Soldier, 20 gunmen killed in Borno shootout

...towards a better life for the people

**

N150

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

VOL. 25: NO. 61686

Why Northern For Nigeria: No gold, governors oppose state police no silver, no bronze •Not sure of adequate 2012 OLYMPICS •N2.3 billion down the drain

•P.5

funding by states

•Pg.5

Soldier, 20 gunmen killed in Borno shoot-out •Boko Haram denies killing of it's members •Terror attack: IG plans reorganisation of Police •P.7 2012 OLYMPICS: BRITAIN ENDS IT IN STYLE Pension Fund: Contributors protest investment in power, capital market •PG.17

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P.41 DELE •P.34 SOBOWALE

100 yrs of trade unionism in Nigeria:

C M Y K

AIDUGURI— TWENTY suspected terrorists were killed weekend in Maiduguri, Borno State during a shoot-out between them and the Joint Task Force. It was also gathered that the JTF lost a soldier while two others sustained gunshot injuries in the duel.

Meanwhile, the Islamic sect popularly called Boko Haram has denied the JTF claim of killing 20 of its members.

According to Abul Qaqa, spokesman of the group: “They (JTF) only succeeded in killing innocent civilians. It is not possible for 20 of our members to sit in a volatile place and hold meeting; it is not possible”.

Mr & Mrs

SPECIAL REPORT:

serial begins today on Pages 48 &49

M

Continues on Page 5

LES LEBA •P.40

•OWEI LAKEMFA's book

BY SAM EYOBOKA & NDAHI MARAMA

FAREWELL—Members of the audience at the Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games in London, yesterday. Inset: British group, One Direction performs at the event. Photos: AFP.

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—3

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4—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

DAY 7: RCCG CONVENTION

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, his wife Pastor Folu Adeboye with members of the family during thanksgiving service

Pastor Enoch Adeboye presenting a gift to Pastor Obayemi, Pastor in charge of Lagos Region 2

Mrs Folu Adeboye, wife of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordains one of the Pastors yesterday.

Photos: Lamidi Bamidele

Adeboye extends prayer for 70,000 children ••plans to build another auditorium

By SAM EYOBOKA &

OLAYINKA LATONA

F

EW months before the end of the year, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, who had earlier prayed for a special 70th birthday present of 70,000 children within the church, last night expanded the prayer to 100,000 children.

Giving a report of his stewardship in the past one year, Adeboye told worshippers at the Redemption Camp, that reports have shown that a total of 60,979 children had been delivered just before the commencement of the con-

vention which began on August 6.

He said: “Because I love children, one request I will love to make from My Daddy tonight is to increase the number of children from the earlier 70,000 to 100,000,” noting with happiness that the church in Nigeria alone had recorded the wedding of at least, 11,162 this year alone.

Adeboye added: “That tells you that the Lord is doing something wonderful." Noting that the church had entered an additional 13 nations of the world, bringing to a little under 160 nations where RCCG now has a presence, he said: "We still have a long way to cover because we must enter into all the nations of the world soon.”

He also announced that as at

6.25 p.m. on Friday evening the total number of babies delivered during the convention had risen to 68: 34 boys and 34 girls.

Adeboye, dressed in the nation’s colours of green and white shirt, acknowledged that his heart bleeds each time he sees people sleeping in the auditorium during programmes, stating that the church was doing everything within its means to build dormitories but clearly no matter how much it tried it could not meet the needs of every participant.

He, therefore, appealed to members to assist the church to build additional 2,000 rooms before the next convention to accommodate more people in the camp.

By far the most stunning of his pronouncements, was that of a plan to build another auditorium.

The current auditorium, the third within the Redemption Camp, he

said can no longer accommodate people, stressing that the number of persons outside the auditorium was more than those within.

Adeboye appealed to eight public-spirited individuals to join him and his wife to build another auditorium within the sprawling

Youth wing thrills congregation

A

S part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the youth wing of the church, Friday afternoon, held the congregation spell bound as they displayed various talents and skills.

During a youth hour tagged “Shift Talent Hunt Show 2012” youths drawn from all 38 provinces of the church showcased their potentials in singing, dancing and

Unprecedented attendance at convention

I

HRM Oba Matthew Oyekale, The Ola-Aresa of Masifa-Ile, Osun State, dancing during the ordination of the pastors

Cross section of ordained Pastors

T was yet another time of spiritual re newal at the Holy Ghost service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, as it recorded an unprecedented turn out.

Both the members and non-members of the church made their way to the camp to partake in the monthly blessing.

The programme which was attended by politicians, traditional rulers, captains of industry, gospel ministers from other denominations, comprised a series of prayer sessions for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria and other African nations and indeed the world. There were song ministrations by various groups including a South African group, Vinesong, as well as testimonies among oth-

camp which has metamorphosed into one huge city.

The development of the arena and support facilities at the camp was rapid and extensive with the incorporation of a modern altar, prayer foyer, offices, parking lots and massive deployment of plastic chairs which have now almost completely displaced the old wooden pews.

ers. Speaking on the topic; “Don’t settle for less,” Pastor Joe Olaiya who took the first plenary session, enumerated several individuals in the Bible who settled for less as a result of covetousness and missed their destined heritage. The Kaduna-based preacher held that if righteousness gets anybody into trouble, the same righteousness has the capacity to get such a person out of trouble, stressing that prayer got Daniel into the Lion’s Den and the same prayer got him out unhurt.

When the matriarch of RCCG, Pastor Folu Adeboye, led the congregation to intercede on behalf of the country and other African nations, the voices became loudest in prayers for the peace of Nigeria.

Ordained Pastors from Rivers Province 1

comedy, all of which can be developed s veritable tools of evangelism. Highlight of the event was a talent hunt in music, comedy and dance with special focus on reaching out to the unsaved in the society.

The participants performed to the admiration of all in comedy and dancing. Saxophone wizard, Pastor Kunle Ajayi and Deaconess Bukola were the judges in the singing category, while the comedy category was judged by Dotun Adegorioye and Omolade Akande of DVD Band.

In the comedy category, Mc Philosophy emerged the judges’ favourite while John and Leo came first in the dancing category and in the singing category Esiri Tejiri a.k.a. T Jay for Christ was adjudged first in the singing category. Encouraging the youths to effectively use their God-given talents to propagate the gospel of the Lord, the National Youth pastor, Pastor Belemina Obunge revealed that a platform has been provided for the winners to minister round the country including RCCG churches.

Vanguard, MOND AY, A UGUST 13, 2012—5 MONDA AUGUST

POCKET CARTOON

Soldier, 20 gunmen killed in Borno shoot-out Continues from Page 1 Qaqa who spoke by phone said his group will not relent in its offensive until a Sharia State is established across Nigeria.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Field Operations Officer of JTF in Borno State, Colonel Victor Ebhaleme said: “We got intelligence report that some suspected Boko Haram terrorists were having a meeting at a particular location in the metropolis. As we approached the venue of their meeting the suspects opened fire on the JTF which led to the killing of 20 of them, while we lost one soldier and two others sustained injury.”

According to a military source, “the suspected terrorists were planning attack on the town”, noting that had the security operatives not moved immediately, the town would have been on fire perhaps by Sunday (yesterday).

Ebhaleme said the recent successes recorded by the JTF in its crackdown on terrorists were as a result of a change of strategy by the JTF which tends to treat the civil populace humanely.

He said the new tactics tagged “Humanitarian Line of Operation” tried to embrace the civil society.

Gunmen kill Policeman in Gombe church attack

Meanwhile one Policeman was said to have been over powered and killed by yet to be identified gunmen who attacked All Saints Catholic Church besides Kanoyel, Bogo, Gombe, Gombe State where several hundreds of faithful had gathered for the early Sunday morning worship yesterday.

Sources close to the church told our reporter last night that five gunmen approached the church between 9.00 and 10.00 a.m. while the service was on and as they made to shoot at the worshippers, two policemen who had been detailed to protect the church intervened.

In the shoot-out that ensued, five armed men were said to have over powered the security details, gunned down one of them while the second escaped with injuries.

The gunmen were said to have made away with their riffles while the injured policeman was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.

It was not clear if the Police in Gombe had arrested any of the gunmen, who eye witnesses said, escaped after police reinforcement stormed the scene.

Reacting to the development, director of Social Communications, Rev. Monsignor Gabriel Osu condemned the continued attack on churches and worship centres and the waste of innocent lives.

He charged northern

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation — Michael Jordan

T

HOSE who strive to live in harmony always guard their thoughts and do not allow self defeating moods in their sphere. However, whenever there is an occurrence of such, it is usually a signal that one should find more clarity in their actions and perceive things quite differently. If we follow through and stay focused on being positive, we would experience a transformation that brings inner peace, a rare but essential virtue for living a fulfilled life.

Each day, we try to give a little more and aim a little higher than the previous. It’s all about attitude and gratitude.

In life many things will clamour for our attention, but only a few will make it to our hearts. We can always catch our rainbows. Remember, we make a life by what we give, and our actions always reflect our true character.

Edith Wharton says, there are two ways of spreading light- ‘to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it’’.

elders to speak out against the killings in parts of the North.

The Lagos Catholic Archdiocesan spokesperson expressed disgust at the silence of the elders in the North and wondered why such mindless attacks can be tolerated even during the Ramadan season.

Osu condemned the latest in the wanton acts of terrorism, saying: “I am indeed tempted to call for a state of emergency to be declared in all the states where these things have continued unabated as if human life is no longer sacred.”

Osu condemns killings, urges Northern elders to speak out According to him, these strange happenings in the North and the silence of northern elders have increased the clamour for state police, adding “it’s a wake

up call for the nation’s legislators to accede to the calls for state and community police, because these things cannot be happening with such impunity.

“Not too long ago they told the nation that arms factories were discovered in certain parts of the country. Who own those properties that are being used as arms factories? What happened to all the people they arrested thus far?"

Why Northern govs oppose state police

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA—FEAR of losing their dominance of the Nigeria Police Force has been cited as the major reason behind the sudden change of mind by northern governors over the introduction of state police. It will be recalled that at the meeting of the governors of the 36 states in Abuja last month, all the

governors opted for state police as a panacea for ending rising insecurity in the country. However, the 19 northern governors met a few days after and kicked against the idea of state police, saying that they were ready to work with the existing police force. A source close to one of the governors told Vanguard that the northern governors were afraid

2012 OLYMPICS No gold, no silver, no bronze •N2.3 billion down the drain •Official wants FG to probe allocation

L

AGOS—THE story of Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics is “No gold, no silver, no bronze, N2.3 billion down the drain.” And now a top Nigerian sports official who is a member of an international sports federation wants the federal government to compel the sports ministry to account for how they spent the N2.3 billion government released for the Olympic Games which ended in London yesterday. He would not have his name on print.

He said the ministry should disclose how much they released to each sports association that presented a team to the Olympic Games.

Athletics, Weightlifting, Taekwondo(athletes) Canoeing (one athlete), Wrestling, Basketball, Table Tennis and Boxing associations presented teams at the games. All the athletes were 51. The number of officials was still unknown as there were

many who were not accredited and, consequently, were not useful to the athletes. They stayed in their hotels to watch the games on television. This irked the Nigerian official and he described the action of the ministry as “ wasteful.”

He said it was necessary for the ministry to disclose the allocations to each association because of what he called “the wrong decisions” that partly affected Nigeria’s preparation to the games.

The official said the following: “Taekwondo that presented two athletes was given over N65m to prepare while Athletics that had over 100 athletes but which they pruned to 28 for the Olympics was given N131m. Basketball which had to travel to Venezuela for their qualifying tournament was given N75m for all their preparation including the tournament in Ven-

THE VICTIMS:

ezuela. The rest of the sports did not get more than N500,000. And yet N2.3 billion was released for the Olympic games. But the money came in installments and it came so late that nothing much could be done with the last installment. This is not the way to prepare for the Olympic Games. The people who disbursed the money took wrong decisions and now the athletes are saying that they did not prepare well. The ministry is to blame.”

A coach in one of the teams admitted that Nigeria lacked world class athletes and that even if more billions of money were approved the money would have still gone down the drain as “ you cannot perform magic over night in sports, you build over a period of time.”

The last time Nigeria left the Olympic Games without a medal was 24 years ago in the Seoul Olympic Games of 1988.

that their dwindling financial position would not permit the funding of state police like their Southern counterparts, who they claim had more funds than them.

The source, which was in attendance at last week’s meeting of the Governors’ Forum in Abuja, said: “The governors do not want to plunge themselves into what they cannot adequately sustain and they do not also want to lose what they consider as their leading position in the Nigeria Police Force.

“During last Tuesday’s meeting they made their position very clear that they would continue to work with the NPF to contain insecurity in their respective domains.”

It was gathered that the northern governors had opted to present a common position to the federal government on how best to tackle insecurity in the country.

