$3M Bribery Latest: otedola submits video, audio evidence to IGP

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61643

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

DANA CRASH: Two families quarrel over victim's body at Pg.7 LASUTH

Suspended Oteh petitions Presidency •P.6

$3M BRIBERY LATEST:

Otedola submits video, audio evidence to IGP •Says Lawan planned to 'settle' others •House leaders in late night meeting •NLC insists on full implementation of probe report

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD BUJA—OIL magnate, Femi Otedola, yesterday, stoked his charge against embattled Rep. Farouk Lawan, by handing over to the police, audio and video evidence of how Lawan got the first installment of the bribe and how he demanded the balance.

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DEAR BUNMI:

Is mum still seeing her old flame? •P.38 Mr & Mrs

JUNE 12

—Nigerian students, during the 19th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Elections: Theme: "Challenges and prospects of true federalism, Political Legitimacy and National Security, held at Blue Roof Hall, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Gunmen kill six in Kano

—P.16

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POCKET CARTOON

$3m bribery: Otedola submits video, audio evidence to IGP Continues from Page 1 Sources close to Otedola told Vanguard yesterday that besides submitting the video and audio evidence,he told Police investigators in Abuja how Farouk mounted pressure on him with a list of senior officials of the House who he claimed were to be settled with the bribe money.

Meanwhile political leaders from Lawan’s political base in Kano have disowned him.

The evolving scandal nonetheless, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC waded in yesterday with an admonition that the bribery scandal should not in anyway distract from the process of implementing the recommendations originally reached by the Lawan committee.

Meantime, the House leadership was last night meeting on how to respond to the damaging revelations spewing from the scandal. Among the options as learnt is to bring forward the House resumption from the scheduled Tuesday, June

19, 2012.

Sources close to Lawan were still upbeat, yesterday, insisting that the Police was working on the call logs in its custody, with which they were expected to clear the embattled lawmaker.

Otedola, Chairman of Zenon Petroleum appeared before the Special Task Force constituted by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar at precisely 10.55 a.m. yesterday. He told the panel headed by Commissioner of Police Ali Amodu that Lawan collected $500, 000 in cash and the Secretary of the committee, Boniface Emenalo collected $120, 000 in two installments of $20, 000 and $100, 000 respectively.

The video evidence He produced a video recording of Lawan collecting the $500,000 in his residence and disclosed that the money in marked notes was provided by the SSS. He also disclosed that

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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IFE can be described as a double sided coin.

It could either be fair to one and be cruel to another, it could be bright today and dull tomorrow, it could smile on the rich and be an albatross to the poor. Life can favour one and haunt the other; whatever side of life you are experiencing now, know that just like the coin, life has two sides, all you need do is understand the moment you are in, learn the lessons and manage the present card that life has dealt you as effectively as you can, knowing that there is an end to everything that has a beginning. It always comes to pass whether seemingly good or doing bad, what you call a thing is what it is.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

A sense of humor is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life — Huge Sidey

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UMOUR is infectious. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body.

Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress.

Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people live longer and healthier lives.

So read your favourite comics, watch your favourite comedies and laugh it up!

Lawan made “desperate” efforts to collect the balance of the money subsequently.

According to Otedola, Lawan said the money was to be distributed to other members of the House of Representatives who could help in suppressing the indictment of Otedola or his companies.

Otedola told the police that the persistent demands by Lawan for the balance of the bribe made on telephone were recorded in audio format.

Both the audio and video recordings of the transactions were submitted yesterday.

A source privy to the developments disclosed: ”Farouk put pressure and kept on calling for the balance and when the pressure became unbearable, Otedola said that the two agreed that the balance should be flown in a chartered plane to Abuja. However, on the day the money was to come, Farouk said he would be in plenary and gave Otedola a name and phone number of somebody who would meet him for the money.”

Asked if the Police had recovered the money, a senior officer close to the investigation said yesterday: “First of all, the money was at no time handed over to the Inspector General of Police. Secondly, we have asked Hon. Lawan and the House to hand over the money to us and so far they have refused.

“We are told that the money will be kept as exhibit and only presented in a court of law. The question arising now is when has the House of Representatives become a security agency.

What about the fear of tampering with the money, how do we guard against it if the money remains with the House?”

On what the next line of action would be if the House continues to hold on to the $620, 000, the source said, “The IGP who is the one investigating the scandal is currently on official assignment outside the FCT. As soon as he comes back, he will give us directives on what to do and we will take it from there”.

Otedola’s appearance before the Police

yesterday was on his own volition Vanguard learnt yesterday. Sources close to him disclosed that Otedola went to the Police to give them the evidence of the alleged bribery following earlier denials put forth by Lawan.

Confusion trails Lawan's documents Meanwhile, confusion yesterday trailed the documents put forth by Lawan in which he claimed that he had written the leadership and the Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Adams Jagaba.

He first denounced the claim on Monday night, saying “there is no connection between my committee and the fuel probe committee and I was not given anything please thank you for calling to confirm from me.” Yesterday, he turned hostile as reporters sought clarifications from him. ”I have told you not to call me again on this matter; no comments,” Adams said.

Meanwhile shock and disappointment was evident in Lawan’s constituency in Shanono, Kano yesterday as news of the scandal filtered among the people the embattled Lawan has represented since 1999.

Ali Katako, Commandant Bagwai unit of Askarawan Kwankwasiyya, a group associated with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP noted that the development is self imposed, adding that ”the only regret we seem to be nursing now is that this development has put us on bad light”.

Similarly, the Bagwai PDP council chairman, Alhaji Inuwa Zangina Dangada on his part said “if in the end a prima facie is established against the lawmaker, he should be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

In Shanono Local Government, a stalwart of All Nigerian Peoples Party, Abubakar Usman, revealed that the lack of sympathy for the embattled legislator emanated from his own negligence.

“You only identify with someone that recognizes your existence but go round and find out

whether anyone from this town appears to have shown concern on what has befallen a man they can legitimately claim to be one of them.”

He said that Lawan has

not impacted on his people, and no traces of his developmental project in any of the two local Government councils that made up the Federal constituency.

NLC insists on full implementation of Subsidy probe report HE NLC has, however, warned that the scandal should not in any way stop the implementation of the report authored by the Lawan committee.

The NLC said although as weighty as the allegation is, it has nothing to do with the final report of the committee which contains names of indicted persons, insisting that those indicted must be properly investigated and prosecuted.

The statement by Acting President of NLC, Comrade Kiri Mohammed, titled“Stop the Diversions: Implement the Oil Subsidy Report, Now”, read in part: “The ongoing accusations and counter accusations between the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee of the House of Representatives on petroleum subsidy, Hon. Farouk Lawan and the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum, Mr. Femi Otedola over allegations of bribery involving the sum of $600,000, as serious as it is, should not be used to divert attention on the implementation of the report of the committee.

For us, we believe that Nigerians should not be overburdened with an issue that should strictly be the burden of appropriate security agencies, particularly the Economic and

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Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.” “Whether or not the Chairman or the entire members of the Adhoc committee solicited and received gratifications to compromise the outcome of the committee’s investigations though quite disturbing, the final report of the committee still contains names and details enough for thorough and t r a n s p a r e n t investigation. The report, which has been submitted to the executive arm, must be subjected to proper investigation and prosecution of all those indicted. We saw in the report a confirmation of our position. We have, since the mid eighties, insisted that subsidy do not exist in the petroleum sector, rather it has always been a conduit for a few cronies of successive governments with interest in the petroleum sector to siphon public funds for their private businesses.”

The statement added: “For us, we believe criminal matters as serious as bribery should be what the police or EFCC should take very serious interest in and not politicize the issue through unnecessary diversionary tactics. We therefore urge the EFCC to implement the report of the committee, which President Jonathan was reported to have forwarded to the agency now.”

6—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Oteh’s removal is illtimed – Stockbroker Also commenting, Mazi Okecukwu Unegbu, former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Managing Director, Maxifunds Securities and Investment Limited, said the timing of her removal was wrong, noting that the Board should have waited for the outcome of the report of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc committee that probed the near collapse of the capital market.

Oteh is innocent until proven otherwise – Shareholder President Goodluck Jonathan with Ambassadors-Designate shortly after a brief ceremony where the diplomats were presented their letters of credence at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

SEC DG, Oteh suspended; petitions Presidency, Finance Minister Board withdraws nominees from NSE Mixed reactions trail Oteh’s removal

By PETER EGWUATU & MICHAEL EBOH

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AGOS — DIRECTORGENERAL of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, yesterday, petitioned the Presidency and other relevant authorities over her suspension from office by the Board of the Commission.

According to a source close to Oteh, she has already sent a letter to the Presidency, Minister of Finance and other relevant agencies, with the hope that she will be given fair hearing on the issue.

The source, however, said pending the response of the Presidency, Oteh would not interfere and would allow the Board to carry out their investigation, adding: “She has agreed to take her suspension from office in good faith, saying that she will abide by due process, until the Presidency wades into the matter.”

The source further stated that Oteh, who attended the meeting of the National Economic Management Team, in Abuja, yesterday, was committed to ensuring that due process takes its course and that the investigation was carried out without undue interference and delay.

This is even as the Board of SEC ordered that the nominees of SEC on the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) be disengaged immediately, after having carried out the stabilisation of the stock exchange.

SEC withdraws nominees from NSE Council The nominees withdrawn from the NSE Council are: Interim National President of the NSE, Mallam Ballama Manu; Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, Mrs. Yemisi Ayeni, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Mrs. Dorothy Ufot and Mr. Hassan Usman.

The Board, after ordering the withdrawal of its nominees on the NSE Council, directed the NSE to take steps to ensure that all legal issues affecting the functioning of the council be addressed.

A statement yesterday, and signed by the commission’s secretary, Edosa Kennedy Aigbekaen, said: “The Board of SEC at its 66th meeting held on June 11, 2012, has directed the Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh, to proceed on compulsory leave to enable an independent investigation to be undertaken in respect of the Project 50 programme which was carried out by the Commission in 2011. The Executive Commissioner (Operations), Ms. Daisy Ekineh will act in her absence.”

The Secretary explained that the decision of the Board was arrived at after consideration of the report of its Audit and Finance Committee which had been directed to investigate the sources and uses of funds for the Project 50 event.

Among its conclusions, the

Committee recommended an independent audit of Project 50 and that the key actors in the management of the funds should be asked to step aside to allow an unhindered investigation.

According to the statement, “the Board also considered issues regarding the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and particularly the request of the Interim President of the Council that having stabilised the Exchange, they should be allowed to begin the process of disengagement."

Removal politically motivated, lacks due process Another source close to the Board, told Vanguard that Oteh’s removal was politically motivated and did not follow due process.

The source said the action of the Board was part of a ploy to ridicule Oteh, install Ekineh as DG and illegally extend Ekineh’s tenure, along with the tenure of other Commissioners, through the back door.

He stated that the removal had nothing to do with disharmony in SEC or misappropriation of funds for project 50, but was a plan by certain members of the Board to pursue their sinister objectives.

Ekineh is due for retirement, June 15 “The only thing about all these is that it is lacking in due process and I will tell you why. You are aware that

Ekineh is the acting DG, that is the same Ekineh, who along with other Executive commissioners whose tenures are due to expire this June 15, just a couple of days aways.

What they are now doing is to get tenure extension through the back door.

“From this, there is a clear case of conflict of interest.

There is nothing they want to investigate in Project 50 that would warrant this action. They have the list of donors and their phone numbers. We have given all available materials. There is nothing they would want to do on Project 50 that would warrant their extending their tenures through the back door.

Mixed reactions trail suspension Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje, Chief Executive Officer, Resources and Trust Company Limited, said Oteh’s suspension was a welcome relief for stakeholders, especially as it shows that checks and balances still exist in SEC. He said: “I agree that the suspension of Arunma Oteh as SEC DG is justified. Indeed, I had argued that her position (as well as that of Herman Hembe) was no longer tenable. She had made several errors of judgment.

Mr. Emeka Madubuike, Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, said the move would correct the impression of disharmony in the Board.

Madubuike said: “The capital market and SEC would come out stronger at the end of the exercise, add-

ing that the action would rekindle investors’ confidence in the market.

In his own view, Mr. David Adonri, Chief Executive Officer, Lambeth Trust and Investment Limited, said: “The suspension of SEC DG is not surprising, considering the weighty issue about her administration that were revealed during the public hearing.

Dr. Farouk Umar, Chairman, Advancement for the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders said: “I don’t want to preempt the outcome of the committee set up to investigate the Project 50. The committee should investigate the issue thoroughly and come up with its findings, until then she cannot be said to be guilty of any allegation. But, to be candid and fair to her, she has done well in her attempt to reposition the capital market.

$12.4BN OIL WINDFALL:

SERAP kicks over stalled judgment on Okigbo’s report

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA — THE SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has raised the alarm over undue delay by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to deliver judgment on the suit seeking to compel the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, to disclose how the $12.4 billion oil windfall money that accrued to the Federal Government between 1988 and 1994, was spent.

It would be recalled that in 1994, the Federal Government constituted the Pius Okigbo Panel with a mandate to investigate the activities of the CBN and recommend measures for the re-organisation of the apex bank.

Dissatisfied with the way the case was swept under the carpet by Federal Government, SERAP, alongside six other civil society groups, approached the high court under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

Specifically, the plaintiffs sought “an order of

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mandamus compelling the respondents, individually and/or collectively, to publish detailed statement of account relating to the spending of $12.4 billion oil windfall between 1988 and 1994, and to publish in major national newspapers a copy of the statement of account.”

The group further pleaded the court to order the respondents to not only prosecute anyone indicted by the report, but to also recoup the money from them and return same to the national treasury.

Besides, the plaintiffs beseeched the court for an order directing the respondents to provide adequate reparation, which may take the form of restitution, compensation, satisfaction or guarantees of non-repetition to millions of Nigerians that had been denied their human rights as a result of the respondents’ failure and/or negligence to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of $12.4 billion oil windfall between 1988 and 1994.

However, though hearing was concluded on the suit since October last year, the high court has continued to stall its judgment in the matter.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012—7

Crash: We saw it coming — Tito AGOS — FORMER Nigeria Airways pilot, Captain Tito Omaghomi, has said that concerned stakeholders in the aviation industry had seen the June 3 air crash involving Dana Airline coming because cutting corners was now the order of the day in the industry.

Speaking with a team of Vanguard editors, Captain Omaghomi, who has 35 years flying experience, described the Dana air accident as unnecessary and uncalled for.

He said: “We saw it coming. I remember giving a warning here some

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Special Adviser to the President (National Assembly), Senator Joy Emodi (2nd left); Ambassador Fidel Ayogu (left) and Vice President Namadi Sambo (right) at the Enugu Airport on his way to Mpu, Enugu State for the burial of Pa Mathias Ekweremadu, father of Senator Ike Ekweremadu Deputy President of the Senate,weekend.

DANA AIR CRASH FALLOUT:

Two families quarrel over corpse As angry relation attacks hospital staff Two more bodies claimed

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

AGOS — TWO fami lies, yesterday, laid claim to the same corpse of the Dana air crash victim. Arguments over the corpse degenerated into abusive exchanges at the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial mortuary of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja.

This came as an unidentified relation of one of the deceased attacked LASUTH officials with a machete.

Trouble started when relations of late Mr. Jones Ifekanwa and that of another victim, identified a body of one of the victims as theirs.

Findings by Vanguard revealed that earlier, Chief Medical Examiner, LASUTH and Consultant Pathologist and Forensic Medicine expert, Prof.

John Obafunwa, had invited the Ifekanwa family to identify their late brother ’s corpse which they did with some difficulty unlike last week when they said the body was easily identifiable.

The other family, it was gathered, after being invited to identify its corpse, eventually picked the same corpse earlier selected by the Ifekanwa family, as their late brother who died in the same air crash. An argu-

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ment ensued and Obafunwa was forced to deny both families any claim to the body. He rather, urged them to wait for the DNA test result that would be available in about four weeks.

Verbal war Enraged, the two families engaged in verbal war and came close to exchanging blows but for the intervention of security men.

It was gathered that while the Ifekanwas were very sure the body they identified was their late brother’s, members of the other family told Obafunwa they were not so sure that the body was actually theirs.

The Ifekanwa family, however, complained of the deplorable state of the corpse who they said was their youngest sibling, saying yesterday was the third time they had come to identify him.

In their view, the corpse was getting worse with time.

A visibly shaken Jennifer Enanana, elder sister to the late Jones Ifekanwa told newsmen: ”I am testifying just for my brother, Mr. Jones Ifekanwa. He was identified at the crash site. He wasn’t burnt. He had his identity card with him and some other documents in his pockets,

with that they identified him.

“When we were there last Tuesday, it did not take them up to five minutes to get him to us.

They even told us that we were very lucky, so they wrote his name on the body bag he was in.

When we went in there, we identified his clothes and birth marks on him and everything was okay.

They told us that within 48 hours he would be released. But that was not to be because they said they wanted to do DNA. “So on Saturday we went back to check if he was properly taken care of, we found out that he was getting worse. His face was peeling off, he was deteriorating and I expressed my grievances and I told them that I did not like this and asked them when they were going to release his body to us.

“Luckily enough, Fashola said we should meet him on Sunday, which most of us did. The place was packed with people. It was agreed there that all identified bodies should be released. Can you imagine as at last Friday, they had released six bodies without us knowing.

“Meanwhile, they were claiming to us that they need DNA but they were releasing bodies without people knowing. Six bod-

ies have gone out. It was yesterday (Monday) that we got to know about it.

Another identification “So this morning (yesterday) I and my family came to claim our body that had been identified by them and confirmed by us to be our brother, only for us to get there, Prof. Obafunwa took us in again, traumatising my family to identify the body that had already been identified by them and confirmed and identified by us.

“They took us in and they wrapped him up as if it was a gift pack showing just his face not his ears, not his head and wrapped him up, can you imagine? And we were telling them that this is our brother whom we had identified. He has a mark on his lips and on his fore head, it is just a unique feature of him and all that.

“Could you believe that another family went inside and identified the same Jones’ body. A body that has been identified by them and confirmed by us twice, they took another family to go and identify the body, the family was already devastated and the girl came out. Because she wasn’t sure of the body, she asked him to bring out his hands because their own person has a mark in his hands. The professor re-

fused.

"The professor came out to tell us that there was a problem on our body, that there was a contention. He said because of this he would not release the body.

That means they did not store the bodies properly, that means there is something fishy going on.”

Relation attacks LASUTH officials In another development at the same venue, a drama was played out when an angry relation of the victims of the crash attacked LASUTH officials with a machete. Luckily, the unprovoked assault was aborted by a special squad of the Rapid Respond team of the Police who held on to the angry man as he shouted: “You people can eat my brother’s body if you want, since you don’t want to release him to us."

In anticipation, the Police have stationed a special squad of the Rapid Respond team to man the mortuary for 24 hours because of such unpleasant development.

Officials of the hospital, including Obafunwa, maintained stoic silence over the matter and rebuffed overtures by media men to get his response on the development.

Two more bodies were claimed yesterday, bringing the number of claimed bodies to eight.

weeks ago before the Dana accident, that our airspace is no longer safe because people are now cutting corners in aviation and we have been saying this but nobody cared to listen.

“Aviation is not the place to give jobs to the boys, it is not a place where you must operate quota system. If all the best hands we can find come from the smallest village in Nigeria, they should be put there.”

He maintained that the best safety device in the aviation sector was to have well maintained aircraft and well trained crew and asked why presidential aircraft do not have accident.

According to him, “presidential aircraft are well maintained and they have well-trained crew.

Why can’t we transfer that maintenance culture of the presidential fleet to the commercial planes?”

Faulting President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that those who are found to be responsible for the crash would be punished, Captain Omaghomi said: “Air accident is not investigated because they want to punish anybody because the engineer and all those who cleared the plane to fly will cover their tracks. Investigation is carried out to determine the cause in order to prevent future air mishap.”

On the panel set up by the Federal Government to probe the incident, he wondered what kind of report the panel would come up with where members of the panel were either staff of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, or ADC Airline that had not paid compensation to the victims of its air crash some years ago.

He also said the international community would not accord any recognition to the report of the panel because only Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, was recognised all over the world to investigate any air accident He dismissed the argument that the age of the aircraft determines its safety in the sky saying age has nothing to do with planes.

He explained that DC 3 planes which were used during the war are still being used in the U S. adding that what is important is to have new engines in the plane.

8 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

19TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 12

Declare Abiola ex-President, family urges FG Ogun to declare public holiday on his birthday

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

B E O K U TA — MEMBERS of the immediate family of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, yesterday, insisted that the best way to immortalize their late bread winner who died in the cause of claiming his mandate is for him to be declared an expresident of Nigeria.

Also, the National President of the Campaign for Democracy, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has advocated a post-humous declaration of Abiola as an ex-president of Nigeria.

Head of Abiola family and a younger brother to the late politician, Alhaji Mubashiru Abiola, stated this at their family house in Abeokuta when some officials of Ogun State Government led by Governor Ibikunle Amosun and a campaign train of civil society groups visited them as part of activities

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marking the 19th anniversary of the annulment of the election.

While describing his late brother as the ‘sacrificial lamb’ for democracy in Nigeria’ Abiola lamented that, the family had been neglected, noting that the only thing that could make

the soul of the deceased rest in peace is for the Federal Government to declare him as an ex- President of the country.

He said: “The renaming of University of Lagos after MKO is not enough as a winner of the election, he

deserves more than that considering his contribution for the democracy to thrive in Nigeria.

“The family members have been living in penury since the demise of our bread winner, the Federal Government has never extended any hand of assistance to us since then

except the Ogun state Government”.

Addressing the family members of the late politician, Governor Ibikunle Amosun said Abiola was the man who represented all that is being enjoyed today as democracy, stressing that Abiola laid down his life for peace and tranquility in Nigeria.

Amosun, who later

addressed people at MKO Abiola Stadium hinted that, the Government might declare a public holiday on his birthday to create more consciousness for his contributionsaying, ifAbiolahad failed to do what he had done, there would not be democracy asallNigeriansnotmindingtheir politicalaffiliationswithonevoice and through their votes elected a leader in the late Abiola.

...also Ajimobi

BY OLA AJAYI

B A D A N — GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has called on the Federal Government to recognize Chief Moshood Abiola as a former president of the country.

In addition, the governor advised the government to confer the highest honour in the land befitting of a president on the late politician.

Governor Ajimobi, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo said, “to have continued with this

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Cross-section of students during the rally to mark the 19th anniversary of June 12, 1993 presidential elections in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

perennial silence on the democratic feat that Abiola wrought through his sheer bravery and belief in Nigeria would show to the world that we are an ungrateful nation. But for Abiola and his bravery in choosing to die, rather than allow his mandate to be exchanged for the biblical mesh of pottage, we would perhaps still be in the bondage of military rule and crying out for democratic salvage,”.

He said this while the state was marking the June 12 1993 election believed to have been won by Chief Abiola.

Fashola, Tinubu, Musa, others ask FG to give Abiola befitting honour

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI AND MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO A G O S — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, former Lagos and Kaduna state governors, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Alhaji Balarabe Musa and several rights activists yesterday urged the Federal Government to accord the late Moshood Abiola, the undeclared winner of the election, a more befitting national honour, saying his symbol represented the entire country.

Apparently reacting to the renaming of University of Lagos, UNILAG as Moshood Abiola University Lagos, MAULAG, by President Goodluck Jonathan for the immortalisation of Abiola politicians and rights groups who spoke at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, venue of the 19th anniversary of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election with a lecture entitled; ‘Challenges and

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Prospects of True Federalism, Political Legitimacy and National Security’ noted that the renaming of UNILAG fell short of national recognition.

Chairman on the occasion and former Governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa said the statement of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the electoral umpire of the June 12 election admitting that Abiola clearly won the election and the recent move by President Goodluck Jonathan to rename University of Lagos after Abiola has justified the continuation of such remembrance.

He affirmed that the late Abiola deserved more than the renaming of a university, calling on the Federal Government to establish a judicial commission of enquiry to find out the circumstances that led to the annulment of the election and punish those responsible for it.

“This is the only way we can ensure that this does not happen in the country

again.

The Federal Government should also establish a national monument to preserve the legacies of the late philanthropist”. Musa stated..

Harping on the renaming of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, Tinubu said the process of renaming universities after heroes was no longer unique, adding that the choice of UNILAG gives an impression that Abiola’s strides were sectional.

Cross-section of religious leaders in Lagos State during the 19th Anniversary of the June 12 1993 Presidential Election in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Osun govt, civil society groups mark June 12

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—OSUN State Government, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, CDRP led by Amitolu Shittu and Osun State Civil Societies Coalition yesterday in Osogbo organised a series of lecture

to commemorate the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won

by Chief MKO Abiola.

Lecturers at the different fora include, constitutional lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana; former NADECO Secretary, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, OAU, Ile-Ife ASUU Chairman Dr.

Ife Adewumi and Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade.

Speaking at one of the occasions, Governor Rauf Aregbesola disclosed that the state government has declared June 12 every year as MKO Abiola Day adding that a bill will soon be sent to the State House of Assembly in order to back the declaration with

the force of law.

The Governor said declaring the day as MKO Abiola Day amount to a nominal gift in honour of a man who offered his money, name and subsequently paid the supreme price so that we could have democracy now being enjoyed.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 9

19TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 12

From left; Comrade Joseph Evah, Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group; Professor Omololu Soyombo, guest speaker and Otunba Gani Adams, National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, at 19th anniversary of June 12, Presidential Election in Nigeria, organised by OPC in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola family members led by Alhaji Abiola during the June 12 rally in Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

Adegbite, Ikuforiji, Mamora, Briggs, others want FG to declare June 12 national holiday

Mimiko launches students' buses to mark June 12

Say it's best way to immortalise Abiola

K U R E — GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, yesterday, in commemoration of the June 12 anniversary, launched free shuttle bus scheme for schools in the state with a call on the Federal Government to declare the day as a national day in the history of the country.

Speaking at the

BY DAPO AKINREFON

AGOS—AS a way of immortalizing winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief M.K.O Abiola, Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and one time Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and a Niger-Delta activist, Ms. Ankio Briggs, yesterday in Lagos, called on the Federal Government to declare June 12 a national holiday for him.

They said this at the residence of the late business mogul during the 19th anniversary of June 12 tagged: “June 12 Democracy Day Celebration” organised by June 12 Movement,

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Change Agents of Nigeria Project and Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy, in Lagos.

Prominent Nigerians present at the anniversary included: Chief Supo Shonibare, Ropo Sekoni, Mumuni Abiola, Jamiu Abiola, former Minister of Information, Chief John Nwodo, Mr. Joseph Eva, Professor Onasanya, Dr Tunji Abayomi, and Segun Aka-Bashorun among o t h e r s .

On his part, Adegbite called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to release the official results of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

While lamenting that due recognition had not been accorded the date, he said “June 12 is once more with us. We recall passionately the glory of that date, June 12, 1993. It is lamentable however that the Nigerian

Cross-section of market women during the celebration in Lagos

authorities are yet to accord due recognition to the historic day. I, therefore, humbly urge President Goodluck Jonathan whose election as president last year was the closet in cleanliness to that of MKO Abiola’s election of June 12, 1993, to kill several birds with one stone.”

Adegbite called on the government to, “release officially the results of the elections. Declare Chief M.K.O Abiola the winner of the election. Confer posthumously on Abiola all the honours due to an elected President of Nigeria including the award of the national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal R e p u b l i c . ”

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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S-West PDP to ACN govs: You're hypocrites

BY OLAAJAYI BADAN—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Southwest has described as mere hypocrisy the celebration of June 12 by Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, governors.

The opposition party through its PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, said rolling out drums and wasting public fund on media exultation and ugly lectures in the name of June 12 was a shameless display of hypocrisy.

All the alleged hypocrisy could not cover the hatred the ACN had for Moshood Abiola’s family, legacies and ideals, it claimed.

According to the s t a t e m e n t , “Today(yesterday), they are celebrating June 12. They have declared public holiday. They are making

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beautiful speeches. Yet, these same people were the ones who protested the loudest when University of Lagos, UNILAG, was renamed Moshood Abiola University, Lagos?"

The party further alleged that the same ACN governors were the ones who denied MKO Abiola’s

son a House of Representatives ticket in Ogun State.

Instead of Jamiu Abiola, the son of the hero to be given the party’s ticket, they awarded their party ticket to the son of the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

“Shouldn’t they have family, legacies and ideals

ceremony at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square in Akure, Dr Mimiko said the people of the state and not foreigners would determine who to rule them as from February 23, 2013.

According to him the masses of the state would file out to vote for their leader without being teleguided by foreigners.

The governor said the people of the state deserved good life and must be treated like human beings, saying that many of the programmes of his administration were aimed at bringing development to the people.

“What we can see our critics cannot see, we are sitting at the top of the ladder, while they are at the bottom, we want to build an Ondo State that will be leader, we don’t bother about what the critics say, the sky is the limit for this administration."

Accord June 12 national recognition —Fayemi

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

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DO EKITI— F E D E R A L Government has been told to declare June 12 as democracy day and should see the day as symbol of national unity Speaking in Ado Ekiti yesterday at a lecture marking the 19th anniversary of the June 12 ,1993 presidential election, Fayemi said June 12 must be accorded national

recognition Fayemi’s position coincided with the view expressed by a renowned legal luminary and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dame Priscilla Kuye,who had called for the declaration June 12 as a national holiday Fayemi also emphasized that anything short of having Abiola’s picture displayed at the Aso Rock

Presidential Villa, Abuja as a former elected President of Nigeria is not acceptable.

The governor urged the Presidency to declare June 12 a national public holiday since it was glaring that Chief Abiola did not just win the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, but also because his efforts earned the nation the democracy that it now enjoys.

C M Y K

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Tinubu charges Jonathan on MAULAG

Don't manipulate subsidy probe report, CACOL tells FG

BY NNAMDI OJIEGO

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AGOS—FOLLOW ING the controversy trailing the renaming of University of Lagos, UNILAG, to Moshood Abiola University, MAULAG, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to listen to the people, while implementing his policies.

Tinubu, while fielding questions from her constituents on the legality of the name-change, during the third edition of Lagos Central Senatorial District Town Hall meeting and presentation of her first year report, in Lagos, said President Jonathan had written the Senate to give the name-change legal backing, stressing that she would not comment on the issue, as it was yet to be discussed on the floor of the Senate.

“I won’t say much on this matter. All I can say is that President Jonathan should listen to the people and give them what they want. That is how to be a true democrat.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has done it. He had shown that he is a true democrat by recalling the 788 sacked Lagos doctors.

I want President Jonathan to follow lead and do what is necessary.”

