Fight terror anywhere,Govs charge Jonathan by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61880

FG earns N2.4trn in three months; incurs N284bn deficit •P.8

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Dangote, Elumelu become first African leaders on CCA board

PRESIDENCY:

•P.36

Shema, Akpabio's posters flood Lagos •P.12

Fight terror anywhere, Govs charge Jonathan •S-South, S-East govs endorse his leadership •Terrorists may overrun Nigeria, Mark warns —P.6 •PDP primaries: Anenih calls for change of process —P.15

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—ROBUST support came for President Goodluck Jonathan from SouthSouth and South-East governors, who yesterday, gave a strong endorsement of his leadership and charged him to confront terror wherever it may be found in the land. The governors at a Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

DELE SOBOWALE •P.34

LES LEBA •P.40

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P. 48

PAUL BASSEY •P.54

Mr & Mrs

GOVERNORS' MEETING—Top from left: Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Sullivan Chime (Enugu)and Liyel Imoke (Cross River). Below from left: Governors Godswill Akpabio (A-Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia) and Peter Obi (Anambra) at the South-South/South East Governors meeting held yesterday in Asaba, Delta State. Photos: Henry Unini.

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

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C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

BOOK LAUNCH—From left: Celebrant and author, Chief Bandele Falegan; Ekiti State Gov-

ernor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; wife of former Presidential aspirant, Mrs. Racheal Falae and her husband, Chief Olu Falae, during the launch of the book, My Yester-Years, in Ado-Ekiti, weekend.

Fight terror anywhere, Govs charge Jonathan Continues from page 1 meeting in Asaba, Delta State, condemned the behaviour and antics of Nigerians and those they described as their “evil collaborators,” who according to them, have decided to assault the

collective consciousness of the nation by encouraging terrorism in the country. The meeting of the governors was across party lines. The only absentee was Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Good leaders do not pretend to know it all, and they do not try to do everything by themselves, leadership for them is a TEAM sport, they all know they have weaknesses; their teams balance their own strengths and weaknesses. A leader is always willing to lead and be led.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

HEN your heart is filled with divine love. You have everything and that inner glow is always with you. No one can take that away from you unless you allow it— Ella Randle I looked at this beautiful picture and it feel like I just ate my favourite vanilla ice-cream. I seldom do take ice cream for personal reasons but whenever I do, it feels like being in heaven, I’m sure you catch my drift. My dear niece has a different take on this photo, she says it feels like love, it got me thinking really how our perception is mostly mirrored by what we feel inside. She is a beautiful Soul, always seeing the good in everyone but in reality moments before I took this picture, I blatantly refused to be overwhelmed by stress and challenges springing from every turn. Admittedly, it is hard mastering each process of learning but it can be done. I always find a quiet place to contemplate and get better perspectives on life with divine intention I completely surrender. I recall, a long time ago, even though I knew better, I was wondering how long...dear God! How long? I was whining, crying and just so much unnecessary worries about things. A dear friend was with me; he got up and brought me a mirror and bucket. Take a look at yourself; see through to you Ella, the real you. He says, what do see? For I see a most amazingly beautiful Soul, a beautiful heart, and if you still feel like crying and whining for all the ‘have not’ and so called ‘injustice’ in your life, here is a bucket, fill it with your tears, I’ ll just bring you another. Surprisingly, I laughed and we both laughed beautifully, a fine way of reminding me how blessed life is for all us. If we are grateful enough to count our blessings.

State. Those present were Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River; Peter Obi of Anambra; Chief Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Hon. Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta. Also present were Chief Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), while Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikulu. The governors said they "salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria". Yesterday ’s meeting hosted by Governor Uduaghan was also an opportunity to foster regional integration and is believed to dovetail into the quest for greater economic self-determination as has recently been championed by SouthSouth governors through the BRACED commission. Prior to yesterday ’s meeting, political leaders from the South-East met in Enugu on Saturday where the governors of the region were believed to have articulated their positions ahead of yesterday ’s meeting. Yesterday ’s resolutions were also believed to boost the quest of authorities in Delta State to use Asaba as a hub for regional integration between the two zones. Further support also came the way of the president in a meeting

of the South-South caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was going on in Asaba at press time, yesterday. Present at the meeting were political office holders at national and state levels, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, zonal and national officers of the party and governors from the South-South geopolitical zone. The meeting Vanguard learnt, was expected to call on party members to rally round the president and the party in the light of increasing dissension within and outside the party. Before the meeting commenced last night, top officials from the zone called for unity and in the words of one attendee, “we are rallying round to ensure that we are one in word and action because if we are not, we would not be able to confront the attacks that would soon start coming.” The meeting was also expected to give strong support for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and make a declaration on the ongoing constitution review in the National Assembly, especially as it concerns the position of local governments in the federation and within the state.

The communiqué The communiqué issued on the meeting of South-South and SouthEast governors, jointly

read by Governors Imoke and Obi, said: *The South-South and South-East Governors commend His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for his focused leadership and bold, result-yielding Transformation Agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilising the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens continue to unfold. *The South-South and South-East Governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old Eastern and Midwest regions now the South-South and South-East. The governors pledged to strengthen cooperation across the board with particular focus on development of infrastructure linking the region particularly federal roads. *The Governors also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate all rail lines linking the States in the region as well as embark on the construction of railway links between all the states. The Governors also pledged to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region, including the Abia Dry Port and called on the Nigeria Ports Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objective. *The Governors commend Mr. President for the extensive ongoing rehabilitation/modernisation of the airports across the country particularly those in our regions. The Governors also called on Mr. President to establish cargo airports, including Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the

regions including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge and also calls for the dredging of the Calabar Port. *The Governors agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries particularly in palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions. *The Governors of the South-South and the South-East states called on the Federal Government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status amongst the states of the region.

Security and State of the Nation *The South-South and South-East governors plead with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting our country. The governors also agreed to work together and ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson, pipeline vandalisation as well as other nefarious activities in the regions to secure the regions and ensure that they remain conducive environment for investments. *The meeting was concerned at the condemnable behaviour and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the nation, by waging various acts of terrorism; the SouthSouth and South-East Governors not only commiserate with the President, the Governments of all affected areas, the victims, their families and majority of peaceloving Nigerians, but salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria, while appealing to all lawabiding citizens to sincerely join hands with Governments to stamp out these and other evils from our society."

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Bama: NEMA distributes relief materials BY NDAHI MARAMA

AIDUGURI— THE National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has started distributing relief materials to victims of last week’s mayhem in Bama where 55 persons, mainly security personnel were killed when the Boko Haram sect attacked the town. The relief materials were distributed in batches to the Nigerian Army barracks, the police and the prison authorities in the area for families that were attacked. Another batch of relief materials was given to the Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Umar Ibn Elkanemi, to distribute among his subjects who were affected. A delegation from NEMA headquarters led by the Director of Administration, Dr. Zanna Muhammed, was in Bama, weekend, to deliver the materials to the victims. In a statement by the NorthEast Information Officer of the agency, AbdulKadir Ibrahim, the displaced persons as a result of the attack were sheltered at the Mobile Police Base in Bama.

Brutality: Apologise now or else, nurses tell IG BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN — NATIONAL President, Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Mr. Abdrafiu Alani Adeniji, has given the Nigeria Police 72 hours to accept responsibility and apologise for the brutality of some nurses last week by policemen in Ibadan. The nurses, who were in Ibadan for the commemoration of the 2013 International Nurses Week at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan were allegedly mistaken for members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram as they were about entering the institution. While speaking with newsmen at the end of the fourday programme, Adeniji condemned the act, stressing that if the police failed to own up to the violation of the human rights of the nurses, take responsibility for their treatment and tender an apology, all nurses in the country would meet and take a drastic action to protest the alleged police brutality.

Terrorists may over-run Nigeria, Mark warns

As IG moves AIG to Nasarawa BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & HENRY UMORU

BUJA — THE Senate President David Mark warned, yesterday, that unless everybody comes together to tackle the security challenge, the perpetrators might over run the country. This came as the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, directed the AIG in charge Zone 4, Mike Zuokumor, to relocate to Lafia, Nasarawa State, following last Wednesday’s killing of scores of Policemen in the state by the Ombatse sect group and the delay in investigation to apprehend the culprits. The Senate President who expressed grave concern over the continued killings and wanton destruction of property in the country argued that foreigners who might be accused of being sponsors of members of Boko Haram sect currently terrorising some parts of the country would not succeed if Nigerians were not involved internally as willing tools for the deadly act. ‘’There could be foreign collaborators but the foreigners would not succeed if there are no willing tools internally,” he said, In a statement, yesterday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark also raised alarm that no one was safe any longer in the country, just as he stressed that the continued loss of lives and property could not be a way of life, adding: "The situation has degenerated to an intolerable level and exposes everybody to danger.” He condemned in strong terms the attack and killing of policemen and other security operatives in Nasarawa State by some cultists and submitted that “nobody, no nation, no matter how weak, would live to accept such

heinous crime.” The statement read: "An angry Senator Mark wondered what is happening to us as a people is strange and condemnable. How did we degenerate to this level where everyone became a brothers’ hater instead of being our brothers’ keeper? The situation calls for soul searching. We must re-examine ourselves. We must look inwards.”

IG moves AIG to Nasarawa AIG Zoukumor who is in charge of Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States, has his headquarters in Markudi, the Benue State capital. According to a statement by CSP Frank Mba, Force spokesman, the highly experienced and operationally-minded officer, is to coordinate all ongoing operations relating to the incident. The statement reads: “As part of efforts at encouraging a wider

and communal participation in the investigation into the recent killing of Policemen in Nasarawa State, the Police High Command has established a dedicated telephone line for members of the public who may wish to provide vital and useful information to the Police. “To this effect, the IGP appeals to Nigerians who may be in possession of information that could aid on-going investigation not to hesitate in providing same to the Police, promising that all such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality. “Such information can be provided via phone number 07066228200 (calls or SMS) or e m a i l : policemonitor@npf.gov.ng. “The IGP reminded the public that an attack on the security forces of any nation is an attack on the entire nation. He, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to support the Police as they strive to tackle this and other security

challenges facing the nation.

....Force welfare officer also “Meanwhile, in a bid to ameliorate the plight of the dependants and family members of the fallen police officers, the IGP has ordered the immediate relocation of the Force Welfare Officer, DCP Abiodun Ige from Force Headquarters to Nasarawa State. “It is to enable her effectively and speedily coordinate all welfare related issues touching on the families of the late officers, including the payment of all statutory and relevant compensations. “The IGP appeals for patience and understanding of family and friends of the slain officers, particularly as it relates to the issue of the release of the bodies of the officers, promising that all corpses will be released as soon as preliminary enquiries are concluded."

Widows and family members of the slain policemen during the visit of the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to the police headquarters, Lafia, Nasarawa State, weekend. Photo: NAN.

One killed, 28 arrested over Ebonyi market crisis BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI — ONE per son was feared dead, weekend, following the crisis that erupted at Abakpa Market along Gunning Road in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, as 28 suspects were said to have been arrested in connection with the incident by men of the Ebonyi State police command. The incident which took place around 6:25 p.m, Vanguard learnt, was said to have been caused by an unusual traffic jam within the market environment, which hampered movement by passers-by and commuters.

The crisis within the market was said to have been triggered when a policeman who volunteered to ensure free flow of traffic accidentally shot a passer-by in the hand. The action, Vanguard learnt, made some already agitated traders and their customers to allegedly beat up the policeman, dispossess him of his gun and injuring him in the process. In retaliation, according to sources at the the market, a team of policemen then fired teargas into the market, arrested 28 suspects and allegedly shot a man to death. The victim, one Ndubuisi, 22, an indigene of Ebonyi State was on his way home after closing for

the day. Speaking with Vanguard, the owner of the shop where the deceased worked, Mr. Aaron Onurah who expressed shock at police denial over the man’s death, said a petition had already been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, CP, Saba Ndagi, as the matter had been reported to the Divisional Police Officer, Ekumeyi police station. Contacted, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Sylvester Igbo who said the police had on the fateful day made frantic effort to reduce the extent of the traffic jam within the market noted that a police corporal in the process was attacked,

his gun taken away while a police patrol vehicle was allegedly smashed by the aggrieved traders. “Two persons attacked the police Corporal and were struggling to take away his gun; in the process the gun went off and injured a passer-by, then the traders attacked the policemen. “One was badly injured and his gun taken away by his attackers and they smashed the police vehicle. “The injured policeman is placed on intensive medical care at the police clinic in Abakaliki and the other at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA. 28 suspects have been arrested."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013—7

162 suspected cultists arrested in Lagos BY EVELYN USMAN

AGOS— A TOTAL of 162 persons were arrested, weekend, on Lagos Island during a joint raid by security agencies, aimed at curbing activities of cultists and hoodlums in the area. The coordinated raids were carried out by policemen from divisions under the Area ‘A’ command, Lion Building, those from the

Special Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Police Mobile Squad 20, Directorate of State Security, DSS, the Military and members of Neighbourhood Watch. Sources said the operatives stormed hideouts of suspected cultists between 9 p.m, and 10.30 p.m. Among those arrested were two females. Areas raided included LUTA, Bamgboshe, Masey, Oja-Oba and Adeniji Adele

under bridge. Although it could not be ascertained whether those arrested were members of any cult group, but sources told Vanguard that they were being interrogated, at the end of which the innocent ones among them would be released. The raid, as gathered, was part of measures to check excesses of cult groups in the area and also to ensure they do not have a foot hold on the Island.