“They believe that the best way to ensure adequate security in all the states is for the federal government to allow commissioners of police to be controlled by the respective governors so that they can take orders from the state executives. But the governors of the Southern states are reported to have insisted that they would press ahead with state police, hoping to embark on serious campaign to convince some of their northern counterparts to change their minds before their next meeting. It was learnt that while most of the governors would not support the growing agitation for more states, they were however in support of the rotation of governorship posts among the people of the 109 senatorial districts in the country to give a sense of belonging to all Nigerians.

6—Vanguard , MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

Flood: Environment Ministry warns 14 states zAsks govts of affected states to take precautionary measures

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POSTHUMOUS AWARD FOR TAYO ADERINOKUN—From left: Roberta Naidoo, MD ABN Group; Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State Governor and Mr Bismarck Rewane, who received the posthumous All Africa Business Leaders Lifetime Achievement award for Tayo Aderinokun at the Porsche Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend.

Subsidy scandal: Missing $620,000 bribe raises dust

BY SONI DANIEL

A

B U J A — INDICATIONS emerged, yesterday, that the difficulty in retrieving the $620,000 bribe money allegedly given to the former chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on subsidy administration, Mr. Farouk Lawan, by oil marketer, Femi Otedola, may weaken the case.

Although the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation has already given its nod to the trial of Farouk Lawan and his clerk, Boniface Emenalo, it was gathered that the inability of the police to recover the $620,000 bribe sum from the suspects, which they initially claimed was captured in a ‘sting operation’, has caused some disquiet in government circles.

Despite the setback, the Federal Government is going ahead with the trial.

There was, however, confusion yesterday on the fate of the bribe-giver, Femi Otedola.

While the government plans to use the oil company executive as prosecution witness, lawyers and anti-corruption groups are insisting that the three men should be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution.

Competent sources said the police had depended solely on the State Security Service ‘sting operation’ as a major evidence to nail the suspects but the nonretrieval of the said amount before the commencement

of trial is said to be weakening the case.

It was learnt that after the Special Task Force of the Nigeria Police Force, which investigated the case, could not recover the bribe money, which was allegedly given under a ‘sting operation’, it had wanted to drop the case against Lawan and Emenalo but pressure was mounted in favour of prosecution.

A reliable source said, “investigation could not establish any sting operation and that is why the SSS, which was said to have been around when the money was handed over to Farouk, has not said anything on the matter till date.

“The case is apparently flat in the absence of the bribe sum and the government is weighing various options before Farouk returns to the country this week.”

However, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami, said yesterday that the absence of the bribe sum was an indication that the government was either not ready to prove a strong case against the suspects or that someone somewhere was trying to undermine the quality of the prosecution.

“The non-presentation of the bribe sum may weaken prosecution but it does not entirely stop prosecution since there is no contention over the giving and taking of the money. It is clear from all that has been said that money actually changed hands.

Malami told Vanguard

that although the prosecution did not need the bride money to start prosecuting the suspects, both the bribe-giver and the receivers must be prosecuted by the government.

“Under the Nigerian law, it is not fair to try Lawan and leave Otedola,” Malami said.

But a group, AntiCorruption Network, led by the former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye, has described the attempt by the government to shield Otedola from prosecution as unacceptable, saying that his group will mobilise

Nigerians to protest against what he called a ‘fallacious move’.

Melaye said, “the three men-Lawan, Otedola and Emenalo should be put on trial if the government has evidence that they breached the law and nothing else.”

He also kicked against the appointment of Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, as the government prosecutor, describing his choice as a conflict of interest, having defended the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and a senior head of the National Judicial Institute over corruption charges.

BUJA—FOURTEEN states have been identified as those to be ravaged by floods in the coming weeks. This was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Morohunkeji Oyeleke.

The states are Adamawa, Plateau, Sokoto, Jigawa, Borno and Gombe states. Others include Kebbi, Yobe, Taraba, Oyo, Zamfara and Kano states. Bauchi and Katsina were also listed among the forewarned flood prone states.

The Ministry listed Demsa, Numan, Jimeta, Mayo Belwa, Mubi and Song, in Adamawa State; and Langtang, Shelleng, Shandam and Wase in Plateau State.

Others are Gada, Goronyo and Shinkafi in Sokoto State; Gumel, Hadeija, Miga and Mallam Fatori in Jigawa State; as well as Bama, Briyel, Damasak, Dikwa, Geidam, Ngala, and Kukawa in Borno State.

She also listed Nafada in Gombe State; Anka, Bagudo, Birnin-Kebbi, Bungudu, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega and Kamba, all in Kebbi State.

Also listed among the flood prone areas were Gashua, Potiskum,

Dapchi, Kanama and Machina in Yobe State; and Bali, Gembu, Ibi, Lau, Wukari and Mutum Biyu in Taraba State.

Also to be affected are Apata, Bodija, Challenge, Moniya, Ojoo, Eruwa, Odo Ora, Ibadan and Oyo town, in Oyo State and Kaura, Maru, Gusau; and Namoda in Zamfara State.

Others are Gezawa, Gwarzo, Karaye, Wudil and Kano, all in Kano State; and Azare, Bajoga, Jamaare, Kari and Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State; and Bakori, Bindawa, Daura, Jibiya and Katsina and Funtua, all in Kastina State.

Oyeleke therefore called on governments of the affected states to take precautionary measures to avoid loss of lives and property.

The North Eastern part of the country is the most affected as all the states, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi- were all listed.

Kaduna State is the only state spared from the North West and Oyo State is the sole representative of the South West while Plateau that of the North Central.

Missing from the list is Lagos, a state that has suffered from flooding in recent years during the raining season.

Poor funding stalls audit of FG's account

BY SONI DANIEL

A

BUJA—SHRINKING allocations have stalled the auditing of accounts of the Federal Government for year 2011, even as corruption assumes a higher dimension in the country.

Investigation by Vanguard shows that with less than five months to the end of the 2012 financial year, auditors are yet to conclude the examination of the accounts of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government for 2011 and present same to the National Assembly, as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution.

The accounts of the Federal Government were last audited in 2009 and

submitted to the National Assembly in 2010.

Unconfirmed report indicated, however, that the 2010 annual report and accounts of the government had belatedly been forwarded last week to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, whose members are on vacation, thereby stalling deliberations on it. Informed sources told our correspondent that continuous underfunding of the operations of auditors had made it difficult for them to audit and produce their reports as and when due.

Findings revealed that in the last two years for instance, the allocations to the office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, which coordinates the

auditing of Federal Government’s accounts, have been dwindling for inexplicable reasons. For instance, the OAGF, which got N4,695, 167,505 in 2011, was given only N3,286, 607 in the current financial year.

The breakdown of the amount showed that the office had N2.9 billion for recurrent expenditure and N1.7 billion for capital projects in 2011 but the allocation was slashed to N2.6 billion for recurrent and N600 million for capital programmes in 2012.

But the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, declined to comment on the delay in auditing the government’s accounts. Although he initially requested for a formal letter as a condition

for granting an interview on the issue, he nevertheless declined to speak to our correspondent when the letter was submitted to his office last week, insisting that he was too busy.

But a source, who craves anonymity, claimed that the audit reports for the last two years were being prepared and would soon be presented to the National Assembly.

The source admitted that they had some challenges but did not name them. It was learnt that many of the MDAs had some ‘issues’ to sort out with the auditors deployed to them but that the frequent movement of permanent secretaries, who are the accounting officers, made it impossible for such ‘discrepancies’ to be sorted out on time.

Vanguard , MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—7

PHCN: Labour accuses FG of deploying soldiers ...threatens strike

BY VICTOR AHIUMA YOUNG

T

HE Federal Government has deployed soldiers to Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, installations in Lagos, which is already causing disquiet in the labour movement.

The armed soldiers' who were said to have been deployed between Thursday and Saturday, investigations revealed, were stationed at the installations under the Ikeja Distribution Company, such as Ikeja, Ikotun, Akowonjo and Ikorodu business units.

However, an unsigned statement by the Ministry of Power, yesterday said “the deployment of security personnel since last September to PHCN facilities was to assist police officers protect the assets worth billions of dollars and the people working there.

The Ministry of Power also said contrary to the argument of labour, no employee of PHCN contributed 25 percent of his or her salary to the superannuation fund.

According to the statement, “If there were contributions to the pension scheme by any PHCN personnel at all, they are not reflected in the books or bank accounts of the pension scheme. The trustees of the scheme are officials of the trade unions in the power sector and the PHCN

management, who are the sole signatories to the bank accounts.

'The Federal Government has never been involved in the management of the PHCN Pension Scheme.

In other words, if there is any case of fraud or misappropriation of funds, the workers should know those to be held responsible."

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and its allies are threatening nationwide strike over soldiers' takeover of the corporate headquarters of PHCN, and alleged refusal of government to settle pending labour issues ahead of planned privatization of PHCN. General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, told Vanguard that “when we talk about insincerity of the government, people think we do not know what we are saying. Soldiers takeover of PHCN corporate head office has generated tension and crisis in the sector for which labour may commence a nationwide strike in the days ahead.

"The Minister of Labour is calling for a meeting on Wednesday, between labour and government while at the same time the government through the Minister of Power on Saturday deployed more soldiers to take over of PHCN installations in Ikeja, Ikotun and Ikorodu business units.”

Over 200 electoral offenders prosecuted so far — Jega zSays INEC 'll review political parties registration

A

BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said yesterday that more than 200 electoral offenders have been prosecuted so far .

Jega who was speaking at a forum of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja also disclosed that the commission would continue to de-register political parties that failed to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act. The INEC boss said it was heart-warming that for the first time since elections began in Nigeria, INEC had been the only electoral body to have prosecuted

more than 200 electoral offenders in spite of the “tremendous delays on all sides".

He said INEC had made good its promise to prosecute electoral offenders, but admitted that it lacked the capacity to prosecute the plethora of electoral offenders, hence its call for the establishment of special courts to handle election offences.

Special courts to try electoral offenders He explained that the special courts would empower a separate body to handle prosecution of electoral offences while INEC focused on the

conduct and management of elections.

He expressed regret at the slow process of dispensation of justice in the country leading to large number of cases still pending before the various courts.

“The fact of the matter is that INEC does not have the capacity to prosecute all offenders successfully because of the magnitude of offences.

“There are many cases which are still pending in the courts, but a successful prosecution is predicated on INEC prosecution.

“Then the police must do the investigation and provide the necessary evidence, and the courts

JEGA VISITS NAN HEADQUARTERS— Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega (left) and Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Oluremi Oyo, going through a publication during Prof. Jega's visit to NAN headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

Terror attack: IG plans reorganization of police A

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

B U J A — APPARENTLY dissatisfied with the level of performance of Police officers anytime terrorists strike at their positions, the Inspector general of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has constituted a committee made up of the DIGs and AIGs at Force headquarters to carry out mass reorganization of the force.

The IGP has ordered AIGs, CPs, to send a comprehensive list of officers under their commands to Force Headquarters with immediate effect and Vanguard gathered that it is with a view to

ascertaining the performance of officers in crisis and troubled areas to combat insecurity challenges facing the nation.

Aside insecurity threats, the planned mass reorganization of the Nigeria Police will be used to checkmate corrupt tendencies and cases of human rights abuses, which though have reduced drastically still go on in some commands and stations, thereby making it difficult and slow in achieving the transformation policy of the Inspector General of Police.

Police sources told Vanguard that the IG’s

directive which has the support of the Police Service Commission will be accompanied with records of their performance from the former commands or zone where the officers served as well as indicate the rank of the officers, and how long they have stayed in the zone or command.

Disclosing that Police High Command was aware of several tricks by officers including lobbying, pretences of having medical problems leading to some making arrangements with private doctors for exemptions while some were promising cash to buy their escape from the reorganization,

Vanguard was told that the directive is a departure from what used to obtain in the past, as any police officer that is not included in the on-going compilation will be declared a ghost worker.

According to the source, because the IG is most disturbed, the Police boasts of some of the best trained officers in various sectors and branches of criminality, the fight against terrorism inclusive, and his men on ground who should know the nook and crannies of those areas are not able to stop these gunmen.

“In foreign lands or places where there are civil unrests and similar security challenges, Nigerian Police

officers have helped checkmate the challenges but the reverse is the case at home; it is this spirit and dexterity the IG wants officers to bring to bear in the fight against insecurity”.

Though the source acknowledged that there were shortcomings, with regards to logistics, equipment and motivation, he noted the determination of the IGP to address them, adding that it is the belief of the Police that it (shortcomings) should not be used as a smokescreen to allow unwarranted killings of policemen, innocent citizens and destruction of property.

should hasten the process of prosecution.”

On the de-registration of political parties, Jega said the commission was empowered by law to deregister political parties. He said “The Constitution and the Electoral Act gave INEC the power to deregister political parties and we have commenced that process and it is ongoing.

“So, until there is a change in the legislation, obviously, any political party that does not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act, we are obligated to de-register them.