She noted that though, no honour would be enough to compensate Basorun Moshood Abiola for what he fought for with his life, every action of government should be people-oriented, adding that doing so would be the best way to honour the late politician.

Book launch HE launch and pub lic presentation of a new book, The Kidnappers, written by medical practitioner-turned-author, Nathaniel Nwadiogbu, holds today at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, at 10 a.m.

The event, to be chaired

by Dr. Okoye Anaerobi, Acting Marketing, Programme Coordinator, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, has Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike, Eze Ndi Lagos, as royal father of the day.

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BY EBELE ONUORAH

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From left; Mr. Olukayode Salako, National Coordinator, Change Agents of Nigeria; Mr. Abdulmumini Abiola; Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr. Wale Okuniyi, Coordinator, June 12 Movement; and others during the event commemorating the 19th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12 presidential election, at Basorun M.K.O. Abiola House, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

2 die in Lagos auto crash

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE PAPA—TWO persons were feared dead, yesterday, when a commercial bus, commonly called Danfo, collided with a fast-moving trailer at the Berger Yard area of Mile 2 on the OshodiApapa Expressway, Lagos, leaving several commuters severely injured.

The danfo bus, with number-plate YB 765 EPE, was driving against traffic when the accident occurred.

The impact of the colli-

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sion forced the bus to turn 180 degrees, while the trailer sped off after the accident.

Although the front of the commercial bus was seriously affected, the driver and conductor sustained minor injuries.

A victim, who simply gave his name as Okechukwu, was thankful to God, as he watched some of the commuters, lay lifeless while many had their legs smashed, a result of the impact of the accident, which happened at 4:20pm.

Narrating what hap-

pened, Okechukwu said: “I was supposed to sit in the front seat, but the woman there said I was smelling because I just came out from Westminster. I then entered the back of the bus that was going to Oshodi and the driver drove against traffic. As the bus moved, the next thing I heard was ‘gbam.’ A fast-moving trailer, which was on its right lane, hit us and the force turned the bus round to face where we were coming from.”

Another victim, Lola, seen on the ground with

HURILAW, Agbakoba seek inquest on Dana plane crash victims

BY INNOCENT ANABA A G O S —HUMAN Rights Law Services, HURILAW and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, have asked the Chief Coroner in Lagos, to conduct an inquest into the death of 153 persons, including pilots and crew, in the Dana plane crash in the Iju-Ishaga area of the state.

HURILAW and Agbakoba noted that the crash also caused collateral damage resulting in fatalities in residential accommodation at Iju-

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Ishaga.

According to them, “Pursuant to S. 15 (1) of the Coroners' System Law 2007 of Lagos State which provides thus: The Coroner shall hold an inquest whenever he is informed that the death of a deceased person lying within his Coroner's Dis-

trict was a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation.

“We request that an inquest be convoked as required by the Coroners Law of Lagos State. You may wish to assign the inquest to the appropriate district coroner,” they added.

Sifax boss assures port-users of better services

BY GODFREY BIVBERE & DAVID SAGUA A G O S — S I FAX Group, operators of terminal “C” at Tin-can Is-

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land Container Terminal, yesterday, said its recent victory at the Supreme Court on the ownership of the terminal will make it provide better services to

Lawyers tasked on modern legal trends

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH AGOS—FOR Nigeri an lawyers to excel and compete favourably with their colleagues around the world, they

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her left knee separated from other parts of her body, called on passersby for help. Though she could not explain what really happened, she recalled that she was in the bus before the accident.

Another victim, who was identified as Mrs Orungbeja, said she was returning home and was in the bus when the driver drove against traffic, facing Oshodi. She noted that the driver was driving into the expressway, before the trailer collided with it and made it to face Apapa.

The driver of the bus, who declined to give his name, claimed that he did not drive against traffic.

But when Okechukwu, challenged him to stop telling lies, since he was also inside the bus, the driver walked away into the crowd of on-lookers.

A woman was carried away on a bike, begging for help from passers-by with her leg torn. A kindspirited Okada rider carried her to a nearby hospital for quick attention.

AGOS—COALITION Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has called on the Federal Government not to manipulate the House of Representatives’ report on the oil subsidy probe.

Reacting to the allegation against House Committee Chairman on Fuel Subsidy Probe, Mr. Farouk Lawan, alleged to be involved in a $600,000 bribery scandal, Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said the allegation against Lawan should not stop government from prosecuting the oil thieves.

He said: “The fact that Lawan was alleged to have collected $600,000 bribe to influence the report does not discredit the whole report. That the committee leader was accused of misconduct is a separate case from the outcome of the probe. There are two different cases that should be treated differently.”

He alleged that the Federal Government had shown some bias against the report and the resolutions of the committee from its inception and hoped that it was not another attempt to dust the probe report aside as this would be detrimental to the country’s war against corruption.

“The recommendations of the committee are untouchable and must be implemented diligently, if President’s sanctimonious position on his anti-corruption war is not a charade.

“The allegation might be an effort to shift the public gaze away from the report,” and called for appropriate investigation into the bribery scandal, and prosecution of those found culpable.''

must sharpen their knowledge to meet today’s international legal practice, says Chairman, Section on Business Law, SBL, of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode.

He noted that its forth-

coming sixth annual business law conference in Lagos, will expose participants, especially Nigerian lawyers to what it was required of them to measure up to standard international law practice.

port-users in the country.

Chief Executive Officer of Sifax, Mr Tiawo Afolabi, who spoke on the development, said with the conclusion of the court case, which started in 2006, the company will concentrate on the provision of more efficient operations to port-users.

Afolabi, represented by Group Services Director in charge of Projects, Mr. Isaac Orolugbagbe, explained that Sifax intends to better manage and improve operations at terminal “C,” adding that the company

had concluded plans to instal more equipment at the terminal.

On the court case, he said Sifax presented a joint bid with Messrs Migfo and Denca for terminal “A” in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which we won before we proceeded to bid alone for terminal “C” in Tin-can Island Port and won.

“No sooner had Sifax commenced operation of terminal “C” of TCIP, did Migfo and Denca went to court to lay claim to being part owners of this terminal.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012—11

Oshiomhole expresses pity for Edo PDP As party chieftains relocate to Abuja

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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PRESENTATION: Mr. Otitigbe Wilfred, representing Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe (right) and Mr. Prince Benafa, at the presentation of certificates to ex-militants trained in Marine Engineering at Joemarine Institute, Warri, sponsored by the ministry in Warri, Delta State.

ENIN CITY— GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, said, yesterday, that he pitied the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over its decision to relocate to Abuja with a view to compel the leader of their party, President Goodluck Jonathan to provide them with what he described as “unethical” assistance in the July 14 governorship election in the state.

He urged President

Ex-militants, foreign oil mafia in secret arms deal Blow up Shell trunk line

BY EMMAAMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH-SOUTH ARRI—AN alleged secret arms deal between ex-militants in the Niger-Delta region and an international oil mafia has been uncovered.

To test run some of the newly-acquired weapons, which came in huge supplies, the ex-militants, allegedly on Monday, bombed a crude oil trunk line, linking Tunu/Cluph creeks flow stations to Warri in Delta State at 7am.

The affected trunk line belongs to Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, SNEPCo, at Tuomo, Delta State.

Spokesman of Joint Task Force, JTF, codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, Lt. Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, told Vanguard, when contacted, yesterday, that some soldiers reported that there

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were gunshots somewhere, but the facts had not been established.

Corporate Media Relations Manager, Shell Nigeria, Mr. Tony Okonedo, told Vanguard that the company was still checking and would get back to our reporter.

It was gathered that the underground treaty

between the ex-militants, who are among those protesting their noninclusion in the postamnesty programme by Federal Government and some foreign crooks from South America, involves barter of stolen crude oil for arms and ammunition.

Meanwhile, National

Corruption: EFCC to prosecute NDDC contractors, officials

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ORT HARCOURT— ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it will collaborate with Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to prosecute contractors and officials delaying project execution in the region.

EFCC Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at an enlightenment and sensitisation workshop on Ethics of Project

Execution and Delivery for NDDC Contractors/Consultants.

Lamorde, represented by CommandantofEFCCAcademy, Mr Ayo Olowonihi, said overinvoicingofcontractswasamajor challenge for NDDC. He said investigation showed that officials connived with contractors to misappropriate billions of naira meant for projects in the region.

He noted that due to such practices, contracts were often awarded to wrong contractors with the aim to sub-let same

You lied over Obodo release, vigilante group Narrating how Obodo was come and help me.‘ We tells Police rescued, amemberofthevigilante

BY EMMAARUBI ARRI—THE Emevor Vigilante Group, yesterday, expressed disappointment over claims by Delta State Police Command on the rescue of kidnapped soccer star, Christian Obodo, saying that they (vigilante) effected his rescue.

DeltaStatepoliceimagemaker, Mr Charles Muka, had told reporters that the abducted soccer star, was rescued by police in Emevor.

Speaking to newsmen at Emevor,membersofthevigilante group,whopleadedforanonymity, saidthepoliceshouldhaveatleast given them credit for a job well done, instead of attributing same to themselves unjustly.

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Coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, Mr Joseph Evah and a conflict managementexpertintheregion, Prince Clement Bebenimibo, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to include them in the amnesty programme, rather than allow them cripple oil installations again in the region.

group, said the soccer star, who was earlier in the day hidden in a nearbyforestwasmovedtoalocal food vendor for dinner by his abductorsandObodoactedsmart and sneaked out of the place before he screamed for help and some good Samaritans quickly alerted them (vigilante) who came to his rescue.

He said they then contacted the Police in Emevor, who came and took him away.

Some residents, who spoke to Vanguard said they were in their houses when they heard someonecallingforhelpandthey quickly responded and only to discover that it was Obodo.

“We just finished watching a football match, and were about to go to bed. Suddenly, we heard avoicescreaming‘IamChristian Obodo, I was kidnapped, please

immediately rushed to the scene and quickly contacted the communityvigilante,whichcame to save the situation before the kidnappers could reinforce and comeafterhim,,” a resident said.

afterwards.

He said investigation also revealedthatsomecontractswere not awarded for the benefit of the people, but for the purpose of embezzlingpublicfunds.

Lamordeurgedcontractorsnot to allow government officials to use them to steal public funds, saying: “If you do, we will arrest and prosecute you and your accomplices,”explainingthatthe workshop was meant to create a synergy between NDDC and contractors to fast-track development in Niger Delta.

Lamorde said: “Since the creation of NDDC, things haven’t been done properly and so I guess the time has come for this interface; why wouldn’t the commission and contractors sit down? This matter will end up with law enforcement anyway and we say before it gets there, let’s talk about it."

JTF arrests 33 suspected oil thieves in Rivers

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— THIRTY three suspected illegal bunkerers have been arrested by Sector II of the Joint Task Force, JTF in Rivers State.

Briefing newsmen on the development, yesterday, at Port Harcourt Army

Barracks, Rivers State, spokesman of the security outfit, Captain Samuel Sunday, said the oil thieves were arrested during operations by JTF at separate times in Borikiri, Okrika and Bonny. He said they would be handed over to the appropriate security body for prosecution.

Jonathan to allow the will of the people to prevail in the forthcoming election, rather than allow the “personal ambition of a god father” ruin his electoral reform agenda, which had been hailed by the international communityandNigerians.

Oshiomhole reminded the President that the “entire people of Edo State and even Action Congress of Nigeria-controlled statesvotedmassivelyforhimand not PDP members and their god father.”

He said: “I was with the

President when we visited Washington, US and the respect accordedtohimthatdaywasasa result of the positive impact he had made in our electoral reform process, therefore I don’t think that the Jonathan that I know will succumb to such illicit pressure.”

Oshiomhole spoke with journalists in Benin City, shortly after he addressed over 7,000 women from Edo South Senatorial District at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, who pledged their support for his second term ambition.

Reps to investigate alleged $600,000 scam National Assembly, told

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—MINORITY Leader of House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, has said the House will not leave any stone unturned in getting to the root of the $600,000 bribery allegation against a member of the House.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, legislator, r e p r e s e n t i n g O r h i o n w o n / Uhunmwonde Federal constituency in the

newsmen, yesterday, in Benin, Edo State, that although the House was yet to take action or discuss the issue, it would take the necessary step it may deemed fit if the allegation was proved to be true.

He said, “it is shocking and unbelievable as it would be premature now to comment on whether the allegation is true or not. One should not be in haste to conclude on the matter as one cannot rule out blackmail in the allegation.”

Isoko group declares INYM illegal

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—THE Isoko Progressive Youth Centre, IPYC, has raised alarm over comments credited to Isoko National Youth Movement, INYM, that it ( INYM) had dragged Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC; Minister of Petroleum Resources and others before a Delta State High Court in Asaba, over the alleged sale of onshore oil facilities in Isokoland.

IPYC, in a statement, yesterday, said: “INYM had been proscribed and no longer exist legally and no longer represents any

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youth in the Isoko nation.”

Isoko Youth Leader/ President General, Mr Anthony Ogbalor, in a statement, said: “INYM was proscribed by mutual consent of the promoters and confirmed by the judgment of Justice K. Odiete-Georgeman in her judgment of January 17, 2008.

“The aforesaid judgment proscribing the body is still valid and subsisting. All persons and authorities are bound by that judgment,” he said and chided one Mr. Okorobia and Mr. OdomeroIgbine,whowerelisted in the publications as persons pretendingtoactfortheproscribed body."

Mrs Ejuwa for burial RS ELIZABETH Kpenose Ejuwa, 89, of Iweroko Ameren, Koko in Warri North Local Government Area ofDelta State is dead.

There will be a Christian wake-keep at her family compound on Friday, June 15.

Funeral service holds at RCCG Morning Star Area, Koko, on Saturday.

She is survived by children, grand- children and relations among

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whom are Mrs Alero Attah and Deacon Joseph Ejuwa, brother-in-law.

Late Elizabeth Ejuwa

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

loyalists lament VP leads PDP campaign team for Osunbor's alleged marginalisation Edo guber poll

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

Party charges security agencies on peaceful election

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AHEAD of the July 14, Edo State governorship election, national leadership of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, has put in place a National Campaign Committee with Vice-President Namadi Sambo as Chairman.

The team, which will be inaugurated today at the party ’s National Secretariat,Abuja, has the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih; former Federal Commissioner for Information and SouthSouth leader, Chief Edwin Clark; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and all South-South governors elected on the platform of the party as members.

Also, former governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia; Publisher, Champion Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Secretary, BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin; former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Diepreye Alamiyesigha; former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Amnesty, Chief Timi Alaibe; former Deputy National Chairmen, Chief Bode George and Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun are members of the committee.

Other are former Ondo State governor, Dr. Segun Agagu; Chief Don Etiebet; Senator Aniete Okon; Chief Fred Agbedi; Chief A. Turner; Senator Stella Omu; governorship aspirants in the state, Kenneth Imansuangbon and Mathew Iduriyekemwen; all PDP senators from the SouthSouth Zone, all PDP House of Representatives' members and ministers

AGOS—SENATOR Florence Ita-Giwa has condoled with families of victims of the Dana plane crash.

In a statement, Senator Ita-Giwa, who survived the 1997 ADC Calabar plane crash landing, said: “Words alone cannot adequately mitigate the sense of loss being experienced by members of victims’ families.

Prayer and sober supplication need to be offered by all Nigerians to God at this time as our nation is passing through unprecedented

Olisa Metuh, also called on relevant security agencies to ensure a peaceful and transparent election as well as protect lives and property of Edo people from alleged violent activities of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. ''PDP regretted that ACN has made violence its signature-tune and warned it to desist forthwith,” he added.

ENIN CITY—LOY ALISTS of former governor of Edo State and governorship aspirant in the February 25, 2012 governorship primary of Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, yesterday, lamented what they described as their alleged marginalisation in the affairs of the party by the leadership of PDP in the state.

Loyalists of Osunbor, under the aegis of Restoration Project 2012, in a statement by its state coordinator and former Special Adviser to Osunbor, Mr Nosa Omorodion, Edo South Coordinator, Dr Macauly Iyare and its Director of Mobilisation, Mr Nosa

Confidence vote on Obuzor of Ibusa

BY TOMMYANADUAKA

A COURTESY VISIT: Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and Mrs. Patience Ozokwor, popular Nollywood actress during a visit by members of the National Council of Women Society, Edo State, to the governor in Benin City, yesterday.

Peace returns to Bayelsa Assembly as reinstated Speaker takes over

BY SAMUELOYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—SEVEN days after anti-riot policemen sealed off Bayelsa State House of Assembly, following the controversial impeach-

Ita-Giwa condoles with families of Dana plane crash victims

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from the zone; Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Mohammed; former governor of the state, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor; Navy-Captain Caleb Olubolade, Minister of Police Affairs; Chief Mike Oghiadome, Chief of Staff to the President; members of NWC, among others.

Meanwhile, PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief

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Omoruyi, said the way and manner the party was being operated in the state “indicates a lack of seriousness of purpose.”

It will be recalled that it was as a result of similar complaint of marginalisation in the affairs of the party that loyalists of former governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, dumped the party for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. The group lamented that after the controversial governorship primary of the party, “the winners and the party leadership had failed to sincerely engage all critical actors and structures within the party in the process of strategising and executing the campaign plans.''

hard times.''

She commended President Goodluck Jonathan for visiting the crash site and empanelling a nine-man technical and administrative review panel to look into the issue and audit all airlines, aircraft and related processes.

The former Special Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on National Assembly, believed that the issue of air mishaps may finally be dealt with through the report of the panel.

ment of its Speaker, Mr Kombowei Benson, by 11 of its members, peace has returned to the House, as it reconvened and reinstated Benson.

This followed the resolve of the warring factions to sheath their swords and work with Benson.

The factions said there would be no reprimand members involved in the purported impeachment of the Speaker and agreed that there was no victor and vanquished in the crisis that rocked the House.

Also, yesterday, Governor Seriake Dickson told the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, State and Local Government Working Committees at the state secretariat of the party, that it will not allow rumour-mongering, political crisis and division in its fold stiffen the development of the state.

The two factions in the

House of Assembly, led

by Mr. Fini Angaye and the Speaker, Benson, after a closed door meeting with the governor and the party leaders, declared a truce, adding that the members involved in last week's purported impeachment of the Speaker would not be reprimanded.

The House Committee Chairman on Information, Mr. Obiene Iniyobiyo; Leader of the House, Mr Peter Akpe, Sagbama I; Mr Jonathan Obuebite, Nembe I and Mr Angaye, Kolokuma/ Opokuma II, said the crisis that rocked the House was unfortunate and a normal incident in a legislative arm.

“We have resolved to go back to the House and continue in our efforts at assisting the current administration in its efforts to reposition and develop the state,” they said.

SABA—THE leader ship of Traditional Chiefs Forum of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has passed a vote of confidence on Obuzor of Ibusa and called on all those who were involved in the disrespectful acts on the royal institution to seek forgiveness.

The forum condemned

the aspersion cast on the monarch, Obi Louis Nwaoboshi, by some dissident group in the area.

In a statement by the Iyase of the community, Chief Joseph Okonicha; Uwolo, Chief Obi Anyakpo and Omekokwu, Chief George Nwanze, the forum described the authors of the said publication in which their traditional ruler was insulted as a taboo.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012—13

Al-Qaeda blames death of hostage on Germany

BY UDUMA KALU ORE revelations are coming out over the killing of Germany’s Edgar Fritz Raupach, kidnapped in January by gunmen in Kano.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released a statement on the death of the German during a rescue mission by Nigerian soldiers in Kano.

In the message, posted on jihadist forums on Monday night, Al-Qaeda’s North Africa branch blamed Germany for the death of the engineer killed during a military raid in Kano, though authorities in Europe apparently complied with at least one of the terrorist group’s demands by releasing a prisoner it wanted freed.

Raupach was kidnapped

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in January by gunmen Kano, died on May 31 as soldiers raided the house where his abductors held him. Nigeria’s military later said it had no idea gunmen held Raupach inside the home and that kidnappers stabbed him to death as the raid began.

The message, translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, said the hostage’s death came only after the German government refused to negotiate with it.

“Your government gave the green light for the operation,” the message posted said.

“We say to the family of the German citizen Edgar Fritz Raupach, the blood of your son hangs from the neck of your government,” AQIM said, according to a SITE translation of the statement posted online on Monday.

Nobel foundation slashes prize money for award

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TOCKHOLM, SWE DEN—THE prize money given to Nobel laureates is to be cut by a fifth, the foundation behind the prestigious awards said on Monday, after a decade of overspending that has stretched its finances.

The Nobel foundation said the money for the awards, given for excellence in the fields of science, literature and peace, would fall to 8 million Swedish crowns ($1.12 million).

The capital that forms the base for the awards was donated in the will of dynamite inventor, Alfred Nobel and is managed by the foundation, which was set up in 1900.

The foundation said in a statement that costs had exceeded returns from inter-

est and investments on the capital over the past decade, making it necessary to lower the prize money from the previous 10 million crowns.

“It is the Nobel Foundation that is responsible for the prize money remaining at a high level over the long run,” said Chief Executive Lars Heikensten.

“We have made the assessment that it is important to take necessary measures in good time.”

The foundation said it had also begun work to cut costs in administration and expenses related to the Nobel Prize celebrations, which take place every December in Stockholm and Oslo. This year’s laureates will receive the reduced prize money.

NCAA orders suspension of Air Nigeria operations To carry out proper check on airline

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU AGOS—THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday ordered Air Nigeria Airline to suspend its flights and operations to enable the authority carry out a proper audit and check on the airline This came barely five days after Air Nigeria resumed flight operations due to the one week strike by its pilots and aeronautic engineers under the auspices of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE. The Media Assistant to the Director General of NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, who confirmed the suspension said it was a routine action to allow NCAA look at the airline.

According to him, “it is a routine action to enable us look at them before allowing them to go back to operations having being on strike for days, this is normal” It will be recalled that NAAPE had alleged that the management of the airline not only delayed the salaries of both local and foreign staff but the pension money which the airline deducted from salaries was never remitted for seven months. Other grievances the body protested against are tax refund and tax clearance issues, non remittance of co-operative deductions, unresolved staff travel and the engineering tier system that is still pending.

The decision to suspend the airline’s operations may also not be unconnected with allegations by its

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former Executive Director for Finance, Mr John Nnorom, that planes in the airline’s fleet are not properly maintained The President of NAAPE,

Isaac Balami last week told newsmen that NAAPE did not embark on strike for safety reasons but for the welfare of its members, adding that the body had called

off the strike that lasted for close to eight days, after the body reached an agreement with the management and that the issues in dispute had been resolved.

LETTER OF CREDENCE—President Goodluck Jonathan (right); Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, Ambassador-designate (left); and Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Gbenga Ashiru (middle), during presentation of letter of credence to Mrs. Ojukwu at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Edo poll: Group asks Jonathan to ensure fairness

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

ENIN—BINI Truth Movement 2012, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure a free and fair election in Edo State on July 14.

The group in a statement

by Efosa Edosa-Osazuwa, said media reports claiming that the President has other agenda, is already sending wrong signals across

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the country and beyond and called on President Jonathan to ensure fairness, irrespective of political affiliation in the conduct of the Edo State gubernatorial election on July 14, 2012.

According to the statement, “our worries also stem from recent political behavior of some People’s Democratic Party, PDP, chieftains in Edo State who want to grab political powers at all cost, get the President involved in the electoral mal-

feasance, rubbish his credentials and thereby destroy his political future and career.

"We are not unaware that you have a duty to protect the interest of your party.

We are also not oblivious of the fact that you are a father to all and the political leader of Nigeria since the entire country is your constituency. There is cause for worry and fear for the hardearned credentials you labored to achieve over time".

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14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 20125

APGA crisis: Nwobu-Alor 'll be recalled if...says scribe WKA— ALL Pro gressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra State yesterday said former Special Adviser to the Governor on Parks and Markets, Chief Sylva Nwobu-Alor and two other members suspended from the party may be recalled, but they must first express and show remorse for the actions that led to their suspension.

The State Secretary of the party, Mr Okoli Akirika, gave the conditions in in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria,

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NAN. It will be recalled that Nwobu-Alor and two others were suspended a month ago over their alleged involvement in the sacking of the party’s state executive committee.

The suspended members were also alleged to have engaged in antiparty activities capable of creating problems for the party.

Akirika maintained that their suspension and other wrangling among members did not mean that the party was in crisis.

Bro Raymond-Ogoke, 74 for burial LETTER OF CREDENCE—President Goodluck Jonathan (right), presenting letter of credence to Amb. Ojo Maduekwe (left) as Head of Mission to China while the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru (2nd right) watched at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Subsidy probe: Alleged bribery must not stop implementation of report — ACN AGOS—ACTION Con gress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday warned that the allegation of bribery involving the chair of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan, must not be allowed to scuttle the implementation of the committee’s report.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party expressed deep concern at the timing of the allegation to coincide with the period that Nigerians expected the government to be dealing with the issues raised in the report.

It said Nigerians believe, going by published reactions to the report, that the committee carried out a thorough job in exposing the mismanagement and the sleaze involved in the fuel subsidy. ‘’Therefore, the allegation of bribery making the rounds should not be used as a reason not to allow all those indicted by the report to have their day in court,’’ ACN said.

The party said while the bribery allegation must be thoroughly investigated and anyone found culpable dealt with according to the laws of the land, any attempt to cast aspersion on the report, to say it has been tainted by the bribery allegation, should be resisted by the House of Representatives. ‘’We are concerned that

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this case is eerily similar to what happened after the House’s probe into the $16 billion reportedly spent in the power sector during the

Obasanjo regime. Instead of implementing the report of the committee, the man who presided over the probe was slammed with

corruption charges. Till today, that report was never implemented and Nigeria remains in darkness,’’ it said.

Orji warns youths against pipeline vandalisation

BY ANAYO OKOLI MUAHIA— GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State, has charged youths in the state to desist from oil pipeline vandalism, reminding them that the act has been affecting the revenue base of the state and its development negatively.

Governor Orji who spoke

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while receiving the people of Umuopkara clan in Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state on a visit, said his prayers had been for the state revenue allocation to increase for the administration to have a good financial base to work for the people.

According to Orji, the revenue base of the state would not increase if

the youths of the state continued to vandalise oil pipeline and called on the traditional rulers and well meaning people of the state to call the youths to order.

The governor said, “when it is shared we will get our funds and if there is more, we get more money and our state will be the better for it.”

Alleged power tussle: Ogun PDP lambasts Oyinlola GUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday lambasted the National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola over his power tussle with the National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

In a statement by the Director of Organisation of the party, Mr. Segun Showunmi, said it was laughable that Oyinlola could accuse some persons of having no regard for the laws and constitution of the party when he is the champion of ille-

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galities.

“It is the heights of double speak for a man who unabashedly encourages the disobedience of court orders and judgments to be accusing the National Chairman of our great party and his aides of not having regard for the laws and constitution of the party,” it said.

The party noted that Oyinlola and his god-father had continued to over-reach themselves against the judgment of a Federal High Court which nullified the

South-West Zonal Congress.

“The court not only nullified the zonal congress which also produced Oyinlola, it sacked Mr. Segun Oni as Vice-Chairman of the party, as well as Mr. Bode Mustapha as the National Auditor of the party.

“The said Mustapha is not an accountant even when the constitution of the party said the National Auditor shall be an accountant,", the statement added.

RO. John RaymondOgoke, 74, of Umegwu-Mbam, Ahiazu-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, is dead. He will be buried in his hometown on Friday, according to Christian rites. John had worked with Primoro Company, John Holt Nigeria Ltd., Canadian High Commission, American Embassy and Mobil Oil. He is survived by nine children, among whom is Mr. Raymond Johnson, and 24 grandchildren.

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Late Bro RaymondOgoke

15 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Nurses, midwives mourn Dana crash victims

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—NATIONAL Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives has commiserated with relatives of victims of the Dana air craft crash.

A statement by the association’s Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Yusuf Badmus, on behalf of the President, Mr. Lawal Dutsina, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, also called for thorough investigation of the crash.

It said: “Nurses and Midwives all over the country have joined millions of Nigerians to mourn the death of over 153 passengers, who were victims of the illfated Dana aircraft, Boeing Mcdonnel Douglas (MD)83 flight 0992 which crashed at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

“We commiserate with President Goodluck Jonathan, families and friends of the victims and the nation in general.”

... as community pharmacists rue drugs distribution system

BY CHIOMA OBINNA RKED by the chaotic drug distribution in Nigeria, community pharmacists in the country have tasked the Federal Government on speedy implementation of the drug distribution guidelines aimed at repositioning the confidence of the pharmaceutical sector.

The current drug distribution system, experts believe, is such that over the counter, OTC, drugs like pain-relieving medicines, multivitamin drugs as well as drugs for combating communicable and noncommunicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension are sold in the open market, shops, roadside, buses, and so on, thereby giving room for counterfeit medicines to thrive.

National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Mrs. Ejiro OyovwinFoyibo, said this at a briefing onthe2012annualconference holding in Port Harcourt.

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Boko Haram: FG faults calls for foreign intervention

BY VICTORIA OJEME BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it had not lost control of the security situation in the north, owing to attacks by the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, as suggested in

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some quarters, faulting calls for foreign assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, who spoke in Abuja, said the Nigerian situation has not fallen short of the principles of the United

Nations Responsibility to Protect, which, among others, provides for international intervention with coercive measures if a state fails to protect its citizens from mass atrocities.

The Responsibility to Protect Articles 138 and

139 affirm that it is the primary responsibility of a state to protect its populations from mass atrocities; it is the responsibility of the international community to assist states in fulfilling this responsibility through the instrument of the UN. It also provides that if a state fails to protect its

INAUGURATION: From left— Vice President Namadi Sambo; Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, Chief of Air Staff; and Air Commodore Atiku Jalingo, at the inauguration of inter-agency Maritime Operation Coordination Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

PDP describes Tukur/Oyinlola feud as administrative error

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday admitted that it had learnt some lessons from the rift between the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

While saying that the power tussle was caused by administrative lapses, the party said the differences had been settled amicably through internal mechanisms as the problem was internal.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, described the power tussle between the two leaders of the party, with Tukur ’s Chief of Staff, Habu Fari at the centre of the feud, as an administrative error, and vowed that the ugly incident will be a thing of the past among members of the National Working Committee, NWC. Metuh explained that the problem was not a creation of the media, but from the party and against the backdrop that the letters written from both

sides were correct and not forged. He added that besides learning some lessons from the reports, the NWC will now ruminate on the issues raised in the papers and sit up to its responsibilities and make the leadership more united ever than before.

He said: “In the past few

days, there were reports of divisions or problems between Alhaji Habu Fari, the Chief of Staff to the National Chairman, and the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, over administrative matters.

