Off Ama Ogbonna Road in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State, dispossessing their victims of millions of naira and other

valuables.

In a related incident, residents of Umueze Road, on Assemblies of God junction road in Umuahia had also lost valuables and cash running into millions to the bandits.

The robbers, who attacked their victims at Nwachukwu Street in Aba, collected cash, phones, laptops and other gadgets, while those of Umueze Road in Umuahia also carted away cash and over 10 generating sets be-

Gov. Obi not behind APGA crisis —Nwobu-Alor

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA — CHAIRMAN of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, yesterday, absolved Governor Peter Obi on allegations by some members of All Progressives Grand Alliance that he was sponsoring the recent crisis in the party.

Since the emergence of Chief Maxi Okwu as the national

We're not relocating Aba markets — Abia govt

BY ANAYO OKOLI

MEETING: From left, Managing Director/CEO, PRM Africa, Mike Dada; Director, Brand Communication and Sponsorship, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, and Chairman, Security and Protocol Committee, AFRIMA, Marilyn Ogar, during a meeting in Abuja, recently on the hosting of AFRIMA in Nigeria.

tion to relocate any markets in Aba, adding that rumours of alleged plans to relocate Ariaria International Market, Eziukwu Market and other markets in Aba, amounted to mischievous concoction.

The government in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Charles Ajunwa denied any such plan and urged the traders and people of the state to ignore the rumour.

chairman of the party, following a Federal High Court, Abuja, judgement, tongues have been wagging in some quarters that the governor was the mask behind the recent political crisis in APGA, and that the governor decided to remove the former chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, because of their recent face-off stemming from the last governorship and local government elections in the state.

Nwobu-Alor described as base-

less, laughable and mischievous the allegations, adding that it was unreasonable for any sane person to say the governor had a hand in the recent crisis when he was actually committed to the unity of the party.

Nwobu-Alor, who is also the Special Adviser on Motor Parks and Markets to Governor Peter Obi, stated that the removal of Chief Victor Umeh as the national chairman of the party by the court was part of the age-long cry for restructuring of the party.

longing to different individuals.

One of the victims of the Aba robbery incident told Vanguard that the robbers were armed to the teeth and had a smooth operation that started at about 2a.m.

She said the robbers had concluded their operations and left the scene before the arrival of a police patrol team that was alerted by a neighbour.

Meanwhile residents of Assemblies of God Church by Umueze Road in Umuahia were yet to understand the activities of these robbers who invade the area both in broad day light and at night. " A man, who operates an eatery along this road, was waylaid on his way back from business last night by armed men who robbed him of cash running into thousands of naira," a source related.

The people had, therefore, called on security agents within the state to come to their rescue to save them the constant nightmare.

The police PPRO Geoffrey Ogbonna, (ASP) could not be reached for comments as at press time, but a senior police officer confirmed the incidents, saying investigations had begun.

52—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

EKWEREMADU’S ENDORSEMENT:

Chime orders royal fathers to recant or lose their stools

How to effectively tackle insecurity using administrative tools (2)

BY AZUBUIKE IHEJIRIKA

This is the concluding part of this discourse which was first published in Vanguard yesterday.

N

IGERIA has, over decades, suffered the disadvantage of exporting primary produce and importing finished goods. These factors along with poor economic management of national resources over the years have, predisposed Nigeria to being one of the poorest countries in the world in spite of its huge natural and human resource endowments. The implication is poverty, unemployment and frustration resulting in crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, ethno-religious conflicts to other forms of crimes which constitute severe threat to national security.

Traditionally, our various societies recogGeneral Azubuike Ihejirika nise the importance of collectivism at communal, ethnic and religious levels as means of rorists to lay down their arms. In campaign societal survival, healthy living and progress. planning, all the steps taken simultaneously, This vision of social security has been hijacked both military and non-military to achieve a straand subverted by some elite and misguided Ni- tegic end state are called lines of operation. gerians in their pursuit for self-seeking agenda In proffering strategies to deal with internal to the detriment of national security. They use security challenges, the campaign planning them at will to play ethnic and religious cards model can be adapted. We can, therefore, conof marginalisation and neglect which are weak- sider the military and administrative lines of ening the corporate existence of Nigeria. operation as tools required to achieve the deIlliteracy: Additionally, poor standard of edu- sired security situation favourable to Nigeria. cation breeds high illiteracy level, while poor It is important to note that they ought to run health conditions are manifest in endemic and concurrently. However, the administrative tools epidemic diseases. Declining family values oc- can be applied in some situations without the casioned by low living standards throw up so- military tool. The use of the Armed Forces to cial vices like drug addiction, while poverty and address threats to IS is in line with their secunemployment are responsible for other vari- ondary roles, as spelt out in Section 217 (1) ants such as drug trafficking, human traffick- and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal ing, kidnapping, armed robbery and cyber Republic of Nigeria. It provides that the Armed crimes.

Forces could be used to suppress insurrection Physical security refers to capable, effective and acting in aid of civil authority, to restore and responsible security agents that guarantee law and order when called upon to do so by a secure, orderly and peaceful environment the President. This legal provision is often resorted to when the police cannot cope, especially in a complex and When stick and carrot diplomacy is reIS threat situation. quired in conflict resolution; the military difficult The call out of the Nigeria may be used as the stick Army for the conduct of IS operations started with the Southern which largely enhances the pursuit of legitimate Cameroun crisis of 1959, followed by the Tiv individual and collective aspirations for pros- riots of l960, 1961 and 1964. In the last 14 years, perity, development and well being devoid of the Army has been involved in a number of IS harm or perception of danger from within and operations, including Odi in 1999, Kaduna in without. It is also the ability to project our values 2000, Jos and Zaki Biam in 2001, Yobe in 2003 domestically and abroad. This is statutorily the and currently in almost all states of the Federaprimary concern of the civil police, security and tion. paramilitary agencies.

The military has, therefore, proved a very useHowever, the military is a major player in the ful tool for peace and security in Nigeria. When field in Nigeria as a result of the exigencies of stick and carrot diplomacy is required in conthe country’s contemporary security challeng- flict resolution; the military may be used as the es. It was erroneously believed, perhaps, out of stick. Additionally, it is important to note that wrong judgment, that the outset of democracy the military remains an indispensable tool in in 1999 in Nigeria would diminish the relevance border security of Nigeria. This is more so beof the military. It is now clear from the activities cause arms proliferation, terrorism, human trafof militants, terrorists and other criminals that ficking and smuggling thrive because of Nigenotwithstanding the capacity and capability of ria’s porous borders. Some of the tools of adthe civil police to prevent, preempt and contain ministrative line of operation range from effeccrimes in Nigeria, they need to be enhanced to tive policing, public enlightenment campaigns, achieve the desired security in the country. good governance, dialogue, and intelligence Use of administrative tools: There is no doubt liaison to data base. that government at all levels has been doing The Nigeria Police (NP) is charged among much to address the contemporary security chal- other tasks, with the responsibility of prevenlenges Nigeria is facing. Among several things tion, detection of crime, the apprehension of the Federal Government is doing to reverse the offenders and the preservation of law and orinsecurity, it is evident that the military has been der. Our constitutional responsibility envisioned called out and is deployed in almost all states of the NP as one of the appropriate administrative the federation in aid of civil authority. Apart from tools to deal with challenges of insecurity in the the use of the military to seek decision in the country. To be able to contain Nigeria’s contemwar against insecurity, the Federal Government porary challenges, the NP requires modern has applied various modalities, including the equipment, improved welfare and necessary option of dialogue to persuade Boko Haram ter- reforms.

,

•We never endorsed Chime for Senate—Awgu LG PDP

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—The contest for the Enugu East Senatorial seat between the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime has taken a dangerous twist following a directive to two royal fathers from Ezeagu Local Government Area by Governor Chime through the State Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Vita Abba, to recant their endorsement of Senator Ekweremadu for any future political office or lose their stools.