“So, it is an ongoing process. It’s a continuous process and we will do it.

“I think there are very useful models of registration of political parties in other countries that we can learn from.”

Jega said the Commission was determined to review the process of registering political parties to ensure that they met certain conditions before they could field candidates for elective positions.

According to him, INEC has already proposed some recommendations for constitutional amendment to vary the process of registration, while maintaining multi-party system of democracy.

He said: “‘It is good to have a multi-party system and to allow as many parties as possible to register, but we really need to sanitise the process of registering political parties.

“This will ensure that only the most deserving in terms of their programmes, their constitution, and their physical presence in states and in localities that are registered.

“But being a registered political party does not necessarily mean that you must field candidates in all elections.

“It may be necessary for some parties to bid their time until they are ripe enough to field candidates at elections".

So, we think that’s the way to go rather than to limit the number of registered parties to just a few.”

Jega added that there were not less than three fresh applications for registration of new political parties.

8— Vanguard , MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

Lagos partners Ogun on 3 linkage roads

Gbadamosi, Akinola want better security for journalists

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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KORODU—LAGOS State Government has said it is in partnership with neighbouring Ogun State on plans to construct three major federal link roads that will cost N60 billion at the border communities, adding that work would soon commence on the N29 billion redevelopment of the Ketu-Ikorodu Road expansion project.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said this when he led other members of the State Executive Council at the Lagos East Senatorial District Town Hall meeting in Ikorodu, weekend, as part of activities marking 1,900 days in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

He explained that the administration was committed to a partnership with the Ogun State Government to rehabilitate three federal roads linking communities in the two states. They include Ikorodu–Sagamu Road, Akute-Ojodu/Berger road and Epe–Ijebu-Ode Road.

On Ketu-Ikorodu Road, Hamzat noted that the state was determined to create alternative road to Ikorodu given the heavy traffic on the axis as well as the increase in the number of residents.

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From left, Dr. Taofeek Folami, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Environment; Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, Special Adviser, Work and Infrastructure; Mr. Tunji Bello, Commissioner for the Environment; Mr. Lateef Raji, Special Adviser, Information & Strategy; Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, Commissioner for Science & Technology, at the presentation of the achievements of Governor Babatunde Fashola within 1,900 days in office, for the Lagos West Senatorial Zone, weekend, at Ikotun/Igando, Alimoso Local Government Area.

Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

I am innocent of LASTMA official's death, by banker

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—THE female banker, accused of crushing an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, to death last Friday, on Lekki/Ajah Expressway, has said she is innocent of the said offence.

The woman, Mrs. Yinka Johnson, a staff of a new generation bank, said it was an on-coming commercial vehicle that ran over the man, Hammed Balogun.

Mrs. Johnson, currently being detained at the State Criminal Investiga-

tion Department, SCID, Yaba, with her threemonth-old baby, expressed shock over what she termed a dramatic twist in the case.

Although she admitted to have driven against traffic, she posited that residents of Ikota Estate usually took the route because of the on-going construction on the road.

Mrs. Johnson, who spoke with Vanguard, said the LASTMA official who apprehended her was different from the one that was crushed to death.

She said: “I was discussing with one of the officials who stopped me for

driving against traffic when an on-coming vehicle crushed his colleague, a few metres from where I stood, thereby causing commotion.

“I did not kill the LASTMA official. It is only God that will vindicate me,” she said, pointing out that immediately she was accosted, a towing van was parked in front of her vehicle. “Tell me, how is it possible for me to hit somebody with a towing van right in front of me. I am innocent and should not be made to pay for a crime I did not commit. We should all remember that God will judge us

Man nabbed for impersonating US embassy staff

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—THE Special Fraud Unit, SFU, of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested a 37-year-old man, who allegedly specialised in swindling unsuspecting Nigerians intending to travel to the United States.

Recovered from the suspect, Obi Aniekwe, who

was accused of parading himself as a staff of the United States Embassy, were complementary cards describing him as the Senior System Analyst, Visa Section of the embassy.

He got into trouble after he allegedly swindled a lady of N4.9 million, with a promise to secure admission for her at Atlanta

University.

Parading the suspect before newsmen, weekend, the Unit boss, Mr Tunde Ogunsaki, said the suspect had been arrested earlier by the unit for similar offence with the case pending in court.

Explaining the circumstance that led to his arrest, Ogunsaki said the suspect allegedly hacked

Lagos vows to dislodge under-bridge squatters

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS—HARD times await those who live under flyovers in Lagos State as Governor Babatunde Fashola has vowed to reclaim all the lands from those he described as illegal squatters and miscreants in the state.

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This was coming as the governor said the Lagos new city, The Eko Atlantic, will only accommodate 250,000 residents and 150,000 commuters daily on completion.

Addressing Lagosians through the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, on his 1,900 days in office, Fashola said there was no going

back in his administration’s determination to reclaim all lands under the flyover bridges from those he described as “illegal squatters and miscreants,” to complement his ongoing ‘Greening Programme’ across the state which, he said, was geared towards improving the aesthetics of the environment.

into two foreign numbers: +19406031528 and +1940609866 which he reportedly claimed belonged to Atlanta University which were used to contact the female victim on two occasions.

He said: “In this case, he , with the connivance of one Obioma Agu of OBITEX Cosmetics Ventures and one Sam Ufomadu, duped the victim of N4.9 million for the purpose of securing admission into an American university and visa procurement between June and July 2012.

But the suspect claimed the female victim was his girlfriend, adding that his arrest was a frame-up by his girlfriend’s mother, following a difference he claimed to have had with her mother. He, however, admitted to having a pending case in court but refused to state what it was all about.

accordingly.”

Police operatives kept mute when approached

by Vanguard as they referred our correspondent to the command’s spokesman, Ngozi Braide, who was not forthcoming on the matter.

But an eye-witnesses, who reportedly took shots of the accident scene, claimed there was no dent on Mrs Johnson’s green Landrover Sport Utility Van with number-plate CY 276 LSD, neither was there blood stain on it.

LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Babatunde Edu, had last Friday, in a statement by his spokesman, Bola Ajao, said : “Balogun was this morning, Friday, killed by a banker on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway while carrying out his official assignment at his duty post at Mega City, Ajah.

“The driver, whose identity was revealed by the Auto Inspector device as Yinka Johnson, an employee of IBTC, drove in a green Landrover Jeep with number-plate CY 276 LSD against traffic from Mega Chicken inward toll plaza two.

“She was intercepted by three officials of LASTMA led by the Head of Operations, Mr. Quayum Asafa, for traffic violation.

Johnson started driving recklessly to escape and in the process ran over the officer. ''Realising what she had done, she ran and escaped from the scene of the incident into Ikota Estate, Ajah with the security men shutting the gate.''

Mrs Johnson, as gathered, would be charged to court today.

AGOS—PIONEER Chairman of Lawyers In The Media, LIM, a group under the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. G b o l a h a n Gbadamosi, yesterday, in Lagos, called for a better security and insurance cover for journalists in the country to guarantee better performance of their duties.

Gbadamosi, who had support from Mr. Richard Akinnola of the Centre For Free Speech, CFS, made the statement against the background of the donation of N1 million to the ailing journalist of the African Newspapers of Nigeria, ANN, Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Tunde Babajide, by Oyo State Governor, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi.

Babajide is suffering from prostrate cancer and is on admission at University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.

However, Gbadamosi wants better involvement of the African Union, AU, in journalists’ welfare issues.

He said: “Reporters Sans Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders) has arranged a global insurance for journalists, photographers and freelancers who are citizens of the European Union. Where is Africa Union, AU?

Experts canvass research on climate change impact

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—THE Interna tional Society for Energy and Environmental Development, ISEED, weekend, stressed the need to use research and development efforts within the energy and environment industries to combat climate change and other environmental impacts.

In a statement on the forthcoming congress of the society, scheduled for Lagos, ISEED President, Akinsola Cole, said the Electric Power Infrastructure Congress, EPIC -2012, in Nigeria, which is the premier conference and Exhibition, would focus on the theme: “Energy and Climate Change.”

Vanguard , MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 —9

Bisi Akande lacks respect for elders — Afenifere ...What legacy is ACN chairman leaving behind?

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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Ondo State Governor, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko (middle) with American televangelist, Dr. Mike Murdock (left) and Bishop Felix Adejumo at the Annual International Convention of Agape Christian Ministries,Inc., in Akure, weekend.

KURE—THE panYoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, weekend, defended its leaders on the allegation levelled at them by the National Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, describing it as regrettable.

General Secretary of the group, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, who spoke in

Insecurity: Alaafin orders Oyo residents to shun visitors

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—THE tradi tional Yoruba hospitality has suffered a major blow as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said, weekend, that he had sent his kingmakers, Oyomesi, to all towns and villages under his jurisdiction to educate farmers not to harbour foreigners owing to the insecurity in the country.

He said this in his palace during a courtesy visit by the Controller, Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Mr. Joseph Olaitan.

The monarch said: “We in Oyo have condemned child-trafficking and the employment of foreigners as housemaids because of the menace constituted to our people. Our people are either killed or had their belongings stolen, while the foreigners run away.''

He told the state immigration boss; “Before your arrival, I have ordered the ‘Oyomesi’ to go round the villages to educate the farmers not to harbour foreigners and I want to urge all the local government chairmen in the state to include security agents expenditure in their yearly budgets to be able to render quality assist-

ance to the various agencies.”

He noted that the old Oyo Empire which existed for over 600 years lasted long because it

maintained peace and security.

He promised to work with the Immigration Service to identify all illegal immigrants within his

Ibadan monarch, elders sent me to dislodge Akala from Govt House — Alli

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—A former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Mr. Sarafadeen Alli, weekend, revealed how Ibadan leaders and the traditional institution commissioned him and others to show the immediate past governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, out of Government House.

Alli said he had a project at hand and the project was that Akala must go. He dismissed the rumour that he went for personal and selfish gains.

He said: “Ibadan leaders, eminent personalities and our traditional institution came together and gave me and others the assignment. I am happy we are better for it today, not minding the position I hold in the government.

The ultimate aim was that Akala must go and God made it happen.”

Alli, who is now the Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited,

said he never abandoned former Oyo State governor, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, as being rumoured.

He said: “I left Ladoja for Ibadan agenda purely for the progress of the state as against rumours of selfish interest and personal gains.

Alli told journalists that it would have been better if Ladoja had allowed members of his camp then to join forces with other like-minds to make the fight easier and better victorious because they needed to get Akala out of office.

He said when all entreaties to make Ladoja see reason failed and coupled with the fact that the elders approached him based on his political standing and as a subject of Olubadan, he had no choice than to accept the offer to send Akala packing.

Alli saiud: “Ladoja is a fantastic man and very intelligent, but we needed to break away from the way we were doing things

Book on Obasanjo for launch

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BEOKUTA—EMI NENT Nigerians will gather at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, tomorrow, for the launch of ‘Olusegun Obasanjo: Passing the Torch’.

It is a new book on ex-

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domain.

Earlier, Olaitan acknowledged the monarch’s supportive role for his agency.

Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The book, written by Ambassador Albert Omotayo, Obasanjo’s former Secretary and Personal Assistant, chronicles the life and times of the former Presi-

dent, as well as his ideals and views.

The launch will attract legal scholars such as Professor Akintunde Obilade of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, and Prof.

Akin Mabogunje.

in the past and chart a positive way towards development.”

On the gains of such collaborative efforts against Akala, he said they still needed to cover more grounds in the state.

Akure, said Akande’s action “smacks of disrespect for elders, which is a core Yoruba culture.”

According to him, “the decision to support the second term bid of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State which drew the ire of Akande and his ilk was taken in the best interest of Yoruba and not because of inducement from any quarter.”

He, therefore, described Akande’s statement as regrettable and an insult to his elders.

Arogbofa said: “I do not expect Chief Akande, a former state governor and once a jolly good Afenifere brother, to have gone to town to call his senior brothers unprintable names.

“I expect that even if his public relations officer went out of his way to insult and be rude, he should have called him to order.”

The group, therefore, accused Akande of denigrating the leaders of the group by his statement on their support for Gov. Mimiko second-term ambition.

He said: “One wonders

why an elderly man like him should always resort to venom and bitterness in times of crisis, especially at this late hours of his life.

“We wonder what legacy he is leaving behind and what time he has left to redeem himself and have a change of heart.

“Where is the Omoluabi thing they profess they are, when they go out of their way to pour abuses and insults on their elders and impugn the integrity of their superiors?

“In so far as those of us in core Afenifere are concerned, our voice cannot be bought. Our stand cannot be compromised or negotiated. We are on the side of history and are mindful of tomorrow and aware that the hostility of today can tomorrow give way to mutual understanding.

“How can someone in his right mind say that Chiefs Fasoranti, O. Ajayi, Ayo Adebanjo and Olu Falae, are political jobbers and beggars and that we took money from Mimiko before we supported his second term bid?