“We admit that there were administrative errors

as you all know that this is a new set of National Working Committee. Just like in other parties and companies, it takes some time before everyone settles down properly.

“We admit that we made mistakes but we have resolved the matter amicably and learnt our lessons.”

citizens from mass atrocities and peaceful means have failed to secure protection, the international community has the responsibility to intervene, with coercive measures, including use of force as a last resort.

Speaking in an address at the opening of a twoday Regional Policy Seminar on Responsibility to Protect, organised

by Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, the minister insisted that none of the conditions envisaged by the principles of the Responsibility to Protect exists in Nigeria despite the current security challenges.

He said: “I am aware of some suggestions that the situation in Nigeria with isolated internecine conflicts and current security challenge posed

by Boko Haram might qualify for the application of the principle of Responsibility to Protect.

“Our response to this is simple: surely the situation does not call for the invocation of the principle of R2P since Nigeria has not lost control on the first pillar, being the responsibility of state to protect its citizens.

“While current situation and the wanton loss of lives are deeply regrettable, the situation is not of the scale envisaged by the World Summit on R2P. Even on the second pillar, Nigeria has sought and is receiving the assistance of the international community, both at bilateral and multilateral levels, including the United Nations.”

Defend Nigerians in Diaspora, Jonathan urges new ambassadors

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged the newly appointed ambassadors of the country to other nations to pursue national interest in their places of postings and to defend the interests of Nigerians resident there.

While handing out letters of credence to 93 ambassadors, 88 of whom have successfully gone through the Senate screening, at the Presidential Villa, the President charged the ambassadors to see themselves as representatives of the president and not their ethnic nationalities.

He said: “You are posted to your designation to represent the president and not your state or your ethnicity, and project Nigeria as a united and indivisible nation. You must encourage Nigerians abroad to have solid unions.”

Of the diplomats who received their letters of credence, 62 of them are ambassadors while 24 are Deputy Heads of Mission.

Their countries of accreditation were not made public at the occasion.

President Jonathan told the ambassadors that his decision to give prominence to career officers in the appointment of ambas-

sadors was to enhance commitment to professional excellence.

He said economic diplomacy remains at the core of the nation’s foreign policy and protecting Nigerians and their interest in their country of accreditation must be at the forefront.

He charged the envoys to give priority to the promotion of democracy, rule of law and stability in Africa and other nations.

Jonathan said: “Today, we live in an international environment that is characterised by rapid change, intense competition, and driven by knowledge and technology. It is an exciting

world in which only the best succeed. In such an environment, only a dynamic, confident and proactive foreign service can effectively and efficiently serve Nigeria’s interests.

“As Nigeria’s window to the outside world, our diplomatic service must necessarily raise its standards to match the best globally, both in the quality of service delivery and the professionalism of its staff.

“To build and sustain a corps of staff that can excel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must accord priority to recruiting the best and ensuring the regular training of its diplomats.”

16—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Job seekers stranded at Fed Civil Service office

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE BUJA—THOUSANDS of applicants seeking Federal Civil Service jobs were disappointed, Monday, in Abuja, as they were denied employment forms by the Federal Civil Service Commission, FCSC, the body responsible for federal employment.

The job seekers, who had besieged the FCS Club, Abuja, the designated centre for collection of employment forms, were confused when officials of the commission announced that

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COMMISSIONING: From left— Governor Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State; Mr. Joshua Kempeneer, Programme Director, FCA; and Hajia Amina Dalhat, at the commissioning of the Hayin Dogo Primary Health Clinic refurbished and equipped by FCA with funding from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and ESSO in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State, Monday.

Nigeria's civil rule, monumental waste—CRCN

BY EMEKA MAMAH RESIDENT of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, CRCN, Mr. Shehu Sani has described the last 13 years of civil rule in the country as years of monumental waste, saying June 12 remained Nigeria’s genuine democracy day.

In a statement entitled, On the June 12 Anniversary, in Kaduna, yesterday, Sani said: “It (June 12) is a day of unity and true reflection of Nigeria’s history of struggle for democracy.

“Without the June 12 struggle, Nigeria could not have realised civil rule. President Goodluck Jonathan is a direct beneficiary of the June 12

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struggle. Without June 12 there could not have been zoning system or the principle of rotation of power.

“Nigeria’s democracy is today hijacked by kleptocrats. The 13 years of civil rule has been a period of waste, mis-governance, violence and monumental corruption.

“There has been a systemic looting of the treasury at the federal, state and local governments levels and pervasive insecurity is today the order of the day.

“The amount of revenue accrued to the nation in the last 13 years is not commensurate with the level of development in the country.”

OLA—SUBSIDY Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE.P, would create jobs

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for 370,000 Nigerian women and youths, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said.

As Fulani herdsmen raid Plateau community

BY TAYE OBATERU, with agency report

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ANO—GUNMEN killed six persons at Rimin Kebe in Tudun Murtala, Ungogo Local Government Area, Kano State, Monday. An eyewitness in Kano, yesterday, said the incident, which happened at about 10:00pm, left many others seriously injured.

The eyewitness said the suspected gunmen stormed the area in a Honda Civic car. He added that the victims were sitting in front of a house when the gunmen opened fire on them and zoomed off.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Rilwanu Dutse, confirmed the incident. He, however, said that only three persons were killed during the incident.

He said: “The incident happened between 9:30pm and 10:00pm, Monday, and three persons were killed.”

Meanwhile, two people were, Monday night, gunned down by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Chakarum village in Vwang District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers laid ambush for the villagers, who were

She spoke in Yola, capital of Adamawa State at the launch of the Community Services, Women and Youths Employment, CS/ WYE, project of the SURE.P,

yesterday.

She said the Federal Government also recognised the place of youths in the strategic drive for national development.

returning from a weekly market at 7.30pm, and opened fire on them at close range. Those killed were identified by eyewitnesses as Nyago Pam and Dung Mwantiyl.

The attack threw the village into confusion making it easy for the assailants to escape undetected. Chairman, Interim Management Committee of Jos South Local Government Area, Mr. Peter Dung, confirmed the incident in a statement, expressing worry that such attacks constituted a setback to peace-making efforts in the area.

He said: “The incident is quite disturbing. Despite the peace-building measures being put in place by the administration, some people are hell bent on thwarting the good intention of the people.

“I want to appeal for calm in the community.

Be law-abiding and you

should also be securityconscious at all times and report any suspected movement to agencies.”

He urged the various communities to embrace peace, noting that meaningful development cannot take place in an atmosphere of rancour.

Chief Medical Director of Vom Christian Hospital, Dr. Samuel Dido confirmed that one of the victims, who had gunshot wounds, died in the hospital, while another person was brought in dead.

In Kano, Rilwanu said investigation had since commenced, while security had been beefed up in the area.

Meanwhile, the state Police Command denied report of attack on Government Secondary School Yar’tofa in Warawa Local Government Area of the state.

“There was no such incident of attack on the school,” the PPRO said.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

applicants had all along been going to the commission’s headquarters at Wuse Zone 3 for the forms, but were suddenly re-directed to its club located at Utako, Friday last week, by officials responsible for issuing of the forms.

Vanguard visited the FCS Club last Friday to monitor the situation and observed that the commission’s officials stopped issuance of forms at 2:30pm, same day and directed applicants who were unable to get the forms to return on Monday.

Gunmen kill 6 in Kano

SURE.P 'll provide 370,00 jobs— Minister

BY UMAR YUSUF

they had stopped issuance of forms to applicants.

The development immediately caused tension around the area as the applicants protested the decision, which they claimed was against the official deadline given for collection and submission of the forms.

The commission, in its advertisement, had officially given from June 1 to July 13 as period for collection and submission of forms, preparatory to mass recruitment into the service.

It was gathered that the

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Dana aircraft crash

T was Sosoliso, next was Belleview. And now we have Dana on our hands. I really do not know what is happening in this country. The management of Dana airplane should be punished and the airline stopped from operating.—Alhaja Salami Afusat, Housewife.

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HE managers of Dana airline should be arrested and charged with manslaughter. I think we need to start sending some people to jail. Until we do that, these airplane operators will not take their job seriously.—Mr. Chucks Nwachukwu, Lawyer.

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T was another unfortunate incident which revealed, once again, the corruption in our regulatory bodies.

Why should aircraft that are supposed to be grounded fly? May God help us with our leaders and decision makers.— Mr. Akinotan Oluwasegun, Systems Engineer.

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see gross carelessness on the part of the government and it is only here in Nigeria that human lives are used for experiment. I believe unworthy aircraft should not be allowed to fly again in this country.

Otherwise we will have more crashes.—Mr. Nelson Azubike, Cleric.

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HE situation is terrible. I am pleading that regulators should ensure that any airplane flying in this country be properly checked. The crash was because the aircraft was not properly checked by the appropriate authority.—Mr. Nwachukwu Chima, Driver.

HIS would have been averted if the airplane operators were maintaining their aircraft. I think the government should look into the issue of maintenance and think of what the masses want. Except if no one cares for the masses anymore.—Ms. Olaegbe Abimbola, Student.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012— 17 “History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.”

-Abba Eban HE crash of the Dana Aircraft last week in Lagos raises many issues regarding the manner our government relates to its citizens. It provides an opportunity to highlight basic flaws in the structure and operations of governance institutions in Nigeria, and identify critical areas where genuine improvements must be made.

Tragically, those who have paid for decades of bad governance and corruption with their lives will join the statistics which increase by the day on our collective failure to run a nation which should fulfil its potentials to be great.

Our constitution assigns our government two basic functions. One is to protect lives and property of citizens. The other is to pursue our economic well-being. Government is the totality of elected leaders, a judiciary and a public service which is the primary instrument for the pursuit of the objectives of government.

Elected leaders aggregate the needs of the citizenry; articulate them in terms of policies, programmes and decisions, and then seek to satisfy them through structures and institutions which have specific mandates and operational capacities.

The three arms of government complement each other by exercising critical functions of their own, and through in-built mechanisms which limit potential excesses or conflicts. On the whole, our constitution envisages the existence of a political process built around the values of service and honest leadership; a genuinely-elected leadership transparently answerable to citizens and voters; and a public service which operates exclusively on the basis of loyalty to public interest and provision of services to the public.

Citizens are supposed to be protected from an inept and corrupt government through the unhindered application of the rule of law and a democratic system which allows citizens to reject incompetent leaders through free and fair elections. Governance is run strictly on the assumption that every elected official or public servant is answerable for his actions. Failure or abuse will be punished by regulatory mechanisms which work, and diligence and outstanding commitment will be rewarded by a merit-based system which allows good leaders to stand out, and committed and outstanding public officers to rise to positions of leadership.

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o why doesn’t our system work as envisaged by the constitution? You have to start from a political and democratic system which is grossly abused in the process of producing leaders. Corruption of all the basic processes, institutions and systems create massively-disputed elections, and leaders with questionable mandates emerge, who then devote all their energy and state resources to retaining power rather than serving the public. Leaders then plunder and mobilise state resources to retain control over sources and instruments of power. Basic rules on management of state institutions and assets are violated by people who should protect them, and political patronage becomes the hallmark of the management of the public service.

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System failure

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ur system fails because persons and institutions which are meant to protect the citizenry have defected to the enemy. Weak political will and lack of administrative capacity create weak regulatory mechanisms. This is the perfect breeding ground for

Rescue operations after the crash.

From there, the rest follow a logical pattern. State agencies are headed by political appointees whose qualifications are their potential to reinforce political control, not merit or competence. They in turn run state agencies principally by reference to political imperatives and the instinct for survival. Hallowed values of service and commitment to public interest are jettisoned for immediate political gratification and satisfaction of personal goals. Once the political leadership is unable to live by the rules, it loses its capacity to police political appointees and the public service. In the public service bureaucracy, resistance to corruption and subversion of rules is punished, and virtually everyone else quickly learns the utility of submitting to leaders who violate rules and standards. The public service joins the assault on public resources and subversion of basic rules meant to protect public interest and public resources from a rapacious and corrupt leadership.

Government agencies undertake the vast majority of all activities of government, while ministries deal essentially with policy. There are basically two types of agencies: those which provide and maintain standards and services which government provides to citizens, and those which regulate services provided for by the private sector to citizens. The latter are empowered by the laws which set them up to set and monitor compliance with standards and ensure that citizens get good value for money. They operate in areas such as telecommunications and aviation, where private operators have assets running in tens or hundreds of billions of Naira. In order to be effective, agencies which operate as regulators require a number of things. One is a political leadership that has a very strong commitment to public interest and the provision of quality service to citizens. Second,

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Corruption of all basic processes

The anatomy of failure

In Nigeria, where the leadership deploys a very weak political will behind the fight against corruption, we have all the elements which make for failure, the type we see in the crash of the DANA airline last week, and the failure to handle our telecommunication companies in a manner that will make them render services which justify their cost.

Operators find it easy to by-pass vital regulations because of endemic corruption. Head of agencies are compromised by operators, and by a system which does not lend itself easily to the application of rules against operators. Heads of agencies are unsure of the nature of the relations between operators and Ministers.

Ministers are unsure of the nature of relations between operators or chief executive officers of regulatory agencies (who are political appointees like them) which report to them, with the presidency. Elements in the presidency are unsure over who is “overseeing” a particular sector or operator. The legislature rants and raves, and recommends sanctions which are either ignored or are settled “out of court”.

Our system fails because persons and institutions which are meant to protect the citizenry have defected to the enemy. Weak political will and lack of administrative capacity create weak regulatory mechanisms. This is the perfect breeding ground for corruption and disaster. Failures breed more failures. This is why no one has been jailed or sanctioned for all the air crashes we have witnessed which took hundreds of lives since 1992

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A residential building went up in flames as a result of the crash. they need to operate in an environment where corruption is extremely limited, or non-existent. Then they need strong professional leadership which understands the environment in which it works. Finally, they need a vigilant and active consumer–citizenry which is capable of demanding for both accountability and quality service.

corruption and disaster. Failures breed more failures. This is why no one has been jailed or sanctioned for all the air crashes we have witnessed which took hundreds of lives since 1992. This is why government is unable to deal with the telecommunication companies which provides quite possibly the worst service in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. There are quite possibly hundreds of the equivalent of DANA crashes in many other sectors, but the biggest failure is that Nigerians are resigning themselves to living with them.

Nigerians must demand an answer for the inability of our governments to perform the basic functions for which they exist. The answers, however, cannot come until honest and committed leaders are voted into power. This in turn will not happen until the electoral process is made to reflect the popular will. This will not happen unless Nigerians rise now to demand that whatever needs to be done must be done to ensure that 2015 elections are free and fair. The vast majority of Nigerians just want good and committed leaders. They will not lose sleep over where they come from, so long as they stop this free fall of our nation.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY , JUNE 13, 2012

VIOLENCE is a major offering preceding the July 14 governorship election in the Edo State.

It should not be allowed to persist. The flood of allegations between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, fuels the violence.

Each party accuses the other of responsibility for the murders, assassinations and road accidents that have claimed lives. These incidents that should have made the people sober have become matters for pointing fingers and claims that one party wants to eliminate the other. These days, weighty allegations of crimes have become accepted as matters for campaigns. The security agencies appear disinterested in the killings and the violence that have marked the campaigns.

The only thing new in the latest handling of an impeding crisis in the State is that the principal characters are different. The people are aware too that their concerns are different from government’s.

Promises to find the killers or worse clichés like “it is one murder too many”, are ever available to console the mourning. Otherwise, the assurances are the same empty words that

Choices Over Violence ring with familiar indifference. Governments’ business is to save things from declining to these points. Once the people lose confidence in their leaders, it is more difficult to reclaim the trust.

Edo State is of interest because its politics grandly captures the struggles between opposition and the party in power. Free and fair elections are considered a challenge in Nigeria, especially in situations where the incumbent governor is running for office. When Edo voters troop out, it would not be only about retaining the governor or voting a new one into office, they would want to make their statement about what they think of govern-

ments.

Comparisons are often made between Adams Oshiomhole’s government and the recent administrations that preceded it. Do the people like these changes, would they want their continuation? Are they ready to try another candidate?

The votes on July 14 would determine these.

It is not enough to say that the power belongs to the people, when violence is being used to scare people away. How would people exercise their rights?

We are calling on the security agencies to be decisive in dealing with the crises that are being perpetrated with impunity. The criminals behind them are emboldened when they are not punished. Governments are more concerned with political incorrectness ahead of the election.

Political exegesis keeps prevailing over the security of our people, proving again that politics is more important than the people. Government is yet to make the point that violence will not be tolerated before, during or after the election. The time to make that point is now.

OPINION

BY STELLA PEREMOBOERE

Continued from yesterday HESE unintended outcomes that are antithesis to any meaningful development have been the bane of the education system the governor is positively motivated to rescue. He is certain that ensuring quality outputs is not the only reward of adequate education provision, but its unending profit.

Therefore educational functionality should be the watch word, the pain, the concern and the vigor of not only the governor but all stake holders and educationists in particular.

As a focused and hard working man from humble beginning, Honourable Seriake Dickson recognises that his strive for upward social mobility has been greatly enhanced by good and appropriate education and hence he is very conscious of the role functional education delivery can play in the lives of young Bayelsans. He knows that neither ill luck nor low IQ is responsible for the dismal performance of our children in schools, but a systematic decline in teaching and learning accentuated by poor infrastructure; low quality of teachers; poor supervision and management; lack of commitment; lack of incentives; and general apathy to learning resulting from the geometric increase in the educated who are unemployed. The direct consequence of these anomalies have been mass failure, examination malpractice, youth restiveness, cultism, poor self image and low self value, all of which are negative vices that have long plagued our dear State. These

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Balyesa's state of emergency on education(2) are serious issues begging for urgent attention and proactive correctional measures which the energetic and well focused Governor is driven to address.

The declaration therefore signals the prioritisation of education for development and alerts citizens and educationists of government’s seriousness to reinvent education; spur individuals to change past behaviours that have frustrated the education system; and comply with new plans and programmes. Within this context, the declaration of a state of emergency focuses this government on its commitment to deal with a situation needing urgent attention and maximum co-ordination. Therefore the call is for all stake holders particularly educationists; opinion leaders; parents; and even the children the system is meant to serve to take full advantage of this restoration effort and be committed in playing their respective roles. Government is conscious that change is difficult and often met with resistance and criticism but we all know that change is a constant phenomenon in human history and existence.

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gain, we must know that remaining the way we are and doing nothing is not an alternative and hence this advocacy for all to work assiduously to effect this change successfully for the good of all Bayelsans now and in the future.

Government is well informed and aware of the enormous responsibilities ahead in terms of policy, funding and management of the system towards functionality and success. It means education now requires more refined, systematic and pragmatic policies; funds to provide the needed physical infrastructure in terms of facilities, equipment, materials and supplies; subventions to enable School Heads carry out their duties; supply of teachers in terms of quality, subject specialty and experience particularly in areas of need; as well as better management; adequate and committed supervision; and measures to eliminate examination malpractice.

The business of education must therefore be carried out by all practitioners in the most cost effective manner with input and product accountability as the guiding principle to avoid waste and duplication.

The desire in this era is that, teachers must teach and students must learn, in order to bring about desirable outcomes. The driving conviction for this revolution is that all children deserve good education to enhance their lives and society regardless of sex, location or socio-economic background. This is the rationale and the expectations surrounding the birth of this revolution.

Concluded *Mrs. Peremoboere is SSA to Governor Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012—19

, Suicidal Nigerians the DANA plane crash, a crash which like most before it was only waiting to happen even when it was not at all inevitable. In one fell swoop, over 150 lives perished right before incredulous eyes that saw hell brought into their homes and neighbourhood. The figure of 153 dead passengers and crew and six or more people on ground, murdered in their homes, can only be mere guesses given our poor record keeping ways. Who knows how many people were on that plane whose names were not on the manifest or whose names were on the manifest but were not on the plane- people who probably bought their tickets through alike authorised or unauthorised third parties? And what is the actual figure of the residents of those houses destroyed in the crash- how many visitors, squatters or innocent pedestrians died in the mishap, how adequately have such persons been accounted for?

Raising questions such as the foregoing is not merely playing the devil's advocate. Let's not forget that at the same time as the crash was

announced, there was also the report of the attack against a Winners' Chapel church by the terrorists that have been mindlessly killing innocents in different parts of northern Nigeria. The affected community in Bauchi, that is the church involved, has disputed the casualty figure given by the police, which is very good at tinkering with figures in such circumstances, as gross underestimation. So truly, nobody can be sure of the number of people who lost their lives both on the aircraft and on the ground in Iju. But the point of all this is that Nigerians are fast becoming a suicidal people both by choice and inclination because most of the deaths that are daily recorded in our midst are quite avoidable. But we have developed very thick skins to news of deaths and mishaps such that we no longer bother to take necessary precaution to protect ourselves or others. Nigeria is now a killing field of sorts and human lives are taken by both authorised and mostly unauthorised means and persons.

Abdullahi’s romance with the youth

BY JULIUS OGUNRO T was a conversation we had several times.

If he had to choose between Youth Development and Sports, what would it be?

That was a question Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the Minister of Sports who until few weeks ago was also in charge of the Youth beat, found difficult to answer. And his dilemma was understandable.

Youth Development was his first love, the Ministry he was appointed into as a cabinet member in June 2011. And the one he had spent sleepless nights, plus rigorous days, working to reposition as the hub of youth development in Nigeria.

But then in December last year, he was asked to supervise the Sports Ministry and in a short time made huge progress. He settled the almost fratricidal war in the Nigerian Football Federation, by making all the parties involved in the crises agree to a comprehensive peace deal. Such a deal had eluded about five Ministers of Sports who had been sucked into the cesspool of crises plaguing the federation.

There were factions and litigants of all hue! It was like a madhouse, and it showed in the performance of our teams. We failed to qualify for the Nations’ Cup, and our male and female teams did not make the grade for the Olympics.

It was that bad.

So when the President appointed him to take charge of Sports in December 2011, Abdullahi set two targets for himself: settle the crises in our football and ensure the best preparations possible for the Olympics considering the little time left. He did both, with the resolution of the crises in the NFF and by ensuring all aspects of the training programmes for the Olympics take off smoothly with great coaches to superintend them.

These quick wins in sports made stakeholders to request that Abdullahi be made the substantive minister of the ministry. That created the dilemma of what would happen to Youth Development, his first love, if he went over to sports. This reasoning was

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understandable. When he resumed as Minister of Youth last year, the ministry could be considered a Siberia. It was not well known.

Neither was it well liked. And obviously its most important function was to mobilize youth for politicians during elections. That was not Abdullahi’s concept of a youth development ministry.

So he rolled up his sleeves and went to work.

His vision for Youth Development is of a Ministry that is a facilitator, which collaborates with other MDAs and the private sector to achieve its dream of a Nigerian youth empowered with the skill and character to lead Nigeria into a great future.

This idea shaped the activities and functions of the Ministry under Abdullahi. And it was reason for the several strategic collaborations with other ministries. For instance, through his efforts the Ministry of Agriculture for the first time paid special attention to the youth through a dedicated fund (N2billion) in its 2012 budget. The fund for “Youth in Agriculture” was the outcome of Abdullahi’s many visits and work with his colleague in Agriculture. His collaboration with Ministries of Finance and Information and Communication also led to the You win programme, in which young people participated in a business plan competition and successful applicants were given grants between N2 and 10 million.

You win was the first of its kind as the competition was one in which the ‘Nigerian Factor’ was no factor! Those with the best business ideas won and for many of those who came short, they received free trainings on entrepreneurship and writing winning proposals. It is expected that the 1200 winners would create jobs and even more important add value through quality services in their communities.

The collaboration between the Ministry and TY Danjuma Foundation is at an advanced stage. The gist of the collaboration is that the Foundation will provide funds to ex corps members who had just rounded off service and who are willing to go into agriculture. The

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HERE is no better way to state the point but to put it as starkly as it is: Nigerians are a suicidal lot.

A traffic caution broadcast through social media in the wake of the DANA air disaster in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, captures this aspect of the Nigerian character very well. The message extends that warning every pedestrian traveller, especially school children have inculcated into them, to look left and right, and then left again before crossing our dangerous roads and streets. This time we, both adults and children alike, are cautioned to -yes- look left and right for cars and okadas (motor bikes); look up for planes and look down for bombs. And not to forget, after taking this elaborate precaution to check for reckless cars, concealed bombs and even falling aircraft, we are finally warned to look back for kidnappers. Only then is it safe to move out on a Nigerian road. The images in this message, for me, capture the precariousness of life in present day Nigeria where human life has become so cheap it could be easily snuffed out. As I said, the traffic caution came in the first days after

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It is time we took seriously the protection of life and put a halt to the wantonness with which we deal with matters that bear very serious implications for how we conduct our affairs

While the likes of the terrorists without any logical agenda are busy killing and maiming without any reprieve in sight for hapless Nigerians, victims of these murderous attacks, kidnappers are doing their bit on the side for very handsome pay cheques. What about armed robbers that knock on people's doors or write dark love letters to their victims well in advance of their unwanted visits?

When you move beyond all of these groups of unauthorised killers, you thereafter have to contend with others who have control over your life simply because you have to do business with them. They exercise enormous control over other people's lives but either fail or refuse to take the right steps to safeguard such lives. These are the kind one might call licensed killers. In this category are commercial drivers who are not bothered about the safety of their passengers; airline companies that parade decrepit aircraft, flying caskets and morgues, that have been licensed to operate and officials who ought to make such erring drivers and aviation companies comply with required regulations and standards but fail to do so for personal and official reasons. Now Nigerians mourn the dead and complain about the rot in our aviation sector in the spirit of righteous anger. But the rot didn't begin today or the day the DANA aircraft went down. Indeed, there are indications that something ought to have been done about the aircraft that has brought tears into many homes well before the disaster.

Nothing was done when the disaster could still have been avoided. All waited until it was too late to act. We have no value for our lives and the authorities fail to place necessary

The objective of his Drive The Future Nigeria campaign is to develop a new generation of Nigerian youth who are complete citizens in character, competence, selfconfidence and social connections

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scheme will take off this year with the current batch of corps members.

Besides these collaborations, Abdullahi also designed programmes to respond to the need of the youth. The one, I think, he spent more time tinkering with was the Youth Employment Programme, YEP. And that’s for good reasons.

Unemployment is perhaps the biggest challenge facing young Nigerians today. With youth unemployment at 46percent, I don’t think there is any point in Nigeria’s history when so many young people are out of work.

And you bet 30 million idle hands may indeed be dangerous. Check Tunisia. Check Egypt.

This thought must have occupied Abdullahi’s mind and the reason why he worked night and day to get YEP ready for this financial year.

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EP aims to empower between 250,000 – 1 million Nigerian youth in two years with the skills, experience, and business development support that they require to gain meaningful employment and/or start successful businesses. The idea is to ensure that they gain meaningful skill through the promotion of industry-driven training, work experience and entrepreneurship in partnership with public, private and nonprofit institutions.

Its central focus is to tackle the youth unemployment at its base, which really is not the lack of jobs, but the lack of marketable skills by young people and unavailability of credit. Four strategies were designed to do this: employability/entrepreneurial training vocational training, job placement and business support & credit. The programme was

value on human life when they allow the kind of criminal negligence that leads to loss of lives and properties that is to be found in different sectors of our society.

Not satisfied with killing ourselves at home we are now exporting our murderous ways across our borders.

The Nigerian aircraft that went down on a busy road in Ghana killing people in moving vehicles is one indication, if no other, that we are taking our indifference to human life beyond reasonable bounds. It is remarkable that the Ghana incident is similar to the Iju-Ishaga case in that both aircraft went down in builtup areas, not some far-flung regions that is inaccessible to rescuers. Which is not to say that the rescue efforts that followed these disasters made any impact. In both cases the casualty figures were high. But now the period of national mourning is over and the outrage over the DANA crash gradually peters out, as it would in a short while, we would return to our old ways, sweep the report of the panel that has been instituted to investigate this crash and previous reports of earlier disasters under the carpet and go on in our practised, slumberous manner until another disaster shakes us out of our slumber. Then would we turn out in ash and sackcloth, once more in sorrow, for the dead while calling for the head of those we believe are responsible for our latest pain. It is the nature of an unthinking people to move around in circles while imagining that they are moving forward. It is time we took seriously the protection of life and put a halt to the wantonness with which we deal with matters that bear very serious implications for how we conduct our affairs. Let us clean up the mess on our roads and air spaces.

designed in such a way that it would not give handouts to young people, which often results in no identified long tem benefits. Instead qualified youth will get vouchers, which will grant them access to the different aspects of the programme. The pilot scheme will take off this year.

Abdullahi also had a programme to address ethical and moral concerns about the youth.

The objective of his Drive The Future Nigeria campaign is to develop a new generation of Nigerian youth who are complete citizens in character, competence, self-confidence and social connections. Abdullahi wanted to help build the youth who are secure and proud enough to say first, before anything else, “I am a Nigerian.” His vehicles to achieve that goal were wide range of seminars, workshops and media programmes. The target was that by 2014, DRIVE THE FUTURE NIGERIA would have graduated three batches of Nigerian youth between the ages of 10 and 17, and 18 to 35 who have been equipped to become complete citizens in character and empowered to make positive contributions to society.

These programmes demonstrated Abdullahi‘s passion for youth development issues and his willingness to follow the narrow path by developing programmes that respond to actual needs of society. This was reason too for the NYSC reforms, which emphasises the service component of the scheme. Now corps members are only posted to areas of national priorities: education, rural health, infrastructure and agriculture. Not anymore are corps members to be redeployed for frivolous reasons. Service has been returned to the NYSC! It is hard capturing all the ex-Minister’s strides in youth development in one article.

Some will ‘suffer.’ Like his revolutionary virtual meeting with youth via twitter, the plan to conduct a disaggregation studies (census) of Nigerian youth, and his campaign against sexual violence against young women.

But I am sure not everyone would consider Abdullahi’s one-year tenure in youth development a runaway success.

But these political youth apart, any fair assessment of Abdullahi’s tenure as Youth Minister would show that he had a good run. *Mr. Ogunro, public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2011

Debate of the masses

What is wrong with Nigerian leaders?

BY EBELE ORAKPO

“I Some shops under lock and key on day one of the crisis. INSET: Some tricycles at their park. Photo

by Bunmi Azeez

Unrest in Lagos market as Keke Marwa operators battle for supremacy

BY BOSE ADELAJA LE-EPO Market in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Government of Lagos State, is usually a beehive of activities due to its popularity. With the possible exception of the Mile 12 Market, a major food hub in Lagos, IleEpo Market is perhaps the most popular destination for those wishing to purchase farm produce and food items.

This is attested to by the fact that trading activities go on there at full peak on a daily basis.