This is even as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Awgu Local Government has denied endorsing the senatorial ambition of the Governor Chime for 2015 senatorial contest.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the PDP in the local government, Raphael Okonkwo, described the news item published by a national daily as “mischievous, misleading and intended to create disaffection and confusion in our great party in the Local Government”.

The statement reads in part: “We acknowledge the fact that Governor Sullivan Chime has done well in the provision of infrastructure in the state in the same way that Senator Ike Ekweremadu has attracted numerous constituency projects to the senatorial zone. We thank both men for their commitment to the upliftment of our area and urge them not to relent in their efforts. We know that Awgu LG People’s Assembly has endorsed and adopted Senator Ike Ekweremadu as their preferred candidate, as well as Umuada Greater Awgu and Awgu LG Youths Forum, but that is not PDP.

Scandalous claim “The foregoing observation notwithstanding, none of the two mentioned above or any other aspirant for that matter has approached the Awgu LG PDP to declare their intentions or seek our endorsement and therefore it amounts to setting the cart before the horse for any person or group of persons to go public with such scandalous claim and inputting same to Awgu LG PDP. Awgu LG chapter of the PDP has at no time endorsed any aspirant to any position, not in the least for the senatorial seat of Enugu-west”.

The party blamed the publication on “certain persons in the LG, occupying various positions in the state government (who) have resorted to taking actions and making political statements suggestive of serious rancor between Governor

Chime and Senator Ekweremadu, even without consulting the party”. It added, “We frown at and condemn this unilateral political actions and highhandedness and urge those concerned to quickly retrace their steps as the Awgu LG PDP would not be intimidated or blackmailed into any hasty endorsement of any aspirant much as such aspirants have the freedom to canvass their intentions.”

Meanwhile, two traditional rulers who were part of a delegation of Ezeagu Local Government Stakeholders and Leaders of Thought, which paid an appreciation visit to the Deputy President of the Senate in Enugu penultimate week for the many development projects attracted to Ezeagu communities are on the verge of losing their stools unless they recant on their people’s support for the Deputy Senate President.

Two royal fathers The two royal fathers who were handed the directive were Igwe Raphael Okolo of Iwolo community and Igwe John Nwakaeze of Oha Ndiagu. However, Igwe Harford Agana of Olo, who also doubles as the Chairman of Enugu West Traditional Rulers Council and Igwe Igbonekwu of Umana Ndiagu who were also part of the delegation were not that lucky as their perceived offence was said to be unpardonable, hence would be met with a stiffer punishment.

It is feared that both royal fathers may lose their stools.

In their address, they said: “We are witnesses to the construction of rural roads, provision of water boreholes, transformers, rural electrification projects, health centres, youth development and empowerment centres, and a lot more.

We have benefitted from you and want to assure you that we the Ezeagu people are solidly behind you; we will not hesitate to give you unalloyed support in any of your future political quests; you can always count on us.”

The Ezeaagu Stakeholders and Leaders of Thought insisted that “people should be allowed to make their choice of representatives of their own freewill based on the pedigree, antecedents, and integrity of available candidates”.

However, sources within the Government House and Enugu PDP said Governor Chime and his close allies were peeved by the visit, which they considered inimical to the Governor’s ambition to take over the senatorial seat currently occupied by the Deputy President of the Senate in 2015.

,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—53

Oduah, Orubebe et al: Sacked for their aspirations?

NEWS AN AL YSIS ANAL ALY

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

T

HE Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, yesterday, cited the individual political aspirations of the quartet removed from the cabinet for their exit. His assertion would, however, be partially taken by a critical section of his audience. The four removed were Stella Oduah, (aviation), Godsday Orubebe, (Niger Delta), retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, (Police Affairs) and the minister of state for Finance, Yerima Ngama While it is true that three of the four removed have aspirations to be governor in their respective states, no one has ever connected Ms Stella Oduah with any gubernatorial aspiration in her native Anambra State. After all, Anambra State is not due to hold another gubernatorial election until four years from now, having just concluded an election in which the winner is yet to take office.

Besides, the assertion of political distraction as a reason for the action is further debunked when it is generally known that Maku himself, is presently regarded as one of the leading gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Nasarawa State. That is despite the fact that Maku remains an integral member of the Goodluck Jonathan administra-

tion.

Godsday Orubebe: All four former ministers had deep tentacles in the Goodluck Jonathan administration and one, Godsday Orubebe, was one of two ministers, Jonathan as vice-president, nominated into the President Umaru Yar‘Adua cabinet.

Orubebe who is believed to be mobilizing for the governorship of Delta State has developed a political reputation as a rebel, often against former political benefactors.

A former local government chairman in Delta State, and subsequently, the second state chairman of the All Peoples Party, APP, Orubebe moved on to serve as special adviser to former Governor James Ibori.

National politics But what many would remember as his ladder to national politics was his subsequent loud role in mobilizing support against Governor Ibori in the period between 2003 and 2007. It was largely believed that his nomination as a minister in the Yar‘Adua government by Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, was a reward for his efforts.

It was no surprise that associates of Ibori who still held sway at that time, gave Orubebe and his then godfather, Clark, the ultimate humiliation when he was turned away at the inauguration ceremony despite being cleared

as a minister by the Senate. It took the strident campaign of Chief Clark, and allegedly, a promise not to hurt the Ibori machine before he was finally inaugurated into office in 2008. However, as he advanced in government following the emergence of the Jonathan presidency, the space between Orubebe and Clark widened to open warfare last year, forcing Chief Clark to vow that Orubebe could never be governor of Delta State.

Olubolade: Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd) is leaving the cabinet with the intention of advancing his quest to be the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming Ekiti gubernatorial election.

He was believed to be an intimate ally of the president with a relationship that developed from their association in Bayelsa State where Olubolade served as military administrator. Olubolade has been a part of the backbone of the PDP in Ekiti State and a leading source of inspiration for the politicians hoping to uproot the Kayode Fayemi administration in the state.

Nagama: The immediate past minister of state for Finance, Yerima Ngama, is also leaving the cabinet to pursue an aspiration of the governorship of his native Yobe State on the platform of the PDP. A former banker, Ngama has in his short period in government transformed into a full blown politician leading some of the administration’s major political incursions into the north-eastern heart-

land.

Ngama is believed to have been instrumental to the release of the erstwhile Chief Security Officer, CSO to Gen. Sanni Abacha, Major Hamza Mustapha. Ngama was with Mustapha when he made a triumphant return to Damaturu after his release last year and made no pretence of making political capital out of it to the benefit of President Jonathan. Ngama has also been a strident critic of the state administration, but whether for his political benefit or for the benefit of the president remains an issue.

Stella Oduah: Oduah came into government following her successful chants for the election of Dr. Jonathan through the Neighbour to Neighbour campaign outfit allegedly established by her.

She became the first woman in the Fourth Republic to be appointed into a cabinet that replaced one in which her husband served in. Her husband, Engr. Chris Ogienmwonyi, served as minister of state for works in the election cabinet that was replaced by the cabinet she was appointed into in 2011.

Ms Oduah’s presence in government was immediately felt as she embarked on a facelift of the nation’s major airports. To her credit, airport toilets and environmental standards were immediately raised drawing applause from a skeptical public that had for long endured derelict standards at the airports. However, the applause was soon drowned

by issues of transparency, nepotism and accountability.

The airport rehabilitation projects were never subjected to the full course of the administration’s due process and the costs of the projects continued to swirl in the realm of speculations. A section of the country also cried out over alleged deliberate efforts in skewing personnel appointments in the aviation sector to its disadvantage.

Aviation sector However, the most serious blights that tainted the regime of Ms Oduah in the aviation sector were the cases of corruption raised against her.

She became the first minister to be openly indicted for corruption by the House of Representatives which found her guilty of among others, of violating the Appropriation Act in purchasing two bullet proof vehicles at prices above her expenditure limit. Ms Oduah’s problems were also compounded by allegations surrounding her school credentials.