One feared dead as crisis rocks IYC parley BY EMMA ARUBI

ARRI — THE crisis rocking the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, took a dramatic turn with one person feared dead following gunshot wounds he allegedly sustained during the constitution amendment convention held in Bayelsa State, last week. Mr. Edolo Okubo from Tarakiri clan in Sagbama council area of the state, was allegedly severely wounded when security personnel accompanying the Special Assistant to the President, allegedly fired gunshots at the convention venue and disrupted the event. In a statement by the Ijaw Transformation Group, ITG, signed by Comrades Demebide Pele and Abulu Graham in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, they alleged that the presidential aide came to the venue of the convention with youths chanting war songs with the sole purpose of disrupting the meeting last Saturday. According to the statement, confusion started when Alabo Negi James raised a belated objection that led to severe argument wherein the special

assistant forcefully snatched the microphone from Dr. Felix Tuodolor, pioneer IYC president and Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs representing the Governor of Bayelsa State who was presiding at the conven-

tion and moved for the adjournment of the constitution amendment process. The motion was quickly overruled by Dr. Felix Tuodolor and the special adviser felt slighted and walked out with his boys.

Gunmen in fresh attack on police barracks in Borno BY NDAHI MARAMA

AIDUGURI — BARELY a week after the military, police and prison formations in Bama, Borno State were attacked by Boko Haram gunmen, police barracks in the outskirts of the township were attacked by the terror suspects with Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, and petrol bombs in the early hours of yesterday. An anonymous female resident of the barracks said in a telephone chat: “The gunmen came on motorcycles and tricycles at about 3 a.m. and started chanting Allahu Akbar (God is great), before detonating the bombs that triggered the burning of these houses. We had to flee in the night.

“Through the window of one of the houses, a gunman shouted that the policemen and their wives and children should leave the town immediately. “Five minutes later, I heard three blasts at the east flank of the barracks, before soldiers rushed to the scene and repelled them, making them to escape towards Mubi road and College of Education, Bama.” She also told Vanguard that none of the residents of the Police barracks was killed or injured, because when they started torching some of the houses, the women and children were forced to run to adjacent buildings for safety before armed military personnel swung into action.

JTF indicts N-Delta communities over oil theft

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA —THE Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield, has decried what it described as community shielding of crude oil thieves in the region. Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in an inter-

view in Yenagoa also lamented what he called the ineptitude of oil company surveillance contractors in the region. According to the JTF, the active involvement or shielding of participants in the illicit trade by communities encouraged the criminality in the region. The JTF spokesman noted that oil thieves had converted communi-

ties in the region to depots where they stored illegally refined crude oil in drums. He said the practice of storing inflammable stolen products under the protection of the communities had compelled the task force to initiate advocacy programme to sensitise the communities on the inherent dangers of such practice.

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

BY GABRIEL OMOH, BUSINESS EDITOR

HE total revenue collected by the Federal Government stood at N2. 425.3 trillion in the first three months of 2013, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has reported in its first quarter 2013 report on its website. The report, however, said “the Federal Government retained revenue was N908.1 billion, while total expenditure was N1.192.9 trillion. Thus, the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated deficit of N284.8billion or 2.9 per cent of estimated nominal GDP for first quarter 2013, compared with the quarterly budgeted deficit and the preceding quarter’s deficits of N276.1billion and N76.9billion, respectively”. According to the CBN, revenue for the three months showed “a decline of 2.4 and 17.9 per cent below the receipts in the preceding quarter and corresponding quarter of 2012, respectively”. The report said “at N1. 849.5trillion, oil receipts, which constituted 76.3 per cent of the total, exceeded both the budget estimate and receipts in the preceding quarter by 15.5 and 1.4 per cent, respectively, but declined by 22.2 per cent below the receipts in the corresponding period of 2012. The increase in oil receipts relative to the preceding period was attributed, largely, to the rise in the receipts from crude oil/gas exports and domestic crude oil/ gas sales and “other” oil revenue during the review period. According to the CBN “Nonoil receipts, at N575.8 billion was below the budget estimate and receipts in the preceding quarter by 23.3 and 12.8 per cent, respectively. Nigeria’s crude oil production the CBN said “including condensates and natural gas liquids, was estimated at an average of 2.05million barrels per day (mbd) or 184.50million barrels for the quarter. Crude oil export stood at 1.60mbd or 144.0million barrels for the quarter, while deliv-

FG earns N2.4trn in 3 months; incurs deficit of N284bn zOil revenue exceeds budget estimate as non-oil revenue drops eries to the refineries for domestic consumption remained at 0.45 mbd or 40.50million barrels. The average price of Nigeria’s reference crude, the Bonny Light (370 API), estimated at US$115.34 per barrel, rose by 2.3 per cent over the level in the preceding quarter. Giving details of the fiscal operations of the three tiers of government in the country, the CBN said “Of the gross collected revenue during the review quarter, the sum of N1,366.70 billion (after accounting for all deductions and transfers) was transferred to the Federation Account for distribution among the three tiers of government and the 13 percent derivation fund. The Federal Government received N643.79billion, while the states and local governments received N326.54billion and N251.75billion, respectively. The balance of N144.62billion went to the 13 percent derivation fund for distribution by the oil-producing states. Also, the Federal Government received N26.72billion from the VAT pool account, while the state and local governments received N89.06billion and N62.34 billion, respectively. In addition, the sum of N333.81billion was drawn from the Excess Crude Account ,ECA, to bridge the short-fall in revenue for the period and was shared as follows: Federal (N152.99billion), states (N77.60billion), local governments (N59.83 billion) and oil producing states (N43.40 billion). “An additional N106.65billion was also distributed among the

From left: Mr. Peter Nnwochei, Vice President, School of Media and Communication Alumni Association, SMCAA; Prof. Emevuo Biakolo, Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-African University, Lagos; Prof. Cleopas Angaye, DG/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA; and Mr. Bayero Agabi, President, SMCAA, during a breakfast with Prof. Cleopas Angaye at School of Media and Communication, Pan-African University, Lagos, weekend. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

tiers of government and oil producing states from the Subsidy Re-investment and the sum of N1,366.70 billion out of the revenue was set aside for distribution by the three tiers of government and the 13 perceent derivation fund for oil producing states. Thus, the total allocation to the three tiers of government in the first quarter of 2013 amounted to N2,008.12 billion. This exceeded the 2013 quarterly budget estimate by 9.3 per cent. At N908.14billion, the Federal Government retained revenue for the first quarter of 2013 was lower than both the proportionate budget estimate and receipts in the preceding quarter by 11.0 and 1.6 per cent, respectively. Relative to the receipts in the corresponding period of 2012, Federal Government retained revenue also declined by 10.6 per cent. Of this amount, the Federal Government share from the Federation Account, VAT pool account and Federal Government independent revenue were N643.87billion, N26.34billion and N35.42billion, respectively, while “others” accounted for the balance of N202.51billion. “Total estimated expenditure for the first quarter stood at N1.19292trillion and was lower than the proportionate budget estimate by 8.0 per cent, but higher than the levels in the preceding quarter and corresponding period of 2012 by 5.5 and 8.3 per cent, respectively.

The development (relative to the quarterly budget estimate) was attributed to the delay in capital releases during the review period. A breakdown of the total expenditure showed that the recurrent component accounted for 65.5 per cent, capital component 27.0 per cent, while statutory transfers accounted for the balance of 7.5 per cent Further breakdown of the recurrent expenditure showed that the non-debt component accounted for 77.4 per cent, while debt service payments accounted for the balance of 22.6 per cent. Thus, the fiscal operations of the Federal Government resulted in an estimated deficit of N284.78 billion or 2.9per cent of the estimated nominal GDP for the quarter, compared with the 2013 benchmark and the preceding quarter deficits of N276.11billion and N207.32 billion, respectively. The deficit was financed mainly from domestic sources. According to the CBN, “total allocation to state governments (including the Federation Account, 13.0 per cent Derivation Fund and share of VAT receipts) stood at N734.07billion in the first quarter 2013. This represented a decline of 1.0 per cent below the level in the preceding quarter, but an increase of 4.0 per cent above the level in the corresponding quarter of 2012. “Further breakdown showed that at N645.01 billion, receipts from Federation Account constituted 87.9 per cent of the total, indicating a decline of 0.2 and

0.5 per cent age point relative to the levels in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2012, respectively. At N89.06 billion, receipts from VAT constituted 12.1 per cent of the total, indicating an increase of 0.2 and 0.5 percentage point relative to the levels in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2012, respectively. “On a monthly basis, the sum of N205.22 billion, N207.49 billion and N321.36 billion was allocated as statutory allocations and VAT receipts to the 36 state governments in January, February and March 2013, respectively. “Total receipts by the Local Governments from the Federation and VAT pool accounts during the first quarter of 2013, stood at N401.68billion. This amount was below the levels in the preceding quarter and corresponding period of 2012 by 3.8 and 2.4 per cent, respectively. Of the total amount, allocation from the Federation Account was N339.34billion (84.5per cent), while VAT Pool Account accounted for the balance of N62.34billion (15.5 per cent). On a monthly basis, the sum of N113.61billion, N116.49billion and N171.58 billion was allocated to the 774 local governments in January, February and March 2013, respectively”. The CBN first quarter 2013 report noted that “the end -period headline inflation rate (year-onyear) was 8.6per cent, compared to12.0and 1 2.1per cent recorded at the end of the preceding quarter and the corresponding quarter of 2012, respectively.

Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013—9

Constitution review: Reps to reduce items on exclusive list BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

AGOS—SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, weekend, said the House was working towards ensuring that majority of items on the exclusive list were moved to the concurrent list. The Speaker, who spoke in Lagos, said this would engender speedy resolution of several national issues and promote democratic culture. Represented by Adekunle Adeyemi, at the 11th anniversary and annual lecture of Crusade for Justice, with theme, “Oil and Gas, Human Rights and the Nigerian State: An Overview,” the Speaker said the House would remain on the side of the people in the ongoing review of the constitution by the National Assembly. According to him: "On the ongoing review of the constitution, we are working to ensure that items on the exclusive list are pushed to the concurrent list and if possible to the residual list”. President and founder of the Crusade for Justice, Mr. Richard Nwankwo, said the country had lost over $100 billion to crude oil theft between 2003 and 2008, quot-

ing a United States Institute of Peace, USIP, report titled: “Blood money in the Niger”. The lead speaker, Dr. Yemi Oke, of the Post Graduate School, University of Lagos, in his paper titled, “Oil and Gas,

Human rights and the Nigerian State: Right-Based Approach to Energy governance in Nigeria,” contended that the controversy generated by the 10 percent share proposed to the resource-bearing communities in the Petroleum In-

dustry Bill, PIB, further revealed a lack of framework to ensure fairness in the distribution of gains derived from the exploitation of oil and gas and other natural resources in the country.

AGOS State Government, weekend, urged residents not to panic as the rainy season began, assuring that any flash flood recorded during any rainfall, would be temporary as the government had done what was needed to ensure the flood did not last. This came as it urged residents residing on low line areas to relocate when the intensity of the rains became severe, as the state would not want any resident to lose his or her life or property to flood during the rainy period. Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, spoke while monitoring the mid rain cleaning programme in Lagos Island, Mainland and Victoria Island executed by the drainage maintenance office and emergency flood abatement arms of the Ministry during weekend's rainfall. According to Bello, any flood seen would disappear as soon as the rain stopped, because the ministry had cleaned and dredged primary and secondary channels across the state ahead of this year’s rainy season. He said government would sustain its maintenance and cleaning programmes to ensure that major canals and channels were kept

memorial lecture in honour of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, Deputy General Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, who was assassinated in Benin-City by yet-to-be identified gunmen will hold on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at the Textile Labour House, Agindingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Oyerinde was Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, at the time of his assasisnation on May 4, 2012. He lived and died a committed comrade whose revolutionary struggles traversed student movement, civil society, pro-democracy, trade unionism and political activism. In commemoration of the first annivesary of his death, a public lecture with the theme: 'Sanctity of Life and Democracy in Nigeria' will be delivered by human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN.

Roads: CNPP asks FG to pay Lagos govt N51bn LUNCHEON—From left: Director-General, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Ajayi; President, AES Excellence Club Governing Council, Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu; and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu, at the AES Excellence Club bi-monthly business luncheon in Lagos.

Rainfall: Lagos govt urges residents not to panic BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

Memorial lecture for Late Oyerinde

clean to allow free flow and discharge of water whenever it rained. The commissioner, however,

advised residents residing along the coast lines, Lagoons, low line areas like Kuramo Beach, Alpha Beach, Okun Mapo, Owode

Elede, Ikorodu, Badia, Ijora, Ajegunle and other areas to relocate when the intensity of the rain became severe.

ACN, CPC warn Jonathan against imposition of state of emergency in Northern states BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

CTION Congress of Niger ia, ACN, and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, weekend urged President Goodluck Jonathan, to stick to dialogue in dealing with the Boko Haram crisis rather than imposing a state of emergency on some of the northern states, considered worst hit by activities of insurgents. ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to reported plan to impose state of emergency on some states in the North, said if the imposition of emergency rule on the affected states was the only viable option left for President Jonathan to tackle the crisis, then he should step down. The party said, "imposing state of emergency on the states that have been mentioned, like Borno, Yobe and Nasarawa

states will amount to shifting responsibility and unduly victimizing the governors of those states, who have done perhaps more than the President, in dealing with the crisis, though they are not in charge of any security apparatus". On its part, CPC in a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, while opposing

the plan, said "as a party, we have noticed a dangerous trend that the states mainly embroiled in these spates of insecurity are mainly non-PDP states which further fuels the notion that these insurgencies are purposely orchestrated to create the ambience for the declaration of emergency rule in the states."