That was until two weeks back when the peace

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were engaged in their business activities around Ile-Epo. Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered that the KORA members came with dangerous weapons and attacked the hapless riders, inflicting serious injuries on many of them. Police men from three different stations of Ile-Epo, Idimu and Meiran later intervened, leading to the arrest and detention of many of the operators. But eye witnesses account has it that the Police have only paid lip service in halting the crisis.

On day one of the crisis, the traders called for the intervention of the military who came to con-

The KORA members came with dangerous weapons and attacked the hapless riders, inflicting serious injuries on many of them

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associated with the place was punctured by crisis that erupted between two factions of tricycle operators known as Keke Marwa in the area.

Problem started when a faction of Keke Owners and Riders Association, KORA, led by one Saheed Yekini, allegedly attacked some members of the Three Wheelers Beneficiaries and Operations Association of Nigeria, TWBOAN, while they C M Y K

tain the situation until two days later when the KORA members resurfaced, making life unbearable for the community on a regular basis.

On account of this, the three wheelers operators have for two weeks from Command have not been able to ply their usual route which terminates at Ile-Epo. The situation has rendered many of them jobless even as they

entertain fear of attack from KORA members.

When VM visited the scene on three separate occasions, many shops did not open for business while some hoodlums were seen parading the place with dangerous weapons, even with the presence of security agents drawn from the military. n a chat with VM, State Secretary of Three Wheelers Association and Zonal Chairman of Agbado/Oke-Odo, Alhaji Akeem Abdulahi, said Saheed Yekini was a registered member of his association who used to be a ticket boy until his defection to KORA in 2009. “I was in charge of Alimosho branch some years back when KORA received a court injunction to take over Agege branch and one late Wasiu Akinrinde, a three wheeler member was chased out of Agege with nine others who I accommodated at OkeOdo and I made Wasiu my deputy.

“However, the state election was held in year 2009 and I emerged as the Secretary. My branch was later divided into three and I controlled Ajegunle, Tollgate, Idimu, Egbeda and Ipaja/Ayobo branches. Wasiu also became the State PRO. Meanwhile, some of those who lost the election went to the National Union and Road Transport Workers, NURTW, asking them to

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use veto power to take over the three wheelers parks. The NURTW entreated me to join them so as to become the State Chairman but I refused.

To my surprise, Wasiu accepted the offer and was put in charge of the motoring team. As soon as he defected, he was asked to vacate the area since the three wheelers have obtained the permit. Instead, he made various attempts to woe some of our members who refused his entreaty.

He later died in a ghastly motor accident and Wasiu his deputy, who succeeded him continued from where he stopped, wooing our members to no avail. For the past two weeks, Wasiu and his cohorts have been making the place unbearable for us, waylaying our members at will. ome three wheelers operators told VM that KORA has been enforcing a daily ticket of N1,000 on them rather than N300 by their own association. “We believe there should be freedom of association but Saheed has been forcing us to join KORA. He usually sells ticket at N1,000 while the three wheelers’ ticket goes for only N300.

He comes to the park with dangerous weapons to attack us for refusing his ‘offer ’,” said Kunle Ogunlana, Adeoye Adams and Henrry Odumakin.

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NDEED God has blessed Nigeria but apparently threw a spanner in the works so that even with all our wealth, we are still not to be reckoned with,” said Obi this Thursday morning as the commuter bus wove its way through the early morning traffic.

“He gave the Western world nothing but the wisdom to make something out of nothing,” continued Obi. “There is no doubt that we are blessed in every way; so the fault is not from God but from us,” said Funmi.

“We have natural and human resources in abundance, yet we have not been able to make any headway,” noted Obi. “Even a blind man can see that. How do you explain a situation where local people are refining crude oil? Where did they acquire the technology?

Yet, our government cannot give us one functional refinery. We keep importing petroleum products, spending millions of scarce foreign exchange that could have been put into generating employment for our teeming youths and reducing crime in the process. Does it make sense?” asked Obi. Retorted Ngozi: “Of course it makes a lot of sense to the perpetrators.

You want to kill their importation business?”

“But why destroy those refineries and waste the refined products? It is a case of throwing away the baby with the bath water,” noted Nike, to which Moses retorted angrily: “Yes, because it is illegal!”

“I hear you,” said Yetunde sarcastically. “Illegal indeed! Even if it is illegal, the more sensible thing to do would have been to get those people together, train them, and

tap into their skills for God’s sake! That is what a country like the US will do.”

“Sure,” agreed Obi. “I heard of a Nigerian guy in the US who was able to steal tons of dollars from someone’s account and when the owner discovered it, he went to the bank and complained.

The bank tried all they could to find out how the guy was able to beat all the security in place and withdrew so much money without detection. The perpetrator was arrested all right. But you know what the authorities did?”

“Na jail straight,” said Funmi.

“Far from it! They saw beyond the stealing and saw an intelligent man who could be a great asset and they decided to tap into his wealth of knowledge,” stated Obi. “Otio! Knowledge of how to break into people’s accounts and steal without detection?” asked Funmi.

“Yeah, they needed to know how he was able to beat all the security checks put in place. That was the wise thing to do,” stated Obi. “Ok, so what happened?” asked Yetunde.

Continued Obi: “You won’t believe it, but he refused to tell them anything, preferring to go to jail instead.”

“I no blame him. Na better jail. I sure say if na Nigerian prison, he for tell them the secret and save himself from going to hell on earth,” said Nike.

“Think of a situation where government encourages multitudes of these refineries to spring up, think of the effect on the availability and price of products, the effect on the economy in terms of employment generation and utilisation of local resources. The multiplier effect is huge,” said Obi.

CONTACT: mykeboh@yahoo.co.uk 08051100182

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 21

Sovereign Wealth Fund ’ll strenghten Nigeria economy —Expert N economist, Mr David Cowan, has said the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) would strengthen the Nigerian economy. Cowan, Managing Director, Citigroup, said this at the Eminent Speakers Series III, organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Abuja. The SWF is supposed to replace the Excess Crude Account (ECA)..

The SWF account, opposed by the state governors, is meant to finance infrastructure and provide a stabilisation fund in case oil prices fall. Cowan recalled that the ECA savings grew robustly between 2004 and 2007 and cautioned against depleting the account in the face of global economic uncertainties. “The pressing need is really to get the SWF, that gives you the greater ability, to cushion shocks in case the price of oil declines in the global market,’’ the economist said.

He urged economic managers to be conscious of what was happening in the global market, particularly the Euro Zone Debt crisis. Cowan said that the government should ensure strong fiscal policy, fight inflation and ensure enhanced infrastructure in the country. He said that this would bring about more investments and rapid economic growth and development.

Commenting on the oil sector as the engine of the economy, he said that the government must ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). He said that the PIB would enhance government revenue and help improve the quantity of exports on daily basis.

“The greatest challenge for government, and we hope it is something that it wants to hold high, is to make sure that the PIB is up and running. Nigeria needs to move from being a 2.2 million barrel per day oil

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155.20

-1.45

2,205.00

-21.00

19.98

+0.22

99.76

-0.17

84.35

-0.47

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

0.2782 25.9668 192.9771 239.011 41.2852 233.9323 160.6224 154.84 234.1015 1.9506 24.303

0.2882 26.0507 193.6003 239.7828 41.4185 234.6877 161.1411 155.34 234.8575 1.9569 24.3819

0.2982 26.1345 194.2234 240.5546 41.5518 235.4431 161.6598 155.84 235.6134 1.9632 24.4608

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/06/2012 C M Y K

producer to four or three and half million barrels per day oil producer and has to move fast. The challenge really is to get the PIB passed because there is no reason why Nigeria should not produce three and half or four million barrels of oil per day,’’ Cowan said.

Dr Kingsley Obiora, Special Assistant to the Economic Adviser to the President, said that SEC had four roles to play for the capital market to boost the economy. He said that the

roles include producing information and allocation of capital; monitoring investments and exerting corporate governance; and mobilising and pooling savings.

Earlier, Ms Arumah Oteh, Director General of SEC, said that it was important for the commission to keep tab on developments in the global economy to help it in regulating the capital market. She said that the aim of the series was also to help educate the staff of the commission on

developments in the global economy.

“I am really delighted that we can start our SEC learning series. For the work that we do, it is important that we keep in touch with what is happening globally. Everyday, there is news on Europe. I think hearing their experience and how they are tackling their crisis is good for us to learn,” Oteh said. The theme of the Series was “Global Economic Trends and the Impact on Nigerian Capital market.”

From left: Mahmoud Mustafa, Director Finance; Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, both of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Omamofe Boyo, Deputy Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc; Patrick Oba, Director Planning Research and Statistics, NCDMB and Bandele Badejo, Chief Executive Officer, Oando Energy Services Limited, during Oando’s courtesy visit to the NCDMB Office, Revenue House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

ILO urges world leaders to eliminate child labour by 2016 HE International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Monday in Geneva called on world leaders to redouble their efforts in eliminating the worst form of child labour by 2016 as endorsed in Hague in 2010. The Director General of ILO, Juan Somavia made this call at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland with the theme “Human Rights and Social Justice: Let’s end child labour ’’.

Speaking on the activities of this year ’s Child Labour Day, Somavia said that the decent work for parents and education for children are strategies for eliminating child labour globally. “We call on world leaders to redouble their efforts and move forward with the Roadmap adopted in The Hague in 2010 to eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2016.

Decent work for parents and education for children are indispensable elements of strategies for the elimination of child labour. A large

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gap remains between the ratification of Conventions on child labour and the actions countries take to deal with the problem,’’ he said.

The ILO Director General pointed out that about five million children were caught in forced labour, commercial sexual exploitation and debt bondage.

“There is no room for complacency when 215 million children are still labouring to survive and more than half of these are exposed to the worst forms of child labour, including slavery and involvement in armed conflict,’’ the director general said. He said the world would not allow the eradication of child labour to slip down the development agenda, adding that all countries should strived to achieve this target, individually and collectively.

“The ILO’s child labour Conventions 138 concerning the minimum age for admission to employment and 182 on the worst forms of Child Labour are

among the most widely ratified of all the ILO Conventions. Of the ILO’s 185 member States, 88 per cent have ratified the first and 95.1 per cent the latter. The goal is universal ratification by 2015.’’ He said that the largest gap between commitment and action was in the informal economy where the majority of violations of fundamental labour rights occur. Somavia noted that children in rural areas as well as children of migrant workers and indigenous peoples are most vulnerable to being caught in child labour.

He, however, said “The ILO had on record relatively few cases against child labour had reached national courts of law. Sanctions for violations are often too weak to be effective deterrents against the exploitation of children. “This means that the national judicial and law enforcement institutions along with victim protection programmes needed to be strengthened’’.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

FG cautioned on forbearance package for stockbrokers

By MICHAEL EBOH HE Federal Government has been cautioned on the need to exercise prudence in the planned forbearance package for stockbrokers and other key market participants, as it could have a negative impact in the market and the Nigerian economy if not properly done, says Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited.

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According to Rewane, in his monthly economic news and views, presented at the Lagos Business School, a onetime forbearance for failed brokers will not help propel the market.

Instead, he said, it would lead to a moral hazard which will likely come back to haunt the policy makers and the economy in general.

However, he said the 10 per cent minimum equity investment proposed for pension fund administrators, if

complied with, would help in driving the growth and rebound of the capital market.

According to him, the Pension Funds Administrators’, PFA, compliance will lead to the injection of N260 billion into the Nigerian capital market.

He said, “If the PFAs comply, they will need to shift N260 billion into the market. Approximately, N260bn long position in the equity market, accounting for 3.6 per cent of the market

capitalization.”

He added that if the PFAs comply within 10 days, it would lead to a likely doubling of turnover in the market.

“It would further lead to a possible increase of a third in market turnover if done over 30 day. Market will gain 10 per cent before any correction in the future.

He expressed optimism that the PFAs investment will lead to an increase in the availability of long term funds, lead to enhanced

competition, induce financial innovation and improve corporate governance.

According to him, the impact will be increased activity especially in undervalued stocks On the outlook for the capital market, Rewane said, “It will get worse before it gets better. We expect a marginal decline of two to three per cent in June, fuelled by absence of domestic long funds weighing down on the market as pension funds remain spectators Also, attractive fixed income yield with no rate cut on the horizon will also be expected in the market.”

The Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala had disclosed that the Federal Government will release a forbearance package to stockbrokers as part of measures to stimulate confidence in the Nigerian capital market and increase liquidity.

Okonjo-Iweala had stated that while

government, through the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), had intervened successfully and safe guarded the banks, the request for forbearance package by the stockbrokers would also be granted.

She had said, “We are working on the forbearance; we have now agreed on it, and that we are going to implement it. We are having discussions about how to do it.

“We must remember that we don’t want any moral hazard, we don’t want those stockbrokers who did the right thing to think that they are not appreciated or that they have been neglected. So we must honour them too by looking at the type of forbearance to be accorded to the stockbrokers who are having difficulty. But there would be forbearance and there would be some conditions attached to that and we would spell that out.”

Nigerian Ropes’ Q1 profit dips by 350.82% From left: David Cowan, Citibank Chief Economist for Africa ; Arunma Oteh, Director General , Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and Dr. Kingsley Obiora, Office of the Chief Economist to the President at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Learning Series, in Abuja.

UBA Ghana gets award for loan financing

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI BA Ghana L i m i t e d , subsidiary of United Bank for Africa Plc has emerged a key player in the Ghanaian banking industry by winning the ‘Best Bank in Short term Loan Financing.’

The bank also scooped several awards at the recently held Banking Awards in Ghana.

In a release by its spokesperson, Charles Aigbe, Divisional Head, Marketing & Corporate Relations Directorate, UBA Ghana hauled a total of seven awards in the following categories: Winner – Best Bank in Short Term Loan Financing; 1st Runner – Up Best Bank in Corporate Banking; 1st Runner – Up Best Bank in Trade Finance; 1st

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Runner – Up Best Bank in I.T. / Electronic Banking; 1st Runner – Up Best Growing Bank; 2nd Runner – Up Best Bank Medium Term Financing; 2nd Runner – Up Best Bank in Long Term Financing.

The Managing Director/CEO, UBA Ghana, Mr. Oliver Alawuba described UBA’s large haul of awards “as another clear indication of how far the bank has come in terms of providing our cherished customers with the right mix of products and services to satisfy their ever increasing needs.”

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Alawuba dedicated the awards to the bank’s customers for their belief and unflinching support to UBA Ghana and to Staff for their invaluable contributions.

He

implored every member of the UBA family to be proud of these awards and the many successes the bank has achieved in the recent past.

UBA Ghana recently pioneered branchless banking in the country following the launch of a cardless Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawal service that allows third party withdrawals from its ATMs without the use of cards. Apart from the cardless ATM withdrawal, other value-added services enable customers of the Bank to pay their bills (utility), DSTV subscription fees and also purchase mobile recharge units on their phone or for third parties.

“These newly-added services which are powered on the e-

Transact platform are aimed at creating a branchless banking which we perceive as the future of banking in Ghana . We see branchless banking as the future of banking in Ghana , which therefore means that we must empower customers by providing them several options to access financial services,” Alawuba noted at the unveiling ceremony.

UBA (Ghana) Limited is a subsidiary of the United Bank for Africa Plc, which is one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with assets in excess of US$20billion and offers services to more than 7.5 million customers across 850 branches and over 2,000 ATMs in 19 African countries.

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM IGERIAN Ropes Plc has announced significant reduction in its financials for the first quarter ended 31 st March, 2012, with the profit after tax for the period slumping by 350.82 per cent.

Breakdown of the unaudited results made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and obtained by Vanguard showed that the company closed the year in the negative region, reporting loss after tax of N21.974 million as against N8.769 million recorded in the equivalent period of 2011.

The profit before tax fell by the same margin, dropping to N21.974 million from profit position of N8.769 million.

The turnover also depreciated marginally by 4.8 per cent to N89.150 million from N118.695 million in 2011, while D i s t r i b u t i o n , Administrative and Other Expenses rose to

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N44.578 million from N41.029 million in the same period of 2011, representing 8.65 per cent increase.

However, the cost of sales declined marginally to N64.492 million compared to N67.797 million indicating an effective cost management during the period.

On the balance sheet side, fixed assets slipped by 8.15 per cent to N71 million from N71 million; Net Assets went down to N171.471 million as against N192.037 million in 2011, while Cash and Bank balances rose to N14.50 million from N12.29 million, translating to 17.93 per cent improvement over the previous result.

Meanwhile, Ekocorp Plc has recorded an impressive growth for the financial year ended December 31, 2011 as it posted N 75.297 million profit before tax.

The figure showed a surge of N34.851 million or 46.28 per cent when compared with N 40.44 million posted in the comparative period of 2010.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 23

EDITED by Adekunle Adekoya

DIARY Select ICT events IP 6 World Congress. Holds 12-13 June in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Global Messaging and VAS 2012. Holds 12 - 13 June in London, UK. West & Central Africa Com. Holds 19 - 20 June at Le Meridien President, Senegal.

Next Generation Core Networks Summit. Holds 19 - 20 June in Berlin, Germany.

Telecom World Congress 2012 Conference. Holds 19 – 21 June at Amsterdam Marriott Hotel,The Netherlands

Preview New inventions shaping life and living

Self-guiding bullet A new bullet which could increase the shooter's accuracy by as much as 90 percent has been developed.

Developed at Sandia National Laboratories, it is shaped like a dart, with an optical sensor in the tip and four tiny motorized fins able to change angles. Once the optical sensor has locked onto a laser dot target, the battery-powered 8-bit processor uses a control algorithm to steer the bullet by adjusting its direction 30 times per second. The bullet can be used in standard firearms with smooth-bore barrels to eliminate spinning, while increased accuracy could save money and reduce collateral damage.

Rename ComTech ministry to reflect IT — PROFESSIONALS

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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Y the time the IT professionals as sembly 2012 under the aegis of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, (CPN) wound up in Abuja last week, it was obvious that the dust on the name to be given to the Communication Ministry is yet to settle.

Major concern among leading voices in the Nigerian IT industry was that the Ministry of Communication Technology should be renamed Information and Technology Ministry to reflect convergence.

Although the Ministry of Communication Technology was created after years of clamour by IT professionals, experts in the IT industry who spoke to Vanguard HiTech during the event noted without mincing words that the name which excluded ‘Information’ was not appealing to members of the profession.

Many IT professionals who had canvassed for the creation of a CIT Ministry had earlier noted strongly that the ministry must be created so that government can take IT issues more seriously so as to take IT sector to the next level.

Excluding IT from Ministry's name is confusing President/Chairman of Council, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, (CPN) Ibrahim Tizhe in his welcome address at the event called on the Federal Government to change the name of the ministry to Ministry of

I N S On Right of I Way guidelines D E C M Y K

IT ASSEMBLY: From left: Prof. Cleopas Angaye, DG, NITDA; Mr. Ibrahim Tizhe, President/Chairman of Council of CPN, and Prof. Adenike Osofisan, former CPN President at the just concluded2012 IT Professionals Assembly in Abuja. Photo: Emeka Aginam.

Communication and Information Technology.

“I wish to remind this Assembly that the agitation for creation of a ministry to take care of information technology and related matters which culminated in the creation of Ministry of Communication Technology was initiated and sustained by IT professionals over the past two

decades. Excluding IT could be confusing: “Therefore, while respecting the wisdom of government and thanking it for creating the Ministry of Communication Technology, it is still our humble opinion that this Ministry be renamed Ministry of Communication and Information technology, as excluding Information, yet

claiming that it is a part could be confusing.

“Gratefully, government set up a Committee shortly after the Assembly look into the matter with a view to coming up with a road map for the implementation of IT for national development.

“I wish to further remind you that during the 2011 Assembly, I told

It is still our humble opinion that this Ministry be renamed Ministry of Communication and Information technology, as excluding Information, yet claiming that it is a part could be confusing

Only 10% of Nigerian Satellite communication BlackBerry and Nigeria's survivability: A case for owners use it for NigComSat (3) business — REPORT

this gathering that among the recommendations made by the committee was the creation of Ministry of Communication and Information Technology notwithstanding the fact that the professionals have been agitating for Ministry of Information Technology, and perhaps in it wisdom created the Ministry of Communication Technology.

“To this effect, many representations were made by CPN and highly placed and respected members of the profession to government at various levels for renaming of the Ministry to give it a sense of belongContinues on Page 30

Why Facebook should buy Opera

24 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 S at January this year, Blackberry users in Nigeria were said be around 2.4 million but a research by FactBound Research, last week, reported that only 10 percent of that lot use it for office work.

The report added that majority of the users prefer the device for socializing and communication usage rather than business. This seems to agree with another report which said that 97% of BlackBerry users in Nigeria use BlackBerry Messenger, BBM Presenting the result, Manager, Consumer Insights of the research company, Mr Femi Ayelehin, revealed that “19.6 percent of users are engaged mainly in socialising and communication, while 15.3 percent use their BB for research and education.

Only 10 percent use their blackberry phones for office work,” According to Ayelehin, the study also showed that among the 71 percent of those who use Blackberry phones, 24.3 percent agreed that Blackberry has influenced their lives in the area of information sharing, 21.8 percent admitted it influenced their networking life, while 19.3 percent said it has influenced their social status.

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Right of way guidelines

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VID watchers of developments in the telecommunications sector would have known that the Federal Government has issued right of way (RoW) guidelines for the laying of cables on federal highways in a bid to make life easier for telcos who desire to lay cables for their various operations.

The guidelines, Vanguard leant, mandates telcos to co-locate so that incidences of multiple digging will be avoided or reduced to the barest minimum, while applications for RoWs are to be treated and granted or refused as the case may be within one month.

More import a n t l y , chargeable access fees for laying of ICTSP ducts and cables were pegged at N145 per linear metre and N20 per linear metre as annual maintenance access fees, subject to periodic reviews at five year intervals or whenever compelling circumstances demand such reviews.

This is a welcome development, but some issues are thrown up, which the ruling elite in government from all the political parties at federal, state, and local levels must rise to and solve.

First, the RoWs are applicable to federal highways, and fees payable will accrue to federal coffers. It must be borne in mind that cables will have to pass through or intersect or traverse state and federal roads, and in a federal system, the states and local governments will also charge their own fees.

This means that telcos desiring to lay fibre optics cables for broadband, for instance will have to pay different charges to federal, state, and local governments. For an industry that is already burdened with multiple taxation in form of demand notices from states and local governments, it would be helpful if a one-stop point is made available in respect of RoW payments.

For instance, a cable running along Ikorodu Road

in Lagos, a federal artery, to connect the University of Lagos (yes, University of Lagos), will have to run through and across several state and local roads.

That means after paying FG, the telco will have to pay LASG, and Yaba LG, Bariga LG before it can work, and doubtless, they will be charging differently.

I think that in all our interest, the Ministry of Communications Technology should seek to make RoW charges uniform nationwide, irrespective of whether it’s a state or federal road.

Besides, legal issues will definitely be thrown up here. Legislation on telecommunications is on the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 Constitution, a grundnorm that st at the same time emphasizes our federal configuration as a nation.

If states and LGs can charge RoWs on their roads for telcos, it means they can legislate to that extent on telcos.

Which is why using the Joint Tax Board in this matter might prove painless and cost efficient to all concerned at the end of the day.

Again, the proviso that the RoW charges can be reviewed whenever compelling circumstances demand such reviews is too open ended for comfort. I can envisage a situation where a state governor or LG chairman seeking to boost his IGR base will wake up and increase RoW charges upwards several times fold without prior notice, thus holding the affected telco to ransom.

In all of these, all concerned, especially state and local governments should appreciate the importance of these cables to national development; in fact, we should all see it as CNI (Critical National Infrastructure). If we want cash-less economy, and indeed, an automated, 21st- century economy, we have to support the telcos.

If we want cash-less economy, and indeed, an automated, 21 century economy, we have to support the telcos

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Only 10% of Nigerian BlackBerry owners use it for business — REPORT

Findings also discovered that BBM/BIS is the most popular application used by 28.1 percent of respondent, followed by Facebook with about 23.1 percent, and then the Email application, used by 18.18 percent, while about 12 percent spend more time on Twitter.

Ayelehin further revealed that an average of one to three hours daily is spent on BB by 30.8 percent of respondents,

four to seven hours daily by 25.6 percent, while 24.4 percent spent an average of eight to 11 hours daily on their Blackberry phones.

Nigeria currently has a very small smartphone market at this time with only 5% of phone users owning one. However, BlackBerry seems to have become the number one smartphone brand with half of that market already using the

RIM made devices.

This may be unconnected to the inexpensive unlimited internet plans and the high popularity of BlackBerry Messenger in this region Again, some of the blackberry phones like the curve series are relatively cheaper when compared to other smartphones.

— Prince Osuagwu

Lagos govt, Zinox partner on digital education

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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HE Lagos State Government and Zinox Technologies are going into partnership on digital education.

This was stated by the Chairman of Zinox Group, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh during a courtesy visit to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

He promised to use four schools in Lagos State as Digital Content Centres for its new digital Product - the ZINOX WHIZKID Ver. II, which is meant to help students achieve excellent results in GCE, WASCE, JAMB and Post-UME nationwide. This, according to him will revolutionize education in tandem with President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.

The group also made a donation of items worth over N50m to the Lagos State Government. The items donated include: four units of fully equipped security vans, 150 units of digital radio, 150 units of digital solar lamps and 150 units of solar torchlights meant to enhance the efficiency and digital comfort of the Police and other security organizations in Lagos State, while on duty.

Chief Ekeh explained

DONATION: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (2nd right); Chairman, Zinox Technologies Limited, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh (3rd right); Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right); Comm. for Sc. and Tech, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje (3rd left); his Edu. and Phys. Planning and Urban Dev. counterparts, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye (2nd left) and Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde (left) after the presentation of four security vans and equipment valued at over N50 million to the state government. that Zinox will deploy the equipment and content, train the teachers in its digital laboratory in Gbagada and certify them ready to challenge the best teachers in the world.

Receiving the items, Governor Fashola thanked the Zinox Group for the donation, describing the gesture as a call beyond duty. Lauding Zinox, Governor Fashola

said: “Zinox is always one of the corporate persons that pay tax promptly. For Zinox to go beyond that and do so much for the state shows that Zinox has the heart and the head to maintain a balance between its corporate social responsibility and the size of her balance sheet”.

He said that the government would partner with Zinox in an effort to

create a knowledge platform to harness innovations in the State.

Governor Fashola therefore challenged other corporate organizations in Lagos to emulate Zinox by donating to the Security Trust Fund or partnering with the government to rebuild the educational sector. He said that corporate persons who desire to intervene in education can adopt a school or a class or a set of pupils.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 25

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26—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13,

2012

Meridien gets nod to train Nigerians on global certification

SafeNet, Wini Group offer data protection solutions

BY EMMA ELEBEKE S Nigerian finan cial institutions are fine-tuning plans for the planned implementation of cashless economy in 2013, a a US-based data protection company, SafeNet Incorporated in partnership with Wini Group has organized a sensitization programme on data protection.

Last week, stakeholders and operators in IT security solutions gathered for enlightenment in the industry on the IT security risks involved in cashless system. They were expected to use the knowledge acquired at the seminar to make their clients and companies safer than before.

SafeNet through the seminar was equally hoping to expand its presence in the country through its local partner, Wini Group.

Vice Chairman of Wini Group, Mr. Tim Akano while underscoring the reliability of SafeNet solutions said there is still so much to be done by both the regulatory authorities and stakeholders in the planned implementation of cashless economy in area of putting the right IT security and infrastructure, if the policy must attain its set objectives.

“For us, there is still so much work to be done because most of the financial institutions in the country today are not safe. For a fact we know that the havoc the jobless boys can do to the financial institutions. We are assuring Nigerians who are afraid of embracing cashless economy, using e-payment platforms that institutions that adopted our e-payment solutions from G-Data, SafeNet, Fortinet, Data Bridge, Fugitsu, Informatica and others that they are safe.”

He said that even the best of the financial institution as at today in Nigeria is not safe due to the ongoing threats in the industry.

To boost the shaky confidence of people in the cashless economy, Akano urged Nigerian banks not to look at the budgets they will spend to put security measures in place but what they will lose if they fail to put the right security in place.

Buttressing his point, the Wini boss quoted the Global Payment System report of April 1st, 2012 which reported that

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about 1.5 million Visa and Master card pin numbers were compromised in 2011 and called on stakeholders to take pragmatic steps in deploying their services on casheless payment system.

Earlier in his presentation, the regional Sales Director, SafeNet Incorporated, Mr. Sebastien Pavie said Safenet at the moment is focusing on Africa and Nigerian market because Nigeria has stepped up in terms of putting up critical in-

frastructure in respect of IT in both corporate and government owned institutions.

With addition of Safenet data protection solutions to the existing ones, he said that security will be assured in the planned Nigeria cashless economy, including other sectors of the economy.

“It is only natural that we turn attention to help Nigerian organizations get to that high level of security.

BY EMMA ELEBEKE N IT training and certification company in Nigeria, Meridian Technologies Limited, has signed an agreement with Red Hat Inc, the world’s open source leader, as a Red Hat Certified Training partner for Nigeria.

In this partnership, Meridian Technologies will be responsible for providing training and certification on the world famous Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) curriculum, which is currently based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6(RHEL) as latest version of Red Hat’s Enterprise Linux product.

Business Development Manager of Meridian

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Technologies, Chittaranjan Sharma said that the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 is a robust software available for high-end business applications, hence the decision to partner with a company whose breakthrough technology will allow them provide greater service for customers.

Sharma explained that all students who join for RHCE would get official curriculum books from Red Hat, original RHEL 6 for servers software from Red Hat Trainer from India.

According to him, the RHCE track courses for beginners and rapid track course for experienced professionals give their

customers unparallel flexibility to obtain the RHCSA and RHCE certification at their own pace.

However, with so many options, he said that they will be able to offer the best learning and certification environment to the customers.

The Director, Red Hat Training EMEA, Jens Ziemann, said that they are proud to welcome Meridian Technologies to the rapidly growing global network of Red Hat Certified Training Partners, providing candidates with an opportunity to participate in a positive, rewarding learning experience and earn one of the most recognized IT certificates currently available.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 27

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28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Do-or-die Dutch out to down Germany H

olland take on Germa ny in today’s Group B key clash knowing another defeat will all but point the World Cup finalists towards an early exit from Euro 2012 following their shock loss to Denmark.

In one of the key matches of the group stages, the Dutch have to pick themselves up after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to the Danes as Michael KrohnDehli’s first-half strike decided a match the Dutch had largely dominated.

Bert van Marwijk’s team now have to beat both Germany at Kharkiv’s Metalist Stadium, then Portugal on Sunday to be sure of qualifying from the pool, which has been dubbed ‘The Group of Death’.