In almost every case raised against her, the former minister fought the shadows and left the substance of the issues that were raised against her.

While the trio of Orubebe, Olubolade and Ngama would now be focusing on actualizing their gubernatorial aspirations, Ms Oduah has no such fulcrum. The gubernatorial election in her native Anambra State is not due until another four years.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 NEWS ON BRIEFS

Egypt military chief heads to Moscow for visit

Syria: Russia rebukes US over Obama's comment T

HE Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday accused the United States of deliberately distorting its position on Syria after President Barack Obama criticized Moscow for objecting to a draft U.N. resolution on aid to Syria.

Moscow has said it would veto the WesternArab draft resolution on aid access to Syria in its current form, saying it was “detached from reality” and that it could only consider a text free of “one-sided accusations” against Damascus.

Speaking in Washington on Tuesday, Obama told reporters his administration has told “the Russians that they cannot say they are concerned about the wellbeing of the Syrian people when there are starving civilians”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich dismissed these remarks as “peremptory ” and unfair and said Moscow was equally concerned with the grave humanitarian crisis in Syria as Washington was.

Lukashevich praised

LGERIA has begun three days of national mourning for the 77 people killed in a military passenger plane crash in the north-east of the country.

Just one person survived when the Hercules C-130 crashed into a mountain in Oum al-Bouaghi province, en route to Constantine, in bad weather conditions.

I Civilians gather before being evacuated with the help of Syrian Red Crescent and United Nations personnel from a besieged area of Homs February 9, 2014 the deal on a ceasefire allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid and

evacuation of civilians from the Syrian city of Homs and highlighted

the role Russian diplomats had played in agreeing it.

UN: Clashes in Iraq’s Anbar displaced 300,000 year, as Iraq suffers its fighting, while 60,000

V

IOLENCE in Iraq’s Sunni-dominated Anbar province, where armed groups fully control one city and parts of another, has displaced up to 300,000 people in six weeks, the United Nations has said.

The province has been hit by a surge in fighting between pro- and antigovernment forces that began at the end of last

worst violence since 2008.

Over the last six weeks up to 300,000 Iraqis - some 50,000 families - have been displaced due to insecurity around Fallujah and Ramadi” in Anbar, a UN refugee agency statement released on Tuesday said.

“Most of the displaced have fled to outlying communities in Anbar province to escape the

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has praised the soldiers who died in the crash as “martyrs”.

Most of the 78 passengers were military personnel and their family members.

The lone survivor, a soldier, is reportedly being treated for head injuries at a military hospital in Constantine.

Investigation

The defence ministry said it had set up a commission to investigate the crash and that Ahmed Gaid Salah, who is both army chief of staff and deputy defence minister, would go to the crash site.

In a statement, the defence ministry blamed “very bad weather conditions, involving a storm and heavy snowfall” for the crash.

persons have fled to more distant provinces,” according to the statement summarising remarks by spokeswoman Melissa Fleming in Geneva.

The displaced Iraqis join more than 1.1 million compatriots who fled violence in past years and have still not returned to their homes.

Sectarian strife The UN said last month the number of people displaced by the fighting in Anbar was already the highest since the brutal sectarian violence of 20062008.

•UN SecretaryGeneral, Ban Ki Moon

US sets November trial for accused Boston bomber

T

HE accused Boston Marathon bomber will face trial in November, a U.S. judge said yesterday , denying a request by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s attorneys for more time to prepare a defense on charges tied to the largest masscasualty attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

Attorneys for the 20year-old native of Russia’s Chechnya region argued that they

GYPT’s army chief has headed to Russia on his first trip abroad since his ouster of the Islamist president, amid reports of a Gulf-funded $2 billion arms deal in the making with Moscow that would significantly expand Russia’s military influence with a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.

Related Stories The trip by Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi also boosts an image of international clout for the military commander, who is widely expected to announce his candidacy to run for president in elections next year.

The military issued a photo of el-Sissi on his way to board the plane for Moscow in civilian clothes a blue blazer and tie a rare picture of him out of uniform.

Italy PM battles for survival with Matteo Renzi

Algeria mourns plane crash victims

A

E

needed more time to review massive amounts of evidence. Tsarnaev faces the threat of

execution if convicted of the April 15 attack that killed three people, injured 264 and drew a

massive security response, including a lockdown of the greater Boston area.

CAR President ‘declares war’ on militias

C

ENTRAL African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza has said she will “go to war ” with Christian militias who are slaughtering Muslims.

She said the militias, called anti-balaka, had

“lost their sense of mission” and had become “the ones who kill, who pillage, who are violent”.

The militias claim to be taking revenge for atrocities by Muslims last year.

Tens of thousands of

Muslims have fled into Cameroon and Chad and many more are living in camps inside CAR. Amnesty International has described the situation as “ethnic cleansing”.

TALIAN PM Enrico Letta has held talks with party leader Matteo Renzi amid speculation that he is about to be replaced by his younger rival.

Mr Renzi, the 39-year-old mayor of Florence, was elected leader of the Democratic Party (PD) in December.

Mr Letta, 47, who formed a coalition in April after an election stalemate, has been publicly criticised by Mr Renzi. He is due to present the government’s reform programme despite the doubts over his political fate.

North, South Korea seek better ties North and South Korea held their first high-level talks in seven years on their fortified border yesterday , exploring ways to improve ties while the South and the United States geared up for military exercises that have angered the North.

The meeting was set up with unusual speed and great secrecy at the North’s suggestion last week, the latest example of conflicting signals coming from North Korea that included an abrupt cancellation of an invitation for a U.S. envoy to visit.

The two sides met at the Panmunjom truce village on the border with no pre-arranged agenda and discussed a range of issues including reunions of families separated during their 1950-53 Korean War, a South Korean official said.

Aid, evacuations continue in Homs

M

ORE aid has been sent into the besieged reelheld Old City of Homs by the UN after hours of talks aimed at saving a truce between warring parties.

Later, evacuations also restarted - with Homs Governor Talal Barazi telling news agency AFP more than 200 civilians had left. They will join the hundreds who have left since the truce was agreed on Friday, but hundreds more remain.

The regime has said it will allow an extension to the current ceasefire.

It is due to end late yesterday.

Earlier, UN vehicles towed trailers of food into the city - dozens of bags of flour, rice, vegetable oil, sugar, salt and other commodities.

Guinea arrests 20 Nigerians on drug trafficking

G

UINEA has arrested about 20 Nigerians and started checking Latin American workers in a crackdown on a growing wave of drug trafficking through the West African state, Guinean officials said.

The arrests began last week, a security official who asked not to be named said on Wednesday, and have prompted other Nigerians living here to protest outside their embassy, carrying signs and chanting slogans.

Of around 20 arrested, nine have been freed, government spokesman Damantang Albert Camara said. “The rest of the cases will require more careful examination,” he added on Tuesday.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—55

Jonathan sacks Oduah ...Orubebe, 2 others dropped Continues from page 5 said please can we review the appointment of this person, it means that, please get this fellow away from this place or position."

Also speaking, the President of Aviation Round Table, (ART), Capt. Dele Ore said that the sack of Oduah was good news, adding that he congratulates President Jonathan for the bold step he has taken.

Capt. Ore further noted that with this development, it was time to reposition the aviation sector in the right track as this would help in protecting the Category One Status of the country.

He said: ”That is good news, I congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for the bold step he has taken though it is belated. It is a welcome development. Now that the minister has been asked to go this is the time to bring aviation back to the right track.

We hope it is not too late to protect our Category One Status which is being threatened.

"We expect that her successor will be coming will correct several errors that have been committed in the process of this

transformation agenda.”

EFCC to swoop on Oduah, others Meanwhile, the stage was, yesterday, set for the nation’s anti-graft agencies to move against the former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah.