Fashola to crown 2013 power kids

OVERNOR Babatunde Fas hola of Lagos State, is to crown the power kids student and the winning school at the Lagos Power Kid 2013 award slated for tomorrow. In a statement by the General Manager, Lagos State Electricity Board, Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, the programme was set up with the aim of improving the knowledge of secondary school students

on electricity and its different sources, alternative forms of energy, energy conservation, and how to calculate energy consumption. To commemorate the successful completion of the 2012-2013 programme, the Lagos Power Kids award will include reward of students and the schools for their hard work.

ONFERENCE of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Lagos State chapter, has urged the Federal Government to pay the N51 billion it owed Lagos State government, being the amount the state said it expended in the rehabilitation of federal roads in the state. In a statement by Mr. Akinola Obadia, Chairman of the state’s CNPP, said "the unpaid debts were slowing down the pace of development by the Fashola-led administration of building a mega-city", adding that “to continue to owe a state like Lagos debts of over N51 billion in road rehabilitation is an unpardonable political misadventure of the Federal Government.

Missing person

Lagos businessman, Mr Ramon Yinusa, has been declared missing. According to family source, the 42 years old man was last seen on December 28, 2012 at his 104 Itire Road, Lawanson office after the Jumat service. The case has since been reported at the Mushin Police Station. If seen, please contact the brother, Mr Rasheed Yinusa on 080033788172 or 08024934095 or the Nigeria Police Force Area D, Mushin, Lagos.

zMr Ramon Yinusa

10—Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

OAU VC blames insecurity on fanatics BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

ICE-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Tale Omole, weekend, said the activities of religious fundamentalists from the two main religions were responsible for some crises facing the country. The Vice Chancellor argued that those who found it difficult to tolerate the views of others, belong to this category and their activities always led to confusion and crises in the country. He said: “I am a public leader and not a religious leader. What destroys Nigeria is fundamentalism in both religions.” Omole, who spoke while receiving the delegation of Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association, UNIFEMGA, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said it was foolhardy for one to fight a fellow human being on the basis of different religions, which he said runs contrary to the tenets of Islam and Christianity.

Ekiti reviews 2013 budget

KITI State 2013 budget is to be reviewed to ensure speedy completion of all ongoing projects. This formed part of resolutions reached at the Second Executive-Legislature Parley, which took place from Wednesday to Saturday at Ikogosi-Ekiti. The parley had in attendance Governor Kayode Fayemi; his Deputy, Prof. Dupe Adelabu; members of the State Executive Council, members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly members from the state. Participants in the programme noted that the eight-point agenda of the Fayemi administration had led to a huge expansion in the stock of infrastructure in the state and attracted investors.

Omisore, most misunderstood Nigerian— Mimiko BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO—GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has described Senator Iyiola Omisore, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Osun State, as the most misunderstood Nigerian. Governor Mimiko, in a brief remark shortly after Lions Club International honoured Senator Omisore with Melvin Jones Award in Osogbo, weekend, however, assured Omisore that history will soon vindicate him. According to Mimiko, who referred to Senator Omisore as “Your Excellency ” in his speech, the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, will soon realise his

aspiration to govern Osun State. He said: “I want to say here today that my very good friend, Senator Iyiola Omisore is in Nigeria, today, the most misunderstood person. But I want to assure him

that history will definitely vindicate him at the end of the day.” Omisore, in his acceptance speech for the award, entitled I am humbled, said: “It is an honour to be considered as having worked the path of some outstanding leaders like Coretta King, Jimmy Carter, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Koffi

Fire guts 2-storey building in Lagos BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS—A two-storey building at 13, Bashir Street, Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, was yesterday, gutted by fire destroying property yet to be estimated. This came barely five days after a three-storey building

under construction on the same street collapsed, killing two persons and injuring several workers who were working on the structure. Vanguard gathered that the fire, which started at 4pm, was from a gas cooker in a kitchen on the second floor of the building. It was also learnt that out of panic, the occupants of the

Ogun pays N200m LG workers' arrears BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—A strong in dication emerged, weekend, that Ogun State government had paid N200 million arrears to the workers in all the local government areas

in the state to avert threatened industrial action. The workers had given the state government a 21-day ultimatum, which had almost lapsed before the payment. The caretaker Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local

Bricklayer nabbed over labourer's death BY EVELNY USMAN

AGOS—POLICE in Lagos have arrested a bricklayer for allegedly killing a labourer with a shovel. It was gathered that the incident occurred at 9am on May 7 at Sango-Tedo, along the Epe/Lekki expressway, Ogombo, Lagos. It was gathered that the suspect, Alaba Jona, and the deceased, Segun Peters, were working together at the site. While Jona was the bricklayer in charge of the building under construction, late Peters was mixing sand, cement and gravel. Vanguard learnt that at 10am, Peters said he was tired and wanted to rest. This did not go down well with Jona. He allegedly collected the shovel from late Peters and hit him in the stomach with it.

Annan, Olusegun Mimiko, among others. “I am not perfect as perfection belongs to God alone. But successes and travails of my life mould me on daily basis. “There has been a process of divine refinement, which continuously sharpens my appreciation of humanity and reinforces my desire to serve."

A police source told Vanguard: “Peters’ stomach ripped open and he slumped. He died before help could come.” The remains of Peters have been deposited at a morgue on the Island by the police, while Jona had been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba.

Governments Employees, NULGE, Benedict Akinleye, who gave the hint to herald the union’s award and gala night, commended the Amosun administration for releasing the money as first installment of the debt owed by the past administration. Akinleye said the officials of NULGE in the state have reached an agreement with the government on the modalities of offsetting the accumulated debt resulting from unremitted pension deductions. He, however, appealed to the state government to fulfill its promise of supporting the local government councils with the payment of the second installment so that the council chairmen could sustain the monthly payment of salaries.

building jumped through windows of their apartments to safety. Confirming the fire incident, the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, said that the fire may have been caused by the fire from a gas cooker because a gas cylinder went up in flames from the kitchen on the second floor. Fadipe said: “The fire started from the kitchen. They must have been cooking and left it unattended to because we found a gas cooker that was in use in the kitchen of the second floor.” The director said occupants of the building had been asked to vacate the premises to avert loss of lives, adding that the building was no longer safe for habitation. He said: “Right now, due to the intensity of the fire and the impact of the water during the rescue operation, the building must have been affected. “We don’t want another tragedy in the place. So residents have been evacuated. “The lady that jumped from the top-most floor had been attended to by sympathisers and other emergency agencies.” Fadipe appealed to Lagos residents to be safety-conscious and avoid things that could cause fire accidents in their homes and at workplaces.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013—11

Oritsejafor’s re-election good omen for Nigeria—Owie BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—FORMER Senate Chief Whip, Senator Rowland Owie, has described the re-election of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor as President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, as good omen for the country. Owie, who commended Oritsejafor's achievements in his first tenure, noted that the man of God had led CAN with passion and commitment and urged him to remain focused and not be intimidated. He said: “I wish to congratulate you, Papa Oritsejafor, on your re-election as President of CAN. You have shown direction and positive leadership since your assumption of office by building on the foundation of truth and fearlessness, which your predecessor in office laid. “By the grace of God, you have dealt with national issues like the statesman that you are and a fearless man of God. We urge you to continue along that line, particularly now that our country is in dire need of God’s intervention and protection. We will continue to pray for you and your family as you pilot the affairs of Christains.”

Delta LG inaugurates Oil, Gas Host Community C'ttee BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

N Oil and Gas Host Community Committee has been inaugurated in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, with a call on members of the committee to shun corrupt practices. Chief Donald Ugbaja, the Ozomor of Owa Kingdom, at the swearing-in of the executive of the committee at Owa-Oyibu, headquarters of council, noted that members of the committee, representing 27 communities drawn from the nine kingdoms that constitute Ika North-East council, should give their people full representation and services.

Edo commissioner's sack: PDP alleges N320m fraud BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that Governor Adams Oshiomhole sacked the former Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Higher Education, Mr. Ekpenisi Omoriotiomwan, from office over alleged sharing of N320 million belonging to the State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, by five senior officials of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. State Chairman of PDP in Edo State, Mr. Dan Orbih, stated this while addressing leaders of the party at the residence of Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday in Benin City. But reacting, state Chairman of ACN, Mr. Thomas Okosun, said: “They should have the courage to name names especially of all those they claim were involved in the sharing of the money and how much each got so that we will know.” On his part, State Publicity Secretary of ACN, Mr. Dan Owegie, described the allegation as “a tissue of lies,

a false rumour and unfounded allegation, which cannot be substantiated.” However, Orbih insisted: “There was a N600 million scandal at the State Ministry of Education. The Federal Government paid the money into the salary account. After salaries were paid, the balance N320 million was transferred into a project account. That money was shared among five senior leaders of ACN in this state. We challenge the governor to give

reasons for the dissolution of SUBEB and sacking of the commissioner. “This money cannot be explained by any official of the state government. Governor Oshiomhole should take responsibility for the disappearance of N320 million from the SUBEB account. The whereabout of the money could not be accounted for by the state government.” Disclosing that the party had gone to court to chal-

CONVOCATION: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (middle); Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives (left), and another Honoree, at the 15th convocation of Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

PDP'll resolve Amaechi, Wike crisis —Bozimo BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

ORT HARCOURT— MEMBER, Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Gordon Bozimo, has expressed the hope that the party will resolve the political differences between Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and his erstwhile Chief of Staff, Government House and now Minister of State for Education, Mr.

Nyesom Wike. Bozimo, in Port Harcourt, weekend, described the intraparty crisis in the state as unfortunate, adding that the party was robust enough to calm what he termed frail nerves. He said: “The whole situation in Rivers State is unfortunate. I know, PDP as a party, is capable of resolving whatever problems it has. They should allow us to resolve the problem. The party is robust enough to calm the frail nerves.” Urging all sections in the

country to encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to succeed, he enjoined governors in the country to work with the President in the overall interest of the country. According to him, a situation where some governors saw themselves as equal to the President or even more important than him, should be discontinued with, noting that some of the governors had constituted themselves into a bundle of distraction to the Federal Government.

IPP: ‘Call for Ochei’s probe unwarranted' BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—DELTANS under the aegis of Delta Focus Group, DFG, have described as unwarranted, the call by Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, over an Independent Power Plant project in the state. The group, in a statement

lenge the outcome of the recently conducted local government elections, Orbih said that the party will address issues that would determine the fate of various councils in Edo State. “We must start to consolidate on the gains of this local government election. We have decided to put a permanent committee that would form the nucleus of our contact to start harvesting aggrieved ACN members."

by its publicity secretary, Mr. Saturday Mofoye, said the call was capable of inciting the public against the Speaker. Mofoye urged Clark to play a more fatherly role, rather than condemning young and promising politicians who are poised to develop the state. He said: “DFG is ready to stand behind any good individual of Delta State origin to emerge the governor of the state come 2015 and we have found that Ochei will be the best, be-

cause as a Speaker, his empowerment programmes are unequalled compared to other speakers in the country. “Members of his constituency can attest to that and infrastructural development of the state House of Assembly complex is also a good example. Chief Clark should know that Ochei has never at anytime indicated his interest to contest for governor of Delta State come 2015."

I remain UPU PresidentGeneral —Aziza

RESIDENT-GENERAL of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Gen. Patrick Aziza (rtd), has debunked rumours that he had resigned his position from the body. In a statement, yesterday, Gen. Aziza said: "I have received several calls from journalists and well-meaning Urhobo men and women, seeking to confirm rumours that I had resigned my position as President-Genaral of Urhobo Progress Union. My answer to them is simple: I remain the elected President-General of UPU, until the Urhobo people decide otherwise in December 2013, based on whether I have served them well or not. "The union's constitution is very clear on the number of terms the president-general can serve if he performs well. As a trained soldier, I have never shied away from challenges of life, and I am prepared to defend the constitution of UPU without fear or favour. I, therefore, want to assure all wellmeaning Urhobo sons and daughters that I intend to serve out my first term, which ends in December 2013."

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

NHRC boss flays attacks on security agents BY INNOCENT ANABA

HAIRMAN of National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, has condemned the spate of attacks on security agents, and called for firm action to bring those responsible to justice, promptly. In separate condolence letters to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar; and Director-General of Department of Security Service, DSS, Mr. Ekpenyong Ita, weekend, in connection with the killing of service personnel of the Police and DSS in Bama, Borno State and Lafia, Nassarawa State, Dr. Odinkalu said: “Law enforcement and security officers have the right to life and when this right is violated in this way, those who do it violate our collective freedoms and security as a people and must be held to account."