“We have to win (the remaining two games). We have no other choice,” said Dutch captain Mark van Bommel.

After wasting a string of chances against Denmark, the mis-firing Dutch have vowed to put that right in what promises to be a heated contest with daytime temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) forecast in Kharkiv.

“The only positive thing we can take out of the defeat is that we created lots of chances,” said midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who has endured an injury ravaged season at Inter Milan.

“We’ll also create chances

against Germany - that’s our strength - but they have to be converted or it’s over for us.”

Both sides are expected to be at full strength, though, whether van Marwijk keeps faith with Robin van Persie up front or gives way to public opinion and starts with Bundesliga top scorer KlaasJan Huntelaar will be interesting.

While the Dutch will be fighting for survival, Germany arrive in Ukraine knowing another win will put them in the quarter-finals following Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Portugal.

Loew defends selection of Gomez

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ermany coach Joachim Loew claims Mario Gomez is more than worthy of his starting place ahead of their Euro 2012 clash with Netherlands.

Going into the Group B match against Bert van Marwijk’s side today, the 52-year old Loew answered questions on Gomez, as doubts were raised over the striker’s work ethic by former Bayern Munich man Mehmet Scholl. Loew backed his decision to select Gomez, despite differing opinions from outside the German camp.

“It really doesn’t bother me

Proud Bendtner set for Denmark milestone NICKLAS Bendtner, 24, admits he may shed a tear if he wins his 50th cap today but if his record against Portugal continues it may be Denmark’s opponents who are left weeping.

Still only 24, Nicklas Bendtner is set to win his 50th cap when Denmark take on Portugal today, and while the striker will spare the milestone a thought he is focused on the task in hand.

“I’m so proud,” said the Arsenal FC striker. “It means a lot to me to represent my country, and though I have done it for so many matches, it still feels the same as it did on my debut. Every time I pull the Denmark jersey over my head I do so with pride.

My eyes keep on getting a little misty. It’s a crazy feeling knowing that the fans in your country are cheering for you. It doesn’t get any bigger than C M Y K

what somebody somewhere else thinks,” Loew told reporters.

“I, as head coach, may very often have a different view to the media or the public or a few fans. “So we judge the players on how they play regardless of what everyone else says.

“Perhaps such opinions might interest me now and again, but I have my own ideas on things and that is all that matters.”

Loew also spoke of the impact older players such as Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker had on the dressing room, regardless of whether they are in the starting 11 or not. “The hierarchy of the players hasn’t changed in any way,” he said.

“Even players such as Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker had an unbelievably positive influence on the team in the first game. They were fully behind the team, and both have undoubted authority and respect within the team.

“These players are extremely important for our younger players, the whole squad and for me as the coach, because I can ask them for their advice.

Why Denmark can kill off Portuguese hopes in Group of Death •Bendtner that.” It is nearly six years now since Bendtner, then 18, made his debut in a friendly against Poland, marking the occasion with a goal in a 2-0 win. He has scored 17 more in 48 appearances since then, including an eyecatching return of four in as many games against Portugal – Denmark’s next UEFA EURO 2012 opponents in Group B.

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he Danes had the measure of Paulo Bento’s men in qualifying and are at great betting odds of 31/10 to send Cristiano Ronaldo and company crashing out of Euro 2012.

After pulling off the shock result of the first round of Euro 2012 group games with a 1-0 win over World Cup runners-up Holland, Danish confidence will be sky-high and with it will come the belief that they can make it out of the Group of Death.

By contrast, defeat to Germany

by the same 1-0 scoreline has Portugal already teetering on the brink of elimination, with a second straight loss likely to see Cristiano Ronaldo and company sent packing.

Despite that, the Euro 2004 runners-up remain 91/100 favourites in bwin’s 3Way football betting market, with a

second Denmark surprise 31/10 and the draw 12/5.

But it’s not just their win over Holland that will give Morten Olsen’s side confidence they can pull off a second upset – even before the tournament, he will have earmarked the Portugal game as winnable, as I suggested when forecasting the Danes to pick up four points from their three games.

TODAY’S MATCHES: Dnmark vs Portugal 5pm Netherlands vs Germany 7pm

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 29

Figo still optimistic against Denmark D

ENMARK will certainly be no pushovers having finished above the Selecção in qualifying, but Luis Figo is still optimistic. The legendary winger, who won 127 caps for Portugal during an international career that spanned fifteen years, knows from personal experience that all is not lost after losing the opening game: “For seventy minutes we played well defensively. In terms of attack, we only played well for fifteen minutes. We were not efficient. We ended

up losing a game where a draw would have been the fairest result. It is still in our hands but now there is no margin for error, and this is what must drive us on to win the next two games. Where there is life there is hope, so we have to keep on believing.”

UEFA charges Germany, Portugal U

EFA has charged Germa ny over the behaviour of their fans in their first match of Euro 2012 against Portugal, who have also been reprimanded for causing a delay to the start of the second half.

A Mario Gomez goal gave Germany a 1-0 victory in Lviv but the game was disrupted on several occasions by supporters of Joachim Low’s side throwing rolled up paper towards the Portugal players on the pitch, while a smoke bomb was also let off in the stands.

The stadium announcer pleaded with the crowd to stop, warning them that their team could face disciplinary action and that the match could be abandoned, though the missiles continued to rain down.

Portugal, meanwhile, may also face a fine after coming out late for the second half and delaying kick-off. Manchester City were forced to pay •30,000 for a similar incident in a Europa League match against Sporting Lisbon in the 2011-12 season.

•Figo

Saturday may not have been an ideal start, but Portugal showed enough to suggest that they have what it takes

to get out of their group and beyond. It all depends on today. Until then, stick with PortuGOAL for our daily updates bringing you all the latest news and discussion ahead of the big game.

Nani says Danes will play it safe

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ishful thinking or otherwise, Portugal winger Nani says he believes upcoming Euro 2012 Group B rivals Denmark will not go for the jugular but play it safe when they meet today in Lviv.

The Danes already have three points in the bag having shocked Holland in the opening game whereas the Portuguese have to play catch-up in the ‘Group of Death’ after losing to Germany.

“The match against Denmark is very important, as we know it is a must-win one for us,” said 25-year-old Nani, who is aiming to make an impression here after a low key performance in the German game.

“Then we would be in a comfortable position and would have our fate in our own hands and then there is the Germany-Holland match just after.

“I don’t think (Denmark) will

•Nani

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•Nasri •Nasri

conceding goals at tournaments to players who operate in the space between midfield and defence Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker dropped too deep, almost becoming two additional centrebacks, giving Samir Nasri space to equalise for France.

Illustration: Graphic New coach, but familiar pattern. England have scored be-

fore conceding at every international tournament they have competed at since 1990. Yet so often they lose that lead with a goal struck from a similar position.

For years England’s weak zone has been the space between defence and midfield and it has constantly been their downfall in opening games. In 2000 the game-changer was Portugal’s Rui Costa, who got all three assists as England squan-

midweek 1 12-6-12

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THLETICS enthusiasts will have to wait a bit to see the much anticipated clash between Blessing Okagbare and Damola Osayomi as the two rivals are not in the list of 50 African and Caribbean athletes that have been listed to participate in the Warri Grand prix slated for Thursday.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria technical coordinator, Yusuf Alli disclosed that Okagbare, Osayomi and Gloria Asumnu will not be competing at the Warri Township Stadium as they already entered for other races for the weekend.

However, he disclosed that it will be a full house on Thursday when the one -day event takes off as top Nigerian sprinters like Blessing Abinuwa, Agness Osazuwa, and Ogho-Oghene Egwero and others are on hand to provide excitement.

“Apart from Okagbare, Osayomi and Asumnu all other top Nigerian athletes are already here in Warri. We have assurances from other African and American athletes that they will be here to compete,” said Alli.

South-south athletes sharpen skills in Calabar

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•Ronaldo

Nasri’s goal for France echoes England’s old failings NGLAND have a habit of

Okagbare, Osayomi miss Warri grand STORIES BY BEN EFE

really go over the top,” the Manchester United star warned his teammates, given that their rivals would likely see a draw as a good result to add to their opening success.

Portugal Players reflect on Germany game HE Portugal squad regrouped Monday after Saturday’s narrow defeat to Germany, as the players reflected on their opening game defeat and looked ahead to today’s crucial clash against Denmark.

Monday’s training session back in their Polish base in Opalenica was attended by the entire squad, after Ricardo Quaresma recovered from an injury to his left leg and Hugo Almeida got over a recent bout of flu. Both players have been mentioned as part of possible changes to Portugal’s starting line-up after Hélder Póstiga’s largely ineffectual display on Saturday, with other options including a fulldebut for Nélson Oliveira or moving Nani into a more central position.

But the Manchester United star, while open to the idea, does not see it happening any time soon: “My natural position is as a winger and when I play there I always try to help the team. I have already played in the middle on a few occasions and I have felt comfortable. My position is out wide and I believe that I will continue there but it is up to the manager.

ATHLETICS

dered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2. In 2004 Zinedine Zidane scored a superb free-kick after a clumsy Emile Heskey foul in that position. Two years ago Clint Dempsey turned past Frank Lampard’s poor challenge before his weak shot squirmed between Robert Green’s legs.

This time it was Samir Nasri who scored the equaliser, having drifted into a central position from the right flank.

HE 2nd Cross River State /South South Track and Field Championship began yesterday at the U.J Esuene Stadium Calabar.

The competition is open only to athletes of all category from the south-south states (Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Edo). This competition, according to the Cross River State grassroots sports development consultant, Bruce Ijirigho is intended to give South-south athletes an opportunity to sharpen their skills before the All Nigeria/ CRS Athletics Championship taking place the following week at the same venue.

Dr. Ijirigho stated that all junior entrants for the meet will screened according to the appropriate age categories at the competition venue. Prize monies will be won by the athletes in all the 19 events to be competed for in the championships.

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30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Nigeria gets digital arts academy

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

Rename ComTech ministry to reflect IT — PROFESSIONALS Continues from 23 ing to the members of this profession as the what is in the name syndrome is not application in this case” he added.

IT conveys convergence For Prof. Charles Uwadia who was among the leading voices that clamored for the creation of the new Ministry noted strongly that the position of IT professionals remain that the Ministry should be Information Technology.

On why the Ministry should be called Information Technology, Uwadia argued that because IT subsumes Computing and Communications. “IT conveys the message of convergence more appropriately” , he said. The acronym ICT is misnomer: Lending voice to the issue, CEO of Sigma-Beta Alpha Limited, Mr. Tunde Ejichi, told Vanguard HiTech that the issue bordering on the name the Ministry should be called has not been settled ,adding that the acronomy ICT is a misnomer.

According to him, based on convergence and best practice, the Ministry should be called IT Ministry and not Communication Technology.

“Let us call it a proper name. IT is applied science and not ICT. When we talk of information activity, it is storage, transfer, retrieval. IT is the thing and not ICT. People have been so used to Communication ministry.

When we say IT Ministry , people said that it is confusing. Ministry of Communication Technology should not be the name because of convergence issue.

“What we have said and are still saying is that it should be called Ministry of Information Technology. Rename it IT Ministry,” he explained.

Similarly, the earlier position of Dr. Jimson Olufuye, the Chairman of African ICT Alliance and Vice President of WITSA was not different from others who have thrown their weight behind renaming it Ministry of IT. “What we are saying is the issue of convergence.

We have looked at other markets around the world.

We have to look at best practices. Creation of Communication and Information Technology Ministry should be the proper thing the government should do. That is what we have said before. That is what we are still saying.”

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CPN IT ASSEMBLY: From left, former CPN President, Ladi Ogunneye, former NCS President, Alhaji Sekinat Yusuf, Vice President/Vice Chairman of Council, Sam Agu and CEO, Sigma-Beta Alpha Limited, Mr. Tunde Ejichi at the just concluded 2012 IT Professionals Assembly held in Abuja last week.Photo by Emeka Aginam OR example: Aus tralia needs 8 years from: 2010: To deliver broadband at speed of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 90 percent of Australian homes, schools and businesses through fiber-optic cables connected directly to buildings.

The other 10 percent of people would get a wireless upgrade. Canada will need about 3 years (20092012):To extend broadband coverage to all currently unserved communities beginning in 2009– 10. Finland will need 7 years (2009-2015, to provide ultrafast broadband to every household in Finland, with download speeds of at least one megabit per second by 2010, with a rampup to 100 megabits by 2016, including households in rural areas. France will need 5 years from 20082012, To provide ultra broadband networks and 4 million households through FTTH access by 2012.

Moreover, 400 cyber bases will be created in schools over the next five years and schools which already have access will be modernized. Provision of universal access to broadband Internet at affordable prices is to be made available throughout France before the end of 2010. Germany will need 10 years from, 20092018. The second phase is to bring broadband access at 50 Mbps or above to 75% of the households by 2014. The first phase of the strategy is for all homes in Germany to have broadband access at 1 Mbps by the end of 2010 With Global Cloud Com-

HERE are indica tions that Nigerians may soon begin to manifest the digital explosions in both their personal lives and businesses as many Nigerians are pooling efforts to keep the country in the global village with different digital investments.

Last week an international standardDigital Arts Academy (DAA), took off in Lagos Nigeria promising to root home, world class digital arts training courses targeted at equipping creative minds and professionals alike, with specific design skill- sets which are critical to flourishing in the 21 st century business world.

The School’s Director, Michael Oseji, said that “Digital Arts Academy is an accredited Apple and Adobe training centre that enables you start and develop a career, fuelling your passion in digital arts using the latest tools, techniques and technolo-

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Satellite communication and Nigeria's survivability: A case for NigComSat (3) puting Technology (GCCT), Nigeria can become a Continental Hub, by developing a Satelliteenabled knowledgebased socio-economic-environmental simulation system and a climate simulation system in parallel fashion, both of which are

and help users to identify the set of micro policies that tend to lead towards a desired goal.

This insight into how different indicators of development interact with one another to produce an effective outcome expected to deepen users un-

Distance learning through satellite communication can assist the nation in producing more than two million graduates per year to be interconnected on a global scale. Each GCCT represents a linking project involving various countries, which will maintain the sub-models of their countries autonomously – along with construction and maintenance of its databases, modification of their submodels, and supply of game players in cooperation with their overseas counterparts through the global Internet.

The dynamic simulation tool would support comprehensive, integrated long-term national development planning with comparative analysis of different policy options,

derstanding of critical development challenges.

The simulation model is built on the philosophy that national planning is an integrated process with consideration of knowledge, technology, economic, social and environmental variables for sustainable development.

The simulation approach is an especially useful tool for conducting critical “Needs and Impact” analysis for technology empowerment and preparing Poverty Reduction Strategies that emphasize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and for monitoring progress towards the MDGs or oth-

er national goals.

In conclusion: Many nations have mastered the satellite technology and earned immense benefits and strategic empowerment that has contributed positively to their GDP. What are other nations doing in the Satellite space? It is instructive to note that there is huge revenue involved in the global satellite industry and related businesses.

According to the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) in their 2009 global report, the overall worldwide industry revenue growth was 19% from 2007 to 2008, compared with a 15% increase from 2006 to 2007. Satellite Services increased by more than 16% from 2007 to 2008, largely due to growth in satellite television revenues while Satellite Manufacturing revenues declined slightly, reflecting fewer satellites launched.

Launch Industry revenues grew by 20% from 2007 to 2008, fueled by a general increase in launch prices, despite fewer launches, while ground equipment revenues grew by 34% in 2008, a significant increase over the 19% growth in 2007. Many na-

gy. It is an affiliate of Friends of Design, a reputable Digital Arts Academy located in South Africa. We offer over 30 specialised courses uniquely tailored to suit the needs of executives, working professionals and creative individuals in the design, media and advertising as well as the printing industry”.

He said the courses focus on the entire spectrum of Adobe software and Apple digital applications available.

Oseji added that, “DAA exists to bridge the shortage gap in the digital application industry, which includes film editing, graphic design, sound editing and web design industry through high quality training in the latest digital design tools, both software and hardware”.

The courses on offer at DAA cater for a wide variety of audiences in the highlighted areas, ranging from up-starts to professionals. tions have therefore strengthened their satellite development and services framework to further maximize their benefits.

A good example is India. The India Anthrix Corporation is the commercial outfit for all the products derived from ISRO. INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) is a series of multipurpose geostationary satellites launched by ISRO to satisfy the telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology and search-andrescue needs of India.

Commissioned in 1983, INSAT is the largest domestic communication system in the Asia-Pacific Region. The overall coordination and management of INSAT system rests with the Secretarylevel INSAT Coordination Committee. Telesat Canada is a Canadian satellite communications company. The company is now the fourth-largest fixed satellite services provider in the world. It owns a fleet of 13 satellites, has one other satellite under construction, and operates 13 additional satellites for other entities. These satellites are of the Anik, Nimiq, and Telstar series.

Satellite Communication remains a strategic option to be considered when the focus in on e-Government, e-Education, productivity, transparency and accountability for nation building and creation of wealth.

CONCLUDED. Chris Uwaje is CEO of Connect Technologies and President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 31

Details Nigeria launches GoTV

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

Lottery Commission plans clampdown on tery operators. We vet lotBY EMEKA AGINAM illegal operators tery license. We oversee OLLOWING series of lottery activities by the telecoms operators in the country, the national Lottery Regulatory Commission, (NLRC) has warned again that it would deal accordingly with any operator that fails to abide by the rule of the game, adding that only those with impecable character should be in the lottery buisness.

Assistant Director, Regulations and Monitoring of the Commission, Henry Uwadiae who spoke to IT Journalists last week in

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Abuja disclosed that the NLRC has carried out a number of regulatory activities to sanitize and grow the lottery industry in Nigeria .

“Whoever that wants to go into lottery must approach NLRC. We advise the public to call on lottery commission whenever they have doubts in any lottery activity.

“Operators must separate lottery and gambling.

Protection of the players is at the heart of what we do. From time to time, we undertake independent

checks on lottery activities. We also witness lotteries involving draws to ensure transparency and integrity as required by section 27 (3) of the National Lottery Regulation 2007” he explained.

It would be recalled that NANS had faulted the just concluded Etisalat FC barca promo which ran from February, 12 2012 through May 12, 2012. “ We do not collaborate with any operators for any dubious thing. We do independent verification of winners. We license lot-

statutory remittance to the Trust Fund. We collaborate with law enforcement agencies and sister regulatory as provided for in section 13 (1) of the National Lottery Regulation 2007 in sanitizing lottery industry.

“Above all, we in collaboration with the Police arrest and prosecute illegal lottery operators as well as seal off heir premises where and when necessary. The era of impunity in the lottery industry is gone. All lottery operators must take our permit” he explained.

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ETAILS Nigeria has announced the launch of GOtv, the latest pay television service using Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T2) technology.

The Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) service will be launched in Lagos on June 16.

GOtv provides television lovers with improvement on picture and sound quality and an exciting channel line-up. It offers subscribers the most advanced technology and broadcast system in Africa and the rest of the world to date, and currently the only digital television pay service on DVBT2 technology in Nigeria.

Featuring two bouquets, GOtv offers family enter-

tainment channels and subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide selection of local and international channels.

GOtv subscribers will have access to news, children’s programming, documentaries, series and movies. The selected to cater for a variety of different tastes and cultures.

Some of the channels that will be available to GOtv subscribers include AfricaMagic Movies, AfricaMagic World, AfricaMagic Yoruba, AfricaMagic Hausa, E! Entertainment, Discovery World, eTV Africa, Select Sports, Al Jazeera, CNN, Channel O, Disney Junior, Kidsco, Islamic Channels, One Gospel, Sound City, amongst others.

32—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012

QoS: MTN replaces old BTS with hybrid tech

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

BY EMEKA AGINAM

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TN Nigeria has rolled out an investment plan to boost network quality, which it said was underway before the NCC’s hammer fell on the top four telecom operators, including MTN last month.

The telco said that the three pronged plan which included a comprehensive network modernisation and swap-out exercise will be implemented over a period of nine months.

The project involves three technical partners, Ericsson, Huawei and ZTE and entails upgrading and replacing key network components with newer versions for enhanced capacity and much needed improved quality of service.

However, the exercise will be done in clusters, such that select base transceiver stations (BTS) in parts of the country will undergo simultaneous upgrade to ensure that the negative impact of the exercise is brought to its barest minimum. The exercise would carried out at night to minimise impact on the quality of service.

Unfolding the road map to ICT journalists at the Southern Sun Hotels Ikoyi Lagos, at the weekend, a team comprising the company’s Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Wale Goodluck, Chief Technical Officer, Mrs Lynda Saint-Nwafor, GM,

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WORKSHOP: Executive Head of Networks, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Vernon Van Rooyen (left) addressing students at an ICT workshop organised by Vodacom Business Nigeria for the students of the Mathematics/Computer Science Department of Benue State University in Lagos on Tuesday, while on the right is Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Guy Clarke.

Corporate Affairs, Mrs Funmilayo Omogbenigun, GM, Capital Programmes Group (CPG), Dr. Victor Oduguwa, and Senior Manager, CPG, David Melaiye revealed that the company had voted a whopping US$1.3b for network investment in 2012, which part would be used to sweep out old versions of its Base stations, replacing them with most recent versions that consume very low energy.

The new technology that would be deployed, according to MTN, would retain the international standard of the network but reduce cost due to their energy efficiency and green -environment compliance.

The exercise would see mostly, the BTS that the company started operations with, in the last ten years, phased out to higher technology and energy saving ones.

In fact, Goodluck stated that “our local team working closely with our technical partners and experts began work in April. They have done much of the backend work preparatory to the actual swapping of network components in the days ahead.”

“The network modernisation and swap-out project is part of the US$1.3b investment we have earmarked for 2012, and this investment like many we’ve consistently made since our inception,

is in of class quality of service on our network.

We are delighted that this project brings us within a grasping distance of the mark”, added.

Presenting the technical details of the project, Chief Technical Officer, Mrs Lynda Saint-Nwafor, said the modernisation and swap-out exercise would affect all aspects of the network from radio to transmission and core network. According to her, all legacy equipment the company had installed for an upward of 10 years are going out, to be replaced with state-of-the-art equipment, with much better capacity and flexibility.

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URING the past days we have been hearing a number of rumours about Opera being purchased by Facebook.

Strand Consult knows Opera very well and we have been following Opera for many years. We believe that Facebook and Opera are the perfect match. We do not have any inside knowledge about this possible takeover, but over the years we have published many research notes about Opera and how they have been doing business. Many of our mobile operator customers around the world have been very satisfied with their cooperation and partnerships with Opera.

We have some reasons why purchasing Opera would be a very good move by Facebook. *Facebook has a great deal of mobile traffic on their platform, but is having trouble converting that traffic to revenue.

Opera can convert that mobile traffic to revenue.

This is exactly what they are already doing with their many agreements with mobile operators around the world. By purC M Y K

E-RG boosts cashless business with PCI-DSS compliance

Why Facebook should buy Opera chasing Opera, Facebook will immediately gain commercial relationships to many of the world’s largest mobile operators. *. Opera grew up in the mobile world, so Opera understands the mobile world and how it ticks.

Facebook has very little understanding of the mobile world and a very limited relationship with market players in the mobile industry. In practice, Facebook could give Opera the responsibility of handling large parts of their mobile activities, thereby giving Facebook the mobile DNA they have been missing so far. *Opera does not only have one, but a number of browsers that work across many platforms including

feature phones, smart phones, tablets, PCs, TVs, set-top boxes etc. In practice, Facebook could launch their own browser if they wanted to, just like Yahoo is currently doing.

If Facebook purchases Opera they will from day one own a browser that is already installed on many different devices across the whole world. Yahoo on the other hand will need to convince all their customers to try their new browser. *Opera has made a number of acquisitions over the past years. Some of those activities are starting to generate turnover and earnings for Opera.

In practice, Opera has understood how to build

new business on top of their browser. They view their browser as a shopping mall and by adding shops they have been able to take advantage of the mobile traffic passing through the Opera browser. *With their purchase of AdMarvel two years ago and more recently Mobile Theory and 4th Screen Advertising, Opera has ensured that they are well placed on the mobile advertising market. This is a good position that Facebook can further expand and also a very interesting part of Opera’s business that can take advantage of the mobile traffic that Facebook already has.

NE of the Nigerian topmost payment processing and electronic transaction switching company, e-Revenue Gateway has boosted cashless transaction with its Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS) compliance certification.

PCI-DSS compliance is required by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for all who process or store cardholder information.

The attainment of this feat also demonstrate an organization’s commitment to security and its ability to handle information in a secure manner, attract and win the confidence of customers and

investors, address regulatory compliance and reduced risk of damage to organizational reputation.

Managing Director of eRG – Mr. Benjamin Adebajo while speaking to IT Journalists last week in Lagos said that securing e- transactions through qualitative infrastructure delivery and environment is vital to e-RG. The PCI DSS , he said is required for all businesses accepting electronic cards, noting that the five major card networks, namely American Express, Diners Club, JCB, MasterCard. and Visa established the PCI DSS as a set of requirements for business of all types to use when configuring their Information Technology (IT) and paymentprocessing environments.

Vodacom empowers students on ICT development

BY NNAMDI OJIEGO

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S part of its contri bution to the development of ICT knowledge in tNigeria, Vodacom Business Nigeria has organized a three-day ICT workshop for students of Benue State University.

The workshop which is aimed at exposing the students to practical applications of the theoretical knowledge of ICT had in attendance, lecturers and students from the Department of Mathematics/ Computer Science of the university who were taken through real life scenario of ICT. Taking the students through the practical application of ICT at Vodacom’s corporate office in Lagos, the Executive Head of Networks, Vodacom Nigeria, Mr. Vernon Van Rooyen explained the various network equip-

ment, coverage, operations and maintenance.

Earlier in his speech, the Managing Director of Vodacom Nigeria, Mr. Guy Clarke emphasized the company’s belief in youth empowerment and its commitment to contributing to the development and well being of the people as a way of giving back to the society.

“Running a business is not only about profit making but impacting positively on the society and we will stop at nothing towards contributing our quota to the development of this country through improvement of the educational sector”, Clarke said while urging the visiting students to make good use of knowledge gained during the excursion to contribute positively to the increasing growth of ICT in Nigeria.

LG brings 3-D TV in cinema game festival

BY EMMA ELEBEKE

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O explore the enter tainment potentials in 3D television, LG Electronics, last week took a lead to set off the first ever CINEMA 3D Game festival in Nigeria. LG said, the innovation was aimed at demonstrating to the public, the potential of its 3D products in the gaming environment.

The event witnessed over 200 contestants which was the first phase of the competition at DEEHall in Alausa, Lagos, venue of the competition.

The 3D Games Festival tagged “LG 3D Wars” had participants drawn from all over the country, who took part in the contest.

The contest is expected to produce a winner who will go home with the

new LG 55"inch Cinema Screen 3D TV, due for launch in Nigeria next month.

GM, Home Entertainment division LG Electronics, Mr. Dave Shin, said though hearing about how good 3D TV, is one thing, seeing them in action is quite another, “LG is currently the only company offering a 3D experience on such a wide variety of products.

Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohamed Fouani, said, LG’s 3D Game festival in Nigeria will be visiting other cities in the country including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Abuja etc later this year to enable its numerous customers experience LG’s full1ine-up of 3D offerings.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 33

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34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Fake insurance worse than fake drugs — NIA …To launch industry database soon STORIES BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA HE Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA, has decried the prevalence of fake insurance certificates in the country saying that fake insurance is worse than fake drugs.

To this end, the association has concluded plans to launch the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID. Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Lagos last week to announce the forthcoming launch, Chairman of NIA, Mr. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi said “Fake insurance documents are more dangerous than fake drugs because fake drugs affect only the person that has consumed it but with a fake insurance certificate, you can put the lives of several people in jeopardy.” Ladipo-Ajayi said that fake insurers are very vibrant even when what they sell is ordinary piece of paper way-out of any legal obligation whatsoever, adding “So they can sell their insurance for N1000 while we are selling for N5000.”

To curb the excesses of these fake insurers, the NIA Chairman said that the NIID is an electronic data base which quacks will not be able to hack into.

He said “Having addressed some of the teething challenges posed by the project, I am happy to inform you that the project will be formally launched on Tuesday, June 26, at the shell hall of Muson Centre, Lagos.

According to Ladipo-Ajayi, when a vehicle owner is not uploaded on the NIID, such person cannot be verified and the law enforcement agents are aware of this.

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e said “So as far as meets the ordinary eye, it will be a tall order for the quacks to keep operating because they will not have access to our database. The extent to which we can keep them away from the database, the more they will be chased out of the market. It is something that will keep the black market out of the market.”

The NIID is an Information Technology based system that will facilitate easy collation and dissemination of statistical and other information relating to insurance on one hand and also serves as a vehicle for easy identification of genuine C M Y K

insurance documents by relevant authorised persons.

Some of the benefits of the system, according to LadipoAjayi, are monitoring and authenticating insurance transactions documents; as well as reducing incidences of fraudulent insurance transactions and policies most especially for motor marine policies.

Others are reducing red tape and corruption by integrating with the vehicles registration system of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, the

Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and other relevant government agencies as well as ensuring easy access to statistical data for effective decision making.

The NIA Chairman said that presently, there are over 500,000 vehicle insurance policies on the database with a daily average upload of 2000 records, adding that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, and other stakeholders such as the NPF, FRSC and the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, NCRIB,

have all signified sufficient interest in ensuring the acceptance of the system as the industry’s database.

He said “Right now policy holders whose vehicle insurance details have been uploaded can check their motor insurance policy status via SMS and the internet.

Mobile handsets are currently being configured for LEAs for on-the-spot check of insurance validity of vehicles on the roads while development work is on going for the marine module.”

STI targets grassroots market for micro-insurance HIEF Operating Officer of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, STI, Mr. Sammy Ogbodu has said that the company will soon introduce its takaful insurance and micro-insurance products into the market.

Ogbodu also said that the company is currently doing all the necessary ground work to ensure a smooth launching of the new line of business.

Stating this recently, Ogbodu said his organisation would want to deepen insurance penetration and increase its market share by ensuring that insurance is taken to the down trodden in all the nooks and crannies of the country.

According to him, representatives of the company at the just concluded Africa Insurance Organisation, AIO, conference

learnt so much about microinsurance and takaful insurance and have returned to make the necessary presentations to the management of the company.

“By the time we present our report and from what we learnt during the conference which we are discussing among ourselves; it is clear that the way we are looking at it is different from what we have learnt. For example in takaful, we are supposed to separate it from normal insurance business.