Although the Minister of Infor mation, Mr. Labaran Maku, told journalists that the President relieved the affected ministers of their portfolios to enable them pursue deeper political ambitions, it was clear that the former Aviation minister was booted out as a result of her involvement in the bulletproof cars scandal, which rattled the Presidency.

A top source in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said yesterday that investigation into the matter had been going on and would now be taken to a logical conclusion with Oduah’s ouster.

The source, which declined to be named, pointed out that the coast had been cleared for the commission to resume its investigation on the multi-million scandal that shook the nation’s

image at home and abroad.

The source said: “It is true that the investigation of Oduah has been ongoing and we can now take the matter to a logical conclusion to save the image of the commission and the country.”

Asked how soon the former minister would be summoned, the source said that ‘nothing would be done in secret’ when the investigation resumes.

But the removal of the minister by President Jonathan has been described as medicine after death by Mr. Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN. Malami noted that the President should have sacked Oduah when the heat was on rather than allow her continued stay to deal a serious credibility blow on his government and Nigeria.

Malami said: "The sacking of Oduah is belated and of no relevance to this country. In fact, it is too late to say the least.

She has already done a substantial damage to the credibility of this administration and her sack at the moment does not make any sense at all".

APC senators fail to stall ministerial screening

By JONHBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE Sen ate, yesterday, waived aside strident objections by All Progressives Congress, APC, senators as it proceeded to screen six of the 12 ministerial nominees forwarded to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The APC senators had pegged their objection to the screening of the nominees to the absence of necessary particulars of the nominees and also pleaded for reasonable time to study the particulars.

However, the effort of the APC senators was quickly checked by the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark who presided at the plenary as he insisted that going ahead with the exercise

would not in any way, jeopardize their efforts in assessing the fitness of the nominees for ministerial office.

Shortly after the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, moved to commence the screening, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, APC, Ekiti Central, raised a point of order, calling for the deferment of the screening, saying his call was necessitated by petitions which he said the Senate had been inundated with against the nominees, mostly from the people of their states and where they had worked in the past.

Ojudu pleaded for two days extension of the exercise to enable them study the reports on the nominees which he said had just been distributed to them, but Senator Mark countered him, saying there was enough

time for senators to study the reports about the nominees and make immediate contributions.

Following that, Senator Anthony Adeniyi raised a point of order, saying that necessary security reports had not been attached to the documents presented to the senators, and like Ojudu before him, he was ruled out of order by the Senate President.

Following the removal of the objections, the Senate proceeded to screen six nominees.

Those screened were Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos); Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno); Amb. Aminu Wali (Kano); Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom); Mrs Lawrencia Labaran Mallam (Kaduna) and Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd) from Zamfara State respectively.

56—V ANGU ARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 56—VANGU ANGUARD,

Your legal rights and responsibilities: Problems P/56 and solutions (3)

Utuama highlights late Omotola’s contributions to Land Law P/56

answer because he did not know it as a result of lack of preparation. How many people are you going to house in the 5,000 housing units? How are you going to fund it? He had no answers to all these questions.

He didn’t know what he promised to do.

These are the things that came up. We interviewed deputy governor candidates about what they think their relationship as deputy governor should be. We were surprised that many of them did not give it a thought. I think this is part of the things that the media should do. It is not enough for candidates to say when I become NBA president I’m going to do this.

Professional ethics

MRS Funke Adekoya SAN, is the only female presidential aspirant in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association elections. She was a former 1st vice president (20022004) of the NBA and current chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch). In this interview, she spoke on the role of the media in the coming NBA election, the gender perspective and how money is now playing a major role in the contest. Excerpts: •Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN

By DAYO BENSON and WAHAB ABDULLAHI

H

OW would you access the role of the media in a democratic dispensation?

The media, whether print or electronic media, are known as the Fourth Estate of the Realm for a particular purpose. The other three Estates of the Realm include the Parliament, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. You have a duty to inform, you have a duty to educate, and by informing

clients is that before we invest in any country, we read newspapers of the country, because irrespective of what the embassy tells us about where we are going, it is the newspapers that will tell us the exact situation on ground. So your role is very important.

How do you think the media can assist to bring about an Independent Bar? The only way we can have an independent Bar is for the media to play their role in ensuring that candidates who are coming forward for NBA election have

,

How can leaders of the profession point accusing fingers at politicians if they are doing exactly what they accuse them (politicians) of doing

,

and educating, you mould public opinion.

Therefore to a large extent, the future, not just of this country, but also, the future of Nigeria and Nigerians, is firmly in the hands of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.

Your obligation to inform, communicate and educate applies. That is why the media have a huge role to play in anything that affects this country. One of the things that I have been told many times by my foreign

no baggage and are independent. That is the only way we can tell the truth to whoever cares to listen. The job of a lawyer is to represent the people, not a political party. If I want to represent a political party, I will join the party. I am hoping that when the campaign for election into the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) properly opens, the media should interview

candidates aspiring for different posts.

Obviously, you may have your preferred candidates. People have relationships that have been built up over the years. But if your job is to inform, educate and communicate, then you will believe me that you will see it as a level playing field.

Would you want to throw more light on this your challenge to the media?

Interview candidates on their plans, backgrounds, whether they are fit and proper persons aspiring to the positions that they seek and not just to listen to them and the promises they make. That is the problem associated with the Nigerian politicians. They come and make promises and the media do not interrogate them. I was privileged to have been part of the panel that interviewed potential governors and deputy governors at a time in Lagos State. Obviously, the incumbent Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) defeated others hands down not because he is a lawyer, but because he was prepared. He had the records of having done it four years in his file. We asked a candidate who said ‘I am going to build 5,000 housing units at Ikota.’

How much is it going to cost? He couldn’t

Ask them how they are going to do it.

We have too many instances of people making these promises in the past, but failed to fulfil them. I don’t understand why we should make promises to our colleagues and fail to fulfil them after we’ve got what we wanted. These are what politicians do. We should be different and live in accordance with our professional ethics.

As the only female NBA presidential aspirant, do you see the contest within the prism of Gender issue ?

Different people from different parts of the country may hold different view on gender issue in the NBA politics. Some believe you cannot break gender wall, no matter how good you may be , how well your plans and programme may be, you are a woman, Nigeria is not ripe enough for a woman as president of the Bar, so it is a gender issue. I don’t see it that way. I see it from the point of view that if there is a glass ceiling, it is there to be broken and so I don’t think gender should be an issue, especially in a profession that has refused to recognise that women exist. They say there are no ladies at the Bar, so why should gender suddenly become an issue?

To me it is not a determinant factor for leadership of the Bar. It is only an issue to those who think they can use it to sideline a candidate or to say well that a candidate may not be a front runner or not be a candidate most expected because in

Continues on page 54

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014—57

NBA Presidential election is being unduly monetised — Adekoya Continues from page 56

every aspect of the profession, they say gender is not an issue.

It is very common among us to say “there are no ladies at the Bar, we are all men.”

Candidates for NBA presidential elections are now being sponsored by federal and state government who fund their campaigns, what is your position on this?

This is a very important issue.

I think this is an area where the Fourth Estate of the Realm has a major role to play. How can leaders of the profession point accusing fingers at politicians if they are doing exactly what they accuse them (politicians) of doing.

We have an obligation as lawyers to educate the electorate, to say vote for candidates based on their track records on the issues they present and the solutions they propose. Don’t vote for the person who gives N2,000 and a loaf of bread.

Don’t mortgage the future of your children and so on. If we as lawyers say that to the electorate, we should also say to ourselves that election should not be monetised.

Election of the bar Unfortunately, something of sort happened brazenly at the last election of the Bar. People should vote for a change, a better Bar. One of the problems we have at the Bar is the allegation that governments both at the federal and states are funding campaigns, and the result is that we cannot speak out when we should. I don’t think NBA should be a government or an opposition party. Our position should be external counsel to Federal Attorney-General or state Attorney-Generals. We can advise them on what they do, reminding them they should expect people’s reaction to what they do rightly or wrongly. That’s a relation between an external counsel and the government counsel. But if we are funded by government to contest election, it will turn out to be who pays the piper, calls the tune.