Mimiko group tackles PDP candidate, Oke

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KURE—THE Dr. Olusegun Mimiko Campaign Organisation, yesterday, reacted to remarks credited to the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Olusola Oke, at a rally in Akure, where he described the numerous projects of the Governor Mimiko administration as mega nonsense and cosmetic.

In a statement, its Director, Media and Publicity, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, said: “Mr. Oke is igno-

rant of the achievements of the Mimiko administration because Ondo State in the last three and a half years had become a cynosure of eyes, a must-copy state, worthy of emulation by all, one which has attracted accolades from far and wide for Nigeria and Africa in all spheres of life; be it health, education, urban development.

“We want to challenge Olusola Oke to point to any visible thing that his party left as a legacy for the people of the state fol-

lowing six years of its lacklustre tenure in office from 2003 to 2009. Is it not a shame on Oke that the Democracy Park in which he had his so-called rally was built by Gov. Mimiko as part of what he termed “mega-nonsense”? What an irony? He deserves to cover his face in shame.

“From all over the world, including top echelons of PDP, there had been accolades and awards for Gov. Mimiko for taking Ondo State to a height hitherto unimagined.''

Ondo youths rush to submit CVs to Akeredolu

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KURE—LESS than three weeks after Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, promised to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office, no fewer than 10,000 unemployed youths have submitted their CVs in various wards across the state.

Findings showed that a good number of them were from Akure, Ondo, Okitipupa, Owo, Ikare and other major towns and

cities.

A statement by Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Akeredolu Campaign Organisation, recalled that Akeredolu made the promise during his campaign tour of the wards of Akoko SouthWest, where he said he believed that the state had the capacity to achieve this because its economy was bigger than that of Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states put together.

He expressed his com-

mitment to utilise the resources of the state prudently and for the betterment of the people.

Akeredolu had directed the youths to continue to submit their CVs at the wards or local government area offices of ACN nearest to them for transmission to his office in Akure.

He, however, advised the people of the state not to sell their voter cards as they are their weapon to empower themselves in the forthcoming governorship election.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

Lawyers set to battle Police over Ugolor’s detention

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—NO fewer than 10 lawyers have expressed their desire to battle with the Nigeria Police over the continued detention of Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor.

Lead counsel to Ugolor, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, said they had filed a fundamental human right enforcement suit on behalf of Ugolor, who was arrested three weeks ago by the police in connection with the killing of the

Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde.

Afolabi said hearing on the suit had been adjourned till August 14, 2012.

He said Ugolor was asking for bail and challenging his continued detention by the police.

He added that all the respondents in the suit had been served. ANEEJ in a statement by its Information Officer, Mr Innocent Edemhanria, said: “Several lawyers have volunteered their services for Ugolor ahead of the Tuesday hearing.”

Uduaghan lauds Amori at 60

BY FESTUS AHON BIRTHDAY: From left: Chief Ighoyota Amori; Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) and his wife, Nelly, during Amori's 60th birthday celebration at Mosogar yesterday.

Teenage mother abandons baby in church zAs Police nab 4 over alleged theft of cow

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—AN uni dentified teenage mother has dumped her new-born baby girl in a church, leaving a note behind in which she pleaded with the priest to assume full custody of the child as well as her upkeep as she would return at “the appropriate time” to claim the baby.

The incident occurred, weekend, in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

An eyewitness told our reporter that parishioners at Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church, Ibusa, were shocked to find the new born baby girl at the front of the church when they went for early morning mass.

The witness, one of the parishioners, who pleaded anonymity, said: “My brother, it was a big shock. The mother of the baby even wrote a note to the parish priest, saying that he should name

the child Ogechi, and promised to come for her at the appropriate time.”

Meantime, four young boys have been arrested in Asaba for allegedly stealing a cow.

The boys were appre-

NAFDAC proposes life jail for drug offenders

BY TONY NYONG

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HE National Agen cy for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, is about to review the current laws bordering on the use of counterfeit drugs and other related products in the country to ensure life imprisonment is henceforth spelt out

for drug offenders.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, stated this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at a one-day sensitisation workshop for NAFDAC shareholders under the theme: Adulterated and Substandard Regulated Products: A Fight for All. Dr. Orhii, represented by the state Director of the agency, Mr Francis Ifem,

Hoteliers in Edo kick against govt's He berated the state tax policy government on the alBY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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E N I N — H O LT E LIERS in Edo State, weekend, in Benin, blamed the sharp drop in business on the state government's tax policy.

Chairman of Edo State Association of Hotels Proprietors, Mr. Roland Osunde, who spoke with journalists on the situation, said the situation had been compounded by the

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hended by members of the local vigilante, weekend, at a hideout while attempting to haul the cow into a vehicle and were promptly handed over to the police at the ‘A’ Division Asaba.

Value Added Tax, VAT, adding that without consultation, the state government had imposed 17 different levies on them.

Noting that attempts by Lagos State Government to introduce a similar tax law failed, he said the Edo State chapter of the association was before a Federal High Court in Benin on the matter, adding that hearing had been adjourned till October 17, 2012.

leged double taxation, suggesting that the government should have come up with development fund which every hotelier would have gladly contributed to.

He said: “I want to state that besides the state tax, there are no fewer than 17 different levies we are made to pay. Hoteliers would be happy to raise funds for the state for specific capital projects rather making it a statutory tax law."

said the agency was reviewing the law which stipulates a fine of N500,000 or 15 years jail term upon conviction of any offender.

He said: “The agency is reviewing the current law which stipulates a fine of N500,000 or 15 years jail term upon conviction, to make our laws serve as deterrent and be in line with international requirements for the regulation of food, drugs and other related products.”

The new law, according to him, seeks life jail term and confiscation of assets upon conviction including the compensation of victims if products are found to be the proximate cause of death or severe injury on the victim.

The DG stressed that NAFDAC is committed to ensuring that any offence committed by drug dealers, who are in the habit of selling counterfeit drugs, will not be bailable upon conviction.

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GHELLI—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, extolled the qualities of his Senior Political Adviser, Chief Ighoyota Amori, describing him as one of the pillars of politics in the state.

Uduaghan, at an open air service to mark the 60th birthday celebration of Chief Amori at his country home, Mosogar, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, noted that the Senior Political Adviser had contributed in no small way to the development of the state.

Represented by his

deputy, Prof Amos Utuama, the governor said the legacies of the state government could not be divorced from the contributions of Chief Amori “as a political mobilizer.”

Noting that Chief Amori has served his people creditably, he maintained that Amori has turned the otherwise rural Mosogar community into an urban centre.

Speaking to newsmen moments after, Chief Amori thanked God for His goodness upon his life and his family, saying; “I am particularly grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the development of Delta State and Mosogar community.”

Falling IGR irks Dickson

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ENAGOA—WOR RIED by the dwindling Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, in Bayelsa State, the state governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, has set up a revenue committee to find out what was responsible for the trend with a view to improving on same.

Inaugurating the nine-

man committee of enquiry in Yenagoa, the state capital, yesterday, Governor Dickson noted with displeasure that the state's IGR had reduced from N250million to N100million monthly.

He said it was unacceptable for the state to rely mainly on federal allocation and that the situation calls for drastic measures to increase the IGR.

Aginighan condoles with Ayomike, Uduaghan families

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ORMER Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Pastor Power Aginighan, has condoled with the family of the late Rebecca Ayomike.

Aginighan, in a condolence message during his visit to head of the family, Chief J. Ayomike, in Warri, commiserate with the Ayomike and Uduaghan families on the call

to eternal glory of their sister, Madam Ayomike, who died at 81.

He said: “While we mourn the exit of a great mother, we are comforted, from the humble and very well-mannered life style of her children, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan and Mr. Amaju Pinick, that Madam Ayomike was a God fearing mother, who raised her children in fear, nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 —11

DELSU gets 95.3% NUC accreditation of programmes

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BOOKLAUNCH: From left: Author of Bumps of Life: An African Tale, Mrs. Ugochi Oshai; Executive Director, Human Resources Globacom, Mr. Adewale Sangowawa; Mrs. Uto Ukpannah and her husband, Mr. Anieka Ukpannah, at the launch of Bumps of Life: An African Tale, in Lagos, weekend.

Man surrenders to police after kidnapping, burying prophetess alive

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—A 27-yearold man, who allegedly took part in the kidnap of a prophetess after which the woman was buried alive in his compound, has surrendered to the police eight months after the dastardly act. The suspect complained that the spirit of the prophetess was tormenting him.

Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the development, told our reporter in Asaba, yesterday: “It was a case of kidnap and murder of a woman fully dressed in a white garment church attire, which was committed on December 30, 2011 but the suspect surrendered self to police.”

Muka said that following the confession of the suspect, another suspect was arrested while efforts were on to exhume the

body of the woman.

He said: “An unidentified woman said to be from Uzere and dressed in white garment church attire was kidnapped at Ughelli and taken to the house of one Emma, male, 27 years old, who is the first suspect, from Owahawa, Ughelli South Local Government Area.

“The suspect surrendered himself to the police because his soul was troubled and confessed burying the victim alive in his compound when she became weak. His confession led to the arrest of another suspect.

Detectives have also identified the spot where she was buried alive and

Crisis brews between Delta, Ondo communities

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—ETHNIC crisis is looming between the people of Molume, an Itsekiri boundary community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State and Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.

Molume community in separate petitions its counsel, Mr. D. Anomuoghanran, had drawn the attention of

the Inspector General of Police, IG, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar; Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, to the impending crisis.

They alleged that suspected militants sponsored by an Ondo State agency, monarch and individuals in Ilaje council, invaded Molume and destroyed a building project and materials for

Police in Edo arrest bank cashier over According to police NUT chairman's murder sources in Benin, the arBY GABRIEL

ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—A MALE cashier (name withheld) with an old generation bank in Uromi, Edo State, has been arrested by the Police in connection with the killing of chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state, Mr.

the corpse would be exhumed when relations of victim are identified. We hereby call on members of the public, whose missing person depicts the description, to report to police area command Warri, while we are making effort to arrest others involved in the crime.”

Daniel Akhibi.

Akhibi was allegedly shot dead by a six-man armed gang, which was said to have trailed him to his house in Afuda village, Uromi, in an un-numbered car.

According to the younger brother of the deceased, Kenneth, the hoodlums later made away with the late NUT Chairman’s SUV and handsets.

rest of the Cashier was sequel to a debit alert of N20,000 recorded on his (Akhibi) mobile phone, which the police recovered a day after he was killed. The alert was said to have aroused suspicion of the Police, which swung into action at the bank and arrested the Cashier, who was suspected to have made the withdrawal from the late NUT chairman’s account.

three housing units being constructed by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. It was gathered that the contract for the three housing units in Molume was awarded by DESPDAC to Ogheren Enterprises Limited, to assist the community rebuild the houses that were burnt during the Itsekiri/Ijaw crisis.

Similarly, chairman of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, J. Ayomike, in a letter to the Attorney General of Delta State, said: “Ondo State authorities have crossed into Warri North, particularly Molume, to arrest workers at a building site.”

A R R I — D E LTA State University, DELSU, Abraka, has made a major break-through in the accreditation of its programmes as Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, has scored the institution 95.3 per cent in the exercise for accreditation of programmes carried out in March/April 2012.

Vanguard gathered that the 95.3 per cent accreditation score of DELSU was obtained from full accreditation in 40 degree programmes in Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Physiology, Pharmacology, Basic Medical Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Industrial Mathematics, Mathematics, Microbiology, Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife, Music, Thea-

tre Arts, Linguistics, French, English and Literary Studies, Agricultural Science Education, Biology Education, Business Education, Chemistry Education, Computer Science Education, Economics Education, Geography Education, Health Education, Home Economics Education, Integrated Science, Mathematics Education, Physical Health Education, Physics Education, Political Science Education, Social Studies Education, Technical Education, English Education, Fine Arts Education, French Education, History Education, Music Education, Religious Studies Education, Nursery and Primary Education, and interim status earned in one programme, Physics Education.

Delta 2015: We'll support only credible guber candidate — UPM

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—NA TIONAL Chairman of Urhobo Political Movement, UPM, Chief Ominimin Obuivwevbi, weekend, said the group would support any credible governorship candidate in 2015 irrespective of his tribe and political party affiliation.

Obuivwevbi, who hosted some prominent Urhobo politicians to a breakfast meeting at his Ughelli residence, charged the people of Urhobo ethnic nationality to build bridges across

the three senatorial districts in their quest to take their rightful place in the polity of the state.

He noted that as the most populous ethnic group in the state, the Urhobo nation would not play second fiddle in 2015 governorship election, adding: “We will either produce the governor or play the role of a king maker.”

Decrying that the Urhobo were reduced to nothing at the national and state levels, he insisted that the same scenario would not play itself out in 2015.

12 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

Tension in Enugu community over choice of monarch

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Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State receiving an award of Excellence from the Leader of Abia indigenes in USA after a town-hall meeting with them in Houston, Texas, USA.