2015: I've no interest in Presidency—Akpabio T

HE Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has said that he has no interest in contesting the presidential election in 2015. Rather, he would only vie for the senatorial seat of his state as requested and endorsed by his people. Akpabio on the purported presidential ambition, when in the early hours of Sunday, his posters as running mate to Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, just like it happened in Abuja last week, had flooded some parts of Lagos, such as Awolowo Road, Airport Road and Medical Road, Ikeja, said he had no plans to join in the presidential race. Special Assistant to Akpabio on Media, Lagos, Mr. Jackson Udom, said the posters had also been sighted around Sagamu, with plans said to be in the offing to spread them to other parts of the South-West and the entire country. He noted that the vigilante groups in the affected ar-

eas stated that those behind the posters had come around 2 a.m. on Sunday, with an Osun Statemarked Toyota Sienna space bus, claiming to have been sent by one hounourable to paste the posters. He said: “We wish to completely dissociate Chief Akpabio from the printing and circulation of these posters, which are clearly the handiwork of political jobbers, who are bent on causing

undue tension in the polity with their political mischief. “For the avoidance of doubt, Chief Akpabio is not interested in the Presidency in 2015 and has not mandated anybody to campaign for him. His focus is on the completion of his transformation agenda in Akwa Ibom State. In fact, he had made it clear that based on the pressure by the good

people of Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District, he wishes to represent them at the Senate in 2015. “We urge the general public to ignore this politicallyengineered mischief and continue to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the arduous task of transforming this country.”

E-West Road: FG decries kidnap of expatriates ….assures on Dec 2014 completion date BY CHRIS OCHAYI

ENAGOA—THE Federal Government, weekend, tasked traditional, community and religious leaders in the Niger Delta to pacify the youths in their areas to stop kidnapping expatriates working with firms handling the dualisation of the East-West Road project. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, while flagging off the construction of the Okoso Bridge on Section II of the

road, expressed concern over the criminal activities of youths, who indulged in kidnapping of workers from the project site. The Okoso area is the notorious portion on the EastWest Road, which was washed away by flood last year, making the road impassable. Work on the bridge, which was billed for completion this month, was, however, delayed due to the kidnapping of some expatriates from the

project site. Elder Orubebe said: “The last time we visited here, we had a lot of armed soldiers and it is under this condition, these people work. You can see that the Chairman/ Managing Director of Setraco is here with us. I spoke with him, appealing that they should return to site. “I just discussed with him and promised that with the security network being put in place, this bridge will be put to use in July this year."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 13

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

ICPC moves against corrupt judges zSets up anti-corruption unit at NJI BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA—IN a bid to further sanitize the Nigerian judiciary, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, weekend, vowed to prosecute any judge found to have compromised standard in the dispensation of justice. Consequently, the commission has inaugurated an anticorruption and transparency unit at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, which statutorily has the mandate to observe, train and inculcate desired jurisprudential value on judges, Kadis and Magistrates across the federation. In a similar development, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, has banned four legal practitioners from plying their trade in Nigeria for life, just as it ordered the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to strike

off their names from the apex court’s scroll where names of every bonafide lawyer in the country must be found. Inaugurating the anti-corruption unit of the NJI, ICPC chairman, Chief Ekpo Nta, decried the fact that Nigeria had been held hostage by a corrupt few who took delight in plundering the resources of our nation. He said: “Nigeria is at a critical stage in her development as a nation state. As a people, we are at that point where good men and women must stand up and be counted. “For too long, our country has been held hostage by a corrupt few who delight in plundering the resources of our nation. For too long, our people have suffered the consequences of corruption foisted on us by a powerful few. “As we all know, corruption

thrives most where there is lack of transparency and accountability. The importance of this occasion cannot be over emphasized. It is a very important aspect in the strategy of combating the menace of corruption in our dear country, Nigeria. “I have always held the view that the ICPC Act, 2000, is one of the most beautiful and comprehensive piece of legislation on corruption in the world. “One of the most significant provisions of the ICPC Act is to examine the practices, systems and procedures of public bodies, and where in the opinion of the Commission, such practices, systems and procedures aid or facilitate fraud or corruption, to direct and supervise a review. “This provision is significant because it aims not only to combat corruption through enforcement alone, but also to prevent it.”

Odi invasion: FG compensates victims with 40 housing units BY CHRIS OCHAYI

DI—THE Federal Government has concluded plans to allocate a total of 40 housing units to victims of Odi military invasion in Bayelsa State, whose houses were destroyed fourteen years ago when the Nigerian Army invaded the community, acting on the orders of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The houses to be received by the victims in the community include 40 units of two and three bedrooms. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who disclosed this weekend while inspecting the housing project, said the houses would be given free of charge to those affected by the invasion. Orubebe, who explained that the project was also being replicated in each of the nine states of the oil rich Niger Delta, said that of Odi and some others would be completed in July this year. He said: “When Odi was destroyed; there was a presidential directive to assist the community with some buildings. “When the initiative came up, there were agitations from other states so we took a uni-

form decision that we should build 40-housing units for each of the nine states in the Niger Delta. “Unfortunately, there were no budgetary provisions in 2012, very lean provisions in 2011

and so contractors stopped work. “But this year, we have been able to squeeze some money to enable contractors complete these housing units so that we can give them to indigenes to use.”

FG to organise forum on labour administration challenges BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG

BUJA—THE Feder al Government plans to organise stakeholders’ forum to address fundamental issues and challenges in Labour administration in the country. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, disclosed this in Abuja, when the Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Mr. Segun Oshoniwo, visited him. According to Dr. Illoh the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour would embark on the stakeholders’ forum on achieving the rule of laws in industrial relations in Nigeria.

The forum would aim at developing a memorandum of understanding with stakeholders in the labour sector for the achievement of peaceful industrial relations climate in the country. A statement by Samuel Olowokere, the Ministry’s Assistant Director (Press), said the Permanent Secretary who spoke while responding to the issues raised by the Director General of NECA, called on all stakeholders in the labour sector to collaborate with the Ministry in its effort at strengthening labour administration in the country. He assured the Director General of NECA that within the next few weeks; a lot of changes would take place in the Ministry that would aid the redirection of labour administration in Nigeria.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013—15

Presidential, guber primaries: Anenih calls for change of process

.Says NGF is now an opposition platform to FG .Frowns at negative profiling of Jonathan BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor

AGOS — CHAIRMAN of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih has called for a change in the way the party chooses its presidential and gubernatorial candidates in order to reduce rancour. Chief Anenih in an address to the meeting of South-south political leaders in Asaba, Delta State capital, yesterday, also upbraided party members, who he said have become susceptible to the antics of opposition parties. He especially condemned the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, which he said has derailed from its original purposes and had become a weapon for confronting the Federal Government. Anenih’s speech also touched on other areas of the party including discipline, which he said has completely collapsed across all levels just as he also made a strong case

for supporting President Goodluck Jonathan, who, he said, has become a target for negative profiling by opposition parties being helped by renegade PDP members. While calling for greater unity in the face of the evolving merger of some of the nation’s leading opposition parties, Anenih, nevertheless dismissed the proposed All Progressives Congress, APC, as a house built on sand, which he said would collapse with the first drop of rain. Noting the need to review the process for the nomination of party candidates for the presidential and gubernatorial elections, the BoT chairman said: “Our party primaries have, over the years, been the most serious sources of rancour and disunity in our ranks. "Almost two years are devoted to pre-election processes for political offices and another two in managing post-primaries/election bitterness and disunity. “More pernicious is the fact

that we invest so much resources and energy fighting ourselves in the primaries that should have gone into the larger battle against our political rivals. “We cannot continue this tradition of internal warfare. We must not live under the illusion that we can fight ourselves to finish and hope that we can continue to have enough energy left to win elections.” Continuing, he said: “We must, therefore, evolve a new system of selecting our flagbearers at the presidential and governorship levels that would preserve our unity and reserve our energy and resources for the greater battle for political power. “We must seriously consider this in order to avoid frictions and acrimony in the overall interest of our party and the nation.” Noting what he described as the media vilification of the president, he said that “a welloiled wheel of insidious media propaganda has been

tirelessly churning out sinister information about the Jonathan administration for the purpose of destabilising (and eventually replacing) his government. “Unfortunately, some of these political enemies have PDP members as accomplices. What the anti-Jonathan forces are doing is to create tension in a desperate bid to unsettle and disrupt the administration.” He then advised that “any of our brothers and sisters being used to play mischievous roles should be dissuaded from doing so,” adding, “I also wish to enjoin our governors and federal legislators to assist in promoting the policies and projects of the Jonathan administration.” “Our historical and political experience demand that we give him (President Jonathan) the maximum cooperation to succeed in transforming this country into a stable and prosperous industrial nation. His success will be our success

and a testimony to the greatness of our people. “We must not labour under the illusion that we can be spectators in the bold and necessary drama of national reconstruction, or worse still; align with those who seek power for its own sake rather than for the good of our people.” On the NGF, he lamented that the body has been transformed into a platform for confrontation of the Federal Government, saying it has derailed from its mission statement of “providing a common platform for synergy, collaboration among interests” or “serving as a bi-partisan lobby group which fosters, promotes and sustains democratic ethos, good governance in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.” “Indeed, the general perception is that the NGF has become a formidable group of power wielders, seeking to control governments at all levels, including the Federal Government."

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 IT is possibly only in Nigerian elections that opponents and proponents of candidates proudly offer threats and counter threats as the only selling points of their candidates. We are seeing more threats as people jostle for relevance in the 2015 elections. As always, attention is on the presidency. We have forgotten our local governments. We are not talking about our States. These centres of development, usually the strongest argument for their creation, are no longer expected to improve the lives of Nigerians. The irony of true federalism is that those who fervently demand it make minimal efforts to strengthen governance at the local levels. The lower expectations from local governments and States have resulted in unfulfilled expectations in the past 14 years of civilian administrations. Worries about who becomes president in 2015, to some, appear more important than what happens to the country. We are again seeing the damaging threats that preceded the 2011 elections. There were threats of the country being ungovernable if certain people did not win the elections.

Threats TTot ot ally otally Unacceptable Have we not witnessed mayhem that descended on Nigeria after the elections? Have we not seen how the crisis has continued? Are we not being told that the solution to the killings lie in the North having the presidency in 2015? There are lessons on precedents which we must quickly learn from these incidents. Was it acceptable for people to threaten the country in 2011? Have the rules changed or are certain people permitted to threaten Nigeria while others are criminals if they do? The duplicity in treating issues creates precedents that make sanctions unjust and unjustifiable. Nigeria must protect itself from these

threats. The responsibility lies with the leaders, aspiring leaders and all those who have risen to such prominence that the public take them serious. Their words are capable of misleading their followers and causing more troubles. Every Nigerian has a right to contend for power within the laws for the contest. Every Nigerian has rights to enter into legitimate alliances to access power; the constitutional provisions on freedom of association permit it. What we must avoid is being so consumed about leading Nigeria that we threaten to set the country on fire, if we cannot actualise the ambition. We are a country guided by laws. Those who aspire to lead – and their supporters – must eschew threats in their ambitions. They should be telling Nigerians what qualifies them to lead the country and how their leadership would improve the lives of Nigerians. They are better options to threatening more crises on a country that has been soaked in blood since 2010. Nigerians should not reward those who threaten its peace by electing them.

OPINION BY RENO OMOKRI Continued from Pg 17

UT certainly Mr. Adekoya could not have failed to take note of the praises the power privatization process received worldwide. It was remarkably transparent which is a departure from the past and signals that Nigeria is a safe place to invest which is no surprise given that even the Prime Minister of The United Kingdom, David Cameron, himself led a trade delegation of some of Britain's top businesses to Nigeria and on return said "We've been hearing about China and India for years but it’s hard to believe what’s happening in Brazil, in Indonesia, in Nigeria". Mr. Cameron certainly knows a great deal more about Nigeria under President Jonathan than Mr. Adekoya does! And then Mr. Adekoya goes on to say "Education is particularly problematic: tens of millions of Nigerians are illiterate. Most cannot afford an education: without government assistance, thus far feeble, they will remain intellectual invalids."Really Mr. Adekoya! Are you talking about the same Nigeria where President Jonathan initiated a programme to provide 400 schools for itinerant scholars in Northern Nigeria known as Almajiri? The President commissioned the first of these schools on the 10th of April 2012

President Jonathan deserves a pass mark(2) with almost a 100 completed in 2012. The administration has also increased the number of Federal universities in Nigeria by 12 as well as completed hundreds of blocks of classrooms in 15 states as part of efforts to meet her Millennium Development Goals. But the cherry on the education cake is that there has been a 15% increase in pass rates in School Leaving examinations in Nigeria in 2012 when compared to the 2011 season an indication that the government's efforts are succeeding. And then Mr. Adekoya thoroughly pooh-poohed our health sector which I will admit still needs a lot of improvement, but he did not note the improvements which the Jonathan administration made to what it met on the ground. For instance, this administration established a National Trauma Center in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital Abuja. Mr. Adekoya failed to note recent feats in Nigeria's health sector such as the commencement of Stem Cell Transplant for sickle cell patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the Introduction of Laser Treatment of Kidney Stones at

Chivar Urological Center, Abuja. Adekoya may wish to note that Nigeria’s Life Expectancy increased from 47 years to 51 years according to the 2011 Human Development Index of the United Nations. That represented the highest increase for Nigeria since records were kept. If anything puts to lie Adekoya’s assertions on minimal improvements in Nigeria’s health sector under President Jonathan certainly it is this fact.

nd then Adekoya’s poison pen wrote that “On security, Jonathan has dithered. Boko Haram, the Islamist terrorist group, has killed thousands on his watch, while he seems unsure whether to use crushing force or grant "amnesty". It may interest Mr. Adekoya to get the recent statement released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (OHCHR), which praised President Jonathan for considering amnesty for Boko Haram. Yes, it is easy for Adekoya to sit down in London and pontificate, but if he were to see firsthand the sufferings our brothers and sisters in the North face as a result of this sect he would understand that discretion is the better part of valour.