So when money is being lavishly spent on campaign, I think the media have a duty to ask why and where is the money coming from; and why is it being spent? Why should it be a door-die thing? I must be NBA president and spend any amount to get there. Who is funding it? It is certain that whoever is funding it must have an agenda.

What should be the relationship between the Nigerian Bar Association and its members?

The Nigerian Bar Association expects me to pay annual practising fees, which serve to fund the Association and which

entitles me to practice law during the year of its payment. What should I expect to receive in return for this payment? It is my humble opinion that this is an area where the Nigerian Bar Association owes us as its members a duty to assist our professional development by doing more than the present level of providing CLE programmes, where attendance at the Annual or Section conferences is a form of CLE for which CPD credits are awarded. CLE connotes the concept of expanding our knowledge in areas in which we already practice, and keeping us up-to-date with new developments in those areas. We need to expand our CLE offerings into providing training in new areas of law.

Mr Ross Ray QC, a President of the Law Council of Australia, speaking on the role of bar associations at the 3rd Annual IBA Bar Leaders Conference in Amsterdam, in 2008 stated that: “There can be no greater role for a bar association than to strive to equip lawyers, to in turn equip society, with the laws, tools and institutions to promote and defend the principles of the rule of law, principles upon which

which people communicate today. The Nigerian Bar Association ought to be teaching us new ways of practising law, and new types of law to practice, and then persuading the communities in which we live that they cannot function without us.

So, how can the Nigerian Bar Association remain relevant to its members?

If the Nigerian Bar Association becomes irrelevant to us its members, it will eventually become irrelevant to the greater society. The Nigerian Bar Association must anticipate and react to change and help its members do the same through the provision of educational and support services which will help us become better informed and more efficient. Some suggested areas where the NBA can assist are: technology training; online and expanded CLE programmes; programs to enhance lawyer/ client relationships; training in new areas of legal practice, and expanded mentoring for newly qualified lawyers.

We are aware of the services that other Bar Associations provide to support their members in their

P/56

•Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN a just and equitable society is based.” I emphasize the words ‘to equip lawyers, to in turn equip society, with the laws, tools and institutions to promote and defend the principles of the rule of law.’ The late Steve Jobs made a fortune out of creating the IPod, the IPhone and then the Ipad and persuading the market that they could not exist without them. It is generally acknowledged that his products changed the way in

legal careers. If the Nigerian Bar Association is to remain to its responsibilities and relevant to its members, apart from its obligations to maintain the Rule of Law, it has to provide services that will enhance the status of its members, and enable all lawyers, whether we work in the city, the towns or the villages, to earn a living wage. Setting a minimum wage for lawyers is not the answer. If the Nigerian Bar Association can assist the senior lawyer to earn more money, by providing support and advice in both exploring new areas of legal practice and using modern technologies to provide legal services in a cost efficient way, the senior lawyer will have more disposable income to pay higher wages to newly qualified lawyers.

If I am not benefitting from my Branch membership, where I have competing demands on my time, why should I remain involved in Branch activities? If the national body is not supporting the growth of my legal career, why should I remain committed to it?

If lawyers are not interested in the Nigerian Bar Association because they see no benefit in their daily lives, the Association runs the risk of becoming extinct.

It will stop ‘living’ and become inactive. We hope that that day will never come.

Cybercrime Bill: Government should be prepared to face avalanche of litigations —Lawyers

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE LAGOS lawyers have said the government should be prepared to face avalanche of litigations and agitations from Human Rights and Public- Interest Crusaders, over the proposed Cybercrime Bill which is now before the two chambers of the National Assembly.

The lawyers, Chief Morah Ekwunoh and Mr. Ralph Mong Nwoke dwell on the provisions of the constitution which the bill negate.

According to Ekwunoh: “No doubt, this piece of legislation clearly constitutes violent violation and infringement on citizens’ inalienable rights to privacy of their homes,correspondence, telegraphic conversations, as well as freedom of expression, including freedom to hold and

share opinions or receive and impart ideas and information, as enshrined in and preserved by sections 37 and 39. “Among others, of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and in corresponding provisions of both the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Universal Declaration Rights to which Nigeria is a leading signatory.

“The foundation of this view is built on the superstructure of the supremacy of the Constitution, and nullifies laws, as in this case, which runs counter to the provisions of the said Constitution, as provided in section 1, sub-sections 1 and 3 thereof. By their actions in this regard, the Government should be prepared to face the avalanche of litigations and agitations from Human

Rights and Public- Interest Crusaders, who will definitely challenge same.”

Nwoke, on his part, said: “It is a breach of fundamental right to freedom of expression. and that is why they have to be careful with this Bill. Sometimes you have to draw a line between what is obscene. If somebody decides to say derogatory word to a friend, it is his right to expression really.

“My take is that as long as I am saying this thing to someone else and the person is offended, the person may have a right to take legal action against me, not really criminal. Criminalizing this thing would have a way of restricting our fundamental right.”

58—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

By PATRICK ANYADUBALU

Continued from last week.

I

NEC no doubt impugned on the right of the citizens to vote for candidates of their choice. The situation is more worrisome when the same INEC that disenfranchised voters on November 16 2013 in some areas quickly organised a supplementary election the next day being Sunday in a predominantly Christian area knowing full well that the Christians will be in the church during the period of purported election.

What INEC did in Anambra State in the name of conduct of gubernatorial election is a charade and should be condemned. It is the right of the citizens to choose who will lead them; one therefore will condemn the activity of those voters who demand money before casting their votes or sell their voters’ card.

RESPONSIBILITIES/OBLIGATIONS 1 It is the obligation of the citizen to obey the laws of the land.

2. Citizens have duty to pay tax as and when due. This may not sound very popular and the reason is understandable as even in the Bible, tax collectors were not popular.

Government should provide basic necessities of life and justify the huge resources accruable to them to encourage the citizens to pay tax regularly.

Expenditure of public funds In the civilized world, their citizens pay tax without prompting because their governments do justify the expenditure of public funds unlike what is obtaining in some areas in the third world.

This is because where a citizen sends his child to private school where he pays highly, *Buys fuel everyday to power his generator, because of lack of electricity. *Pays for the electricity he never used. *Visits the mechanic every now and then because he drives his vehicle on almost unmotorable roads. *Pays high rent because government has failed to provide affordable housing programme. *such a citizen feels no government presence therefore will not be encouraged to pay tax to the government.

3. It is the duty of the citizen to learn and obey the national symbols, our flags should be respected and we should not fly torn or worn out flags.

4. We should be able to recite our national anthem.

It is a great disrespect to see people walking up and down when the National Anthem is being played or sung.

5. Our legal tenders especially paper should be respected.

PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS (i) IGNORANCE: there is still high level of illiteracy in Nigeria

Your legal rights and responsibilities:

Problems and solutions (3) that many citizens are ignorant of their rights and even ways of pursuing those rights. However, with organization like CDHR, we hope awareness is being created and the situation will improve gradually. (ii) POVERTY: A person may be aware of his right but may be hamstrung to fight for his right because of lack of resources or

funds to do so. This is again where I commend such organizations like CDHR and the Lagos State Government for the establishment of the Office of Public Defender where free legal services are offered to the poor. The activities of the legal Aid Council is yet to be felt in the society, therefore government should reorganize the Legal Aid Council and adequate-

ly fund the organization to live up to expectations. (iii) COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS: section 35 (6) of the constitution provides that any person who is unlawfully arrested or detained shall be entitled to compensation and public apology from the appropriate authority or person. This provision is hardly explored by victims of

fundamental rights breaches. In some cases the victim is so traumatized that he preferred to go home and organize himself instead of seeking redress over wrongful detention. Some reasons are adducible as possible reasons like delay in procurement of justice, refusal of the government to pay compensation or obey judgment orders. (iv) LACK OF ADEQUATE TRAINING FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS: The law enforcement agents either lack the training or ignorant of the ingredients of the legal justice system. This will enable them to determine cases that are worth prosecuting.