S-East women threaten action against rapists

BY VINCENT UJU-

A

MADU

WKA—SOUTH East women group under the aegis of Umuada Igbo Nigeria, UIN, a non-governmental organisation, NGO,

said weekend, that it had taken up the four alleged rape cases in the South East and the celebrated case of mass rape of women in their 70s and 80s in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The group said it would take the cases to court to ensure the victims got justice.

President of UIN, Mrs. Kate Ezeofor, who spoke at a sensitisation programme at Umunachi in

LG funds: ALGON denies accusing Enugu govt of illegal deductions

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—CHAIR MEN of Local Government Areas in Enugu State, have dismissed media report insinuating that they have accused the state government of deducting their monthly allocations illegally, saying the publication was “a complete fabrication by the author to possibly serve his selfish political interest.”

In a statement by Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Enugu State chapter through its Public Relations Officer, Dr.

Godwin Abonyi, who is also Chairman of Udenu Local Government, noted that Enugu remained the only state since 2007 when Governor Sullivan Chime came to power where true federalism had been practised.

ALGON stated that councils in the state had been enjoying full financial autonomy without any interference by the state government, stressing that in strict adherence to the principle of separation of powers, Governor Chime had ensured that local govern-

ment elections were held on schedule in 2007, 2009 and 2011 respectively.

“Indeed all the recent clamour for constitutional amendment exercise as it affects Local Governments is like taking the rest of the country to where Enugu State has been since 2007.

The level of infrastructural development in the various council areas in Enugu State will bear practical testimony to this and these are easily verifiable,” the statement added.

Dunukofia Local Government Area and Awka, the state capital, said the cases were the rape of a five-year-old girl by a 45year-old man, the rape of two sisters by a 41year-old man,the rape of an eight-year-old girl by a 46- year-old man and the Opi Nsukka mass rape allegedly carried out by young men in the area.

According to Ezeofor, the case of the eightyear-old girl, who was raped by a 46-year-old man, was particularly pathetic because she was presently walking on clutches due to lack of funds for proper treatment.

The UIN President lamented that cases of rape were on the increase, describing it as the worst form of female abuse.

She regretted that the victims were often reluctant to report the cases to the police because of the stigma associated with it and the fear of being harmed by the rapists, while others accepted gratifications to keep the matter secret.

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—TENSION is mounting at Amangwu, Obuofia, Awkunanaw in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, over alleged move to install a new traditional ruler for the community.

It is being alleged that an influential native of the community is planning to impose a particular candidate against the popular choice of the people.

Concerned individuals and groups in the community including the secretary of the town union Mr. Sunday Ugwu, who briefed

newsmen on the development in Enugu accused a former Accountant-General of the State Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa of fueling the crisis in the community.

But when contacted, Ohaa dismissed the allegation as false describing it as mere fabrications by people looking for relevance and are hungry for power.

The town union secretary explained that the traditional stool was declared vacant and nomination called for in line with the constitution of the community which henotedprescribesaminimumof secondary school certificate as qualification for the traditional stool.

Sexual harassment: Ebonyi threatens to sanction lecturers

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI— EBONYI State Government, weekend, called on the management of Ebonyi State University, EBSU, to dismiss or prosecute any lecturer found guilty of sexually harassing students of the institution.

At a briefing, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Chike Onwe said that such measure would enhance discipline in the institution

as well as serve as deterrent to lecturers who would like to engage in such illicit act.

Chike who noted that the university community was not a place for immorality but for human capacity development, stressed that the state government would no longer tolerate acts of exploitation including illegal sales of handouts, absenteeism and other sharp practices a m o n g staff of the university.

Minister commissions Methodist hospital in Abia

BY AKOMACHINWEOKE

U

M UA H I A — M I N ISTERofHealth,Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the Federal Government was determinedtoprovideeffectiveandaffordablemedical-caretothe rural p o p u l a c e .

The minister, said this in Ugwueke, Bende LocalGovernment Area of Abia State, at the commissioning of Royal Cross Methodist Hospital, an ultramodernmaternitywardbuilt,and equipped by Mr. Johnson Chukwu, a philanthropist.

He appealed to public-spirited Nigerianstocomplementgovernments' efforts to make quality health-care accessible to the grassroots.

The hospital donor, Mr.

Chukwu lamented that 80 per cent of the patients trek from EbonyiState toUgwueke,inAbia State,wherethehospitalislocated formedicalcare.

He said: “We appeal to Governor Theodore Orji to come to the aid of the people through rehabilitation of our road for easy accessibility to the patients. Women in labour come to the hospital on motorcycles. This affects them adversely.

“We hope that government would help to tar the seven kilometres of road.

Speaking, the prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, thanked Gov Orji forpayingthesalariesofthreedoctors sent to the hospital and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, whodonatedN500,000.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 — 13

AGM: From left: Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, MD/CEO, Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, Chairman and Mr. Yomi Adebanjo, Company Secretary, at the 13th Annual General Meeeting of Fidson Healthcare Plc in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Acting General Manager, Classic Beverages Total Impact, Mr. Gary Carlton (left) and top prize winner, Apple Story, Mr. Adesola Ogunmuyiwa, at the presentation of prizes to winners in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Suspected cultist stabs friend to death in Warri

BY EMMAAMAIZE &

AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE

W

ARRI—A student of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo State (names withheld), suspected to be a cult member, has stabbed a 300-level student of the Department of Business Education, Delta State University, Abraka, Solomon Onyeoghani, 24, to death in Warri.

The 29-year-old suspected cultist allegedly killed his friend with a broken bottle on suspicion that he stole his internet modern and went into hiding after the theft.

The sad incident occurred at a house on Osamede Street, Okumagba Avenue, Warri, Delta State, weekend.

Source said the suspect laid siege to Solomon’s house and pounced on him, while he was heading to his mother’s shop.

It was gathered that Solomon took to his heels on sighting the suspect, but the suspect chased and stabbed him severally on the neck and other parts of the body.

Sympathisers were said

to have rushed the victim to the hospital, who was abandoned in a pool of blood, to a nearby clinic, but he gave up the ghost before help could come.

At the residence of the victim’s parents, yesterday, his mother was seen weeping while were sympathisers consoling her.

She called on government to bring the killer of her son to book.

Her husband, Mr. Augustine Onyeoghani and the only surviving daughter bore a look of melancholy.

Mr. Onyeoghani said: “The problem started on Tuesday when my son told me what happened. I went to Chukwuka’s father to tell him because we are neighbours and we come from

the same local government (Ika North East). The father promised to call his son to order. I personally called him (Chukwuka) on phone and he told me that he was not around. When he eventually came on Friday, he came to my house and the only thing he came to tell me was that he was going to kill my son. This happened around 4:30pm.”

Boko Haram 're hired external militants —Muoboghare

BY GODWIN OGHRE

E

FFURUN—DELTA State Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, has said Boko Haram insurgents are not Nigerians but hired external militants from neighboring countries to disrupt the present government of Nigeria.

Prof Muoboghare spoke, yesterday, at the silver jubilee anniversary of Retired Army, Navy and Air-Force Officers Club of Nigeria, RANAO, in Effrun Army Barracks, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Muoboghare who deliv-

ered a lecture, entitled, ‘’Nigeria Security Challenges, The Way Forward,” at the ceremony noted that “it is not the culture of Nigerians to kill themselves, Nigerians are not known to be suicide bombers, the average Nigerian man is afraid of death and loves his family members and friends and cannot plan to kill them or himself. The people that are planting bombs in parts of the North are not Nigerians. Those who strap explosive devises around their waist are not Nigerians they are external miscenaries hired into this country by selfish politi-

cians who want to disrupt the government of the day.”

The commissioner chided government attitude of harming, maiming and shooting of the youths in Niger Delta region who have mastered the technique of refining petroleum products and argued that the youths needed to be encouraged rather than been killed. According to him, if the youths were encourage, the importation of petroleum products would be halted and the country could have access to its own refinedpetroleumproductsandthe youths would be gainfully employed.

RCCG ordains 715 pastors as convention ends

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

L

AGOS—ACTIVITIES marking the annual convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, which also marked the 60th anniversary of the church, came to a close yesterday with the ordination of 715 full pastors by the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.

The farewell service which crowned the col-

C M Y K

ourful one week long event at the expansive Holy Ghost Arena, began at about 8.30 a.m. with the procession of the male and female candidates who had been adequately drilled and groomed by the church authorities for the past three days in preparation for the ordination.

The new pastors in addition to the over 2,000 assistant pastors and the over 7,000 deacons and deaconesses earlier or-

dained during the convention are expected to assist the General Overseer in the task of administering the church and taking it to all the nations of the world.

After the ordination, a senior pastor of the church, in apparent reference to recent calls on the General Overseer on attainment of the age of 70 years last March to retire, advised the congregation to be mindful of their statements, say-

ing that the emergence of Pastor Adeboye as the General Overseer of the church was divine.

One of the special assistants to the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor D.A. Ilori cleared the air by telling the congregation that Pastor Adeboye could not retire from the position of the General Overseer of the church yet, as the position was not political but a divine one.

Achebe preaches peace as Things Fall Apart goes Persian

BY UDUMA KALU

A

S THE classic novel Things Fall Apart is being translated into Persian

by Ali Hodavand and released in Iran,thenovelistChinuaAchebe, has called for religious harmony across Nigeria and other parts of the globe.

With this translation, Things Fall Apart has now been translated into nearly 60 world languages.

Achebe said this feat is “a wonderful blessing and I am deeply, deeply, grateful. So, the fact that readers in Iran can also read my work is very important to me.”

Speaking with an Iran magazine Hatef Weekly Magazine, on the translation, Nigeria and his new book, Biafra: There was a Country, Achebe said the DialogueofCivilizationsproposedby former Iranian President

Mohammad Khatami should bring together representatives of all of people across the globe to Tehran in an environment of freedom of creative, intellectual, cultural and religious expression.

Achebe said, “Peaceful co-existence between all racial and religious groups is my sincere wish formankind.Aftertheancientcivilizations of Africa, there are no peoples older than those that inhabit what the British first called ‘theMiddleEast’.Thegreatworld religions come from this part of the world. Islam and Judaism are considered Abrahamic religions because they are believed to descend from God through Abraham. We would not have ChristianitywithoutJudaismand the Jewish people. The three religions share many values and tenets and beliefs. There are parts of the Quran that integrate Jewish history.”

INEC releases Oguta supplementary election result

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE Inde pendent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the result of the supplementary election it conducted weekend for the Oguta state constituency seat.

According to a release by the Head, Public Affairs, INEC State Office, Owerri, Mr. Chinedu Onyeji, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Chief Eugene Dibiagwu, scored a total of 15,338 votes to win the day.

According to Onyeji, “Mr. Walter Ikechukwu

Uzonwanne of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, scored a distant 3,401 to place second, while Mr. Henry Igbomezie of Action Congress of Nigeria scored 2,520 to come third”.

Part of Onyeji’s statement reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission wishes to inform the public that the court ordered supplementary election into the Oguta state House of Assembly constituency has been concluded and the PDP candidate returned, having scored a total of 15,338 votes”

Koko community gets new chair

K

OKO—THE Koko Human Resources Development CouncilandentireKokocommunityofWarriNorthLocalGovernment Area of Delta State, have endorsed Mr VictorBuwaasthe substantive chairman of the Development Council.

MrBuwa,whowasformerlythe Vice-Chairmanofcouncilwaselevated following the indefinite suspension of the chairman, Mr. Olu Frank by the leadership of

the Council over alleged abuse of office and high handedness.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the community, David Atie and 58 others, alleged that the former chairman breachedtheconstitutiongoverning the council.

The statement pointed out that “the purpose of any leadership is to unite our people and ensure that the growth of the communityisparamountdespiteourpersonal interest."

14Vanguard , MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

El-Rufai peddling falsehood— Okupe

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BRIEFING: From left— Mr. Edem Vindah, Media & Public Affairs Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Rebecca Gebler, Event Manager, AAF/Lagos Photo; Mr. Azu Nwagbogu, Director/Curator, African Artists' Foundation; Mr. Joseph Gergel, Project Cordinator/Co-Curator, Lagos Photo, and Mr. Vivian Ikem, CSR/Sustainability, NB, at the briefing on the 5th NB/AAF National Arts Competition in Lagos.

Katsina discovers 9,000 ghost workers

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA—GOVERNOR Ibrahim Shema of Kastina State has said his government discovered 9,000 ghost workers on the payroll of the state.

Shema, who addressed stakeholders in Abuja, promised that his administration will do everything possible to stamp out the ghost workers syndrome in the state.

He explained that be-

fore the implementation of the payment of N18,000 minimum wage, his administration embarked on the biometric capturing of the civil servants in the state.

The biometric capturing exercise, according to him, was conducted by the state government in collaboration with the state chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, as well as a consultant, which led to the discovery of 9,000 ghost workers.