After all, the government of the United Kingdom which almost lost its entire cabinet to the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Brighton Bomb incidence of 1984 eventually chose to negotiate with them and today there is peace. All the guns and bombs of the British Army could not defeat the IRA as much as diplomacy and negotiation. Is Adekoya saying that it is good for the U.K. but not for Nigeria? What I will just say to Mr. Adekoya is that nations progress over time and not over night and it betrays a lack of understanding of Nigeria's past and how far we have come to score President Jonathan poorly in meeting the needs of the poor. It is not for nothing that Henry Bellingham, a Member of Parliament as well as a member of Mr. Cameron's administration said "Nigeria is the world's fourth fastest growing economy". You don't achieve that level of economic progress if you have not made reasonable efforts to better the lot of the masses whose productivity is the reason for such a phenomenal growth! Thankfully David Cameron gets it and I for one am so glad that he is in charge of affairs in the United Kingdom and certainly won't fall for the very pedestrian analysis that Mr. Adekoya Adekoya tries to pass off to his British audience as in-depth.

Concluded. Mr. Omokri, is SA New Media to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 41

Staff audit: Sack looms in Abia poly over falsification of credentials U

BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA—UNSPECI FIED number of staff of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, will soon lose their job. Also, another unspecified number of the institution’s workers would be down graded from their present positions. This followed the recommendation of a panel set up in January by the state government to audit and verify credentials of staff of the polytechnic. It was alleged that several workers in the institution secured employment with fake certificates and that many unqualified staff of the polytechnic are holding positions they did not merit. Based on this complaint from the public, the government set up a panel, headed by Mr. Chibuike Nwokoukwu, which submitted its report to Governor Theodore Orji, weekend. Presenting its interim report, Nwokoukwu said the panel sat regularly, interviewed all academic and non-academic staff of the institution, looked at the originals of their certificates

and retained the photocopies, which had been forwarded to the issuing institutions for actual confirmation of their authenticity. He disclosed that the interim report contained four annexures, which included the names of staff recommended by the panel to be downgraded from their present position as

well as others recommended for outright disengagement from the polytechnic. Nwokoukwu urged the government to implement the recommendations in the interest of the state in general and polytechnic in particular. Receiving the report, Governor Orji assured that the report would be implemented

and advised unqualified staff of the polytechnic to avoid being disgraced out by the government. The governor said that as an institution of learning, both academic and non- academic staff in the school ought to be adequately qualified, pointing out that as a centre of excellence, it should not harbor those with fraudulent certificates.

Authors, academics honour Achebe

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—MEMBERS of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, academic gurus and public servants yesterday in Awka held what was tagged ‘A day with Achebe’ during which they reflected on the writings of the late literary giant, Professor Chinua Achebe, who died in the United States of America, USA, early this year. The event, organised by Anambra State branch of ANA, had in attendance, state chairman of ANA, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III of Obosi, Professor

Uzodinma Nwala, who is the chairman of Achebe burial committee, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ike of Ndikelionwu in Anambra State and Professor Fidelis Okafor, Vice Chancellor of Anambra State University, Uli. Others include Professor Rems Umeasiegbu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, Peofessor Charles Nnolim, Malam Dejah Abdullahi, who is the vice president of ANA and Dr. Greg Mbajiorgu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Also in attendance were Dr. Chidozie Okolo of Ebonyi

State University, Abakaliki, Professor Uchenna Nwosu from the USA, Mr. Emeka Nwawka, managing director of Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, Chief Osita Chidoka, Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Rev Fr. JoeBarth Abbah and Chief Okey Mgbemena of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. ANA chairman, Igwe Ikweka said the association decided to honour Achebe in a special way because of his tremendous contribution towards uplifting literature in Nigeria and the world over.

Obi flags off N9bn Ozubulu-Atani road project BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—GOVER NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State, weekend, flagged off construction of Ozubulu-Atani road, expected to gulp N9 billion. Already, three major bridges of 40 meters each on the road, replacing the old ones built by the colonial masters and the 30 culverts, started in November of 2012 had almost been completed. When completed, the road would be a major bypass from the Niger Bridge for those travelling from Delta State to Imo and other South-South states. Obi, while inspecting progress of work, said: “For the roads to be completed within record time, we have engaged three tested contractors.” Calling on the people to take ownership of the project, he advised them to be interested in people that put themselves up for governance.

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 43

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Airtel vs. Prima Garnet: Why the fight lingers FOR the past four months or so, the Nigerian advertising industry has been regaled by stories of a face-off between one of the leading Ad Agencies in the country, Prima Garnet, and her erstwhile affiliate, Ogilvy & Mather Africa, over the marketing communications business at Airtel Nigeria. It’s moved from the boardroom to the media and now the courts. SOLOMON IBEAWUCHI, who has been following the story, puts the issues in perspective in this report.

N the beginning: Following the revolution that swept through the advertising industry in the 80s and 90s, it was apparent that globalization and its effects will culminate in international affiliations in the succeeding years. If anybody predicted such, it was, therefore, a self-fulfilling prophecy which saw the big agencies like Insight, STB, Rosabel, SO&U, Prima Garnet, etc., getting affiliated to some internationally acclaimed agencies. Insight joined the Grey family; Rosabel joined Leo Burnet; SO&U affiliated with Saatchi and Saatchi; STB joined McCann Ericsson and Prima Garnet married Ogilvy & Mather. These came, expectedly, with lucrative accounts and, of course, skills exchange, training and global recognition. Indeed, someone described Nigerian advertising agencies as going “glocal”. As with most relationships, these affiliations are mostly guided by legal agreements, which spelt out the terms and conditions binding the parties. And so it was between the Lolu Akinwunmi-led Prima Garnet and Ogilvy & Mather. Between Ogilvy and Prima Garnet: Since 1997, when Prima Garnet was appointed the Ogilvy

highflying Ikeja-based advertising agency with a billing of over N3bn during the period, some industry watchers say. Information at my disposal, however, suggests that the relationship started souring mid last year following frequent complaints by client (Airtel Nigeria) about quality and long turnaround time for marketing briefs. There were several exchanges apparently which didn’t result in remarkable improvements and Airtel Nigeria started grumbling over decreasing marketing visibility and in the hugely competitive telecommunications market. It was a matter of time before the camel’s back was literally broken. Enter Scanad: Last year, a new agency, Scanad, emerged on the Nigerian advertising firmament. Led by one of the industry’s young turks, Rufai Ladipo, formerly of STB-MCann, Scanad Nigeria Limited is a subsidiary of Scangroup, which claims to be Africa’s leading marketing services group partly owned by WPP, the world’s largest communications service group with 3,000 offices in 110 countries. Scangroup, a sister company to O&M, has offices in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and

Industry watchers are unable to state if the ASP held the April 26 meeting, considering that the news broke in the media on Monday, May 6.Airtel management claims it received no summons from ASP to appear, as the letter had hinted

& Mather affiliate in Nigeria, Ikeja-based agency has had a robust relationship with their partners with some GSK brand as major accounts thrown into the mix. As a matter of fact, the affiliation did metamorphose into an equity-based relationship following the acquisition of 10 per cent and later 12.5 per cent shares in Prima Garnet by O&M. In 2012, the Airtel Nigeria account was added to Prima Garnet’s basket following the selection of O&M by Bharti-Airtel to handle all Airtel’s advertising in its 17 or so African operations. A formal agreement was inked on February 22, 2012. Arguably a very lucrative account, the Airtel business brought additional fortune and fame for the

Ghana and buys media in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Gabon, DRC and Mauritius. Recently, a top Prima Garnett chief, made known the following: “some six years ago, Ogilvy informed us they were interested in increasing their equity within Prima Garnet from 12.5 per cent and we offered to sell between 25 and 30 per cent.” But while the negotiations were on, Ogilvy’s parent company, WPP bought into Scanadgroup, the owners of Scanad through Ogilvy and Scangroup, in turn, bought 51 per cent of Ogilvy Africa in a share swap, which effectively made Bharat Thakrar the simultaneous Chairman of both

L-r: Lolu Akinwunmi, Group MD/CEO, Prima Garnet and Bharat Thakrar, Gorup CEO, Scangroup.

Scangroup and Ogilvy. He explained that as soon as the deal between Ogilvy and Scangroup was consummated, Bharat Thakrar demanded for 51 per cent of the Prima Garnet group, which didn’t go down well with the board of directors of Prima Garnet. To cut the long story short, Prima Garnet’s board’s refusal to play ball led to a threat by Ogilvy to withdraw its affiliation from Prima Garnet. Well, Ogilvy was not immediately available to confirm or deny this claim, but then many events started unfolding thereafter - one of which is the setting up of Scanad in Nigeria.

Scanad: To be or not to be Because the matter is sub judice, suffice it to say that Prima Garnet went to court not only to challenge the setting up of Scanad in Nigeria allegedly in breach of the affiliation agreement but also the termination by Ogilvy of the affiliation agreement. Be that as it may, Ogilvy says it fired Prima Garnet due to its alleged poor management of the Airtel account. In a letter dated December 17, 2012, Ogilvy Africa, citing Clause 13.1 of the affiliation agreement terminated the relationship between them and Prima Garnet. The clause reads inter alia: The Airtel Account: A livid Prima Garnet believes that Scanad was set up to “snatch” the Airtel account from them, but the fight between them and their affiliate, Ogilvy has not helped matters. Because on February 9, in a bid to distance itself from the imbroglio and carry on with its marketing communications business, Airtel Africa terminated its agreement with Ogilvy Africa with specific regards to its business in Nigeria. It was evident that Airtel Nigeria was bearing vicarious liability for the business gone sour between Prima Garnet and their erstwhile chum. So, Airtel made to extricate its name from the fracas and, more importantly, rescue its flagging presence in the market place due to low visibility occasioned by the “difficult

relationship.” This action displeased Mr. Akinwunmi who, also is the Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), and Prima Garnet then joined Airtel in its legal action against Ogilvy and Scanad. The management of Prima Garnet obviously believes that Airtel is indulging Ogilvy and surreptitiously supporting the establishment of Scanad. Establishment of Scanad: Airtel Nigeria, however, had seemingly sought to move on with its life, because it didn’t have any legal agreement with Prima Garnet per se. An attempt by Airtel to conduct a pitch to select another advertising agency for its business was aborted by Prima Garnet, which went to the courts to seek an injunction to truncate the process. Airtel went ahead to appoint STB-MCann as its agency. Again, Prima Garnet is challenging this. Meanwhile, according to the affiliation agreement Prima Garnet has with Ogilvy, there are no exclusivity rights. Section 3.1 states inter alia: “OMA (Ogilvy & Mather) agrees to introduce to the Affiliate those Ogilvy Clients that indicate an interest in having local agency representation in the Territory, although it is understood and agreed that such referred Ogilvy Clients may, at their absolute discretion, choose not to engage the Affiliate and/or to engage another agency within the Territory.”

The APCON Connection Given the above, industry watchers are now wondering why Prima Garnet joined Airtel Nigeria in its fight with Ogilvy to the extent that APCON now refuses any approval requests from Airtel. Airtel had introduced STB-MCann as its media buying agency to APCON, but APCON, citing a court order, refuses to vet Airtel advertisements. Airtel Nigeria, in a letter dated April 22, 2013, to APCON, protested the refusal to vet and approve its ads and sought to explain the facts of the matter. A reply from APCON dated April 26 and signed by

Uforo Inyang-Opara, acknowledged the letter, which it said it had forwarded to “the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), the statutory body whose mandate is to ensure compliance with and maintenance of advertising standards and particularly the provisions of the APCON Code of Advertising Practice through the grant of Certificate of Approval for all advertising materials to be exposed in the media”. The letter went on to state that Airtel may be required to appear before the panel in due course. It was, therefore, a totally shocked Airtel that read in the media that the ASP had met and decided to clamp down on Airtel’s adverts until further notice. Industry watchers are unable to state if the ASP has held the April 26 meeting, considering that the news broke in the media on Monday, May 6. Indeed, Airtel management claims it received no summons from ASP to appear, as the letter had hinted.