SOLUTIONS 1. The government should ensure adequate training for the law enforcement agents and insist on strict observance of due diligence.

2. I suggest that legal practitioners should be assigned to police stations to examine such complaints before taking same to court.

3. The government should educate the citizens on their legal rights and obligations. This could be made part of the curriculum in the secondary schools 4.

Government should reconcile the right of the citizens to presumption of innocence with the need to generate revenue for the Government so that accused persons are not necessarily clamped into prison custody.

Utuama highlights late Omotola’s contributions to Land Law

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

D

ELTA State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, has said that the commitment and interest in the research and teaching of Property Law, of the late Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Jelili Adebisi Omotola was unparallelled.

Utuama, made the assertion at the public presentation of the book, A B C of Contemporary Land Law in Nigeria, written by the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike, which held at Justice Umezulike Auditorium, Enugu, last Friday.

Utuama, who was the chairman of the occasion, noted that Justice Umezulike and himself were beneficiaries of Prof. Omotola’s knowledge in the subject, which gave him immense insight into Property Law during his academic sojourn at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Utuama noted that the late Prof. Omotola was unequalled as a doctrinal researcher and teacher.

According to him; “Prof.

Omotola’s seminal writing on the Land Use Act were and remain of immense assistance

to members of the legal profession, like the judges, lawyers who argue before the courts, and this help law students and bureaucrats in understanding its policy and principles. His works remain most authoritatively outstanding, cited and relied upon by the very best in the legal profession”.

He commended Justice Umezulike for dedicating his work to Prof. Omotola and bringing the memory of the legendary legal scholar back into reckoning. He also praised him for finding enough time to write, considering the onerous twin task of discharging his judicial and administrative duties as the Chief Judge of Enugu State.

Utuama used the occasion, which was well attended by top members of the legal profession which includes; the Governor of Enugu State, Chief Sullivan Chime, represented by his Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Anthony Ani, the Chief Judge of Benue, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi states, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani,

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Okey Wali SAN, among others, to note that the A B C of Contemporary Land Law in Nigeria, has introduced two new interesting topics, ‘Land Owner and His Duty to Seen and Unseen Trespassers’ and also ‘Sustainable Mass Housing Development and Slum Upgrading’.

Prof. I.O. Smith, SAN, Prof of Property Law and Dean, Faculty of Law, University of

Lagos, reviewed the book. He noted that the book has shifted the frontiers of knowledge in the area of land law and practice in Nigeria, adding that it was a reversion of position of the revolutionary changes brought about by the enactment of the Land Use Act 45 years ago.

According to him, “it is a book for researchers and scholars in the field of land law, and an ingredient for interpretation and implementation purpose of Land Use Act to be addressed by both the legislature and executive arm of government.”

The NigerianCounsel of the International Criminal Court, The Hague at the recently concluded 12th Seminar and Training for Counsel of the ICC at The Netherlands. From the left are Marian Jones, Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Stella Omiyi, Ekene Odum and Bola Jibogun.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 —59

With N0.97m, Ganiyu will walk again

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T is not the best of times for the family of 24-year Abdullahi Ganiyu as his father, Mr. Idowu Ganiyu is running from pillar to post to raise the N970.000 required for his lifesaving surgery at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Yaba, Lagos.

Abdullahi who hails from Okeoyi East Local Government area of Kwara State is currently battling with what Orthopaedic doctors at Igbobi described as Right Hip Avascular Necrosis, AVN, and needed urgent Right Total Hip Replacement surgery to improve his quality of life.

The young undergraduate of Business Administration at the Kwara State Polytechnic is said to be suffering from Sickle Cell Disorder. Unfortunately, his condition has rendered him a candidate for hospital admission almost on weekly basis for years now. Abdullahi who would have been rounding up his Higher National Diploma, HND, is still in his second year.

According to a Medical report signed by a Consultant Special Grade 1, Dr. M.E Ugbeye, Abdullahi has been battling with the hip disorder for seven years now. And to improve his quality of life, only an urgent total hip replacement surgery is needed.

Since he was disagnosed with sickle cell disorder at three months, the family has not

• Abdullahi Ganiyu known peace. The situation worsened; when in 2007 at the age of 16, he developed a strange pain and can no longer stand freely without feeling pains.

Narrating his family’s ordeal to Vanguard, when he visited the company’s corporate head office in Lagos, Idowu said their search for a permanent solution began last year, when he

(Abdullahi) collapsed and was hospitalized at the General hospital Lagos. “After his admission, the doctor referred us to the physiotherapy department but advised that we seek better treatment at Igbobi or outside the country as he has developed a disease that cannot be cured in the General hospital. “Getting to Igbobi, we were told that the only solution is surgery. We have administered all forms of drugs,” Idowu said.

In an emotion laden voice, he said: “His treatment has taken all I have. I no longer have a shop. Every week we spend not less than N13, 500.

My son was supposed to finish his HND this year but he is still doing his National Diploma,” tears rolled down his cheeks.

He appealed to the Kwara State Government, wellmeaning Nigerians, and corporate organisations to come to his aid. “I have tried to seek help from the Kwara State Government but I was not allowed, rather, someone I met, told me that the government does not entertain such request” If you are touched by Abdullahi’s story, please send your donation to Ganiyu Idowu, Access Bank, 0058440173 or call 08050952244.

P & G seeks improved oral healthcare

A

S the World rolls out drums to mark this year’s World Oral Health Day, Procter & Gamble, P&G, through its brand, Oral B Toothpaste, has launched a mobile dental clinic initiative tagged; “Sharing Smiles” to provide free dental care across three major cities in the country.

According to the World Dental Federation, FDI, 90 percent of the world’s population will suffer from oral diseases in their lifetime, many of which could have been avoided with better awareness, prevention, detection and treatment programmes.

The Sharing Smiles campaign which targets the Nigerian masses that lack access to dental care would address the challenge of FDI to government bodies, health institutions, corporate bodies and society groups.

Speaking in Lagos on the initiative, Brand Operation & Integration Manager, Mr. Ojo Folarin said the need to touch consumers’ lives was the driving force behind the campaign.

“Oral B places a high value on dental health and hygiene.

And because we realise not everyone can afford to pay for routine checks with professional dentists , we have, through this initiative brought these professionals to examine and give education on the importance of good oral practices as a way of disease prevention and improvement of overall health.”

He explained that the Mobile Clinic has since 2012 been visiting communities. This year, an engagement leg has been built on the programme which allows customers a chance to vote for communities to be visited.

Brand Communications & Customers Relations Manager, Ajewole Ayotomiwa stated: “We have set the voting system in place because we recognise the need for our loyal customers to be involved in the process of selecting the benefiting communities.

“By setting this feedback process in place we are not only giving customers a chance to make their voice heard, we are also ensuring this programme gets to the communities considered most deserving of the outreach by them.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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LOVE the excitemessnt, anticipation and roman tic energy of Valentine’s Day. It is a special day and you can feel it in the air. But my husband says that Valentine is fake and he doesn’t believe in it.

How can I celebrate and enjoy valentine if my own husband does not believe in it? Cynthia The 14th of February is the day that the whole world has set aside to celebrate romantic love. Humans don’t need a good excuse to celebrate for as long as the intentions are good and positive. We celebrate birthdays, Christmas days, Salah Days, Easter days, wedding anniversaries, independence days etc. A day of celebration is essentially a day that a person or group of people have set aside for remembrance and a bit of fun. Valentine is no different. On Valentine’s Day, we remember the relationships we have with people and we try to celebrate them because anything good is worth maintaining. Simply put, just like we maintain our cars, houses, appliances etc, relationships need to be maintained too and that is what Valentine is all about. So here is what I suggest. Your husband shouldn’t stop you from being happy and generous on the 14th of February. So regardless of what he has to say about it, buy him a card and a gift and give them to him on Valentine’s Day. Cook something nice.