“If you look at the Sudanese market experience, they even have separate boards for takaful insurance and if you look at Africa-Re, they also have a separate board for it different from the normal board. So those are the things we really have to strategise on,” Ogbodu said.

Journalists to get Insurance covers former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State, Alhaji Abdulwahab Alabi Oba is to pay the insurance premium of 20 journalists in Lagos State who are members of the union as part of efforts to encourage journalists embrace the insurance scheme introduced by the national secretariat of the union.

Alhaji Wahaab Oba who announced this at the June monthly congress of the Lagos council of the NUJ in Lagos, said the gesture was in support of the scheme and to encourage journalists “whose profession is increasingly becoming hazardous in view of the current challenges in the country”’, to have a buyin in the laudable program.

Alhaji Wahaab Oba said if the insurance scheme is embraced by journalists the risk content of their jobs would be mitigated and this could promote their operational efficiency among the stakeholders of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.

The former Chairman ,who is the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, called on employers of journalists to participate actively in the insurance scheme by paying for their employees to sustain our growing democracy and encourage them strive for excellence by tenacious adherence to the ethics and code of the industry.

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From Left: Florence Essien, Dealer Specialist, Lagos-South Region, Etisalat Nigeria; Olujinmi Tella, Head, Regional Sales, Lagos/South West Region, Etisalat Nigeria, presenting Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (SUV) keys to Ndukauba Chukwu, one of the winners in the Top Best Distribution Partners category at the Etisalat Heroes Award, and Regional Distribution Manager, Lagos-South Region, Etisalat Nigeria, Emmanuel Ilori at the prize presentation held at Etisalat Office, Lagos.

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He also assured stakeholders in the company that the non-life insurer would soon launch its brand of takaful insurance and microinsurance products into the market.

“Give us like three months because we have to do a detail research, because product fail because people don’t do detailed research. In our own case, we will try as much as possible to do very detail research into any product we are launching,” he said.

“If you look at our flagship micro insurance product that sell for N1,500, its really selling because we took time to really develop it and we are enjoying the fruit of our labour so to say,” Ogbodu confessed.

Established 16 years ago, STI listed its shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2006.

NIA commiserates with crash victims’ families HE Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has commiserated with the families of the 153 passengers and crew who lost their lives in the Dana flight 9J 922 which crashed in Iju, a suburb of Lagos on Sunday few minutes before it was scheduled to land.

In a Statement by its Chairman, Mr. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi the body said “The NIA commiserates with all the families of the 153 passengers and the crew and prays that God in His infinite mercy will give them the fortitude to bear the loss”.

The incident, according to NIA, is considered a great loss to the human capital needs of economy.

The NIA helmsman also urged that Government and its relevant Agencies in the Aviation sector to ensure that needed investigation is conducted with a view to unveiling the cause of the unfortunate incident.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012—35

Brand Battle: Who owns the Honey in Honeywell ? for the court of law to seek injunction that will establish the true ownership of the Honeywell trademark in Nigeria.

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU T is a necessary condition that before a business can establish commercial relations with customers and other businesses, it must create an identity for itself, as well as for its goods and services. Competition becomes keen when rival products or brands become easily mistaken for each other. In fact, part of a business’s greatest legacy is the goodwill it has established with customers, while part of a product’s identity is the reputation it has earned for quality and value. As a result, businesses commit significant resources towards building their brands, identifying their goods, distinguishing their products, and cultivating goodwill. The four principal devices businesses usually employ to distinguish themselves are trade names, trademarks, service marks, and trade dress.

Trade names are used to identify corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and other business entities. A trade name may be the actual name of a business that is registered with the government, or it may be an assumed name under which a business operates and holds itself out to the public. Similarly, Trademarks consist of words, logos, symbols, slogans, and other devices that are affixed to goods for the purpose of signifying their origin and authenticity to the public. Whereas trademarks are physically attached to the goods they represent, service marks are generally displayed through advertising. Trade dress refers to a product’s physical appearance, including its size, shape, texture, and design. Trade dress can also include the manner in which a product is packaged, wrapped, presented, or promoted. In certain circumstances particular color combinations may serve as trade dress.

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Trade name When a business uses a trade name, trademark, service mark, or trade dress that is deceptively similar to competitors,’ a cause of action for infringement of those intellectual property interests may exist. The law of unfair competition forbids companies from confusing customers by using identifying trade devices that make their businesses, products, or services difficult to distinguish from others in the market. In line with this, it will be tantamount to repeating the obvious scenario to say it is mandatory in Nigeria that trade names are registered within 28 days of commencement of business.

The essence of this is to ensure that no trade name used deceives or causes confusion or even possibly mislead members of the public as to the distinctiveness between two separate trading enti-

Caveat emptor

From left: Dr. Nelson Uwaga, Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered); Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council and Mrs. Modupe Adekunle, Head of Service, Ogun State and representative of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, when the Institute paid a courtesy visit to the state. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu. ties. Once a trade name is registered, no other entity can use such a trade name or attempt to register a separate and independent business using the same or a similar trade name. That, of course, is why the Registrar-General at the Corporate Affairs Commission is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring orderliness in the registration process.

An infringement is a serious offence that the Commission usually frowns at vis-a-vis the legislation that backs enforcement.

But the ongoing imbroglio between a foremost Nigerian conglomerate, Honeywell Group and Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa

,

Control Solution West Africa Limited had been registered wrongly, the CAC took a bold step and requested that Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa Limited return the certificate issued to it with a new name to be considered. Honeywell Group is insisting that since its incorporation in 1971, it has variously registered limited liability companies under the “Honeywell” name operating in many sectors of the Nigerian economy, including foods & agro-allied, infrastructure, energy, real estate and services.

When a business uses a trade name, trademark, service mark, or trade dress that is deceptively similar to competitors,’ a cause of action for infringement of those intellectual property interests may exist

,

Limited puts a question mark on why it is important that the latter stick to using that same name after establishing that a company or group of companies is already in existence in that name.

Honeywell Group is claiming that its trade name “Honeywell”, which was duly registered in Nigeria in 1971, almost 4 decades ago, has been infringed upon by the inadvertent registration of Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa Limited.

Realising the error that Honeywell Automation And

17 subsidiaries In fact, the Group today boasts of 17 subsidiaries through which it touches lives of Nigerians and others resident in the country.Apart from the fact that the subsidiaries of Honeywell Group operate in strategic sectors, their products and services usually have imprints that easily link them to their mother brand.

The Group’s flagship company in the foods sector, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. (HFMP), was even successfully listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in October 2009. Three years before then, HFMP was the first flour

mill in Nigeria to be awarded the NIS ISO 9001:2000 certification for quality management systems.

Apart from that, Honeywell Group has, over the years, contributed to human and social capacity development in Nigeria through diverse platforms. Such platforms include the Oba Otudeko Foundation. Formally inaugurated in 2003, the Oba Otudeko Foundation is committed to programmes aimed at ensuring that Nigeria keeps pace in the technologies and competencies that will define the twenty-first century and beyond, through people empowerment, capacity and institution building.

Promotion of entrepreneurship studies Honeywell Group is also reputable for promotion of entrepreneurship studies through such initiatives as Endowment of the Pan-African University Entrepreneurship Centre, Endowment of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies and Donation of a state-of-theart auditorium (Honeywell Auditorium) to Pan-African University.

With this, it is crystal clear that Honeywell Group is an household name in the country that people from different socio-strata know has been in existence for long.

No wonder the Oba Otudekoled Honeywell Group was taken aback when the incident started unfolding. That, of course, is why the Group insisted it is misleading for another company to attempt to ride on the goodwill and reputation it has garnered in the Nigerian market by using its trade name without due recourse to it. In order to validate this, Honeywell Group headed

Honeywell Group, in a statement by its solicitors, Chief G. O. Sodipo & Co, stated that the company was not in any way connected with Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa Limited, stressing that anyone who transacts business with Honeywell Automation and Control Solution West Africa Limited does so at his/her own peril and any action taken by them using the name “Honeywell” is deceptive, illegal, a nullity and a violation of a Court Order.

The solicitors to Honeywell Group based its arguments on a letter from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa Limited on the 20th of January, 2012 directing it to change its name by expunging the word “Honeywell” within six weeks due to the existence of the trade name ‘Honeywell” registered prior to that of Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa Limited. Honeywell Group emerged successful at the first stage as the court granted its application for interlocutory injunction restraining the defendant from using the name “Honeywell” as part of its company name and has also been restrained from opening its office as advertised in some media.

Dissatisfied with the court’s verdict, Honeywell Automation and Control Solution West Africa Limited, on the 4th of April 2012, as defendant, moved a motion to set aside the order of interim injunction obtained by the plaintiff (Honeywell Group Limited). The defendant also urged the court to commit the plaintiff or any of its directors to prison for contempt and for misleading the court. The defendant also alleged that the plaintiff failed to make full disclosure of material facts.

The Honourable Justice Liman of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday 20 th April, 2012, struck out the application of Honeywell Automation And Control Solution West Africa Limited to set aside the order restraining it from using the name “Honeywell” and ruled in favour of Honeywell Group Limited saying that full disclosure of all relevant facts was made. The court gave the ruling after official perusal of the counter affidavit of Honeywell Group Limited sworn to by a Litigation Officer, Kayode Adeniji, deposing to the fact that full disclosure of all relevant facts were made.

It is certainly difficult to preempt what will be the outcome of the legal tussle, but obviously the verdict will instil some sanity in the process of company’s name registration in CAC.

36—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

By PETER OKUTU ESPITE the security challenges confronting political office holders in the country, most active or potential politicians are still willing to grapple with the risk, for as much as it is certain that they will enjoy all the necessary glamour and wealth associated with their offices or elective positions.

In Ebonyi State, it is far becoming a trend that once some stakeholders at the corridors of power become displeased with a political officer holder’s modus-operandi as it regards governance, the people of the state will begin to hear about stage- managed plot to remove the executive from office followed by incidences of attack and possible deaths.

This has apparently become the case with the embattled Chairman, Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi state, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe and the leader of the legislative council, Mr. Daniel Nweke who were attacked and shot at several parts of their bodies by five suspected gunmen allegedly sent to end their lives and political career.

Crime Alert learnt that the victims were attacked on 26 May, 2012 while returning from a traditional wedding ceremony held in the state. Chief Omebe who was returning from a wedding ceremony of his driver (name withheld) in his Toyota Avensis official car was attacked by gunmen along Ukwuachi axis of Enugu-Abakaliki expressway around 9: pm. A reliable source said the gunmen numbering five operated with motorbikes with which they waylaid their victims and shot them at different parts of their bodies.

D

The source who pleaded anonymity explained that the incident which occurred in less than 10 minutes left the council boss terribly wounded on his back and the leader of the legislative council sustained injuries on both his back and buttocks while the last victim, a publisher of a local tabloid in the state, National Issue Newspaper, Mr. Emmanuel Igwe escaped being hurt by the assailants.

According to the source, “last weekend at about 9.30 pm, I got a distress call that the Chairman of Ezza North

Gunmen terrorise

bos l i c n u o c ...shoot t, lawmak journalis akaliki in Ab

,

What baffled them was the way the gunmen operated, it is difficult to say whether the gunmen came for money but it is suspected that they were after their lives

,

Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was attacked by unknown gunmen along the Ukwuachi axis of EnuguAbakaliki Express road. I immediately

*Omebe — The wounded Chairman

put a call across to the Council and one of the victims confirmed the incident.

The gunmen laid ambush for them along the Enugu Abakaliki Express road while they were returning from a traditional marriage in Ohaukwu local

*Another

government area of the state.

W

hen they got to Ukwuachi, the gunmen blocked their car and demanded for some money. Before they could realize what was happening, “

‘Lawyer’ who allegedly receives

By ALBERT AKPOR

O

H, so this man is not a lawyer?

You that appeared with me at the High Court taking pleas and repeatedly asking for adjournment for your client? God, wonders shall never end!

This was the angry reaction of an unnamed police prosecutor who was shocked to the marrows for beholding his ‘learned colleague’ in handcuffs for an offence of impersonation and receiving stolen vehicles. This incident took place at the dreaded anti-robbery squad, Edo State command.

Investigation showed that the fake barrister had, severally, appeared at a Benin High Court to defend persons standing trial for car snatching and armed robbery.

However, it was learnt that he always outwitted Judges by repeatedly asking for adjournment to enable his client fully brief him. Unfortunately for the fake barrister, in between time, another ‘client’ of his had been arrested for car snatching and armed robbery and during investigation, it was discovered that the same ‘Barrister’ was the buyer of the stolen

*Why he couldn’t complete his law course *The matter that implicated him cars after his complimentary card was recovered from the suspected car snatcher.

Police, according to sources, intensified manhunt for him and he reportedly fled from his Abuja residence. He equally abandoned the criminal case at the high court at the detriment of his ‘client’. But the Police later scooped that the ‘property lawyer’ was hiding in far away Nasarrawa state and detectives didn’t waste in going for him. He was later rounded up in a hotel upon a tip-off. It was equally discovered that the fake barrister normally send car specifications to the snatchers making it possible for them to know which to snatch. When his Abuja home was searched, different international passports, pictures of assorted Camry cars, letter- heads of various chambers and car plate numbers were recovered.

When cornered by Crime Alert, the alleged fake barrister openly confessed that the name on his complimentary

card was not his real name. He only volunteered to tell his age and how he got into police net. “Just take the name they are calling me for my name but I know what my real names are.

I

am 37 years old and from OrumbaSouth in Anambra state. I went to Enugu state university where I studied Law till four hundred level. But I was hit by a strange illness which was later diagnosed as epilepsy. The shame of constantly falling down in the lecture room and being abandoned by my colleagues made me abandon my law course. However, the urge to keep body and soul together made me seek appointment in a law firm in Abuja and I was asked to man the property section. If you look at my complimentary cards on the ground very well, you would have seen that I am designated to man the property/ litigation department of the chamber. That is what I do; I am grounded in property matters. I have never told anybody that I

*’Mr Nwosu' and the car snatcher am a barrister because I know I did not complete my law course neither was I called to the bar. The case I had at the High court was a criminal one which bordered on stolen cars. The allegation was that I was the one that acted as a go-between for the sellers and

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012—37

Ebonyi State

ss, ker

the gunmen came for money but it is suspected that they were after their lives,” the source added.

C

victim

the gunmen immediately opened fire on them and shot him on the hand while the leader of the legislative Council was also shot. What baffled them was the way the gunmen operated. It is difficult to say whether

rime Alert investigation revealed that Chief Omebe was transferred from the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, to an undisclosed hospital in Enugu for security reasons and that the council boss, the leader of the legislative House and the third occupant of the vehicle were in stable condition at the time of this report. It should be recalled that the Ezza North council area had been riddled with unresolved crisis which had led to the kangaroo impeachment of the Council boss recently. The impeachment which was stagedmanaged at Salt lake hotel in Abakaliki failed woefully not only because it was held outside the legislative Council of the local government area but also, because if allowed by the state government to prevail, it could lead to further crises within the political arena of the state, especially in Ezza North LGA. Also, during the last April general election, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost the two state House of Assembly seats: Ezza North West and Ezza North East constituencies to the opposition political party, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and since the failure of PDP in Ezza North local government area, crisis seemed to be brewing in the area and consequently, affected the administration of the PDP council boss, Chief Ikeuwa Omebe.

,

CP Adeniji, therefore, appealed to members of the public to give the police useful information that could lead to the capture of the rest of the gang members that have been terrorising the area for some time now

,

Recent reports emanating from the community where the council boss was attacked also revealed that soldiers from the Abakaliki Military Cantonment, Nkwegu, have killed an armed gunman suspected to be a member of the 5-man gang that attacked the chairman of Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi state, Hon Ikeuwa Omebe last weekend. The suspect, according to reports, was shot dead during a shootout with the soldiers.

The State Police Commissioner, Adeola Adeniji who confirmed the incident said the gunmen opened fire on sighting the soldiers who were on their routine patrol along the EnuguAbakaliki expressway, leading to the death of one of the gang members. He said an AK-47 assault rifle was recovered from the dead robber while his gang members escaped into a nearby forest. CP Adeniji therefore appealed to members of the public to give the police useful information that could lead to the capture of the rest of the gang members that have been terrorizing the area for some time now.

The killing of the gang member by the soldiers, according to report, occurred within Ukwuachi axis of the Enugu-

Abakaliki expressway close to the area where the robbers staged their attack on the chairman while he was returning from his driver’s traditional wedding in Ohaukwu local government area of the state. Speaking with

Crime Alert, one of the victims of the attack and the publisher of a local tabloid, National Issue, Mr. Emmaunel Igwe raised alarm over the recent threat to his life by some suspected hoodlums parading themselves as security personnel in the state. The Journalist who explained how he rec ently sustained injuries as a

result of the brutal treatment he received in the hands of these hoodlums, called on security personnel to ensure that lives and properties were adequately protected in the state.

Reacting to the attack, Special Assistant to the Chairman Mr. Sunday stated that the attack was connected with the failed plot by some desperate politicians to remove him (Omebe) from office. He called on security agents to be proactive in the fight against crime even as he alleged that those behind the assassination plot were not outside the State capital.

snatched vehicles in Police net

*’Nwosu’ in his lawyer attire buyers of the stolen vehicles. There is none that I bought by myself because I hadn’t such amount of money. If the car snatcher is to be sincere, he should be able to tell you the truth that I only got him a buyer for the car he brought to Abuja for sale. It is not as if I

appeared for a client in the matter like the police man claimed, I was a witness.

Perhaps, the mistake I did at the court was to announce myself as a member of the profession. But of course again, I am a lawyer because there is no single aspect of the law that I do not know.

The mistake I made in this matter was that, when the seller of the Camry car brought it for sale in Abuja, I claimed to be the one buying it and he sold it to me for N800,000.00 and it was even with registered number. Because it was Tokunbo and a snatched one, the price was reduced. At the market, the same car, especially the Belgium ones could go for N1.7m . To tell you the truth, since I bought the car, nobody has shown up to say it belongs to him or her. I did not buy two cars from him contrary to what he is saying, it was just one. I can swear by anything. The Camry was an ash-colored one. I got to know this man (car snatcher) when I came to court in Benin here in January. Somebody whom I met at the court introduced him to me as one dealing on Tokubo cars and that he normally brings them for sale in Abuja.

T

hat was how we struck a deal and I told him that anytime he comes

to Abuja, he should call me. Not up to a month, he called me and said he was looking for one Nasiru in Abuja which turned out to be somebody I know.

Before then, I had told him that I was not interested in stolen cars because the one I bought earlier landed me in trouble. All I did was to volunteer Mr. Nasiru’s telephone number and that was exactly what I did. After the bargain, I got my N150,000. Even when the Police came for me , I told them that I would assist them to the best of my knowledge. I knew the car he brought was a stolen one; no need to lie.”

But the alleged car snatcher, who had watched patiently while the fake barrister was narrating his side of the case gestured to this reporter and said; “Oga, e don happen, e don happen. I want to tell the truth but one thing that I desire is forgiveness. Lawyer is lying.

He knew that I am an armed robber , that I snatch cars for sale. He has bought two cars from me. The first one was ash-colored Camry 2008 model and it was bought for the sum of N400,000.00. I got to know ‘lawyer through one guy called Sunny. I told him the car was for N600,000. But he said no, that he could not pay more

than N400,000. So, I sold that one to him. The second one was with double exhaust and I wanted to sell it for N700,000. He also pleaded and paid me N450,000 for that. So, all those stories he is telling you are all lies. I am an armed robber and I cannot deny that. But the only thing I want, like I said before, is forgiveness; forgiveness from man and God.” In his reaction, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Bassey, an Assistant Superintendent of police said, “The self -acclaimed lawyer has been on the run when he discovered that the man who supplied him snatched cars was in our net. Because we are aware that he had a pending case at the high court, our men were always laying ambush for him at the court premises but he would not appear. We were even about

going for a bench warrant so that we could arrest him because as a lawyer, we were playing safe until information got to us that he was hiding at Nasarrawa state and that he was not a lawyer after all. Upon his arrest, he also confessed not being a lawyer whereas, when he came to stand surety for his client, he attached his card as a lawyer on the file. However, at the end of the investigation, only the court can decide his fate.”

38— VANGUARD,

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Will we ever get married?

Is mum still seeing her old flame?

Dear Bunmi, I finished university education recently and mum used her clout to get me to

serve in the state of my choice by sending me to one of her influential friends.

Of course, I knew who he was then— an ex-boyfriend of mum’s. But the way he fell all over trying to help made me

We still have sex!

Dear Bunmi, A few weeks ago, my girlfriend of close to two years said she wanted to cool things for a while and have space to work out how she really feels about me. I was very upset, but I agreed.

Only, whenever I turn up at her place to see how she’s coping, we end up sleeping together.

This is rather confusing.

Do you think she still cares?

Gbenga, by e-mail.

Dear Gbenga, When one partner is unclear about what they really want, it’s confusing all round. The action plan to adopt here is, when a partner asks for space, give them just that— no contact for a set

period of time, say a month.

After this period, meet up for conversation in a neutral place like an eatery where neither of you feels at a disadvantage.

Then have a “Where are we at now?” conversation, with each of you explaining how you feel and if she still wants time— a maximum of six months.

If she’s still not clear about wanting you, then you have to assume she never will.

This is when to end the relationship. If she wants to try again, however, be clear about the deal—what your new relationship involves, what’s acceptable, what’s not.

Otherwise, the same problems will start all over again.

I no longer love this drunk Dear Bunmi, I’ve been with my partner for 10 years but we’ve never had any children. The thing is, he’s drunk most of the time and is not nice to be around. I’m really fed up of the relationship and want to leave. But how can I after all these years?

Anjola, by E-mail.

Dear Anjola, Who’s stopping you leaving?

Not children, as you haven’t got any. Not your partner, who obviously doesn’t care enough to make even the smallest effort.

The only person keeping you there is you— you can choose to walk away and get a life.

It might be scary to make a new start, but you can succeed and you’ll be much happier. It’s your decision.

have a feeling there was still something between them.

After my youth service, he not only made sure that I got employed right away, he also gave me some money to tide me over until I got my first salary.

My dad runs a law firm with three other lawyers but he does not have mum’s con n e c t i o n s in the corporate world— she used to be a confidential secretary now turned a director of a good company.

Instead of dad to be thankful for all she’s done for us, he has started grilling me about this man and insinuating that mum is still sleeping with him.

It wouldn’t surprise me if she was, but mum has warned me never to even tell dad that this man had been so helpful to me. Dad thinks he just helped with my job.

How should I handle dad when next he gets inquisitive?

Nnenna, by e-mail.

Dear Nnenna, Apart from your suspicion, you too, like your dad, have no proof of anything going on between your mother and her ex-lover.

A lot of past relationships still thrive in spite of the couple getting married to different partners.

Tell your dad the truth, that as far as you know, there is nothing untoward going on between your mum and this man who has been of more help to you than even your own father in getting you a job.

He’s just a boy, but I love him!

Dear Bunmi, I am 32 and a divorced mother of two little girls. For the last three years, I’ve had a friendship with a boy who lives in my street. We see each other almost every night when his parents are in bed. The problem is he is only 20 although he looks much more macho than his age.

I’ve fallen in love with him.

I told him how I feel. He told me he likes me, enjoys the time we spend together in bed and has no regrets. But he wants nothing more than friendship.

But I sincerely love him and think about him all the time.

Although he’s young, I can’t

help the way I feel. I don’t want to lose him, so I conceal my emotions when I’m with him. I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do.

Winifred, by e-mail.

Dear Winifred, Of course you know what to do but you’re blinded by lust.

The boy is more realistic than you are. He likes you as a friend and finds having sex with a grown woman exciting.

He also accepts that this is as far as the relationship can go.

He won’t feel rejected or used if you explain gently that you both need to find partners of your own generation— and send him

on his way. After all, he has all the opportunities at his disposal to have sex with girls his age.

Because you think you love him, you want to keep him for yoursel f. You r esent him having sex with other women. Well, accept that he will. Face the reality that the two of you cannot have an adult relationship. He might be 20, but he’s still a growing lad.

He can never be your partner and this is the cruel truth. Do not regret that this thing must end. You need to reach out for the adult relationship with a grown man for which you obviously yearn.

Dear Bunmi, Can you help me understand why my boyfriend won’t marry me? We’ve been together for nine years and we’re very much in love. He tells me repeatedly that I’m all he’s ever wanted.

We lived together briefly, but he moved out after he’d found a suitable flat. We were both married before and my man thinks marriage would ruin our relationship.

In the same breath, he says that he should set me free to find a husband, but he can’t because he loves me too much. I don’t want just to get married, but to marry him. His attitude makes me feel very insecure. Is he with me just for sex? We both have children. His are grown up but mine are only 12 and 10. My boyfriend is 13 years older than me.

Riyike, by e-mail.

Dear Riyike, It’s obvious that your boyfriend is afraid of remarrying. You, on the other hand, would like to do it all over again and try to make it work this time. He feels resentful about his experiences as a husband, while you would like to create a happier ending to your career as a wife.

I sympathise with both of you.

Your man found a woman he loved, but his marriage to her ended in disappointment and hurt. He retreated into a mistrustful hole where he feels unable to commit to anyone.

Perhaps men are more prone to such behaviour.

The significance of marriage goes beyond the ceremony. You and your man need to talk through how you each feel about marriage in a loving and patient manner. Don’t do this to try and win agreement, but to understand one another better.

Not living with you suggests that he is keeping his options open.

Yet he may well enjoy the thrill of being the man who calls round for sex rather than being a husband. This, after all, is what drew you together.

You need to discuss how you will live as you grow older and decide what that future holds for you. Marriage is no longer essential to a relationship these days as many couples, who are very much in love, live apart in a passionate and sometimes tempestuous courtship. You both need greater security and intimacy than you have now.

Make this— and not necessarily marriage— your aim.

The boy is more realistic than you are. He likes you as a friend and finds having sex with a grown woman exciting

Are all men like my ex?

Dear Bunmi, Seven years ago, I met this dishy man at a party and fell for him. He told me straight away that he was engaged to be married to another woman.

The next year or so, I watched him constantly lie to his fiancée so we could have time together. It was fun and I used to feel wicked getting away with deceiving her.

I am now engaged to be married and I live with my fiancé. The problem is that I can’t forget this previous lover ’s behaviour and I ask myself if my fiancé could be capable of doing something like that. I haven’t seen any sign of this happening yet, but my lover ’s fiancée too didn’t suspect a thing. Could he be having an affair?

Ngozi, Enugu.

Dear Ngozi, Short of hiring a detective to trail him, you might never find out a thing!

Obviously, the guilt of having once colluded with another woman’s fiancé seems to be keeping your conscience active.

Maybe you fear retribution which you believe would be your just punishment for the hurt you once caused someone.

You’re worrying yourself unnecessarily of course, but you have to forgive yourself first. What is past should be dead and buried. Share your worries with friends— you’ll be amazed how unimportant they would think your sudden attack of conscience is.

Put your past mistakes behind you and look forward to a fulfilling future.

Share your problems and release your burden.

Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard,

LIBRA: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

SCORPIO: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

SAGITTARIUS: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work.

CAPRICORN: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today.

—39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Are you on drugs?

HEN the crafty devils want to deceive Eve, he confused her by telling her what she wants to hear. The holy writ says, the devil told Eve ‘if you eat of the forbidden fruit, you will be like

W

very skillful talents who got themselves destroyed through God. But did she ac- gives them boldness. drugs. tually look like God Yes, they are bold: Stop being hooked after tasting the for- But what kind of to drugs. Drugs deboldness? Animal stroy your life, debidden fruit?

This is the same boldness? Some say, stroys your family, way drug addict feel. it leads to high per- destroys your health They believe when formance. But, at and destroys your they take drugs it what expense? Ex- destiny. makes them high. It amples abound of Think about it!

TERROR MUDA

in “Never say goodbye”

By Kola Fayemi

AQUARIUS: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

PISCES: Better than yesterday. And the more co-operative you are today the better for you. Those of you travelling for love are in for an exciting day.

ARIES: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

TAURUS: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others. Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

GEMINI: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more ambitious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

LEO: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course.

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send your date and place of birth to the Astrological Counselling, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos

About day I was born?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth.

Mustapha, Abuja.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Mustapha, With the Moon in Libra when you were born influence of Libra be pronounced in your characteristics build up but, you are mainly a Scorpio born person YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day of Birth = Sunday Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs hosted five planets each.

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% PLANET AT HOME = NONE ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as there was planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 20125

Gunmen kill ex-SSS official, lawmaker in Gombe G

FUND RAISING—From left: Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Labour Party Chieftain, Pastor Yele Omogunwa; Chairman, Governing Council, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Dr Laoye Adegoke; and Member, House of Reps, representing Okitipupa-Irele Federal Constituency, Hon Akintoye Albert at the fund raising for Christ Church of Cherubim and Seraphim, in Akure.

OMBE—GUNMEN yesterday killed a retired officer of the State Security Service, SSS, in Gombe State, just as the Deputy Leader of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Degubi was killed by unknown persons in his r e s i d e n c e .

Gombe State Director of the SSS, Mr Bitrus Asher, confirmed that unknown gunmen killed a former staff of the agency, Malam Aliyu Abubakar.

Asher told newsmen that Abubakar was shot by the gunmen in Yulunguruza

Quarters in Gombe on Monday while he was performing ablution in his friend’s house.

The director said the deceased was shot in the back and was immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, where he d i e d .

Asher said the deceased was buried yesterday, adding that security operatives were investigating the matt e r .

He however, said no arrest had been made.

But the Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State

....Police arrest 20-yr-old woman for murder

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INDUCTION—From left: Mr John Unachukwu, Law Editor, The Nation Newspapers; Mr Emaka Anieto, former Business Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; and Mr Aremu Babatunde, News Editor, STV, at the induction of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, certification training programme in Lagos.

NUGU—ENUGU State Police Command yesterday arrested a 20year-old woman (name withheld) for allegedly killing one Mr Ikenna Izuchukwu, a resident of 91 Ogui Road, Enugu.

A statement by Ebere Amaraizu, the Public Relations Officer of the command, said the victim sustained injuries on his head after being hit with a plank.

It stated that the victim became unconscious and was rushed to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,

Ituku/Ozalla, where he was later confirmed dead by the d o c t o r s .

The statement said the corpse had been deposited at the mortuary for post m o r t e m .

Mr Musa Daura, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, described the incident as unfortunate and called on the public not to take the law into their h a n d s .

Daura assured the public that the command would get to the root of the matter.

June 12: Mimiko calls for freedom of Telecoms coy sued over land electorate to choose leaders allocation ...rolls out free shuttle buses for students

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KURE—ONDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has said the only condition for peace in the country was for the electorate to be allowed to elect

their leaders freely.