Conflict of Interests There are subtle hints that Lolu Akinwunmi, who is both CEO of Prima Garnet and Chairman of APCON is conflicted. As the chair of APCON, Mr. Akinwunmi wields considerable influence there. Besides, it has been alleged that one of the agencies, 141 Worldwide, in which Mr. Akinwunmi supposedly has an interest, works for Etisalat, which is in direct competition with Airtel Nigeria. The outcome of the court actions in the coming weeks and perhaps the effort of the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who is believed to have been briefed on the matter (going by copies of letters by Airtel Nigeria which I sighted), may determine how long or how short this brouhaha will last. And indeed how long more Airtel Nigeria’s Marketing Communications will suffer from this rather litigious affair. •Ibeawuchi, a Marketing Professional, contributed this piece from Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 45

46 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Umeh has tasted power and will not let go — Okwu ACTIVIST lawyer and politician, Maxi Okwu was one of the founders of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA but was edged out in the power tussle that rocked the party in its early days. Upon his exit he helped in founding the Citizens Peoples Party, CPP. Okwu who for some years ran the CPP has, however, lately re-emerged to claim leadership of APGA having been elected national chairman in a controversial national convention last month. In a session with newsmen in Lagos, Okwu asserts his claim to the party’s top office and why his rival for the office of national chairman and his friend in his own words, Chief Victor Umeh, would not let go. Excerpts: BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

FTER the court judgment at the Court of Appeal you issued a statement that you would respect the judgment restoring Umeh as national chairman. So, why are you still laying claim to the office? Umeh did not win any appeal as people were wrongly made to believe. What he got in the appeal was a stay of one of the four orders by the Court of Appeal. Out of the four orders the Enugu State High Court made, only one was stayed. The stay was that aspect that restrained him from parading himself as the chairman of our party. The court said once a matter is declaratory, we can not stay it. Every lawyer knows that you don’t stay what has been done. The deed had been done already, judgement has been executed by the NEC of the party which convened a convention in Awka and elected its national officers. I said clearly, Umeh’s activities against the party are exercises in futility. One of such Umeh’s activities is the Federal High Court midnight exparte-order restraining me and my executive officers from parading ourselves as such. Yes! I said it that time I will respect direct order on me by the Federal High Court, Awka. I have done that already. Why did you bring forward the convention date as against

accreditation. We did this before we went for the election proper. And I won at the end of the counting of votes. How do you see the future of the party given Governor Rochas Okorocha’s decision to abandon APGA for APC? Our party has issued a statement in this regard and we urged Governor Rochas Okorocha to rethink. Actually, we see his challenges and dilemma but we are saying he should take it calmly. APC is not a registered party; this is a fact as at present. Okorocha is gambling on a quantity that may collapse. I wish APC well but it’s obvious it is not yet in a bag. It is still in the offing. It has not been registered by INEC. For Okorocha to jettison a party that gave him the platform he used to become a governor and start to gamble with an association is worrisome, we advise him to rethink. Position of governor of a state is not a small thing. We would not be talking of sanctioning or disciplining him. We’ll wait and see whether sanity will prevail through diplomacy and behind the scene discussion. But, at the end of the day, he would decide. His issue will become a legal thing if APC is finally registered and Okorocha collects APC card. For now, by position of law, he is still a card carrying member of APGA. Politically, APGA was there before Okorocha become a

From his approach of things and activities, he likes to destroy APGA rather than to allow the house to stand. We will not allow that to happen. We are going to ease him out

the earlier chosen date? That is not true. The notice to INEC from the party was 8th of April. You should understand that INEC doesn’t work on sentiment. A party must put everything on paper before INEC, which we did. The only shift we made was the venue from Enugu toAwka. INEC was given adequate notice by our party. We gave 21 days notice. That’s what the electoral guideline says. We gave INEC the date and time The only change was from Enugu to Awka. Normally if you want to hold a convention, you should conduct proper

governor and the party will continue to exist after him. Rochas has been with other parties in the country before he used the APGA platform. He owes this party a lot. There is a moral burden for him to carry at this juncture. With the Anambra gubernatorial election approaching do you see it as a concern to forge unity towards making a good showing? I have been trying my best to bring every aggrieved member back to the fold of the party.Apolitical party can not isolate itself from crises. As we sit here today, there are

I am aware that Umeh has tasted power for long, being chairman of APGA. He was empowered by the party’s constitution. I am also aware that a fat pocket is giving him a full backing. So, there’s a lot at stake being the chairman of a strong party like APGA. For instance, I was once chairman of Citizens Peoples Party between 2005 and 2012. Then, nobody reckoned with me at that time....(Laughter) but now that I became Chairman APGA, a party that can boast of having a serving governor and members of National Assembly, everybody is coming to me. I receive more calls now as National Chairman APGA unlike when I was the National Chairman CPP. So, you can see why Umeh was fighting tooth and nail to remain the party’s national chairman. Chief Umeh has said he was elected for four year tenure and that his time is yet to lapse. What’s the basis for your moving against him? People have forgotten that Umeh started as Acting National Chairman of the party since December 2004. Now we are in 2013. Expiration of tenure

*Okwu: Chief Umeh is now like a bull in a china shop

various internal crises in PDP which are even worse than what we have in APGA. What we suddenly realised in our party is that Chief Umeh is now like a bull in a china shop. From his approach of things and activities, he likes to destroyAPGA rather than to allow the house to stand. We will not allow that to happen. We are going to ease him out. If a 26 member NEC that he led has left him except two or three of his cronies, he should have seen the hand writing on the wall and resign. In a much more civilised society, Chief Umeh should have resigned honourably without being asked to quit. Be that as it may, I have extended a hand of fellowship to him thrice. I recalled I did that at the convention venue, later at the Town Hall meeting in Abuja and before the Abuja meeting. I have said it times without number that I will give him soft landing but he has refused to accept my hands of fellowship. Instead, he has been fighting harder. There is a limit which you can push a horse to drink. I’ve extended hand of friendship to him

only he just wants to be the clog in the wheel of progress of the party. So, we know what is happening particularly when Umeh and his followers have one leg in the APC arrangement. As I am speaking to you, Chief Umeh is the Director of Publicity of C21 group founded by Rochas Okorocha. All of them are in APC. For instance, have you ever heard the likes of Umeh condemn Okorocha’s romance with the yet to be registered APC sponsors? Again, when Umeh got the court order against the party, we all saw Okorocha embrace him. They are working hand in glove. Umeh played active role in negotiating formation of APC. Our party is not involved in that association. This is the fact. We will not sit down either and fold our arms. Immediately we sort out the main legal issues before us which we believe should be over latest by two weeks from now, we’ll roll out action for the elections like the council election and governorship election in Anambra State. In your own view. What do you think is energising him?

He has been parading himself as APGA Chairman for almost nine years. There was a time he took Chekwas to court when Chekwas said he won’t stay beyond eight years. The basic fact is that Umeh has been APGA’s Chairman for nine years uninterrupted and he still wants to continue in that position. If his tenure is four years that is renewable, by January 2007 when the convention that the court nullified was held, Umeh’s tenure has expired. The court had said so. On 2nd December, his tenure has expired. The court said he has no capacity by January 2011 to hold convention. The convention he coordinated in 2011 was nothing but illegal. That’s the fact of the whole issue. He has stayed beyond his tenure. Normally before your tenure expires as chairman, you need to conduct fresh election but he did not do so because he cares to remain as APGA Chairman forever. So, it is not a personal thing. There are rules of engagement in democracy. You finish your first four year tenure and go back to the party for a fresh mandate of another four year term - end of story. The fact is that Umeh wanted to be APGA Chairman forever simply because of the benefits that are accrued to him.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 47

C M Y K

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

The late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbadue

Pini Jason, pen musketeer (2)

AS we prepare for the final rites of my deceased senior friend, colleague and associate, Chief Pini Jason Onyegbadue, the Onu Na-ekwuru Oha, (the people’s spokesman), I offer my humble tribute in form of insights into the way he lived his professional life, some of which we shared together. In the first part of this piece, I disclosed how Pini formed the cornerstone of my first advent to the stable of Vanguard Newspapers. Yes, indeed, the story of my Vanguard venture is in two parts. The first part – 1994 to 1999, owed to Pini Jason as narrated here last Thursday. The second part – 2001 till date, was based on the success of the first. The period between 1999 and 2001 took place outside Vanguard. Pini Jason and I were in it together trying to found a newspaper. As soon as I took my place in this newspaper in 1995, Pini called me one day to his house in Jalupon Close, Surulere, and told me I was only on “loan” to Uncle Sam, the Publisher and founder of Vanguard Media Ltd. He had been working on a newspaper that would give the Igbo nation a voice and he wanted me as part of the team. He extracted a promise from me. By January 1999, just as the nation was preparing for the presidential election, Pini informed me he was ready. I was faced with a difficult choice. On the one hand, I had made a name in Vanguard, and the system had recognised my contributions in its own ways. But on the other, I needed new challenges, especially in the managerial aspect of newspapering, not just as a writer. Pini offered me the post of Deputy Editor, while Frank Igwebueze, a veteran of the Concord group and former Chief Moshood Abiola’s personal acolyte,

Pini was an activist. His interest in Nigerian politics was centred on the search for justice and equity after a civil war that re-classified the political ranking of Nigerian citizenship. It put the Hausa/Fulani (or general Muslim North) as first class citizens, the Yoruba as second, Northern Christian groups as third, Southern Minorities as fourth and the Igbo as bottom of the class

was named the Editor of The Examiner. The venture failed not because of failure on the part of any of us. It failed mainly because the “investors”, a bunch of idealistic and naïve Igbo professionals and businessmen who promised Pini all the money he would need for the project, failed to perform after pulling all of us out of our comfort zones. The funding style and unrealistic expectations of the typical Igbo trader style of the stakeholders had “how not to run a newspaper business” written all over it. By March 2001, I was ready to move on. After a short stint in the defunct Post Express as their Editor-at-Large Columnist, I came back to Vanguard. Pini also resumed writing for the newspaper shortly after. The chicken came back to roost.

Pini Jason really craved an opportunity to be part of the change he preached in his writings. He was not a politician. Even when he worked as Senior Executive Assistant to Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State in 2007 to 2011, he firmly kept his distance from the political side of democratic governance. He left party politics to the politicians, opting to focus on writing speeches and lectures as well as helping the image managers of the regime to tackle the rather abrasive political atmosphere in Owerri. Pini was an activist. His interest in Nigerian politics was centred on the search for justice and equity after a civil war that re-classified the political ranking of Nigerian citizenship. It put the Hausa/ Fulani (or general Muslim North) as first class citizens, the Yoruba as second, Northern Christian groups as third, Southern Minorities as fourth and the Igbo as bottom of the class. It was an informal arrangement, but it was potent and every other Nigerian group appeared, initially, to get along with it, until the inevitable turn of the wheel of injustice started biting each and every group, including (today) the former “master” group. Pini rejected injustice in its entirety. His concept of fairness was not what it is to many Nigerians: only where it affects them. Pini battled marginalisation against the Igbo for their role in the civil war. He fought for the restoration of the June 12 presidential election annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida and his regional power clique in the army and their civilian collaborators. He was a member of the Council for Unity and Understanding (CUU) formed by former Chief of General Staff, Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe, towards power shift.

CUU was a platform of dialogue which Ukiwe and his group (with Pini as the media mouthpiece and pen ambassador) used to initiate dialogue both within the elites of the former Eastern Region and across regions with Yoruba, Middle and progressive wing of the Northern elite. CUU was instrumental in getting Chief Moshood Abiola to return to Nigeria and fight for his mandate. When the Afenifere led by Chief Michael Ajasin abandoned their anti-Abiola stance and joined forces with CUU, the Middle Belt Forum led by General TY Danjuma and Chief Anthony Enahoro’s Movement for National Reformation (MNR) in May 1995, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was born, and the fight for Abiola’s mandate was in full spate. Pini, it will be recalled, participated in the “marches’ in Yaba, along with Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Enahoro, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu and the others to support Abiola’s presidential mandate. By 1998 when the General Abdulsalami Abubakar transition to civil rule programme was inaugurated, Pini was among those who formed the People’s National Forum (PNF) the Igbo leg of the national movement that eventually became the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before it was hijacked by the military and put at the disposal of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Once the movement was hijacked and named PDP at an Abuja convention, Pini Jason distanced himself from it and strictly minded his business as a media professional. Even as a gubernatorial Executive Assistant, Pini Jason yearned for the end of the four-year period he promised Governor Ikedi Ohakim to enable him return to his trade. Many were the moments he crackled with regret that certain issues were at play in the media and he could not write to share his views, being shackled by his involvement in government. In recent years, Pini’s health started failing. He had many surgeries for prostate and eye problems. But his peculiar handsomeness never deserted him. Pini has gone the way of all mortals. But he left behind enduring footprints and fingerprints on the sands of time. Centuries down the line, his ardent fans can always go to the archives and relive over thirty years of eclectic engagement with an artist who will never be forgotten.