I am sure he likes food like everyone else. And when night time comes, wear something seductive. I am sure when you put in this kind of effort; he will be forced to participate eventually. And if he ends up enjoying himself, he will likely change his mind about future Valentines – Uche There is a girl that I am friendly with. We are not officially dating but we are close. But for some reason, we have both not admitted to one another that we are lovers. Maybe I am too nervous to make the next move. This is Valentine week. What should I do? John Dear John, buy her a nice card and a thoughtful gift and then tell her that you want her to be your girl-

friend. It is as simple as that. Don’t be scared. You are not facing a firing squad. It is just a gesture and she will say yes – Uche Hello Chief. You have to hook your boys up. I have to perform on the 14th. I suffer from premature ejaculation and after the first round of intercourse, I have no energy left. Thanks – Moses Moses you can use the Liquid Sex Desensitizing Spray to control quick ejaculation and last longer. And to boost your performance, combine it with Exploding Thunder Supplement. Or you can buy just one product that does everything like Red Lips Premium or Rhino 5. These two super supplements strengthen weak erections, give erections on demand, stop premature ejaculation, enlarge the penis and help you perform multiple times for up to a week – Uche I want to buy my wife lingerie for valentine but I don’t know much about what is trendy or best – Alfred Alfred for sexy night gowns, we have the Baby Doll with Polka Dot Detail, the Halter Tie with Plunging Neck Line, the Under Wire baby doll with Rhine Stone Detail and many others. And then there are edible underwear and Crotchless underwear as well such as the Crotchless Pearl Black Panty, the Crotchless Tuxedo Panty and the Crotchless Frills Panty with Bow Detail.

You can see their images on www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

For more information, call the numbers below – Uche I need your best vibrator delivered before the 14th.

Add an orgasm gel as well – Mrs Ukaegbu Go for the 8 inch Vibrating Emperor and the Encounter Orgasm Gel. Call the numbers below-Uche The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com . Happy Valentine.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Leave Keshi alone — Bewarang P

RESIDENT of the N i g e r i a Football Coaches Association (NFCA) Bitrus Bewarang has made a passionate appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation to allow Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi face the task of leading the national team to Brazil 2014 without distractions..

He has called on the NFF to jettison the idea of recruiting a foreign technical assistant for the Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi.

According the former National Team coach who is the General Manager of Plateau United, Stephen Keshi has met all the targets set for him by the Football Federation, and should be allowed to see through his programme for the World cup.

“I doubt if that speculation is actually from the NFF, because I know that the NFF as presently constituted have the interest of Nigerian coaches at heart.

“I also know that they have the aim of ensuring that the Super Eagles surpass all their records at the World

OING by the pledge of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Nigerians are bound to witness the “best National Sports festival ever”, come November this year. “ This is the Centenary Games, the first ever Open Games and we are not only proud to be saddled with the historic responsibility, we are determined to make it the best National sports festival ever “ he said.

The state chief executive was speaking in Cal-

•Gov. Imoke

T

HE lure of playing international football was why Shooting Stars forward Gbolahan Salami moved to Warri Wolves.

Wolves will represent Nigeria in this year ’s CAF Confederation Cup after they were beaten in the final of the Federation Cup by Enyimba.

“I joined Warri Wolves so as to play at the continental level because I need another

•Keshi

I want to be in Brazil — Nwofor S

C Heerenveen striker Uche Nwofor is close to returning to competitive football with his Dutch club and keen to play himself back into reckoning for a World Cup place.

Nwofor told supersport.com that he is now “fit again” and “working hard” to get back into top shape at the Dutch club.

Imoke promises best national sports festival

G

Why I dumped 3SC — Salami

abar Tuesday, when members of the Main Organising Committee ( MOC ) of the festival led by Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, DG National Sports Commission and Chairman of the MOC paid him a courtesy call.

Hon Elegbeleye informed the Governor that his committee was in Calabar for a facility tour, to determine the state of facilities and interface with members of the Local Organising Committee ( LOC )on time lines for the festival tagged Paradise Games that will be held in November.

Governor Imoke said he was delighted to be part of the sports transformational agenda of the President Jonathan administration.

“You will remember that after our dismal outing in the Olympics, President Jonathan issued marching orders to all concerned and it has become a matter of policy which has heralded a new beginning for our sports."

The former Nigeria under-20 forward said he is more concerned with playing his way into the Super Eagles squad for the Fifa World Cup in Brazil than talk on about their opponents at the Mundial.

“I am fit again and I am working hard to meet up with my mates.

“We are pencils in the hand of God, if the opportunity (to be part of the World Cup squad) is given then I am ready to serve my great country.

“Right now I don’t want to say anything more (about our opponents) than making the list. Other things come after making it to the World Cup,” said the big striker..

The former Enugu Rangers man suffered an injury in Heerenveen’s 0-2 loss to FC Utrecht in November and was replaced

by Yanic Wildschut.

A

S a way of moving basketball to the next level in the country, the sponsor of the men’s national Premier League, Multichoice/ DStv has announced incentives for clubs to attract fans to their games as the 2013/2014 season dunks off February 28 with a preseason match between two premier league clubs at the National Stadium in Lagos.

In a communique released after the NBBF/

Wheelchair basketball federation woos spectators

A

•Nwofor

Basketball: Multichoice/DStv stake N.5m for crowd-pulling teams Match award for the

BY PATRICK OMORODION

challenged in my playing career,” Salami told MTNFootball.com “I know this is another challenge for me do well in the forthcoming Nigeria football league and prove my critics wrong that i am a good player.

“Joining Warri Wolves is good for me and I promise to deliver for them.”

He further disclosed he will join the team on Sunday.

Stakeholders Forum held in Abuja last week, the federation disclosed that the sponsor has introduced a cash prize of N500,000 and other incentives for the team with strongest fan base, adding however, that “teams are to be responsible for mobilising their fans and creating a fan base to ensure sustainable followership of the league games.”

The NBBF also disclosed that DStv has introduced the Supersport Man of the

best individual player in every match during the regular season which commences on March 7, 2014 at the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences.

•Umar

S part of its plan to make this year ’s Victor Ochei International Wheelchair basketball championship more attractive the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria(WBFN) has announced attractive goodies for spectators just as the Oyo state team commence camping exercise.

President of the federation, Bukola Olopade disclosed that spectators to the championship which holds between 18th-22nd February at the Indoor hall of the National Stadium, Surulere will on daily basis go home with different ranges of Android telephone handset while on the final day, a lucky fan will go home with the star prize of a Plasma TV, courtesy, Legend Interior, a close associate of Honourable Sir Victor Ochei; Speaker Delta State House of Assembly who is the sponsor of the annual event..

Speaking further, the former commissioner for Youth and Sports in Ogun state explained that the raffle draw was to encourage the spectators and draw fans to the championship.

He also informed that the 3rd edition of the championship would be supported by notable musical acts like D’banj and Olamide as part of their contribution to the special sport athletes.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014 — 63

Spurs to sign Eaglets star, Yahaya M

USA Yahaya, hailed as the Nigerian Neymar, is inching closer to completing his move to English Premier League campaigners, Tottenham Hotspur.

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that the Mutunchi Academy ace will arrive London, England on Saturday, February 15 to append his signature to a preliminary contract if he passes a routine medical.

The 16 - year - old will be accompanied on the trip by his father, one of his agents, Mohammed Babawo and Auwal Yusuf, the coach of the nursery team which has been nurturing him since childhood.

All members of the entourage have been issued visas to the United Kingdom.

Because Yahaya is still a minor, he can not sign a professional contract .However, there is a four - year deal waiting for him to sign when he clocks 18.

Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal and Ajax Amsterdam in the race for the signature of the highly rated starlet, who netted four times at the Fifa Under 17 World Cup.