Mimiko in his message for the anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election believed to have been won by Chief

Monarch set up c'ttee to tackle unemployment, poverty

BY EMMA AMAIZE ARRI—THE Ovie of Udu kingdom in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Delekpe, Ohowrhu 1, has inaugurated a 10-man agricultural production and management committee to deal with unemployment, hunger and poverty in the kingdom.

The committee, headed

by Chief Oletu Chapele, with Mr Okoro as coordinator, has been mandated, among other things, to mobilize the grassroots for agriculture; identify genuine

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farmers; serve as effective centre for agricultural programmes of government and agricultural agencies; locate areas of needs and ensure effective pursuit to ensure concrete results; earmark/identify possible demonstration farm lands and cluster farmers in the kingdom for ease of assistance.

Other members of the committee include Cardinal E. Jeroh; Mr. Frank Ede; Mrs. M. Tobor; Major G. Aluya, rtd; James Rugbene; Chief Pat Okoro, Mr Sunday Subi and Chief E. Ono-Sorhue .

MKO Abiola, also called on “Nigerians and good people of Ondo State, to reflect on the events surrounding the country’s evolutionary history as a nation following the annulment of the election during which the people freely chose a leader of their choice but was truncated by the annulment.

“It is a day which will continue to remind us, and the cabal which truncated the will of the people, that no matter how long it is suppressed, it will eventually prevail. It is a day which has become a watershed in the political development of our dear country. It is a day we have chosen to mark as our true Democracy Day.” Meanwhile, as part of its programmes for the June 12 anniversary, the state government has concluded arrangements to launch the pilot scheme of its free shuttle buses for pupils of primary and students of secondary schools in the state.

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH AGOS—TWO people have filed a suit at an Ikeja High Court, Lagos State, challenging the allocation of two plots of land to MTN Communication Limited in Oke-Awori, Ibeshe town, Ikorodu upon which it erected its mast.

In the originating summons filed through their counsel, Chief Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, the claimants, are seeking the court’s declaration that they “are

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entitled to the grant of the statutory right of occupancy in respect of the two plots of land within Oduntan family land, Ibeshe, Ikor o d u Apart from the declaration, the plaintiffs also sought the order of the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, family members, servants, attorneys, privies and or workers, from further trespass on the land in dispute, purportedly belonging to them, pending the determination of their a c t i o n .

DPP legislator hails Uduaghan

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—THE mem ber representing Udu constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Keston Okoro has commended the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan for citing a leisure centre in Udu council area.

Speaking during a grand reception in his honour by the Urhobo National Youth Leadership Council, UN-

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YLC, Okoro, however urged the state governor to commence the building of major roads in the constituency.

Expressing confidence in the leadership of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Victor Ochei, he said: “your gift of stability is a powerful tool in providing good governance for legislative framework in delivering the dividends of democracy.

Police Command, Mr Adamu Salihu, also confirmed the killing of the deputy House Leader saying,"we have not ascertained those behind the killing and their m o t i v e .

"Investigation is going on to establish those who killed him and why he was k i l l e d . ” Degubi was elected into the state’s assembly in 2011, to represent Nangere Cons t i t u e n c y .

He was elected Deputy House Leader last month, following a minor reshuffle in the assembly.

Fund raising UR Lady Health of the Sick Catholic Church, Onipetesi, Ikeja, will hold a N75 million fund raising for an ultra modern church building at the Medical Missionary of Mary Medical Centre on Saturday with a Holy Communion Mass Devotional Service.

The event will be chaired

by Mr. Felix Omusi, CEO Socon Nig. Ltd, Lagos; Chief Patrick Chibueze, CEO Bozac Continental Ltd Lagos is expected to be the chief launcher, while, National President, Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Nigeria, Group Captain C. J. Ebiye (rtd) will be the special guest of honour.

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Chief Nnacho, 87, for burial HE death has been an nounced of Chief Ogugua Chirah Nnacho, 87 years, of Adegbe-Ozzu Village of Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

There will be service of songs and officers' night at his residence, AdegbeOzzu Village Awkuzu tomorrow while burial takes place on Friday at the family compound.

He is survived by Raph Ogugua Desmund Esq of Lagos State Police Command and Captain Jude Ogugua (Rev Fr) of Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna.

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Late Chief Nnacho

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 41

laying of a wreath on the tomb of Abiola, suggested that there is the need for the federal government to do the right thing by “declaring June 12 a national holiday for him.”

Ikuforiji wants national holiday for him

From right; Chief Ganiyat Fawehinmo; Alhaji Lateef Adegbite, Sec Gen Supreme Council of Islamic Affair; Hon Adeyemi Ikuforijin, Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly; Hon Wale Okuniyi, Coordinator of June12 Movement ; Mr Abdulmumini Abiola, and Ms Ann Kio Briggs, during the June 12 Democracy Day Anniversary, organised by June12 Movement Change Agents of Nigeria (CAN) Project, at Abiola House, Ikeja ,Lagos . Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

ECHOES OF FREEDOM:

How MKO was remembered at home

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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INETHEEN years after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, prodemocracy activists and eminent Nigerians converged at the residence of late Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola to commemorate the anniversary yesterday.

MKO, as he was fondly called by admirers, was the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland among other titles. But he, however, is positioned in history for his stoic defence of the mandate he won in the country ’s freest presidential election in 1993..

Abiola contested on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), won the presidential election on June 12, 1993 but was, however, was denied the mandate by the then military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), who annulled the election.

With the annulment came violent protests by prodemocracy activist and civil societies across the country.

Pundits express the view that June 12 ushered in the May 29 democracy presently being celebrated.

The 19th anniversary of June 12 tagged: “June 12 Democracy Day Celebration”, was organised

by June 12 Movement, Change Agents of Nigeria Project and Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy, in Lagos.

It was also another opportunity for stakeholders to proffer solutions to the lingering problems that have besieged the

ACTIVISTS and other democracy stakeholders gathered at the Ikeja residence of the late businessman, politician yesterday to ponder on the legacies and lessons of June 12. country over the years.

While some expressed the view that the federal government should do more to immortalise the late business mogul, others maintained that there was need for proper restructuring of the polity.

As a way of immortalizing the businessman cum politician, Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and one time Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and a Niger-Delta activist, Ms. Ankio Briggs suggested to the Federal Government to declare June 12 a national holiday.

Roll call Prominent Nigerians present at the anniversary include: Secretary-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Dr. Lateef Adegbite; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and one time Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora and a Niger-Delta activist, Ms. Ankio Briggs; Lagos state chairman of Afenifere, Chief Supo Shonibare, Ropo Sekoni, Mumuni and Jamiu Abiola, former Minister for Information, Chief John Nwodo, Comrade Joseph Eva, Professor Onasanya, Dr Tunji Abayomi, and Segun

Aka Bashorun among others.

Though controversy has trailed the renaming of the University of Lagos after him (Abiola), some analysts are of the view that more should be done by government to celebrate the late politician.

Firing the first salvo was one of the sons of the late businessman cum politician, Mr Mumumi Abiola who commended prodemocracy activists for not relenting in their efforts to sustain the struggle for which June 12 stands for. ccording to him, “I want to say that I was very young when the whole thing (June 12 crisis) happened, but I am pleased that you all still continued with the struggle 19 years after my father’s demise.

It does not end there, we must continue with the struggle.”

Another son of the late politician, Jamiu Abiola berated past governments for failing to immortalise his father.

Jamiu, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for taking the bold step of immortalizing his father.

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INEC must release June 12 results — Adegbite On his part, Adegbite lamented that Nigerian authorities had yet to accord due recognition to the historic day.

While lamenting that due recognition had not been accorded the date, he said “June 12 is once more with us. We recall

passionately the glory of that date, June 12, 1993. It is lamentable, however, that the Nigerian authorities are yet to accord due recognition to the historic day. I therefore humbly urge President Goodluck Jonathan whose election as president last year was the closet in cleanliness to that of MKO Abiola’s election of June 12, 1993, to kill several birds with one stone.”

Speaking further, Adegbite called on government to, “release officially the results of the elections. Declare Chief M.K.O Abiola the winner of the election.

Confer posthumously on MKO Abiola all the honours due to an elected President of Nigeria including the award of the national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.”

He further said June 12 should be declared MKO Abiola Day to replace May 29 currently observed as Democracy Day adding that “the gesture will be compared to that given Dr Martin Luther King jnr in the United States of America.”

The Seriki and Baba Adinni of Egbaland, however said such recognition “is without prejudice to the naming of certain public institutions in his honour such as the University of Lagos and Abuja National Stadium as previously resolved by the Senate.”

Ikuforiji, who supervised the

The Lagos Speaker said “just as a day was set aside for Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King jnr, I am calling on the federal government and the National Assembly to make sure that June 12 be declared a national holiday and MKO Abiola day. INEC, should as a matter of importance declare Abiola the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. If Chief Ernest Shonekan, a former head of the Interim National Government, is being recognised as a former president of Nigeria, Abiola should not be an exception.”

....Same with Mamora Senator Mamora said “if I were the president of Nigeria, what I would do is to declare June 12 a public holiday because we cannot afford to ignore such a day.

June 12 was a day that the national question was resolved, to a large extent.”

Briggs stated that the yearly celebration of June 12 was meant to correct all the ills and injustices that had existed in the country.

Briggs said “June 12, for me, is about correcting all the ills that exists in Nigeria. Nigeria has been run by civilian dictatorships whom we call cabal. One of the ways that MKO Abiola will be honoured is for a government to recognise that Nigerians gave Abiola a mandate and so should be recognised as a true former president of Nigeria. Also, his portrait should be hung in the hall alongside former presidents of Nigeria”.

For a one time Minister for Information, Chief John Nwodo, without Abiola democracy would not have been attained.

Nwodo, who served in the administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari stated that the need for Nigerians to be ready to make sacrifices for the country just like Abiola did.

“It is indisputable that our present democracy would not have been achieved if not for Chief Abiola. He was an accomplished businessman and a publisher. The first thing we must bear in mind is that it is necessary to make sacrifices for our nation. Abiola fought for democracy”, he stated.

Coordinator of the Change Agents of Nigeria (CAN) Mr Kayode Salako also speaking at the occasion said that had the hope of June 12 been allowed to live, Nigerians would have been singing another song.

While he called on the present crop of politicians to ensure things are done properly, he said “we are still struggle to get it right."

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42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

CHIME IN ENUGU:

Determined, not distracted GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime had reasons to panic because of the assault against him within and outside the law courts. He has, however, remained stable.

BY TONY EDIKE

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OVERNOR Sullivan C h i m e had on his assumption of office for a second term on May 29, 2011 to consolidate on the achievements recorded by his administration in the first term from 2007 to 2011.

He had then indicated that the take off point of his government would be in the area of human development. That move was apparently aimed at securing the future of the state by equipping the children to compete in the knowledge economy through providing them with the best education that the state’s resources could afford.

Mindful of the numerous problems existing in the sector, Chime at the inception of his second term vowed to address the lapses in the education sector.

However, one year after, the sector is yet to witness meaningful change in terms of provision of new infrastructure or rehabilitation of the old ones. The government had approved the sum of N195 million for the rehabilitation of some public primary schools but the impact

BY ANTHONIA ONWUKA

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VEN though the 2015 general elections are not around the corner, the polity is already being overheated by the debate over the zone that would produce Nigeria’s next president.

Already, political gladiators across the six geo-political zones, have been engaging in battle of wits in order to clinch the prime job.

While the Northern region appears hell bent about the presidency returning to the zone by 2015, the West does not seem to be in a hurry to produce another president after Gen Olusegun Obasanjo’s eight-year tenure.

The South East and the South South region, have also not hidden their desire of producing the country’s president in the next dispensation.

However, one factor that would make or mar the chances of any of the zones, is the question of unity and sense of purpose.

In this regard, the South-East region, appears very challenged following the prolonged absence of unity in their fold.

For instance the protracted

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of such investment is yet to be felt in the designated schools. In addition, the government procured about 300 buses for secondary schools, a gesture that was commended by the benefiting schools.

The state made a budget of N76.3 billion for her activities in 2012 and to underscore its commitment towards the development of education, a lion share of N4.94 billion was set aside to finance the sector. But stakeholders in the sector, who spoke on the administration’s activities in the last one year, were of the opinion that a lot still needed to be done to give educational institutions in the state a facelift.

The government’s desire to boost internally-generated revenue has in the last one year rubbed off harshly on the populace and the private sector.

Apart from the State Waste Management Agency, ESWAMA whose operatives have used crude methods, including arrest and detention to collect multiple levies, other revenue generating agencies like the Board of Internal

*Chime Revenue, Ministry of Environment, as well as local government revenue agencies have succeeded in frustrating a good number of small and medium scale entrepreneurs out of business owing to multiple levies.

The public outcry against such practices have remarkably fallen on deaf ears. A similar increase in land premium has also contributed to the stiff increase in rents in the capital city.

Road construction and rehabilitation which gulped the bulk of the state’s resources through the first tenure of

Chime, has remained the priority under his second term. Major road projects like the Ugwogo Nike–Opi Nsukka inter local government road, Ninth MileNsude-Obioma-Abia-Udi-Oji River Road; Inyi-Awlaw-Achi Road; Nyaba Road/Bridge; EkeEbe-Egede-Affa-Akpakume-Aku Road, Iwollo-Oghe-OloUmulokpa Road and Zik Avenue/ bridge and Akwata road are now under construction.

But if the provision of security which is one of the constitutional responsibilities of any government, then the current security situation in Enugu state

capital should be a worry to the administration.

The menace of armed robbers operating on motorcycles within the state capital has reached an alarming proportion with many residents living in fear.

Among the greatest beneficiaries of the regime in the last one year were the traditional rulers in various autonomous communities who were provided with brand new Hyundai cars by the government. That was besides the increase in their monthly allowances. The monarchs’ support for the governor has understandably been tremendous and their loyalty to the Chime government unshaken.

Although Governor Chime in the last year faced was faced with serious legal battles, he has surprisingly focused and undistracted by the legal actions against him.

Opposition groups, however, continue to grumble over the performance of the governor, arguing that the administration ought to have done more than it has done in the last one year if the enormous financial resources available to it, especially from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment, SURE Fund, were judiciously channeled to projects and programmes that would have empowered the impoverished majority of the people. They challenged the government to go beyond the purchase of taxi cabs which were given to some indigenes on loans as the repayment had been a herculean task, adding that physical empowerment programmes should be initiated for the people as the regime enters its second year.

2015: How bad to search for Igbo presidency crisis ravaging the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, which is perhaps the only visible political platform for Ndigbo, does not in any way constitute an asset to the 2015 dream.

Against this backdrop for a political cohesion among the indigines of the region, APG, recently called for total restructuring of all organs of the party, in order to present a formidable front in the next political dispensation.

The resolution is part of a fivepoint-communiqué issued at the end of a stakeholders meeting at the Enugu residence of Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu.

In a five point communiqué read by the National Vice Chairman of APGA, Morgan Anyalechi, the party agreed to build and strengthen its structures at all levels without delay in such a way to reflect the core values and strengths of the party as well as restructure and establish all organs of the party including Board of Trustees,

(BOT) National caucus, National Executive Council, (NEC) and National working Committee, (NWC) among others.

The communiqué read in parts: “We call on the National Executive Committee, (NEC) of our party to organize a national convention without further delay and arrange to conduct proper congresses throughout the federation. Our party constitution provides that the convention and congresses of the party at the national, state and other levels shall be held at least once a year”.

While affirming unequivocally that the supreme leader of APGA remains Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, even in death; the party also resolved to decentralize party structure and introduce derivation principle in the management and administration of party funds at all levels.”

Some of the party’s stalwarts, who attended the meeting at the CasaBianca residence of the late Ikemba included; Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Vice

Chairman BOT, Dr. Tim Menakaya; Wife of the late Ikemba, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Political Adviser to Governor of Imo State, P. C. Onuoha; the party’s leader in Enugu State, Dr. Emmanuel Ozoeneh; Dr. Odu Nwosu among others.

In his remarks Obi, regretted that most of people vilify him after all he suffered to bring the party to its present level, adding that right from 1999 he had been personally bearing the financial burden of sustaining the party even through the three years of protracted legal battle to reclaim his mandate.

Indicating that though he had eighteen months to stay in his office as Governor, Obi said he was still willing and prepared to help move the party forward lamenting that a member of the party who could not win a ward election his state could send small messages warning members against attending the peace and confidence meeting at the residence of the party’s national leader, Ojukwu.

However wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, after thanking the Vice Chairman of the BOT, Dr. Menakaya for the “spectacular courage in summoning this meeting” warned the national chairman of the party, Umeh; not to destroy the legacies the Ikemba left for the Igbo stressing that no officer is greater than the party.

Tracing the litany of what she described as the destabilizing public utterance of the national chairman, Mrs. Ojukwu noted that though the call for peace is strident, “peace is expensive; it comes with a price” adding that “if we cannot pay the price, we cannot move this party forward”.

Earlier in his opening address, the Vice Chairman BOT, Dr. Tim Menakaya, explained that he summoned the meeting for the members to take a look at the party.

*Anthonia Onwuka, a HND 11 student of Mass Communication, writes from Bida.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13 2012 — 43

Tax on salt could reduce cardiovascular deaths by 3% — STUDY 'B Y CHIOMA OBINNA

OLUNTARY industry reductions in salt content and taxation on products containing salt in Nigeria and 18 other developing countries could reduce the number of deaths each year from cardiovascular disease, CVD, by 2-3 per cent in these countries.

The preliminary report presented recently at the World Congress of Cardiology organised by the World Heart Federation, WHF was the first findings from a new report from Harvard billed to be published later this year.

According to experts, elevated sodium intake has significant implications for cardiovascular health. A positive relationship between salt intake and high blood pressure has been established, while salt reduction trials have revealed that a decrease in salt intake is directly related to a decrease in blood pressure.

Cardiologists are of the view that Hypertension commonly known as High Blood Pressure; HBP is one of the major preventable risk factors for premature death from CVD worldwide.

In the views of the Executive Director, Nigeria Heart Foundation, NHF, Dr Kingsley Akinroye, Nigeria is not exempted. According to Akinroye, to say that HPB is become a common place in Nigeria is not far from the truth. This is because the disease condition has assumed an epidemic dimension.

Today, HBP affects almost people of all ages in Nigeria. In the past, it is seen as the disease of the elderly between the ages of 60 and The study set out to assess the costeffectiveness of two interventions voluntary salt reduction by industry, and taxation on salt - in 19 developing countries that represent more than half of the world’s population. The required salt reduction levels were modeled on the UK Food Standards Agency experience which set a series of targets for individual food products that have led to a net intake reduction, so far, of 9.5 per cent overall in the country. While a taxation increase of 40 per cent on

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industry prices (similar to tobacco), determined by previous work to lead to

a 6 per cent reduction in consumption, was also evaluated.

• Projections suggest that CVD will remain the single leading cause of death, and by 2030 will be responsible for 23.6 million deaths each year.

Lisa Onyemobi Foundation targets 400 Lagosians for free medicare B Y EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

VER 400 Lagosians at the weekend benefitted from the free medical services organised by Dr. Lisa Onyemobi Foundation and the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Agape Parish at the Bar Beach police station, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The free medical services included blood pressure and diabetes testing, malaria testing and treatment, HIV testing and counselling, eye screening and free eye glass distribution, cervical

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cancer screening, and dental checks among other ailments.

No fewer than 50 medical personnel including medical doctors, laboratory scientists, nurses and pharmacists volunteered to assist in conducting the free tests and counselling for beneficiaries during the outreach programme put together by the Foundation in collaboration with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Agape, Parish, Victoria Island.

The outreach programme, was organised to uphold the legacy of the former National professional officer for

RSI promotes awareness on rhesus incompatibility B Y KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

HESUS Solution Initiative (RSI), a Lagos-based non-governmental agency last week marked the 2012 Rhesus Factor Day with the objective of creating and promoting public awareness on rhesus factor.

The day was for participants to know their blood group and rhesus status to prevent incompatibility during child birth for women and during blood transfusion for both sexes.

Guest Speaker, Dr. Fatai Bello of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, LUTH Lagos, said the Rh factor is a protein that is found on the covering of the red blood cells, pointing out that if the Rh factor protein is present in the cells, the person is Rh positive and if there is no Rh factor protein, the person is Rh negative.

He explained that when a baby is born, the baby gets half of his body from each parent and Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother’s blood type is Rh negative and her baby’s blood type is Rh positive.

Bello said, “if some of the baby’s blood

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The analysis found that both strategies would save money by reducing the number of people needing treatment for hypertension and CVD events such as myocardial infarction (heart attacks) and stroke. Moreover, the study found that these two strategies could reduce the incidence of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) by up to about 1.7 per cent and 1.47 per cent in China and India respectively. Reductions would also been seen in the incidence of stroke of 4.7 per cent in China and 4 per cent in India.

According to Assistant Professor, Harvard School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas Gaziano; “These results show that strategies to reduce sodium consumption, even by modest amounts, could lead to significant reductions in CVD mortality in developing countries and potentially save overall healthcare costs associated with these diseases,” “In developing countries, where the burden of CVD is highest, these simple steps could deliver a significant longterm impact and must be something that governments trying to manage rising healthcare costs should consider.”

CVD is the world’s biggest killer, claiming 17.3 million lives each year.

More than 80 per cent of CVD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

gets into the mother’s bloodstream, her body will produce antibodies. These antibodies could pass back through the placenta and harm the developing baby’s red blood cells.

The first baby is usually safe, because baby’s and maternal blood usually do not mix until delivery. If the second baby is also Rh positive, there’s a risk that the antibodies will attack her blood cells and cause problems”, he stated.

On the signs of Rhesus disease, the Doctor of Haematology said Rhesus disease shows no sign most times and can cause recurrent still birth, jaundice in newborn and mental retardation in the baby.

To prevent rhesus disease, Bello said “The woman must know her blood group before her first pregnancy. It she is rhesus negative, she must know her partner's blood group too. If the male partner is rhesus positive, she must take an injection when get pregnant (Rhogam).

“Rhogam removes Rh positive baby’s blood cells from the mother’s bloodstream before her body recognizes them and begins

making antibodies. A rhesus negative pregnant woman takes the injection at 28 weeks. Another one is taken within 72 hours of delivery if the baby is rhesus positive. It must be taken even if the pregnancy is aborted or there is a miscarriage. The injection is harmless to mother and baby”, he noted.

According to Bello, Nigeria has about 5 percent cases of Rhesus disease and early awareness could help reduce or prevent cases of mortality rate.

President/Founder, RSI, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Banire said the day was designed to enlighten and train traditional birth attendants on all information about Rhesus factor, with particular emphasis on the importance of blood group and rhesus status determination for their patients.

She said the organisation focuses specially on rhesus negative women through awareness on rhesus factor and support for financially challenged rhesus negative mothers by donating Free Rhogam Injection (Anti-D Immunoglobulin) Injection.

joint HIV&Tuberculosis activities of the quality health care delivery for all Nigerians.

The event was geared towards giving free medical assistance to the less privileged who could not afford to go to the hospital.

Speaking during the programme, the Vice Chairman of Dr. Lisa Onyemobi Foundation, Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi said the foundation felt concerned about the worrisome situation of medicare in the country, which necessitated the group to partner on the free medical service to better the lot of the people.

“We all understand the medical situation in the country, especially in the states. We know that government alone cannot meet all the needs. This calls for public spirited individuals to give assistance and this is our own little way of extending the hand of God to people who cannot access quality medical care due to lack of fund.

“In Nigeria, people die of diseases that are treatable but because they lack access, they lose their lives. This should not be allowed to continue if Nigeria desires to join the league of nations in attaining the Millennium Development Goals.

Onyemobi called on government, particularly the Lagos state government to step up efforts at improving the quality of healthcare facilities and that of personnel across the country.

In her view, the representative of the redeemed Christian Church of God, Barrister Elizabeth Udume, said that the decision of the Church to be part of the free health care outreach was in obedient to the compassion Christ showed to the less privileged in his time.

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

the second option was to agree to a compulsory DNA test that would require a wait of four to six weeks, but with the promise of ensuring that the right bodies were properly identified before being released to their family members.

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Relatives waiting to take the remains of their loved ones home.

Dana crash: Victims' relatives in DNA identification dilemma EN days after 153 passengers aboard Dana Flight 099 from Abuja perished along with an indeterminate number of people on the ground when the aircraft crashed into residential buildings in Iju, a suburb of Lagos, on the afternoon of Sunday June 3, 2012, the release of the remains of the victims to their relations by authorities of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, remains a contentious issue.

In the aftermath of the air disaster described as one of the worst in recent times, a total of 11 identifiable bodies had been cleared for release up till Monday June 11, 2012.

Although not all of the released bodies which have undergone autopsy at the expense of the Lagos State government have been claimed to date, the hospital authorities are, however, insisting on conducting individual DNA tests on all the remaining bodies whether or not they are identifiable, pending approval of the release of any more bodies.

But this decision by the authorities is one that has not gone down well with the grieving relations of the victims who have made no pretence of their dislike for such rigmarole. They have openly expressed their reservations about the need for mandatory DNA test before they would be permitted to take away the remains of their loved ones who died in the unfortunate incident.

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Over the last few days and in view of the foregoing, the state of events that have held sway at the premises of the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial Mortuary where the retrieved bodies are being kept within the LASUTH premises has not been particularly cordial as aggrieved relations protest the decision.

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recisely on Sunday June 10, 2012, at a “family” meeting held at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, presum-

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BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

They have o p e n l y expressed their reser vations about the need for mandatory DNA test before they would be permitted to take away the remains of their loved ones

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ably in the effort to prevent the unintended wrongful release of bodies to the family members, in realisation of the intricacies emanating from the ongoing identification process, Governor Babatunde Fashola had given the victims’ relations two options.

The first option was to accept a mass burial of the vic-

tims, several of which were already decomposing and largely unidentifiable, while

t that meeting, the relations had voted unanimously in favour of the DNA test, so it came as a surprise when the very next day, a large group of the relations gathered at the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial Mortuary, still demanding release of bodies. The agitation which built up from around mid-morning gradually erupted late afternoon in the form of a mild drama as the crowd of relations openly confronted the state’s Chief Coroner, Consultant Pathologist and Forensic Medicine expert, Professor John Obafunwa, and the Chief Medical Director, Professor Wale Oke. It all began when Obafunwa and Oke were shouted down when they attempted to explain why approval was no Continues on page 45

The pain, anger of searching for a loved one •UK law firm to offer legal aide

By CHARLES KUMOLU

OR the family of Sam Shaibu Negedu, their recent journey to Lagos was one they could not have wished for if they had their way. Reason: It was primarily to search for their loved one, Mr. Shauibu Sam, who left Abuja full of life, but had this promising life cut short in the recent Dana air disaster.

Sam’s journey to eternity via this latest plane crash in Nigeria started on Friday, June 3, 2012.

On this fateful day, this former staff of one of the new generation banks in Abuja, called a friend who lives in Lagos that he would be visiting Lagos on Sunday.

Unknown to this friend of Sam, who had known him since their days at Usmanu Danfodyo University,UDU, Sokoto, it would be the last time he would be speaking to his bosom friend.

In fact, when he attempted calling Sam at 8:30pm Sunday evening, what he got was a deafening silence and his once functional mobile number had remained so ever since.

This reporter,who is also a friend of Sam, had a similar experience, when he received a text that read thus: ‘’Shauibu was on that plane’’. And a peep into the plane’s manifest also confirmed that he was among the 150 people aboard the Dana ill-fated aircraft.

Since then, friends and family

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•Shaibu of the late banker, who had a young daughter, are trying to come to terms with his painful exit in that air disaster.

Already, the remains of the deceased are yet to be identified as he was among those who were burnt almost beyond recognition. As it is, health authorities are finding it extremely difficult to identify the dark skinned passenger.

Little wonder the deceased younger brother, Emmanuel and another relative, who were recently in Lagos to claim his remains, have had a trying time identifying him. First, they were told by health officials that all bodies would have to go through a DNA test before they can be released. As at the time of filing this report, the family has gone back to Abuja, so they can come back next week for the result of the DNA test that was conducted.

Meanwhile, friends and well wishers have been paying tribute to Sam on his Facebook

page. ‘’I can’t believe my eyes, Sam. You’ve been gone since Sunday and I’m just finding out.

I’m sorry I didn’t take your call on Monday 28th May; I thought I had all time in the world to talk with you. Who would call me “my daughter” like you used to?

I would miss your kind heart and friendly teases. Rest in peace my kind, selfless and hardworking friend. May God grant you eternal rest,” Kaycee Emmanuel wrote.

Also, Ameh Otache Ngbede wrote: ‘’What an incident! Just like that? You looked so promising but I can’t just ask God why. Well, He knows the end from the beginning and nothing takes Him unawares.

May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen!’’

Meanwhile, a United Kingdom-based law firm has indicated interest to assist the family of the victims in seeking legal action against the authorities of Dana Airlines.

Spokesperson of the firm Mr. Elombah Daniel, who spoke to Vanguard Features, VF, said: ‘’We want to identify some victims family whom we can assist free of charges to sue DANA and any party responsible for the crash we will help them free to sue and get damages for them,.’’

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 45

Mixed grill as Lagos relocates displaced residents to Ipaja relief camp

to the camp, as his church had arranged an a l t e r n a t i v e accommodation for him Commending the government’s gesture, he said the situation could have been worse for residents rendered homeless, as most of them had no place to relocate to. Pastor Omowunmi of Living Faith Church who told VF that he was in the church service with his family members when the incident occurred, added ‘’what I lost to the incident are the two houses within the premises”.

“The storey building affected by the crash was my residential house while the warehouse which was also affected was where my printing press and printing materials were before the incident. Also, a car that I parked within the premises was shattered

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE ESPITE has finally come to some residents of Iju-Ishaja, a densely populated neighbourhood in the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos, where the illfated Dana airplane crashed penultimate.

About 35 households whose buildings were badly damaged by the crash, were last Wednesday, given temporary reprieve by the Lagos State Government which relocated them to the Ipaja Relief Camp outside Ikorodu.

Governor Babatunde Fashola who visited the scene two days earlier had directed the State E m e r g e n c y Management Agency LASEMA to relocate the displaced residents in order to foreclose the outbreak of communicable diseases in the area. The Governor also ordered the immediate demolition of the affected buildings to rid the environment of defective buildings that could result to more loss of lives.

Many of the relocated people had given up hope of getting i m m e d i a t e accommodation, and some of them did not believe the Governor when he promised that the government would relocate them to a relief camp as alternative accommodation for the time being. It was mixed reaction when the residents saw government’s vehicles and officials that morning coming to take them and their belongings to Ipaja Relief Camp.