OPINION BY RENO OMOKRI

JUST read Mr. Remi Adekoya's piece in the Guardian of the U.K. entitled ‘Goodluck Jonathan's report card for Nigeria? Must try harder’ in which he praised President Jonathan for a booming economy but came down hard on him for failing to help Nigeria's poor. When Adekoya says "Infrastructure also remains a problem. Without a modern road network, doing business in Nigeria will remain prohibitively expensive and logistically challenging", he betrays a surface understanding of recent events in Nigeria.a For example, before the Jonathan administration if you wanted to travel from Lagos to Kano you had two choices, you either went by road or by air. Today, under President Jonathan’s direction, Nigeria's railways have been revived and a traveller planning the same journey has a third alternative. He can travel from Lagos to Kano by rail at a cost of N1,500 which is less than $10. It is rather surprising that Mr. Adekoya did not reflect this major development in his piece especially when you consider that Nigeria's rail revival miracle has received praise from some of the major newspapers and magazines in the West. Jon Gambrell of the Associated Press had a string of highly syndicated photos recording this feat. But when you think of it, it is hard for someone reviewing Nigeria's progress from the United Kingdom to have first hand information. Besides, what does Mr. Adekoya consider a "modern

President Jonathan deserves a pass mark road network"? Under this administration, previously abandoned road projects have been completed. The previously notorious Lagos-Ore-Benin motorway has been repaired and I personally supplied photographic evidence of that feat on Social Media as well as highlighted testimonials from Nigerians testifying to a reduced travel time from Lagos to Benin since the repairs. In the Federal Capital Territory, Nigerians are now calling the new Kubwa Expressway our own version of Germany's autobahn! I lived in England for a while and I know the state of its roads and I dare say that Mr. Adekoya would wish he had a fast car when he sees this new road that connects the business and commercial districts of Abuja to some of its satellite towns. In his budget speech, the President listed major roads that have been completed and many that are ongoing. Some major road projects that have been rehabilitated and completed include the Vom-Machom road in Plateau State, the Gombe-Numan-Yoka road, KanoDaura-Mai Adua road, Aba-Owerri road, dualization of the Access road to Onne Port in Rivers state and the Ijebu Igbo-Ajegunle-Araromi-Ife-Sekona road in Ogun state. But perhaps, the greatest testimonial to the administration’s efforts in roads comes from an advert from the privately owned luxury bus operator, ABC

Transport, which reads 'The Roads are Getting Better’. This is from an end user of the product. Those words carry more weight than the words of a pundit who writes about Nigeria from the comforts of London. Still on infrastructure, Mr. Adekoya forgot to tell his British audience that while it may be true that Nigeria still does not generate enough electricity for its population, the Jonathan administration has nonetheless increased generation from the 2800 MWs it met on ground to the present 4500 MWs Nigeria generates today a 35% improvement. But that is not even the main story. This administration has kept faith with the Roadmap to Power Sector Reforms that the President launched on August 22,2010 which in summary charted a course for the privatization of the nation's power sector. In keeping with that Roadmap, Nigeria has successfully privatized many of her power generation stations and on April 22nd this year, a Presidential Power Reform Transactions Signing Ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa where the five power generation companies that emerged successful in the bidding process of the privatization of the sector received their certificates.

To be continued

*Mr. Omokri, is SA New Media to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013—49

OING by the title of a press release posted on April 21, 2013 by the Newsdiaryonline, I do agree with the National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, that there is an obvious politicisation of the present security challenges facing the nation at large. However, I totally disagree with the dimension of his interpretation of the burden of proof, which is more or less spineless in facts, robed in infantile mendacity, coloured in venomous hatred and above all lacking in proven political historicity. It clearly portrays a bizarre syndrome of frustration over a histrionic political mirage. To quote him: “The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, is aware that the pre-eminent desire of Nigerians under this nation-space is security, which under this PDPled regime, has been an elusive phenomenon. This is sadly because the Jonathan regime prefers political profiting from the menace of insecurity to obliterating the scourge from the nation’s landscape”. The one fundamental question to Fashakin is, who in the first place authored the said security challenges, who actually seems to be creating a political space of cheap popularity? Did President Goodluck Jonathan or the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, create the Shari’a conflict, which was the “

precursor to the present Boko Haram? Is Boko Haram the brainchild of President Jonathan or the PDP? It is on record that on Thursday, November 1, 2012, Boko Haram mentioned General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as one of the prominent Northern leaders whose consent must be sought if they should cease fire. Even though denied any association with a group that openly recognised him as their patron, his recent unequivocal support for unsolicited amnesty for them clearly betrayed that denial of association. The same Buhari had on different occasions threatened Nigerians with blood-letting ahead of the 2015 general elections. Fashakin, no doubt, in his very sincere mind knows that it is indeed a Herculean task for anybody, given the above weighty evidence to fundamentally extricate the erstwhile iron-fisted tyrant from the Boko Haram political venture. From their fruits ye shall know them, so states the Holy Bible. Much the same way as the Igbo adage which states that the man who will rush food, is often detected at the point of washing hands. General Buhari’s utterances till date have only portrayed him as an unrepentant sadist whose only mission to rule will unquestionably revolve round vengeance. Even the unborn babies will not pray for such a man to assume power again in this nation. Fashakin knows that he is being

entrusted with an unmarketable product, hence like a perfect political job-man, his decision to throw every caution over-board, if only to create whatever appears to be an impact. It is obvious that in defending General Buhari, while at the same time attacking the administration of President Jonathan, he appears to have lost touch of the sad historical dynamics of the Nigerian politics of which he and his master, General Buhari are the dramatis personae.

omparing the Boston Marathon bombing to the Nigerian situation is, to say the least, a tacit act of selfcondemnation. Today those who call themselves opposition groups, for obvious selfish reasons and inordinate quest for political power, find it difficult to define an issue of purely political interest from the one of common national interest. Otherwise why should the

The problem with our opposition parties(2) BY I.DUKE Continued from Friday page 18

AKING into consideration the ephemeralness of power as a phenomenom, the vintage Shakespearian Question then arises: “To be or not to bethat is the question.” Whether to remove the tiresome toga of “Senator” and leave the name simply as “President David Mark.” Wow! That sounds familiar. Take another look, wow! But what do we do with the other tiresome toga, “Distinguished”? Boring, outdated; distinguished academic or what? Thousands of people both in and out of Senate bear that toga. Lets try again “Your Excellency,” wow!!! That sounds familiar. Why? Well, already that is how the Nigerian Senate President is addressed. So how would David take over from Jonathan? Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, if an Executive impasse arises, does the President have enough loyalists amongst the Ministers to stand firmly by him and refuse to pass a vote of no confidence?.... As was the case of his predecessor of blessed memory? Although very tempting and very easy for any Macbethan politician to invoke the relevant constitutional promulgations on impeachment and accordingly impeach the President and his Vice. Don’t bother about impeachment; it is completely unnecessary in this instance. This is because there is an ecclesiastical analogy that cannot be ignored, given the uncanny similarities with present day happenings! This analogy is found in the Holy Bible. 1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would

let him go no more home to his father ’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. From all indications, there is a strong bond between President Jonathan and Senate President David Mark Further, Senator David Mark is a son-inlaw of Niger Delta just like the Biblical David who was a son in-law to the king of Israel. Our beloved William Shakespeare of Newcastle upon Tyne, whilst pondering on the phenomenon – ‘ what is in a name?’ advised us in Romeo and Juliet that ‘a rose by any other name will scent just as sweet.’ Or will it? You see, whilst President Jonathan has a very good name- “Goodluck”-, Senate President David Mark has a remarkably excellent middle name- ‘Bonadventure’This means that David Mark’s name is a combination of ‘Goodluck , Victory – and divinely guarded ‘God’s adventure’ – Bonadventure! (Bon is the ancient name of God, from where you get pro- Bono, or for God).Therefore, by voluntarily handing over his legislative as well as some measure of his executive appurtances to a credible contender, the President is about to unwittingly fulfill an ecclesiastical prophesy found in 1 Samuel 18:4, “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword,

CPC and the ACN turn to shadow supporters of Boko Haram in every move made by President Jonathan to counter the security menace? The question being put forward to Fashakin is: In handling the Boston Marathon bombing crisis, to what extent did political party affiliation affect the collective resolve of the politicians to confront the challenge? Is it not distasteful that it is only in Nigeria that the concept of political opposition under modern democratic values rests on the fulcrum of pull down the incumbent? It does not indeed matter if the opponent is performing creditably or not. If the likes of Fashakin believe that, by attempting to discredit the President, even in matters that require collective effort of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, as in the case of Boko Haram, he would create a political thoroughfare for General Buhari in 2015, he may only be dreaming of a political mirage. Let it be known today that Nigerians are not blind to the characteristic fundamentalist and tyrannical tendencies of General Buhari. Handing him this country to rule once again will definitely sing a requiem. For Fashakin, a Yoruba by extraction, whose people voted enmasse for President Jonathan without recourse to political affiliation in 2011, to describe the ruthless slaughtering of innocent Youth Corpers in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe states as a mere spontaneous reaction against a perceived electoral fraud, is no more than an exhibition of the unquestionable inveterate meanness of a class of political murderers masquerading as a

BY TONY NWAEZEIGWE

Jonathan regime and politicisation of Nigeria's security

Going by this manifesto of blood, and the many threats of blood-letting coming from General Buhari in person, was Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor not divinely justified to call for the immediate arrest of the former?

The Biblical David was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of the King’s servants; the Biblical David’s popularity both amongst the people and among the leaders is equivalent to the happenings in present day Nigeria

and to his bow, and to his girdle.” The kingly robes and garments represent the upper and lower legislative houses (the Senate and the House of Representatives), the sword and the bow represents the President’s powers as Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces. But there is a twist here: David Mark is a retired military General and highly respected in military circles. The girdle which is the Oath of Office seems to be the only point outstanding. That shouldn’t pose any problems at all. The independent Judiciary will swear in whom they have to swear in. Doctrine of Necessity or Doctrine of Lets Move the Nation Forward. Period.

nyway, nobody knows if, according to 1 Samuel 18:3, Jonathan and David (have) made a covenant. However, it is crystal clear that the President’s actions so far can be interpreted to mean: “David, you will be the next king of Israel (or the next President of Nigeria). You should be dressed and armed as the heir apparent. God’s hand is on you”. Is this David Mark’s destiny? Will he become President? Is political acquiesance equivalent to

political party. In other words, Fashakin is telling Nigerians that the best way to resolve a political impasse is blood-letting. Why then are Nigerians crying wolf over those behind Boko Haram, when its activities are the very broad spectrum of the CPC manifesto of blood-letting? Going by this manifesto of blood, and the many threats of bloodletting coming from General Buhari in person, was Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor not divinely justified to call for the immediate arrest of the former? Given Buhari’s tyrannical antecedents, could the General have hesitated in clamping anyone into detention for even lesser offensive comments, were he to be the President of this nation? Or is Rotimi Fashakin saying that General Buhari, because he is a retired General and former Head of State, is above the law, even in a democratic setting? It is quite obvious that had such vile statements as coming from General Buhari were to have come from an Ojukwu or a Fasehun under a Hausa-Fulani presidency, hell should have since been let loose. It is pitiable and unfortunate that Fashakin speaks as if Goodluck Jonathan is the president of the Peoples’ Democratic Party or the president of Dr. Doyin Okupe and Reuben Abati alone. President Jonathan is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which includes Rotimi Fashakin and Muhammadu Buhari, as such should be accorded the deserved *Dr. Nwaezeigwe, snr Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies,UNN.

abdication? In global politics, a leader who by his actions, advertently or inardvertently, wittingly or unwittingly cedes or voluntarily renounces his powers in favour of someone else before the legitimate expiration of his tenure is seen as having committed a political volunti non fit injuria (and should therefore not complain). The Biblical David was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of the King’s servants. The Biblical David’s popularity both amongst the people and among the leaders is equivalent to the happenings in present day Nigeria. In political ecclesiasticism, the mien and demeanor of the man David Mark is such that he has endeared himself to Nigerians and to all those around him. In a country whose unofficial motto is to “pull down the successful", David Mark has discharged himself creditably. When he dons his Northern garbs he looks like a Northern Aristocrat and talakawa rolled into one; when he dons the Kalabari attire he looks strictu sensu like a man from the Niger Delta. In other words, there is a national acceptability of his demeanour. Perhaps cultivated over the years, but encapsulated in his re-election to head the nation’s seventh National Assembly. According to the Torah: Therefore, it is fair to ask what more can he have but the kingdom? Symbolically, the Holy Quran states that: “A people deserve the government they get”. As we were going to print someone whispered to me that Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s middle name is also David, the heir apparent. So which of the Davids? And what year? 2015 or 2019? Doubtful it stood like two spent swimmers…Put simply in the Latin Language, ‘Absit reverentia vero’, simply means that: “The truth should not be silenced to spare someone”. Put in Ijaw language— Haaaan Ijaw! Egberi Faaaa! Concluded *Prof. Duke, an expert in international conflict resolution, wrote from The Vatican.

50 — Vanguard,

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

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Mali requires $2.6 billion for reconstruction

ALI will ask international donors for nearly two billion euros ($2.6 billion) to help rebuild the country and try to halt a resurgence of fighters who were driven out of the major northern towns by a French-led offensive. A draft request for funds released on Friday coincided with the announcement by French President Francois Hollande and his Niger counterpart, Mahamadou Issoufou, to push for a nationwide elections in Mali by the end of July. France and Niger have troops in Mali. According to the document drafted for the conference, to be held in Brussels on Wednesday, the Malian government said it could only raise slightly over half the proposed $5.6bn budget needed for recovery for 2013 and 2014. The draft said it needed help from its European Union donors to finance the remaining part. The conference is organised jointly by France and the European Union.

In a document posted on the website of the conference, the international community was strongly solicited to finance and implement the plan. To overcome the crisis and begin a sus-

Sharif returns as Pakistan’s PM

AWAZ Sharif, winner of the Pakistani elections, is holding talks to form a new government, with fixing the economy and tackling the armed in-

•Pope Francis ised on Sunday were two Latin American nuns - Laura Montoya from Colombia and Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala from Mexico who both died in the 20th Century.

surgency likely to be his two biggest challenges. Partial, unofficial results from Saturday’s elections represented a comeback for Sharif, 63, who was deposed as prime minister in a 1999 military coup and spent years in jail and exile. Sartaj Aziz, a senior PMLN official and former cabinet minister, said Sharif was in talks on Sunday with some independent MPs to get them on board and in discussions to work out “a few key portfolios” in the cabinet. TV projections suggested no single party would win

OME 800,000 people will require food aid in Niger in the coming months despite a good harvest last year due to problems supplying cereals to markets, which have pushed up prices, and an influx of Malian refugees, the United Nations has said. The U.N office for humanitarian coordination (OCHA) said they would

need food from now until the start of the rainy season, which is usually in July, July and August. It said the situation was critical in 13 regions surveyed by the government in March, where 84,000 people needed emergency food aid. The agency cited problems with supplying food to markets in some areas, such as the northern min-

an absolute majority in the 342-seat National Assembly. But Sharif’s centre-right Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) was well ahead with more than 115 of the chamber ’s 272 directly elected seats, according to various projections by private channels and as many as 128 according to Geo TV. PML-N appears to have done well enough to rule out the prospect of a weak coalition, as the party of former cricket star Imran Khan achieved its own breakthrough on an anti-corruption platform that resonated with younger voters.