Int'l Youth Day: Jonathan tasked on Nigerian youths

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

A

S Nigeria, yesterday, joined the world to celebrate the United Nations International Youth Day, President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to pay more attention to the plight of the Nigerian youths with a view to forming a synergy towards ensuring a better nation for them.

At an event to commemorate the day in Lagos, President of Youth Development and Empowerment Foundation, YODEF, Mr. Uche

Udungwor, called on government at all levels to create an enabling environment that would aid the development of youths in the country.

Udungwor said: “If the society can put in place legal framework that would affect issues plaguing the youths, it would help in advancing their cause.”

He said series of memoranda presented to the government by Nigerian youths with a view to making the country better were yet to be implemented.

BUJA—THE war of words between the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir elRufai, escalated Okupe, yesterday, said: “All the fallacies, deceits, misinformation and disinformation about incompetence and non-per-

formance of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s admiration as alleged by ElRufai were unfounded, not supported by facts on ground and are, therefore, outright falsehood.”

In a statement by Mr. Olusanya Awosan, Media Director to the SSA, he noted that the call for concerted efforts to face the challenges confronting the nation does not amount to “out-sourcing governance” or “begging

Mark, ACN fight over Senate Minority Leader

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—SENATE President, Senator David Mark, yesterday, urged Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to put its house in order and restrain itself from what he termed name-calling.

Mark distanced himself from alleged plot to remove the Senate Minority Leader, Senate George Akume from office and warned ACN not to create disaffection in the “one united Senate family of very committed statesmen and women with its parochial and narrow-minded views.”

Meanwhile, ACN has passed a vote of confidence on Senator Akume, describing the phantom plot to replace him as Minority Leader as the handiwork of some reactionaryandanti-democratic forces in the Senate.”

ACN, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed satisfaction with the manner Senator Akume has so far discharged his responsibility as the Senate Minority Leader.

He said the choice of the

Minority Senate Leader was the sole and exclusive preserve of the leadership of ACN, as no amount of horse-trading, intrigue or blackmail can change that.

The party absolved its member in the Senate of involvement in the plot to remove him and bla-med the leadership of the Senate, which it said would rather prefer a more pliable and easily compromised Minority Leader to Akume.

However, Mark in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, described the allegation as crude and shocking. He said as a Senator elected on the platform Peoples Demo-

cratic Party, PDP, he does not attend the meetings of minority parties.

He said: “I am not a member of the minority parties.

I do not attend the meetings of the minority parties.

How then do I get involved in the plot to remove the minority leader “Election or nomination of officers of the party in the National Assembly is the exclusive preserve of the political parties. How then would a non-party member get involved?

“ACN or its megaphone, Lai Mohammed, should do something more positive and progressive rather than the consistent mudslinging and lies to mislead Nigerians.”

PAP advocates economic integration

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT of the Pan African Parliament, PAP, Mr. Bethel Amadi, has said the economic integration of Africa will emancipate the continent as just two percent in-

tra-trade among Africans could generate as much as $200 billion annually.

Amadi said: “We are doing everything within our powers to ensure that Africa as a continent is integrated economically as this will have a spiral effect on the economies of the 54

countries in the continent.

“Once we make available a blueprint of the proposed economic integration of the continent to the Assembly of Heads of States and an approval is given, we will set the ball rolling to better the lot of Africans.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

the opposition for ideas.”

He said: “It is clear that with the prolonged existence of the fundamental factors of our current challenges, these challenges cannot be resolved by any ‘microwave’ approach but rather by painstaking analyses, robust planning and precise execution of policies and programmes, all of which this administration has been dutifully engaged in and which positive results are gradually manifesting.

“It is unfortunate that Dr. Okupe’s call for unified disposition in the face of present challenges has been misconstrued by the ‘patriot’ Mallam El Rufai and presented as ‘outsourcing governance’ or ‘begging the opposition for ideas’.

“The fact is in times of national challenges in any fully integrated society, the elite class does spontaneously come together, in a non-partisan manner, to address such issues of national importance.

“We sympathise with Mallam El-Rufai, because he is obviously constrained and motivated by the prevailing, fractionalised elite structure in our country; hence his unfortunate misinterpretation of Dr. Okupe’s patriotic call to national duty.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

What's your take on 2012 budget implementation?

W

E can’t really say implementation is poor since it has been the norm in the society. They are following the steps of their predecessors. So it is not surprising because it is what we have been passing through over the years.— Mrs. Adeola Olanrewaju, Educationist.

T

HE truth of the mat ter is that there is no truth on the issue of implementation of the budget. Thank God that the reality is on ground now. What transpired in recent times is actually putting a light to their claims all this while. Now we know the truth.—Mr. Daniel Onwe, Lawyer.

R

EALLY, this is not the first time that there has been poor implementation of budget.

You know, if the Federal Government of Nigeria will take a clue from Lagos State, we would not be debating whether or not the budget has been well implemented.—Mr. Kuye Olugbenga, Accountant.

P

OOR implementa tion is not new to us.

We are used to poor implementation of budgets. I like how the National Assembly has stood their ground on this issue. It is a good thing for us. It is a good beginning for us. Let us see where it will take us.—Mr. Uche Ekugun.

A

S it is, I think there is need to go fur ther in ensuring full implementation of the 2012 budget, at least to have a grasp of the intention behind the law. There is further need to carry out an intensive, full and comprehensive implementation.—Mr. Bada Oladipupo, Lawyer.

I

think members of the National Assembly want to enrich themselves. They want the budget money released so they can do what they want with the money. They should listen to the Executive for the welfare of this country. I am advocating selfless service.—Mr. Vitus Nwanafio, Engineer.

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—15

NCPC considers monitoring index for pilgrims

DAY 23: Seeking the ‘Night of Majesty’

BY BABATUNDE JIMOH

T

E

XECUTIVE Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Mr. John Opara, has said that the Commission will soon introduce a Monitoring Index Mechanism for pilgrims.

Speaking in Abuja, when he received the newly-inaugurated board members of Benue State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board, he said that pilgrimages should be for spiritual and moral transformation.

Opara explained that time has come when the life styles and conduct of those who performed pilgrimage exercise should serve as a testimony to others.

He argued that such transformation in characters of those who performed pilgrimage will encourage government to sponsor more intending pilgrims and encourage individuals to aspire to go on holy pilgrimage.

He told the delegation that the theme of this year’s pilgrimage is Pilgrimage as a tool for moral and Spiritual Transformation.

19TH SYNOD: From left— Rt. Rev. Jacob Kwashi, Bishop of Zonkwa Anglican Diocese; Rt. Rev. Samuel Ogundeji, Bishop of Egba; Rt. Rev. Jonathan Bamaiyi, Bishop of Katsina, and Rt. Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Diocesan Bishop of Kaduna, at the Diocese of Kaduna First Session of the Nineteenth Synod Thanksgiving Service at St. Christopher's Church, Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi.

Police, Army deny manhandling Kogi church attack suspects z14 more suspects, 2 ex-council bosses arrested

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

L

OKOJA—KOGI State Police Command and Military authorities in the state have denied allegations that their men brutalised suspects in the killing of 20 Deeper Life Bible Church members and two of the soldiers deployed to the area.

State Police Com-

mand’s spokesperson, Mr. Simon Ile, confirmed the arrest of 16 more suspects in connection with the killings, among them two former chairmen of Okene Local Government Area. He said the police and military were only screening the suspects to ascertain their level of involvement in the killings.

He said none of the

Doctor arrested for allegedly removing patient's kidneys

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—POLICE in Bauchi State have arrested a medical doctor, who allegedly removed the kidneys of a patient in a private hos-

pital in the state.

Dr. Sani, the proprietor of Aminchi Clinic in Yakubu Wanka, Bauchi, was alleged to have removed the two kidneys of one Abubakar Buba from Bununu, who is cur-

Benue civil society groups vow to expose ‘bad’ 2015 hopefuls

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—CIVIL society groups in Benue State, under the aegis of G10, have vowed to expose to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, all past fraudulent dealings by those canvassing to run for elective positions in the state come 2015.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday, after a breakfast meeting in Makurdi, President of the Group and convener of the meeting, Mr. Philip Agbese, said: “It has come to our notice that some

persons with questionable character and corrupt background, who conspired in the past to loot the state’s treasury, have now conspired to seize the affairs of the state come 2015.

“We have engaged the services of forensic financial experts to fish out their papers and fraudulent dealings in the past for onward transmission to EFCC, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB. “This is to enable the civil society, on behalf of the common masses, recover the loot from these persons before it is used in turn to enslave us and the future of our children after 2015.”

rently lying critically ill in hospital on dialysis.

It was gathered that he needs about N7 million for kidney transplant to survive.

The 23-year-old Abubakar, it was gathered, fell ill and was taken to the clinic by his parents. His condition was said to have worsened after the doctor allegedly carried out an operation on him.

Father of the patient, Alhaji Buba, said: “They asked me for N10,000 which they said was for drugs. After sometime, perhaps they understood that my son would not survive, I raised alarm. They now asked us to go to Kano.

“They refused to send us to Bauchi. All my money finished in Kano on his treatment.

“When I could not shoulder the expenses for the treatment, the hospital wrote to Bauchi Teaching Hospital to start the treatment.”

suspects was manhandled as speculated, adding that those who were not involved in the crisis would be released as soon as investigations were concluded.

Ile said: “I am not aware that any of the suspects was manhandled or tortured. We are only keeping them to enable us conclude investigation and those who have no hand in the incidents would be released.”

Also, the Commander Army Record, Lokoja, Major-General Alphonsus Chukwu, who denied the allegation in a telephone chat, promised to visit the area today to ascertain the true position of things.

He said: “I will be at Okene tomorrow (today) to confirm some of these allegations. But the commanders on ground assured me that there was nothing like that.”

HE significance of the Night of Maj esty or LaylatulQadr cannot be over-emphasised. Despite our knowledge about the glorious night and its importance, preparation towards it has not shown enough awareness and consciousness about its gains. It is one marvellous gift the Creator, Allah (SWT) has given to the Muslim Ummah to redeem and renew themselves every year of all iniquities, attract abundant blessings and, of course, change their destinies.

It is the night when the whole multitude of angels and the spirit (Ruh) descend on earth, greet and pray for the believers and convey messages of peace. It is the night of unsurpassed grandeur when the Qu’ran was revealed through angel Gabriel (Jubril) into the heart of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

It is a night of long-lasting blessings. It is a night in one whole Islamic year that influences or better still changes our destinies.

A colleague had once told me that even the non-Muslim who recognises the power of the night, makes proper use of the period in their own way. In fact, some non-Muslim organisations hold their power night programme during the period. The Muslim Ummah, who know what Allah has given them, should make proper use of it, prepare for it and explore it.

Those who know never joked with the nights in the last 10 days of Ramadan. There are several Tahajuds (night prayers) going on every night in and around the cities during these last lap of the Ramadan fast.

“Surely We revealed it (the Holy Qu’ran) on the Grand Night. And what will make you comprehend the grand night.

The Grand Night is better than a thousand months. The angels and Gabriel descend in it by the permission of their Lord for every affair, Peace! It is till the break of the morning” Holy Qu’ran (97:1-5).

The scholars have explained to us that Allah, in his infinite wisdom had planned the system of the universe in such a way that every person’s destiny will be determined on a yearly basis.

Allah offered this gesture to mankind as a unique opportunity to influence his own future.

This is done by performing certain supererogatory acts, such as dua, salat, zikr and recitation of the Holy Qu’ran. The important thing at this period is never to miss any night till the end of Ramadan.

Prayer of the day

O Allah, on this day, open for me the doors of the heavens, and lock the doors of Hell from me, O the One who sends down tranquillity into the hearts of believers, give me peace and accept my prayers.

Amen.

Fulani threaten to withdraw cattle from market Miyette Allah cattle breed- robbery on the highway,

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

L

OKOJA—KOGI State chapter of Miyette Allahi Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has threatened to withdraw its animals from the state markets over harassment and arrest of its members by the police.

Chairman of the association, Alhaji Shuabu Idrisa, weekend, after a stakeholders meeting between Fulani Ardos and

ers on problems affecting them, said the threat to withdraw cattle had become necessary following the way security agents were arresting their youths, women and cows in the event of robbery on the highway.

He added that they were made to pay huge sums of money to secure their release, a development, he said, had made some of its members to move to South-West, where they are not harassed or taunted as Boko Haram.

He said: “If there is any

security agents will swoop on all Fulani settlements in that area and arrest their people, including cows. But when a bank is robbed in town, people of the town are not arrested.

“Also once they see any Fulani man ridding Okada, they will arrest him, calling him Boko Haram and, in the process, extort him.”

He alleged that people always kill any cattle that mistakenly enters their farmland in the area.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

N

EARLY one month after the conclusion of the governorship election in Edo State, quiet political currents in the state have continued to attract the attention of well meaning Nigerians. Some progress appears to have been made in unravelling those behind the murder of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, even though this is shrouded in controversy.