One of them who spoke to Vanguard Features, VF on condition of anonymity said they did not take the governor serious when he made the promise to provide them with an alternative accommodation. “Some of us had lost hope of getting immediate accommodation, considering how

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•Scene of the Dana plane crash in Lagos, last week. it is not going to be easy coming from there to work or do business in Lagos every day. This is why some of us will have to look for accommodation in Lagos metropolis,’’ he noted.

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ut Mrs. Chidima Iloka was not happy going to the camp. The reason according to her, is that her business is located at Iju-Ishaga.’’My business is located near my house which was

destroyed by the plane crash. As I talk to you now, my husband who was injured in the building as a result of the crash is still in the hospital. How do I come all the way from Ipaja Camp to see my husband in the hospital?

For me, that location is rather too far to come to this part of Lagos every day and return”, she said.

Pastor Daniel Omowunmi who is the

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difficult it is to get accommodation in Lagos. For some us, it is a big relief that the government is relocating us to Ipaja Camp. This gesture has solved our accommodation problem for now. ‘From the camp, some of us can now think of the next step to take concerning where to relocate. Most of us work and do business in Lagos. From what we hear, Ipaja is outside Ikorodu. This means that

As I talk to you now, my husband who was injured in the building as a result of the crash is still in the hospital.

How do I come all the way from Ipaja Camp to see my husband in the hospital?

landlord of the premises comprising a residential storey building and a warehouse used as a printing press, told our VF that he was not part of those being relocated

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by the crashed plane.

Those were the loses that I suffered. I thank God that I did not lose any of family members to the incident,” he said.

Dana crash: Victims' DNA identification dilemma Continues from page 44 longer going to be given for release of more bodies until DNA tests are carried out. The case of one of the victims, George Moses, was particularly instructive.

A police woman who claimed to be junior sister of the deceased, protested vehemently when she was told her brother’s body could not be released pending identification through DNA test.

As it was gathered, the late Moses’ daughter had earlier declined to identify as her father’s a particular body, listed as number 22 on the list of identifiable bodies released by the morgue.

But the other members of the deceased’s family, 12 of them, later stormed the mortuary to verify that, indeed it was Moses’ body.

“Give us a second chance. We know him and will not make a mistake because we can recognise him. You do not need to do DNA to be so sure. Just bring the corpse out and let us see him. We did not know he was going to die, now he is dead, you are saying we cannot see his body.

It is so unfair. He is number 22, so bring him out, let us see him,” they raged.

Speaking, Moses’ sister reasoned that even if the deceased daughter had made a mistake,

she (sister) would not.

“He is my brother. We came from the same womb. The daughter could have been confused not identify him properly. Let me see the body myself. Even in the darkness, I can identify my brother. They are now saying we should wait three weeks. What for?

That is not acceptable.

“Why can’t we see and collect a body we have already identified?

Suppose they come back to tell us that the test result is inconclusive and they still end up doing a mass burial?

They should release my brother so we can bury him and let his soul rest.”

But Obafunwa was unyielding. “I will not be

stampeded into releasing bodies. I have nothing to gain by keeping the bodies unnecessarily. I would rather be cautious than give out the wrong body. The bodies released are the ones properly identified. DNA examination is the best option. I appesl to you to be more patient if you must get the right corpse.

Until the DNA test is out, no more bodies would be approved for collection, he said with finality.”

The DNA blood test has emerged as the most infallible way of convincingly answering the question of family relationship. Often referred to as DNA blood testing, parentage testing or DNA fingerprinting, the DNA blood test

is utilised to identify and evaluate the genetic information-called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)in a person’s cells. It is called a “fingerprint” because it is very unlikely that any two people would have exactly the same DNA information, in the same way that it is very unlikely that any two people would have exactly the same physical fingerprint. The test is used to determine whether a family relationship exists between two people, to identify organisms causing a disease, and to solve crimes.

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

MIDWEEK SERMON

with SAMEYOBOKA sameyoboka@yahoo.com

Danger and vanity of false riches

BY BENEDICT HART

URING his earthly ministry, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ warned us to beware of covetousness, “for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”.

(Luke 12:15) Many Nigerians have turned this exhortation upside down: they firmly believe that a man’s life consist-eth in the abundance of his possession!

Or else what do we make of the disclosure that some senior civil servants have been collecting the pensions of more than 70,000 ghost pension-ers? That a civil servant owns more than 550 acco-unts in one bank? Or the N151 billion heist by those given charge of pensions? Or even the bizzare situation in which those sent to hunt down corrupt elements are be-ing hunted because they are alleged to also have skeletons in their cupboards?

One keeps wondering how far we can sink in the morass of corruption which has wasted the nation’s past and now beclouds her future. Late Dele Giwa who was parcel-bombed in 1986, once remarked that Niger-ians had gone beyond the point of shockability. He never knew he had not seen anything yet. This is a nation that was up in arms because $2.8 billion was said to have vanished from NNPC coffers in the early 1980s; that shouted herself hoarse because of a $12 billion Gulf oil wind-fall that was not account-ed for? Today just about anybody who could lay his hands on public funds is grabbing billions of naira as could be seen from the outrageous revelations at the various public hearings.

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he sordidness of what is happening is overwhelm-ing. One recalls that in the wake of frequent religious crises in Nigeria in the 1980s, Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka once asked in his column in the African Guardian, now defunct, “What is happen-ing to our country?” Today many Nigerians would be asking that same quest-ion. From a biblical point of view, nothing is happ-ening other than the fact that

many Nigerians have plumbed the depths as far as the worship of money is concerned and the word 'impunity' has now become common currency. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” so God Almighty declares in Exodus 20:4.

But Nigerians have since turned money objects of worship, especially if it is denominated in foreign currencies. The worship of money is killing us and the earlier we accepted the fact and retraced our steps, the better. St. Paul stated: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. (I Timothy 6:6-7, 10). In so far as who love money will never be satisfied, they will keep root-

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The brazenness and sheer audacity with which public funds are looted in this country has reduced the nation in the sight of other nations and impoverished the masses

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ing for more, even if it means denying others of their legitimate earnings or entitlements. The Bible says: “He that loveth silver shall not be satis-fied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase; this is also vanity.”

(Ecclesiastes 5: 10).

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e need to remind ours-elves that it was the self-ishness and greed of our past rulers that led us to the path of decrepitude and ultimately plunged Nigeria into war as a res-ult of which over a million people perished. We appear poised to continue in that sanguinary path if we do

not muster the mor-al strength to turn from the brink of self-destruct-ion.

Let us call to mind the prayer made by Nigeria’s former president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as far back as 1958 at a meeting of the then NCNC Executive Committee held at the Lagos City College, in which he stated: “Our Father in heaven, we pray that You save us from ourselves. The world that You made for us, to live in peace we have made into an armed camp. We live in fear of war to come...

We have turned from You to go our selfish way. We have broken Your commandments and denied Your truth. We have left your altars to serve the fal-se gods of money and pleasure and power.

Forgive us and help us.

Now, darkness gathers around us and we are confused in all our counsels...” (Daily Times of June 16, 1958, page l6).

Since Nigerians do not learn from past mistakes or experiences they are committing the same blunders in a far more virulent form. No one can deny that some Nigerians today are even richer than the Government. The implications of this for national security can only be imagined.

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factor that is facilitating the spread of corrup-tion in Nigeria is that an increasing number of public officers have become members of secret societies. They believe their colleagues will close their eyes to their atrocities so that they in turn will return the favour another day. The media have in the not-too-distant past been awash with stories of politicians who had to go through oath-taking rituals to be assured of sponsorship of their godfathers. Still wondering why Nigeria is importdependent? Why mediocrity, charlatanism, abuse of office, corruption, shamelessness, even assasinations are so rife in these parts? The scourge of cultism is what Nigeria must fight by the grace of God so that the country would be regarded with respect among the comity of nations, so that her people would live simple, peaceful and decent lives.

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22) Moreover, the Bible says,

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

(II Corinthians 6:17-18).

The brazenness and sheer audacity with which pu-blic funds are looted in this country has reduced the nation in the sight of other nations and impoverished the masses. King Solomon, under the inspiration of God, stated that “righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people”.

(Proverbs 14:34) Have we not seen enough of this reproach in our country?

Certainly the sins of those engaged in pauperization of the people shall find them out in God’s time, as some are already being exposed. (Numbers 32: 23) To compound matters many religious leaders are today trumpeting the doctrine of prosperity, giving the impression that “gain is godliness” and encouraging rent-seeking by any means. (I Timothy 6:5).

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nyone who, because of corrupt gain, denies ano-ther of his civic right to hold any public office for which he is in every resp-ect qualified, is wicked. He will be justly recom-pensed by God. “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be un-punished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:21; Isaiah 3:11).

Wealth gotten through fraudulent means are vain because they sooner than later end up the way they came. Some because of their greed have died before their time, others have had their properties seized while some are now languishing in jail. Some are languishing in misery and dejection? God caused His prophet to write: “Forasmuch the-refore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of whe-at: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: "They afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right...”

(Amos 5:11-13). *To be continued

Archbishop Margaret Benson-Idahosa

Archbishop Idahosa ministers to ‘Ladies In Waiting'

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

OVED by a desire to help women who wait endlessly for various desires of the heart, the Archbishop of Church of God Mission International cum President-General of Christian Women F e l l o w s h i p International(CWFI), Dr.Margaret Benson Idahosa, recently stormed Lagos for a workshop tagged 'Ladies In Waiting' , an initiative of the National Outreach Directorate of CWFI. The event witnessed a large crowd comprising women and young girls, believing God for breakthroughs in their marriages, careers, for fruits of the womb, among many other others.

Archbishop Margaret who shared with the large crowd her own experience while on the waiting list, recalled how she was childless for about five years after tying the nuptial-knot with her late husband, Most Rev. Prof. Benson Idahosa.

She had every assurance that she would be a mother soon after the wedding, having a prayer warrior and faith Evangelist for a husband.

They wrote down names for the children they would have. Nine months rolled by and there was no sound of a baby’s cry from her home. Being an only child, her mother’s anxiety knew no bounds.

Her in-laws broke their

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silence after 15 months of no show of a pregnancy. It was not the concern of in-laws alone she had to contend with. Members of the c o n g r e g a t i o n , particularly women, would greet her and stare at her stomach as they passed, hoping to notice something. After 36 months, she almost lost all hope, and cried till she virtually emptied her tears glands. She cried to God profusely for a child, and then mustered faith. The Lord intervened and by the 48th month, she had a baby boy. The other three children came in quick succession, and with the last, she begged God to stop and give to others in waiting!

According to her, thereafter, God spoke to her, saying, “Margaret, what I have done for you, I want you to go do it through me, for others!”. This, she noted, informed the birth of the CWFI initiative.

The event recorded a harvest of testimonies from women who had been part of its previous editions.

Among others, one of the women who was present with her husband and her proofa set of twin, testified to being blessed with the babies after encountering CWFI, 25 years after being married without any child. Another shared how God blessed her with a baby boy after waiting for 17 years for a child.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 47

Guidelines on 2012 US Students Visa

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAMDURU

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ecent figures released by the United States Public Affairs Section shows that a total of 600,000 foreign students are currently studying in different academic institutions in the US and out of this number, 7,000 are Nigerians.

This is a clear indication of the consequence of the falling standard of education in Nigeria which has created a mad rush for schools abroad.

Of course, children from common homes are not among these lucky ones in reputed citadels abroad except those who are schooling on scholarship.

While it seems there is no end in sight of the catalogue of woes troubling the nation’s Ivory tower due to bad governance and the huge monster, corruption which have given rise to increased number of individuals from wealthy homes aspiring to obtain degrees and other certificates from foreign institutions, the US embassy has outlined the prerequisites for obtaining students visa for successful entry into their school of choice in preparation for new session in September 2012.

US Vice Consul, Rachel Okunubi, who addressed the media on the issue while focusing on F1 visa type, explained that this type of visa attracts mostly international students and covers a four year degree program.

She advised students who wish to obtain this visa to begin the processing now as all appointment dates are fast filling up.

In issuing this type of visa, the governing law dictates that student must meet with three basic requirements to afford them an easy entry into any higher school of choice in the United States of America.

One of such laws is that the student must provide residence permit abroad, as well as provide proof that he or she will depart the US at the end of school, since study visa falls in the category of nonimmigrant visa.

The third law requires that student must

Vice Consul, US Consulate, Rachel Okunubi provide a document known as I 20, obtainable from the school, but aside these basic requirements, students are expected also to provide, in the DS 160 form which is a general form for all nonimmigrant applicants, a classified passport photograph, evidence of financial and social ties that bind the student to his or her home country.

By this, the applicant is to provide a direct link to his/her family house and so on.

Preparing for interview It is expected that students get themselves well equipped for interview. Failure to provide any required document or lack of comportment could possibly lead to refusal of visa.

The interviewing officers do not necessarily care much on what

students say at the interview, but consider both answers to questions and the documents provided.

Irrespective of the fact that visa issuance is at the discretion of the interviewing officer, students are advised to present only authentic documents from the right issuing Nigeria authorities.

Having over 4,000 schools in the United States, the consulate warns that students should expect questions like the reason behind school of choice, during interview session. This is so, in order to help guide the students to choose only accredited schools.

Emphasizing further on choice of high standard schools, the vice Consul, Ms Okunubi, urges students to put more efforts by way of carrying out extensive research while checking for schools, so as to get the best.

Deportation Owing to the fact that the visa issued is a nonimmigrant visa and it is expected that the candidate must return to his home country at the end of study, a student could be deported based on the fact that they over stay.

Work study permit Although schools are authorized to permit a work skill program for students who intend to study and work at the same time, Rachel disclosed that they are not allowed to work for over 20 hours in a week, especially in places like a school library.

Being allowed to work while studying has an edge as it understandably assists students meet up with financial demands, like payment of tuition fees. It is also necessary for acquisition of experiences that will eventually add up to build up the student.

E-mail: consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

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48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 49

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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52 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Banky W signs Niyola, as EME plans to release joint album FTER Tiwa Savage was recently signed by Mavin Records and Eva to Trybe Records, EME has joined the list as they have finally signed Niyola as one of

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their artistes. “The record label is also putting plans together to release their first ever compilation album aptly titled 'Empire Mates State of Mind' before the end of this month.

K-Solo drops new album Mr Pedigree usic producer So lomon Oyeniyi pop ularly known as KSolo has concluded plans to release his long awaited second album ‘Mr Pedigree‘.

The producer who has worked with and produced hits for the likes of Timaya, Kefee and Klever Jay will be hosting an album release and listening party at Club Vegas,

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CEO, of EME, Banky W has put up a tentative album art as his Twitter avatar.

Niyola will be joining the likes of pop star Wizkid, young rapper Skales, Banky W and another new signee, Shyadee.

Shaydee, an upcoming R&B singer was formerly signed to Kackland Records (along with rapper Pope da Hitman).“The album, E-Daily gathered will feature 22 tracks from the label's acts including, in-house Disc Jockey DJ Xclsuive; 18 songs with four skits from Basketmouth and production from Cobhams, Banky W, Masterkraft, Sarz, Shizzi, Spellz, Legendary Beats and Kid Konnect.

Niyola however isn’t a newbie in the music industry. Formerly associated with former Trybesmen rapper Freestyle, she released her self-titled debut back in 2007 on Westsyde records.

No word yet from the label or their reps on the signing, but we’ve been •K-Solo assured by multiple sources that Niyola has been signed, and that work has a l r e a d y commenced on her album.

Ikeja, Lagos, come Sunday, June 24, 2012.

The event which is put together by the producer ’s K-Solo Inc Music (K-I-M) in conjunction with City People Magazine will be hosted by comedian Omo Baba 1 and will feature guest appearances from Pasuma amongst others.

K-Solo who released his debut ‘My Way’ in 2009 has recently made headlines after his wife Kikelomo granted a tell-all interview revealing she was physically abused by the musician.

Lauryn Hill responds to tax evasion charges S singer Lauryn Hill has responded to her recent income tax returns charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

In an internet post of Friday, June 8, 2012, the troubled singer said she hasn’t ‘paid taxes since she withdrew from society to guarantee the safety and well-being of herself and her family’.

Federal prosecutors said she didn’t pay taxes on more than $1.5 million earned in 2005, 2006 and 2007 from recording and film royalties.

Hill responded to the federal charges in a lengthy post on her Tumblr page Friday. She described how she has rejected pop culture’s ‘climate of hostility, false entitlement, manipulation, racial prejudice, sexism and ageism’.

‘Over-commercialization

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and its resulting restrictions and limitations can be very damaging and distorting to the inherent nature of the individual’, Hill wrote.

“I did not deliberately abandon my fans, nor did I deliberately abandon any responsibilities, but I did however put my safety, health and freedom and the freedom, safety and health of my family first over all other •Lauryn m a t e r i a l Hill concerns! I a l s o embraced my right to resist a system intentionally opposing my right to whole and integral survival’, Hill wrote on her Tumblr page. ‘ M y intention has

2kay

2Kay, Rayce, others thrill fans at Ediz's fashion show

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OPULAR hangout,in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State capital, Ediz Wine Bar came alive recently as it held its first ever fashion show tagged, “Fashion Glamour”.

The two-day event which kicked off with a ‘Cocktail Party’ at the Bar recorded an impressive turn-out of PortHarcourt socialites and music lovers.

The highpoint of the event however was the runway which held on Sunday, May 27. “Fashion Glamour ”, an initiative of Ediz Wine Boss, in support of emerging designers wasn’t just all about fashion. It was also a blend of music and fashion which culminated into an unforgettable show.

Held in the premises of Ediz Wine Bar, Dreamwave Concept provided the outdoor equipments for the show. Occupying the centre of the premises was the runway where the models strutted to showcase the budding designers’ creative and conceptual work. On the left hand corner was the regular section while the VIP guests occupied the other end.

Anchored by popular comedian Buchi and Port-Harcourt based comedian, Arinze Baba.

Indeed, it was a comedy extravaganza as the duo stopped at anything to cheer the crowd. The show had in attendance notable music personalities and their Heads in addition to some high profile

After 12 yrs, D’Angelo returns A FTER a long absence from the concert circuit, troubled and reclusive neo-soulman D'Angelo made a surprise appearance at the Roots' Saturday night Superjam, held in Manchester, Tennessee, it was his first U.S. stage performance in 12 years.

Working his voodoo and treating thrilled spectators to an epic 75-minute revue of Hendrix, Funkadelic, Sly Stone, Zeppelin, and Beatles covers, D'Angelo proved that he is truly, finally back.

D'Angelo, aka Michael Eugene Archer-perhaps as famous for flaunting his fabulously chiseled naked torso in that music video for "Untitled" as he is for last album, 2000's landmark Voodoolooked in fine form, rocking a black tank top, short dreadlocks, and a quiet smile. (In a shocking police mugshot from 2010, when he was arrested for propositioning an undercover cop, he'd appeared bloated and unrecognizable.) And more importantly, D'Angelo sounded spectacular. He didn't perform any new tunes from his longawaited (and long-delayed) third album, but as he shifted between keys and guitar, he and a nine-

•D’Angelo

piece band featuring bass legend Pino Palladino and the Time's Jesse Johnson treated stunned spectators to an epic set of classic funk and rock--including Jimi Hendrix's "Have You Ever Been To Electric Ladyland" and "Power Of Soul," Funkadelic's "Funky Dollar Bill," and "Hit It And Quit It," Sly & The Family Stone's "Babies Makin' Babies," the Beatles' "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window," Led Zeppelin's "What Is And What Should Never Be," and the Time's "My Summertime Thang."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 53

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54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 — 55

Egwero, Emelieze take rivalry to Warri Grand Prix HE rivalry between Ogho Oghene Egwero and Peter Emelieze will be strengthened at the Warri Relays and CAA Grand Prix scheduled for tomorrow (June 14) at the Warri Stadium.

Until Egwero stormed into serious reckoning, Obinna Metu was the contender to the sprinting throne. But all that changed with the emergency of the petit Delta sprinter into the scene.

They both were alternating the All Nigeria track and field title. But this season, Emelieze has returned to serious contention, with the wind assisted 10.05 he posted during the training tour of the United States of America. Now everyone is on the lookout for what

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will happen at tomorrow’s Grand Prix in Warri as both sprinters have been paired to run in the same 100m Premium event.

Egwero ran 10.13 to place fourth behind Peter Emelieze (10.08) in the third position at the 54th annual Mount San Anthonio (Mt SAC) Relays in California, USA last month. Of course, American Walter Dix won the race Emelieze was however denied the new PB because of the +2.6 tail wind.

Now, the duo have the chance to try each other before the Nigerian Olympic trials scheduled for between June 19 and June 21 in Calabar.

Others to also run in the Premium event include

Keshi Continues from BP African Nation’s cup qualifier at the U.J. Esuene stadium, Calabar.

Keshi on arrival assured that his team would reward Governor Liyel Imoke and Calabar fans for the support they received in their match against Namibia by defeating the Rwandans by a high goal margin.

“Expect a lot of goals.

That I can assure you, to make Calabar people and the Governor happy in our second coming within two weeks. We appreciate the support from Imoke and Cross River people and football fans

especially. We will not let them down, that I can assure you.”

Keshi expressed the hope that the Eagles presence in Cross River would inspire young footballers in the state to work hard to become stars for Nigeria.

He also recalled the team’s experiences with the Flames of Malawi in their 2014 World Cup Brazil qualifier in Blantyre describing it as “hectic.”

“It was hectic, a terrible experience for us. We did not train, we were not used to the pitch and we arrived Malawi late. But that is not an excuse for the draw,” Keshi said.

Saintfiet Continues from BP the body to begin the process of engaging a qualified and competent Nigerian for the role.

MallamAbdullahi explained that the decision was necessary as there are many competent Nigerians who have knowledge of grassroots football in the country and are better suited for the role of a Technical Director, whose main function is to identify and groom local

talents.

In a similar vein, the Minister directed that henceforth footballers that are invited to the National Under-17 Football camp must show proof of having been in secondary school, or a similar institution, in the last three consecutive years.

He said this was meant to resolve controversy over the ages of footballers invited to the Under-17 Camp and to en

Shevchenko Continues from BP into his car.

Shevchenko got out of his car to clarify the situation and a large number

of fans immediately gathered around him to ask him for his autograph.

No one was injured in the accident.

Amr Sequid of Egypt, Gibrilla Pato of Sierra Leone and Antoine Adams of St Kitts and Neville.

Ike Patrick Chinedu is another Nigeria coming in for the event.

In the female version, Nigerian female sprinters like Lauretta Ozoh, Agnes Osazuwa and Endurance Abinuwa are in the race even as top runners like Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu and Damola Osayomi are unavailable.

Sixty-one entries have been received from over 20 countries to participate at this year’s Warri Relay and CAA Athletics Grand Prix scheduled for Thursday, June 14 in Warri, Delta State.

Some of the countries where these athletes are coming from include; USA, Jamaica, Bahamas,

St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent, Egypt, Cameroon, Botswana, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia, Liberia and Uganda.

According to the Coordinator of the Meet, Yusuf Alli, most of the athletes expected at the oneday event have started arriving Nigeria with the last batch scheduled to coming into town today.

AWARD: AIPS executive committe member, Mitchell Obi (l) presents the male athlete of the year award to Patrice Ebong at the 37th Awards Night of Ghana Sports writter Association ISWAG) weekend in Accra, Ghana.

NOC secures Nigerian Broadcast Rights HE Nigeria Olym pic Committee (NOC) has secured the London 2012 Olympic Games Broadcast Rights for the Nigerian territory.

It paid N80 million for the rights and hopes to reap in benefits of over N250 million in cash and

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•Ndanusa

Rwanda eye score draw against Eagles

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN WANDA’S Amavu bi Stars Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojovic is targeting a score draw against the Super Eagles in Saturday’s 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Calabar.

With the first leg held some months back in Kigali ending in a barren draw, the Rwandans are perfecting plans to shock the Nigerian team at the U.J Esuene Stadium this weekend.

Sredojovic told the New Times of Rwanda that he has confidence in his team’s ability to score against the Eagles.

While acknowledging that his team still have some work to do before the Nigerian match, the Serb tactician said that the pressure was on the Eagles to win in front of their home fans.

“It is going to be very tough match because the road ends for the losing team on Saturday but I believe that we can play a scoring draw in Nigeria. The Nigerians are going to be under pressure from their fans and I hope that we can capitalise on this”, said Sredojovic.

In their last match, the Rwandans played a 1-1 draw by Benin in a group H 2014 World Cup qualifier on Sun-

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day.

Sredojovic says that his charges must improve their performance to stand any chance of hurting the Eagles.

The winner of the match progress to the next round of the ANC scheduled to hold in South Africa in 2013.

kind after selling the commercial rights to its partners.

The International Olympic Committee sold the sub –Sahara Africa broadcast rights contents to Octagon South Africa, and it was from the South African company that the NOC bought the rights to the Nigerian territory.

NOC President, Sani Ndanusa described the procurement of the Free

to Air Broadcasts rights as the first time that a National Olympic Committee is wholly acquiring the broadcast rights within its territory.

He stressed that for the first time there would be three broadcast companies putting the Olympics in Nigerian living rooms and keeping with the free to air concept of international broadcast.

The three broadcast partners are: the Nigerian Television Authority, African Independent Television and Radio Nigeria. ‘’Nigeria’s participation in the London 2012 Olympics is going beyond sports as cultural and economic investment potential of the country will all showcased. The countdown has just begun and Nigeria is good to go.’’

Minister, Imoke, IGP to cheer Eagles HE list of prominent and illustrious Nigerians heading to Calabar to cheer for Super Eagles in Saturday ’s 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Rwanda mounted on Tuesday with confirmation that the Honourable Minister/Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M. D. Abubakar will be in town.

Abdullahi, who was Honourable Minister for Youth Development and Supervising Minister/ Chairman of NSC before being fully deployed to the National Sports Commission three weeks ago, on Tuesday assured the NFF leadership that he will be in Cannan City to cheer the Eagles.

Nigeria must win Saturday’s game to make progress in the qualifica-

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tion series for the 29th African Cup of Nations finals, which holds in five South African cities between 13th January – 4th February next year.

Having missed on this year’s edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, an anomaly that had not reared its head in 26 years, the Super Eagles are determined to squash the Wasps of Rwanda at the U. J. Esuene Stadium and have said they need all the support they can get.

“I will certainly be in Calabar to cheer the Su-

per Eagles. It is a very important match and we must do everything possible to mobilize all Nigerians to back our team for victory on Saturday,” said Abdullahi, who will be Special Guest of Honour. Also on Tuesday, the NFF formally invited the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar to be a special guest at the big match.

Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, CON will be Chief Host at the game.

Guinean refs for Falcons, Zimbabwe HE Confederation of African Football has appointed referees from Guinea to take charge of Saturday ’s 2012 African Women Championship qualifying match between the Super Falcons and Zim-

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babwe in Lagos.

Therese Sagno will be at the centre, with compatriots Doussou Sakho (Assistant Referee 1), Fatoumata Toure (Assistant Referee 2) and Aissata Keita (Reserve Referee) to support.

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VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012

Czechs stay alive HE Czech Repub lic kept alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2012 quarterfinals as they beat Greece 2-1 in their Group A clash here on Tuesday.

The Czechs made a dream start scoring twice in the opening six minutes with Jiri Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar scoring.

Greece threatened to get back into the match seven minutes into the second-half when Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech spilled the ball straight to Fanis Gekas and he tucked the ball away.

Victory sees the Czechs - beaten 4-1 by Russia in their first game - move on to three points with the Greeks struggling on just a point.

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Shevchenko in car accident HE captain of Ukraine’s national football team, Andriy Shevchenko, has been involved in a car accident - a Chinese-made SUV crashed into his car, according to the Ukraine 2012 information center.

Several hours after the match in which Ukraine defeated Sweden, after a press conference at the Olympiysky National Sports Complex, on June 11, Shevchenko and his wife Kristen Pazik were returning home in their Porsche. Shevchenko stopped to let football fans cross the road when the SUV crashed Continues on Page 55

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WELCOME HOME BOY! Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan welcomes Christian Obodo who visited Govt House, Asaba to thank him for securing his release from kidnappers last Sunday. Photo: Henry Unini

Expect harvest of goals against Rwanda — Keshi

Pacquiao cries for revenge

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Calabar UPER Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has urged football fans in Nigeria to put the memory of last week’s 11 draw away to Malawi and expect harvests of goals against the Wasps of Rwanda.

The Stephen Keshi-led Super Eagles arrived the Margaret Ekpo International airport, Calabar on Tuesday through Arik airline in preparation for the

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Today’s Fixtures Denmark v Portugal 5pm Holland v Germany 7:45pm Result Greece 1 Czech Republic 2

TODAY'S

•Keshi

PUZZLES

Continues on Page 55 YESTERDAY'S

Minister stops hiring of Saintfiet HE Honourable Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has directed the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to stop the process of hiring a Foreign Technical Director.

That directive was given yesterday at a meeting he had with the NFF, in which he also asked Continues on Page 55

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•Saintfiet

•Abdullahi

QUICK CROSSWORD

ANSWERS

Across 1 Pace (4) 4 Tavern (3) 6 Applaud (4) 9 Edge (3) 10 Eased (8) 11 Detail (4) 14 Plus (3) 16 Shabby (5) 19 Journalist (8) 21 Motor-hotel (5) 23 Relative (8) 24 Cabin (5) 27 Material (3) 31 Staunch (4) 33 Custom (8) 34 Be indebted (3) 35 Ran off (4) 36 Groove (3) 37 Discourteous (4)

Down 2 Pour (4) 3 Bucket (4) 4 Designer (8) 5 Naked (4) 6 Felony (5) 7 Illuminated (3) 8 Correct (5) 12 Morsel (5) 13 Javelin (5) 14 Limb (3) 15 Dissuade (5) 17 Furnish (5) 18 Youthful (5) 20 Pertinent (8) 22 Circuit (3) 25 Praise (5) 26 Domesticated (5) 28 Box (4) 29 Agitate (4) 30 Tart (4) 32 Sheep (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 1, Stop 4, Mop 6, Cite 8, Strive 9, Income 10, Tan 12, Clean 14, Legal 15, Toyed 18, Recede 20, Origin 24, Tenor 26, Scamp 28, Tower 30, Sty 32, Barrel 33, Editor 34, Stay 35, Map 36, Grew

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

Down: 2, Total 3, Primate 4, Meet 5, Pain 6, Cache 7, Timpani 11, Awe 12, Car 13, Nod 16, Yet 17, Don 19, Enchant 21, Rot 22, Ironing 23, Nor 25, Eat 27, Marry 29, Evoke 30, Slim 31, Yelp

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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