K

UWAIT IT TF World Tour Nigeria’s representatives at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (IT TF) World Tour, tagged Kuwait Open started their campaigns on mixed fortunes after Aruna Quadri recorded an emphatic 4-0 win over Egypt’s Mohamed Elsobky, while Kazeem Makanjuola fell by same margin to France’s Benjamin Brossier.

Quadri who played in Group nine started the encounter against the southpaw Egyptian on a shaky note but he prevailed to win the first game at 13-11. The next three games went in his favour at 11-8,

recommended to the Executive Committee, the appointment of a new technical crew for the U20 boys’ team, Flying Eagles, while also recommending that all indigenous Coaches must obtain a Nigeria Football Federation Coaching License.

1) The Technical and D e v e l o p m e n t Committee would want to restate its stand that at no time did it contemplate, approve or recommend for the appointment of any foreign Technical Assistant to Head Coach of Super Eagles, Mr. Stephen Keshi.

2) Committee reiterates the fact that it has given, and will continue

Continues from BP

Man United’s revenue rises M

ANCHESTER United may be struggling to defend the Premier League title but their “disappointing” form has yet to have an impact on their commercial performance.

to give, its unflinching support to Mr. Keshi and the team to do Nigeria proud at the 20th FIFA World Cup finals, Brazil 2014.

3)The Committee recommended to the Executive Committee the following persons to make up the technical crew of the U-20 Men National Team, Flying Eagles: Manu Garba (Head Coach); Nduka Ugbade (Assistant Coach); Fancy Ewulu (Goalkeepers’ Trainer) 4) Committee recommended to the Executive Committee to make it compulsory for all indigenous Coaches to obtain a Nigeria Football Federation Coaching License.

11-8, 11-6 to record a whooping 4-0 win.

But it was not the same for his compatriot, Makanjuola, who is making his debut in an ITTF World Tour losing 5-11, 9-11, 8-11, 5-11 to his French opponent.

However, Quadri is in position to progress to the main draw as his last group match holds on Thursday February 13 against Russia’s Alexey Liventsov to decide the winner of the group.

Makanjuola last group match will be against Portugal’s Joao Monteiro.

The winner of the 32 groups in the qualifiers will advance to the main draw to confront the top 32 seeded players.

Keshi picks Yobo

Musa Yahaya in action for Nigeria

Technical Committee Continues from BP

Quadri in good start as Makanjuola loses

United reported commercial income of £42.3 million ($69.9m, 51.5m euros) – up 18 percent for the quarter and 30 percent on the year so far.

In the quarter to December 31, United initiated six new sponsorship deals, proof of the English football giants’ enduing global commercial

appeal.

This was despite a poor run of results under new manager David Moyes that has left United in seventh place, a huge 16 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and in danger of missing out on a place in next season’s European Champions League.

NFF Continues from BP But a resolute NFF officials who are avoiding a backlash from Nigerians have consented to appointing indigenous assistants for Keshi from the nine they have shortlisted. The names of the nine wise indigenous coaches are being kept secret.

Sports Vanguard gathered that the turnaround was all in the bid to end the brouhaha the assistant had created in the past few days.

“We mean well for Keshi and our football’’, one of the football buffs at the vanguard of employing assistants that would hopefully add

value to the technical bench of the Eagles said.

The source confirmed that nine tested Nigerian coaches have been shortlisted to give the coach a wide range of choice to pick from.

“We learnt he travelled to the USA for a brief holiday with his family.

He did not deem it fit to inform his employers.

All the same, we’re waiting for him to pick his assistants from the nine”, the source said.

The source added that the current NFF are ready to make sacrifices for Nigerian football but warned that it would not succumb to blackmail from any quarters.

African Nations Championship Most Valuable Player Ejike Uzoenyi and Canadabased striker Bright Dike.

New faces include former junior internationals Ramon Azeez and Shehu Abdullahi, and Belgiumbased strikers Imoh Ezekiel and Michael Uchebo. Centre - back Kunle Odunlami, who made CAF’s list of Best Eleven at the recent African Nations Championship in South

Africa, is also called.

Usual suspects like goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, defenders Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders John Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Obinna Nsofor will also fly to America.

THE FULL SQUAD OF 23 Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille FC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Joseph Yobo (Norwich City, England); Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars) Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Ramon Azeez (Almeria FC, Spain); Shehu Abdullahi (Kano Pillars); Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers) Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Shola Ameobi (Newcastle United, England); Victor Moses (Liverpool FC, England); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC. Turkey); Obinna Nsofor (Chievo Verona, Italy); Bright Dike (Toronto FC, Canada), Imoh Ezekiel (Standard Liege, Belgium); Michel Uchebo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium).

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014

Keshi picks Yobo, 22 others for Mexico friendly

S

NFF shortlists 9 local assistants for Keshi

BY TONY UBANI

UPER Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has listed Skipper Joseph Yobo in his squad of 23 for the international friendly against Mexico in Atlanta, USA on Wednesday, 5th March.

Yobo, who is back in the keenly-followed English Premiership, this time with Norwich City, on loan from Fenerbahce FC of Turkey, last played for the African champions at the 29th Africa Cup of

•Yobo Nations in South Africa, which Nigeria won.

Also returning are Israel-based defender Juwon Oshaniwa, 2014

Continues on Page 63

D

ETERMINED to add value to the technical bench of the Super Eagles and for Nigeria to make a meaningful impact at the World Cup in Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, may have finally dropped its idea of a foreign technical assistant and instead settled for Nigerian assistants.

Stephen Keshi had rebuffed the idea of a foreign assistant but insisted on the reinstatement of his former assistant, Sylvanus Okpalla who was sacked after the team won the African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Continues on Page 63

•Keshi

Technical Committee dispels ‘foreign assistant’ rumours Porsche on bricks

— Robert Lewandowski was never going to be the fan’s favourite he was last season after announcing his intentions to leave Dortmund for their Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.The Polish striker is set to join the European champions at the end of the season which has left the Westfalenstadion faithful feeling a little disgruntled. Lewandowski was forced to phone the police after the wheels of his Porsche Cayenne GTS were stripped right off, leaving the vehicle on bricks outside the forward’s home.

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Fold (5) 7 Impel (4) 8 Clamour (6) 9 Believe (5) 11 Unhappy (3) 13 Fish-eggs (3) 15 Thought (4) 16 Defective (3) 18 Curve (4) 19 Harmed (7) 20 Cupid (4) 22 Blast (4) 23 Quiet (7) 25 So be it (4) 27 Rabbit (3) 28 Nothing (4) 30 Wand (3) 31 Noise (3) 33 Renovate (15) 36 Pair (6) 37 Exclude (4)

T

HE Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation rose from its 22nd meeting on Wednesday, 12th February,

2014, slamming the speculations of a planned ‘foreign technical assistant’ for Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi.

The Committee also Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD

38 Heathen (5) DOWN 1 Trample (5) 2 Favourite (3) 3 Bird (3) 4 Child (3) 5 Pig-pen (3) 6 Fire-raising (5) 10 Dross (4) 11 Cocktail (7) 12 Ousted (7) 13 Diminished (7) 14 Issue (7) 16 Old-fashioned (5) 17 Jig (5) 18 Plead (3) 21 Transgress (3) 24 Observe (4) 26 Engine (5) 29 Inflexible (5) 32 Imitate (3) 33 Material (3) 34 Horse (3) 35 Gained (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Slot 4, Bet 6, Safe 9, Nil 10, Conserve 11, Idol 14, Lap 16, Berth 19, Received 21, Tenor 23, Damaging 24, Torch 27, Up 31, Pert 33, Evacuate 34, Sue 35, Seed 36, Lie 37, Tame.

DOWN: 2, Look 3, Task 4, Bereaved 5, Tier 6, Snipe 7, Aid 8, Flout 12, Tract 13, Actor 14, Lit 15, Penal 17, Rapid 18, Hedge 20, Dominate 22, Rap 25, Obese 26, Cited 28, Peel 29, Hunt 30, Stem 32, Rue.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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