That election is important to us in that available evidence to the general public and the testimonies of election observers from all over the world indicate that though the election was not totally problem-free, it conformed to the general wishes of the Edo electorate. In fact, many commentators have held up that election as a model for future such exercises, even though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was widely criticised for many avoidable lapses, especially timely delivery of electoral materials.

However, the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is sending conflicting signals. While both the state executive council of the party, led by Chief Dan Orbih and the party’s candidate, retired Major

Politics without bitterness in Edo General Charles Airhiavbere, complained of serious infractions during the election, the party has decided not to join its candidate in his determination to seek redress at the Electoral Tribunal which has already been constituted.

Orbih hinged the decision on wide legal and political consultations within and outside the state.

We are happy that the level of bitterness that accompanied the electioneering campaigns have not extended to post electoral issues. The decision of the party not to distract the smooth flow of governance is probably a reciprocation of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s declaration to involve the PDP in all aspects of governmental benefits as bona fide

stakeholders. Despite all the sabre-rattling during the campaigns, Oshiomhole had also granted the PDP free access to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the launching of their campaigns.

And on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 the state government placed full page congratulatory adverts in newspapers to honour Chief Tony Anenih on his 79th birthday. This is the beauty of democracy, whereby after an electoral contest, the larger interests of the state and its people will overshadow the euphoria of triumph and disappointment of loss of individuals and groups. That is the spirit of politics without bitterness, a noble legacy which the late leader of the defunct Great Nigerian People’s Party (GNPP), Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, left us with.

For those who wish to explore their constitutional right to seek justice at the Tribunal, we urge that it should be conducted with decorum by all concerned. It is a legitimate part of the democratic process.

However, it is always preferable for losers to congratulate winners and allow governance a seamless run while they prepare for the next election.

OPINION

BY CHUKUDI OWO

I

T is not often one hears good developments concerning Nigeria. It's either you read about the squander of the country's collective resources by those in positions of trust or it will be about the increasing spread of violence in various forms and scale. If not, you will be inundated with contradictory and mostly heart-wrenching tales of medieval-like lifestyle (without light, water and basic modern conveniences) in this 21st century. A flush of anger floods over one's mind as these negatives are read. Anger rooted in one's patriotic desire to see change in the country.

Yes, there's something within one's soul that rebels against the decay in Nigeria and yearns for a radical movement away from the present mess the country has found itself.

As one thinks of these things, it becomes clear that Nigerian leaders have often acted as if leadership is all about “service to self ” and not to the larger society.

On the contrary, what Nigeria needs are leaders who recognise the need for change, have fires within their bellies to change things and have the capacity to effect the change. Yes, we need leaders who are genuinely angry about the present state of affairs in Nigeria and are not afraid of bold measures to address them. We need selfless leaders who are willing to make sacrifices for the larger good of society and not just for their personal aggrandizement. Where there is lack of courage, change cannot happen; for the courage to act is what drives the wheels of progress in societies.

With the spate of negative news emanating from Nigeria, I was gladdened when during a recent

C M Y K

Gbagi: Of service above self Rotary meeting in Canada, a fellow Rotarian pulled me aside and informed me that a Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, would be formally honoured as the first African-born member of the Rotary International's Arch C. Klumph Society at a ceremony scheduled in Chicago, United States this August. With about 200 distinguished members from all over the world, the Arch C. Klumph Society is Rotary International's most exclusive and prestigious individual recognition for “top leaders and innovators” who “have made supporting peace, education and humanitarian assistance part of their personal mission” and have personal commitment to “doing good in the world”.

As I understand, Olorogun Gbagi, a former Chairman of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and immediate past Nigerian Minister of State for Education, is a testament of the resilience of the Nigerian spirit and a story of one's resolve to overcome all odds and advance the course of humanity.

B

or n into a polygamous family, Olorogun Gbagi faced the rough sides of poverty as a young man and made a personal commitment to break from its suffocating pangs not for himself but “to be in a position to help others”. In his words: “I sleep and wake up thinking of what to do to improve the lot of my fellow human being”. Through his businesses, he has empowered many and created thousands of employment for his fellow citizens.

“Each time I see an individual lifted up from poverty, it gives me joy for I see myself in such a person,” he says. As Chairman of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, he fought hard for the reform of Nigerian prisons and spent huge personal resources to fight for justice for the less privileged. He has been a consistent and courageous voice against the mismanagement of resources in his native Delta State. He never lacks the courage to speak out even at his own detriment.

He once complained that “Nigeria was fast receding to …where criminals get louder and honest people are made back benchers”; and as an internationally acclaimed security consultant, he insists that protection of life and property is paramount as we strive to build a united and safe nation”.

As we celebrate Olorogun Gbagi's admission into the exclusive Arch C. Klumph Society of Rotary International, it is hoped that our leaders will be inspired by his courage and vision. To lift Nigeria up, our leaders need to sacrifice self for the greater good of society. The pursuit of power should be for altruistic motives not for pre-bendalist values. The objective of political power should be for public service, to lift the weight of poverty off the shoulders of fellow citizens who desperately cry for a redeemer.

It is time Nigerian leaders woke from slumber and realise that the country can no longer afford business as usual. Those that fought hard today to change the tide of their fellow human beings will be favourably remembered by history. The time for service above self in Nigeria is now!

*Mr. Owo, a policy and management consultant, wrote from Canada.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—41

N

IGERIA of today was not the Nigeria that Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe led Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and other leaders to the Lancaster House conferences in London before independence. The Nigeria which these founding fathers negotiated was a tripodal federation, even though the Minorities in each of the three Regions were yearning for self determination.

The Regions were internally strong, controlled their resources and paid taxes to the federal government. All that was required was for the Minorities to be accommodated in regions of their own in the East and North (just as the Midwest Region was created out of the Western Region) and Nigeria would have become a more stable and balanced federation. If the regions had shared power equitably at the centre, this country would probably be ahead of India and Brazil today in terms of development. But the fear of domination and the ambition to dominate other regions pitched all three in unhealthy rivalries.

Unhealthy rivalries When Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi suppressed the Coup of the Five Majors of January 1966 (which overthrew the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) federal government) and assumed power, it was dubbed an “Igbo coup”. One would have expected that when Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon staged a northern counter-coup, he would correct all the alleged wrongs heaped on Igbo political leaders and Ironsi.

For instance, in line with military tradition, Ironsi had promulgated the Unification Decree No 34 of 1966, which abolished the Regions and converted Nigeria into a unitary state. The pogroms and riots in the North were intensified, ostensibly on the basis of this Decree, and northerners chorused that they wanted to secede from Nigeria.

IBB, OBJ should go and hide (2)

Centralised federalism

Obasanjo

Up till that period, the North had never believed in one Nigeria. The 17th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Siddiq Abubakar, always maintained that unless the south “embraced the religion of the prophet” (Islam) there was no basis for unity.

However, the British allies of the North cautioned Gowon against yielding to the pressures to pull the North out of Nigeria because that would leave an oil-rich Biafra under an Emeka Ojukwu to emerge as the dominant regional power which the British could not control. Between Britain and Gowon a plot was hatched to force the Igbos into civil war with the objective of taking them out of political contention and give the North unbridled access to the oil wealth of Eastern Nigeria.

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA Continued from Friday's edition

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HILDREN, without knowing it, behave like their parents. The parents’ influence on their children is so pervading and profound that even when the children are away from home, it continues to define them. It defines the kind of students they are, their attitude towards work, money, romance, and essentially, everything. It is only when parents fail in their roles as parents that they find psychological refuge in blaming their children for what is, in effect, the failures of the parents.

Similarly, the masses, subliminally, behave like their rulers. Rulers by their actions shape the behavior of the masses.

Over the years, Nigeria became a very lawless country because our rulers, by their every act, trampled the law and undermined the moral standards and ethical ideals of the Nigerian society. From their deeds, the society learnt that hard work, honesty and respect for the law do not pay. That it is only the weak and stupid that play by the rules. The astute and privileged disregard the law and acquire C M Y K

For his enthusiastic completion of the political hatchet job, Obasanjo was picked again by the North to run for president in 1999 to prevent another secession; this time, by the Yoruba. But once in there, the masquerade turned its cane on the man that dressed it up. The North lost a faithful servant and ally.

They took away the sovereignty of Nigerians and deposited it in the Centre. This entrenched sectional domination and struggles against domination, thus unending violence across the country. Nigeria stopped working.

The idle, ruling elite lost the capacity to think creatively. They formed the habit of waiting to share federal allocations every month.

Babangida

From that moment, the North suddenly became overnight nationalists. To keep Nigeria one became a task that must be done.

The North’s logic was: we don’t want to be part of Nigeria unless we are allowed to dominate others and control the oil wealth of the Niger Delta. Lip service was paid to dousing of the pogroms and genuine national dialogue.

The federal government signed accords and unilaterally backed out of them.

At the end of the war the eastern war theatre was abandoned rather than rehabilitated.

Wickedness, vengeance and internal re-colonisation were the driving spirits in the foundation the military laid for what became today’s Nigeria. These have haunted us till date. The creation

12 states in 1967 was said to be a restoration of the federal structure, big lie. It only allowed Gowon to give away states to Minorities to buy their loyalty to participate in the war against Igbos to assert northern domination of the country.

When Obasanjo became the head of state, he was saddled with the responsibility of implementing a transition to civil rule programme that would not only ensure power was returned to the North but also guarantee northern domination permanently. Thus was born the so-called presidential Constitution of 1979. This Constitution was a mere affirmation of Ironsi’s unitary decree but with the North now comfortably in the driving seat.

OPINION Enough of this hypocrisy (2) enormous wealth from corruption, fraud and outright stealing. In other words, that fraud, theft and all forms of lawlessness are not punished but rewarded, especially in the powerful and prominent circles.

Taking a cue from them, Nigerian society degenerated into a vast anarchistic system riddled with crooks, ritual killers, thieves, fraudsters, drug dealers, etc. The problem of Nigeria is a failure in leadership. For their failure, our rulers found psychological refuge in hectoring and harassing the masses in the name of law enforcement.

For example, I remember some legislators pontificating on the need to severely punish drug dealers with up to 15 years imprisonment. But are those of them in the corridors of power any better than a drug dealer. In my view, a drug dealer is a more decent person than a corrupt and stealing “Honorable” or “Excellency”.

Drug dealing is illegal. On the other hand, it may not be immoral. After all, it is a business transaction between two consenting adults. There is no theft, falsehood, deceit, fraud or betrayal of trust.

Secondly, there is no hypocrisy, as the drug dealer does not pretend to be a model of probity or the personification of honor and excellence. He does not strut around posturing as the excellent and the honourable.

On the other hand, stealing is both illegal and immoral. So, stealing is worse than drug dealing. Secondly, stealing by the power elite is associated with deceit and betrayal of trust because they fastidiously cling to sanctimonious titles, like the Excellency and the Honourable.

They posture as disciplined, responsible and financially honest men and women; not susceptible to monetary inducement and other sirens of life. They pretend to personify the best of the society and can therefore be entrusted with the resources of the country and the fate of the entire populace. But then, they prove themselves to be irresponsible, corrupt and thieves of public funds. Which is, in effect, manifest falsehood and patent hypocrisy.

In the words of Sir Robert Thompson: “A nation draws its will principally from the

The centralised federalism puts a lot of power in the hands of the president. It even enables the president, rather than the people, to determine who becomes the next president. The only thing it has failed to achieve so far is to allow the president to stay in power beyond two terms. On the other hand, it does not permit the president to govern effectively.

This explains why most federal infrastructure in the states are poorly run and maintained. But in spite of this proven failure, Obasanjo and Babangida insist that centralised federalism is one of the “settled” issues of the Nigerian polity!

The system that Gowon, Obasanjo and Babangida foisted on Nigeria is irredeemably doomed to failure. It is a system that can neither develop nor collapse. We have One Nigeria, but where are the One Nigerians?

Unfortunately for us, there is no easy way of arresting the situation, as those who feel they have the advantages will always block our best efforts.

As failed leaders, Obasanjo and Babangida should emulate Gowon who now organises prayers for Nigeria.

examples of its leaders”. Therefore, any genuine moral and ethical revolution in Nigeria must be spearheaded by the personal examples of our leaders. That is, the revolution must start from the top and filter down to the bottom.

It will do Nigeria a lot of good if these hypocrites that populate the Nigerian corridors of power will reform their evil ways. Such a reformation will be momentous because it will filter down to all facets of the Nigerian society. It will restore the respect for the law in the Nigerian society. It will tremendously lower the level of corruption and bring about a moral and ethical elevation in Nigeria. It is so uplifting to think of what respect for the rule of law, curb on corruption and elevated moral and ethical standards can do for Nigeria. It will unrecognisably transform the country. It will inexorably nudge Nigeria towards a renaissance that will herald her joining the ranks of the civilized and prosperous countries of the world.