Syria denies role Turkey car bombs

YRIA has denied being responsible for two car bombs which

800,000 Nigeriens need food aid — UN

least $600m to $700m. The plan sets twelve priorities for the country, including peacekeeping, the fight against corruption, and organising credible elections.

Niger Republic President, Mahamadou Issoufou and his French counterpart President Francois Hollande addressing a press conference in Paris yesterday.

Pope canonises new saints OPE Francis has proclaimed the first saints of his pontificate in a ceremony at the Vatican - a list which includes 800 victims of an atrocity carried out by Ottoman soldiers in 1480. They were beheaded in the southern Italian town of Otranto after refusing to convert to Islam. Their names were unknown, apart from one man, Antonio Primaldo. Within two months of taking office, Pope Francis has proclaimed more saints than any of his predecessors. Among those canon-

tainable development, Mali needs and depends on the technical and financial support of the international community, the document said. According to diplomatic sources, the conference will seek to raise at

ing regixon of Arlit and Tahoua in central Niger and Tillabery in the west, which had driven up cereals prices. Recurrent shortages in recent years have forced pastoralists to sell livestock, including valuable young females normally kept for breeding, reducing their resistance to food shocks.

killed 46 people in a Turkish border town. Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi told a news conference yesterday, saying that his country “did not commit and would never commit such an act because our values would not allow that”. Turkish police say that nine people have been arrested in connection with Saturday’s attacks in Reyhanli. Ankara has said that it suspects the involvement of Syrian intelligence. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not be dragged into a “bloody quagmire”.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 51

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 53

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

naira of his money in appreciation to his colleagues should they qualify for the World Cup.

True story……true story

The 50,000 Dollar dream

ATURDAY, I came across this newspiece that said a Nigerian player had offered 50,000 dollars to his colleagues if they won a match. I read further. “I promised the whole team 50, 000,000 dollars if they qualify for the world cup in Brazil” Emenike told mtn football “Like I said before that we have a team who can make this country proud, and I’m doing this from the bottom of my heart to motivate the team. I’m not doing this to intimidate anybody but just to show my total support to the team because I grew up supporting the Super Eagles.” He added: I’m really behind the team. I don’t want them to miss me because there are other players who can get them the goals. “Before I decided to play for Nigeria, even before I dreamt of becoming a professional footballer, who I am today by God’s grace I have been a passionate fan of the Super Eagles. “I could remember when I used to watch the team way back in 1994 Nations Cup and World Cup, and I am speaking today as a Super Eagles player, it is an honour, so the team means a lot to me that is why I deem it fit, to support in my little way. “I never knew I will play for Nigeria. This is a reward for what I have done in Europe and its time I support my country ever more.” Wait a minute. Is this story true? I must be dreaming. There is no gainsaying the fact that I have read things like this and experienced such in other climes. Emmanuel Adebayor time and time again had to play father Christmas , bailing out his country from financial straits by offering to pay allowances and bonuses. In Cameroun Samuel Etto did same, offering incentives, providing plane tickets to ferry his fellow players down for national team duty. What about Didier Drogba the worshipped Cote D’ivoire Star who has gone a step further to use his position to bring political peace to his country and is now in the process of putting back into the society of his birth with the establishment of a world class football academy. Before them, George Opong Weah was legendary in the support of the Lone Stars and he singularly made sure that his country did not withdraw from any continental engagement due to lack of funds. If you are wont to argue that all the foregoing had the

I have always felt very indifferent to those who milk this country dry through bonuses and allowances only to call on us in the future to remember their labours

means given their mega star status, what about the Sierra Leonian Mohammed Kallon who in a rare show of patriotism decided to shoulder single handedly all the financial football woes of his country? These are examples that I can quote and defend, examples that do not apply to our country. I stand to be corrected! We have had in this country, mega stars of world football yet I have not come across a situation where any of them has either refused to collect his bonuses, given them out to charity or ….whatever. What has happened over time, again and again is the case of our players blackmailing the authorities to get their bonuses paid or else……can you tell the Nigerian player that you are broke and will please want to halve his bonus? I pity you. Not only will all hell be let loose….You don’t want to have the next match played! So, this story hit me….straight from the blues. When I discovered that I was not dreaming, I decided to check other newspapers to confirm same, that Emmanuel Emenike, a professional of “yesterday” was ready to dole out about eight million

Serena crushes Sharapova to N remain atop S

ERENA Williams crushed Maria Sharapova to win the Madrid Open and keep a grip on the world number one spot. Williams has had few problems with Sharapova over the course of their careers and a 6-1 6-4 victory in the Sunday ’s final in the Spanish capital made it 13 wins over the Russian in 15 meetings. Sharapova knew victory would see her replace Williams at the top of the ranking list but that never seemed likely. Williams raced into a 4-0 lead en route to the first set. Sharapova made a

fight of things in the second, gaining her one and only break of serve early on. However, Williams broke back to 3-3 as Sharapova produced one of eight double faults at just the wrong time. And another break when the Russian was serving to stay in the contest at 4-5 earned Williams her 50th WTA title. Remarkably it was also her first title on red clay since the 2002 French Open. It is one which leaves her in a position of favouritism for this year ’s Roland Garros tournament, which gets under way on May 26.

•Serena

IGERIA will today begin its quest to qualify for the Davis Cup Europe/ Africa Zone Group II , when it plays Cote d´Ivoire and Lesotho in pool D of the Group IV qualifier in Cairo, Egypt. The matches start today with the eventual two promoted nations to be known on May 18.. The matches hold at the Smash Tennis Academy, an outdoor

Here is a young man who through injury is out of a team that depended on him for goals and has not only decided to motivate them psychologically but has added incentives in cash. This is a lesson that is not lost on me, one that motivates me further, that in this country there exists young men and women whose premium on money does not over ride the purer virtues of selflessness and patriotism. I pray for just two Emenikes…..one on the field, banging in the goals for Nigeria and the other out of it, teaching us lessons of life. With due respect to the Jossy Lads of our football who gave their all at a time money was not the rule of the game, I have always felt very indifferent to those who milk this country dry through bonuses and allowances only to call on us in the future to “ remember their labours”. Labours that were handsomely paid for? Thank you Emenike and get well soon.

That Baba retirement Yesterday at the Theatre of dreams it was mixed feelings galore as the greatest club in the world Manchester United officially collected their unprecedented 20th League trophy and bid bye to a legend of the sport, Sir Alex Ferguson. I need pages to write about this man whose policy of youth development is unparalleled. A man who shocked a world that has “lost hope” in his retirement, but who like the British Prime Minister David Cameron are celebrating because “ Ferguson’s retirement is joyful news for all football clubs in England except Man U. His achievements at MUFC have been exceptional. Hopefully his retirement will make life a little easier for my team Aston Villa “ Will get back on this, I promise. See you next week

Nigeria begins Davis Cup battle against Cote d´Ivoire, Lesotho BY JOHN EGBOKHAN clay-court venue, which also hosts 12 other African teams, all seeking just two tickets to play in the Europe/Africa Zone Group II for 2014. The roll-call of nations competing comprise host Egypt, Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d´Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Rwan-

da, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. All the matches hold in a round-robin format, with all the teams divided into four pools. The top nations in pools A and B are later drawn to play off against the top teams in pools C and D, with two winning nations promoted. Nigeria is in Group D, with only three teams.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 — 55

Man Utd lift Premier League trophy

IR Alex Ferguson marked his final match as manager of Manchester United at Old Trafford by lifting the Premier League trophy on behalf of his team. United and Ferguson won their 13th Premier League title and it is the club’s 20th championship in total. The Red Devils secured the crown with victory over Aston Villa on 22 April but collected the trophy after Sunday ’s 2-1 win against Swansea. Ferguson retires after United’s last match of the season at West Brom. He will be succeeded by Everton boss David Moyes, who is to take over on a six-year contract from 1 July. “Fantastic, what a send off,” said Ferguson after leaving the pitch.

WINNER: Ferguson lifting the league trophy

Flying Eagles depart as Gov. Obi charges them BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

HE Flying Eagles yesterday flew to Europe for the last lap of preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup starting next month in Turkey. Speaking in Nwewi, ahead of their departure, the team’s coach, John Obuh said that they would fly high in Turkey. “We are going for Toulon tournament in France which will come up later this month. The team will camp in Europe to enable us prepare for the Toulon tournament and the World Cup. We will travel from there to Turkey for our first game against Portugal. “The last time, we crashed out in the quarter-final against France and that was a game we ought to have won. So,

we will ensure that this team does well at the World Cup because winning bronze at the AYC does not mean that they can’t win the World Cup”, said Obuh. Also speaking, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State challenged the

Mancini to be sacked within days

EFEATED FA Cup final manager Roberto Mancini is to be sacked in the next two weeks — with Manuel Pellegrini of Malaga being lined up as his replacement. The Manchester City manager ’s fate was already decided prior to Saturday’s embarrassing Wembley defeat, when his expensively assembled squad lost to relegationthreatened Wigan 1-0,

Ferguson Continues from BP as his side beat Swansea 2 – 1. And the players, now Premier League champions for the 20th time, lined up to give him a guard of honour as he walked out onto the pitch. They were joined by the opposing Swansea team, who are themselves champions of the Capital

Flying Eagles to go and conquer the world in Turkey. “ I’m happy that we have played a good host to these youngsters and the people of Anambra state wish you well as you face the world in Turkey soon."

One Cup after beating League Two Bradford in the Wembley final. Fans around the stadium wore masks of Sir Alex’s face and proudly displayed banner tributes to their departing hero. United still have one final match to play away at West Brom, which will be Fergie’s very last game in charge.

leaving them without a major trophy this season. Mancini’s three-and-ahalf year tenure is coming to an end because he is deemed to have failed on the targets laid out for him this season; to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and win the Premier League again. Even if he had won the Cup, it was not enough.

Federation elections Continues from BP postponed. The postponement was as a result of the non-readiness of the NBF’s statute, which is a requirement for elections. A draft of the statutes submitted to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is yet to be approved. The NSFEC has assured all stakeholders of a free, fair and transparent elections.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

We won’t Fergie-t you! •Man Utd lift Premier League trophy •United fans bid goodbye to Sir Alex

Federations’ elections hold tomorrow

Guard of honour ... Sir Alex walks onto the pitch in a magnificient guard of honour formed by Swansea and Man U players as they bid him bye.

IR Alex Ferguson yesterday made an emotional final entrance

as Manchester United manager at Old Trafford. The 71-year-old boss -

who announced his retirement last week - took charge of his last ever

PUZZLE

Continues on Page 55

stakeholders into the boards are to participate in the elections,” the announcement added. Participants in the elections are required to show a valid international passport, driver ’s license or national identity card to enable electoral officials do proper screening. However, elections for the positions of President and Vice president in the Board of the Nigerian Boxing Federation have been Continues on Page 55

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

home game yesterday

LECTIONS for the positions of Presidents and vice Presidents of sports federations have been scheduled for tomorrow at the National Stadium, Abuja. According to the announcement by the National Sports Federation Electoral Committee, the elections will begin from 10 a.m. “All elected members of the various federations from the zones and nominated

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Position (4) 4 Seed-case (3) 6 Cunning (4) 8 Concern (6) 9 Menace (6) 10 Beverage (3) 12 Vault (5) 14 Combine (5) 15 Beer (5) 18 Inn (6) 20 Crash (6) 24 Beneath (5) 26 Hide (5) 28 Soar (5) 30 Imitate (3) 32 Angel (6) 33 Seaman (6) 34 Cheese (4) 35 Attempt (3) 36 Flat (4)

DOWN 2 Tender (5) 3 Tread (7) 4 Saucy (4) 5 Facts (4) 6 Pinafore (5) 7 Disordered (7) 11 Stretch (3) 12 Sever (3) 13 Sailor (3) 16 Animal (3) 17 Free (3) 19 Encountered (3) 22 Supply (7) 23 Hill (3) 25 Pinch (3) 27 Seraglio (5) 29 Arouse (5) 30 Adjoin (4) 31 Notice (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 2, State 7, Ratio 8, Plant Tutor 12, Owe 13, Steer 15, Lectern Tender 19, Cot 20, Decoded 23, Need Drum 26, Deliver 30, Bid 31, Retire Scrapped 37, Canal 38, Rut 39, Devil Wager 41, Topic 42, Green.

THE VIGILANTE

10, 17, 25, 34, 40,

DOWN: 1, Waste 2, Sited 3, Toured 4, Tool 5, Plotted 6, Inert 9, Awe 11, Recover 13, Stand 14, Ended 16, Cod 18, Resided 21, Drain 22, Impel 24, Debated 27, Lip 28, Recite 29, Scrap 32, Talon 33, Rapid.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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. Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.