Concluded *Mr. Ezukanma, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

M

Y young nephew stared at me with the earnestness of inquisitive youth seeking answers to adult puzzles. He has just completed his final year examinations in the university and is at the departure lounge to the world without the protections provided by school and home life.

There is obvious trepidation about the prospects of National Youth Service when sections of the country have become death zones with indiscriminate explosions of improvised explosive devices that leave tears of sorrow and blood in their wake. Perhaps to gauge my thoughts on the state of insecurity in the nation, he started with the question about state police and the position of the Northern governors.

I knew this was delicate and I had to pick my words carefully.

“I find it somewhat discomfiting that people oppose state police on the grounds that Nigeria is not ripe for it,” I said. This flies in the face of the historical fact that we once operated with local police in all parts of Nigeria.

Even today, in states in Northern Nigeria that have implemented sharia laws, there exist local police calledHisbah that are used

The concept of state police or community policing, as some have rightly called it, goes beyond the mere control of the Commissioner of Police by the state governor

,

union. This allowed the federating regions to largely take control of their affairs and determine how to run their lives.

As a consequence, there was healthy rivalry between the regions and economic growth was impressive. Had we continued with the negotiated system, it is not debatable any longer that we would not be where we are today in the underdevelopment ladder.

T

he military threw away the constitution and at the end of the long period of their dictatorship, left us with a decree nicknamed a constitution that was supposedly copied from the American system. What they did however, was to copy the letters of the American constitution but omitted the fundamental structures and cultures that make

On Makoko demolitions

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

A

T last, Makoko has been levelled. But what continues to raise dust is the propriety or otherwise of the action of the Lagos State government.

Just about a fortnight ago, the state government began on a good note when it met with representatives of Makoko and Iwaya communities through the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who intimated the people about government’s decision to pull down structures on the lagoon.

As expected, the outcome of the meeting was thorny. While the government insisted that it will go on with the demolition, most ‘ of the inhabitants, on the otherhand, prefer a stay of execution, or at best more time, to enable them find an alternative before the exercise.

In a jiffy, the government’s notice, dated July 12, 2012 and signed by Mr. Akin Tijani, Head of Operations, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, gave its verdict that the shanties violated the designs of its megacity project and that the residents had continued to occupy and develop shanties and illegal structures on the waterfront without authorization and thereby, constituting environmental nuisance, security risks, impediments to economic and gainful utilization of the waterfront such as navigation, entertainment, recreation, among other excuse.

“Therefore, notice is, hereby, given to you to vacate and remove all illegal developments along the Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront within 72 hours of receipt of this notice”, the statement said. On a bad note, the government hurriedly demolished the structures.

The State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, justified the demolition by saying that it was done to protect the environment and the lives of affected residents.

He said the persistent thunderstorm and attendant rise in the water level, occasioned

by climate change could result in needless loss of lives in the area in addition to the existing power infrastructure, like poles and power lines around the shanties, which could collapse.

“There is an electrical pilot that goes across the shanties on the water, and we don’t want disasters to happen around that area, that was why we acted fast and took the action. The reason for our action is to clear the environment and the entire vicinity of the danger that is looming in that area”, he stated.

Mixed feelings have trailed the demolition. Hundreds of residents marched down to the Lagos State Governor’s Office, to protest against the demolition as well as the killing of the Otun Baale of the Egun Community, Timothy Hunpoyanwa, who was said to have been shot dead by the police.

Hunpoyanwa was said to have been killed while trying to make peace between task force officials, who were demolishing shanties, and the protesting youths. The angry protesters expressed their displeasure to Governor Fashola over the issue and that they were not reaping the benefits of democracy, promised them.

The government had promised that the demolition of shanties on the waterfront, which started on July 16, would affect only structures within 100 metres from a power line installed on the lagoon but the joint taskforce extended the demolition beyond the structures and this angered the residents. The lagoon under contention is reportedly under the control of the National Inland Waterways’ Authority.

A prominent Makoko community leader, John Maotin described the demolition exercise as “callous”, considering the short notice issued to them. He alleged that thousands of people had already been rendered homeless. He added that the fishing community ought to be provided with alternative places to live and work.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana in an interview in the Premium Times, lashed out at the Fashola administration, saying it is “promoting murder, orchestrating a

,

BY CLEMENT OFUANI

to enforce the code. In various parts of the South, we have official and unofficial security organs that go by the name of vigilante services, but the nation strenuously refuses to accord them constitutional recognition.

Quite intriguing, however, was the logic of the Northern governors who oppose constitutional recognition of state police but seek powers to control the Commissioners of Police in their domains. Trying to deconstruct this seeming illogicality throws up the fact that what they seek is benefit without the burden of responsibility. Essentially, they are asking for the continuance of the existing national police force structure where the cost of running the force will be borne centrally, while they enjoy the benefits in their domains. In effect, they are not opposed to the concept of state police per se but they are opposed to being made to fund the policing of their own territories.

This logic or illogic is typical of how we have been running Nigeria since military intervention in 1966. Every effort is made to transfer cost of living to a third party in the name of common services.

At independence, the founding fathers of this country negotiated a federal system as a basis for our

,

Security and state police

the American system so admirable. So, ours today is a poor imitation or copy of the American system. In the US, they have city, county, state and federal police with clear jurisdictions.

That is not to say that this operates seamlessly but there are clear rules in place to deal with conflicts among the various police agencies.

The first advantage is that there is greater accountability as the city police chief is chosen at the local level and is accountable to the people in a good position to assess his performance. The regular police on daily beats are drawn from the locality which reduces the cost of intelligence gathering and analysis and increases efficiency in service delivery. In our own case, the police on the beat are drawn from outside their areas of operations which invariably mean that they are essentially in strange environments and the cost of gathering intelligence and utilizing it where this is done is disproportionately higher and therefore efficiency in service delivery suffers. The concept of state police or community policing, as some have rightly called it, goes beyond the mere control of the Commissioner of Police by the state governor.

Take the security challenges in the North for instance. If Boko Haram sect members are meeting in their places of worship, how can police men posted from the South and largely Christians infiltrate them? Sometime back before all

What government appeared to be doing is to capitalise on the poverty of the Makoko people by confiscating their marsh land and developing it with public funds with a view to redistributing it to the elites

,

massive internal displacement of citizens through forceful eviction, and waging a war of impunity against poor people”.

He said the act amounted to a “violation of the State Rent Control and Recovery of Premises Law that have criminalised the forceful ejection of any person resident in Lagos State without an order issued by a competent court and executed by the Sheriff and Bailiff of the court”. he legal luminary observed that what the state government appeared to be doing is to capitalise on the poverty of the Makoko people by confiscating their marsh land and developing it with public funds with a view to redistributing it to the elites.

The Environmental Rights Action/Friend of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, has described as insensitive, anti-poor and undemocratic, the demolition. ERA/FoEN alleged that the 72 hours notice and commencement of demolition of the Makoko waterfront is a violation of the rights of the people to shelter as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. It insisted that the plan to use the site for the megacity project is a ‘calculated attempt to seize the space for the convenience of the mega rich at the expense of the urban poor’.

Similarly, the Executive Director, Social and Economic Rights Action Centre, SERAC, Mr. Felix Morka, described the eviction notice as “wrong and in total violation of the rule of law”.

Morka said although SERAC had previously enlightened Makoko residents on the danger of building houses in unauthorised areas, but issuing the residents

T

this terrorist madness, I was having a discussion with a friend of mine from Katsina and I told him that I was curious to understand how the Caliphate managed to police the vast geographical North in pre- and colonial times without the complex information systems that we have in place today and yet exerted significant order and his reply was instructive. He told me that the political arrangement was such that each village head was responsible for the peace and security in his domain and that if a person received a visitor, he was duty bound to inform the local chief.

In other words, without an identity management system in place, they devised a means for the authorities to know who was where at any point in time. What this further ensured was that investigation of crimes was aided by the information system in place.

It is therefore strange that the Northern governors who have this history behind them would shy away from it because they do not want to bear their own expenses. Clearly, they do not want to take responsibility for the security and well-being of the people in their domains and my nephew and I have serious reasons to view with trepidation the prospect of a National Youth Service call up where his life will be entrusted to people who will not take responsibility.

•Mr. Ofuani, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

such a short notice was wicked.

He said: “We condemn the action taken by the Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development; it was done without proper notice. Therefore, giving people 72 hours to vacate their homes, under any circumstance, is difficult and shows lack of understanding”.

Makoko was established in the 18th Century primarily as a fishing village.

About half of the fish consumed in the state are said to come from there. Most of its structures are constructed on stilts above the Lagos Lagoon and for decades.

Makoko and Iwaya land communities are built close to the lagoon and had served as shelter for the urban poor and other low income earners. This class of people flocked to Lagos in search of greener pastures and took advantage of the waterfront to build their own type of home that was made up of plank and bamboo by covering them with various kinds of iron sheets, cardboard and tree leaves.

The area used to be swampy before the inhabitants built houses after filling their portions of land with refuse and rubbles.

They live in these ‘houses’ on the lagoon like other people living on the land, bearing more children and expanding their frontiers close to the Third Mainland Bridge.

As the people expanded their frontiers, the Lagos State government, in its bid to redevelop metropolitan Lagos, as a megacity, decided to pull down all structures that were allegedly built illegally, including those that constitute an eyesore.

Since the mid-2008, the government has engaged in demolition of structures it perceived as shanties across the metropolis.

Demolition of such structures has taken place in Mile12, Illubirin, in Lagos Island and the Ilaje community in Bariga.

The Lagos State government, just like the Makoko case, in July 1990, ordered the demolition of Maroko community. This was carried out after a-seven-day quit notice announced over the radio, which led to the forced eviction of an estimated 300,000 people from their homes of several decades.

Continues tomorrow

Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard , MONDAY MONDAY,, AUGUST 13, 2012 — 43

Romney picks Ryan as running mate A

GAINST the flagdraped backdrop of the USS Wisconsin, Mitt Romney formally introduced Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman from Wisconsin, as his vice presidential running mate on Saturday. Ryan’s budget-cutting ideas have the potential to transform the presidential race. Support for his proposed mix of spending cuts and tax cuts has become a litmus test on the right—and opposing them has become a rallying cry on the left.

“A lot of people may disagree with Paul Ryan, but I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t respect his character and judgment,” Romney said in announcing his running mate. In less than three weeks, Romney is set to accept the Republican presidential nomination at the party’s convention in Tampa.

A senior Romney aide,

speaking on condition of anonymity, told Yahoo News that Romney made his decision to pick Ryan on August , the day after he returned from an overseas trip to Europe and the Middle East. Romney called Ryan that same day and arranged a meeting, though aides did not say when that meeting took place. Both sides kept the secret for more than a week. Romney and Ryan, a seven-term member of Congress, became close during the run-up to April’s Wisconsin primary,

scription Romney aides did not discourage. In picking Ryan, the Romney campaign emphasized the congressman’s local roots, releasing a bio that noted he was a fifth-generation Wisconsin native and the son of an attorney and a stay-at-home mom. Rom-

•Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan when the two campaigned together for nearly a week.

Ryan, a star of the conservative moment, sometimes overshadowed Romney on

the stump, but the candidate did not seem to mind.

Reporters quickly noted a budding “bromance” between the two men, a de-

Morsi fires Defence Minister E GYPT’s new Islamist president Mohamed Mursi yesterday, ordered the powerful head of the army and defence minister, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, into retirement and cancelled constitutional amendments issued by

the military restricting presidential powers.

Mohamed Morsi announced through a spokesman on Sunday the dismissal of Tantawi and his appointment as a presidential adviser. According to state

television, Abdul-Fatah alSessi would replace Tantawi as defence minister and the general commander of the army.

Morsi also sent into retirement the chief of army staff, Sami Anan, and appointed him as a presidential adviser. Lieutenant-General Sidki Sayed Ahmed was named as Anan’s replacement.

Morsi further appointed a senior judge, Mahmoud Mekki, as vice-president.

ney aides are hoping Ryan will help the Republican ticket win over workingclass voters, who have been openly skeptical of Romney’s candidacy. In accepting the role of Romney’s running mate on Saturday,

Double quake claim over 300 lives in Iran

T

WO powerful earth quakes struck Iran yesterday claiming over 300 lives and leaving the overcrowded hospitals to struggle to cope with thousands of victims. At least 227 people have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded in the massive earthquakes that hit the towns of Ahar and Varzaghan on Saturday. Iran’s Fars News Agency reports said about 300 people are feared dead. Hospitals in Tabriz, Ardabil and other cities struggled to cope with thousands of earthquake victims on Sunday and rescuers raced to reach remote villages after two powerful quakes killed

nearly 300 people. Thousands huddled in makeshift camps or slept in the street after Saturday’s quakes in fear of more aftershocks, 60 of which had already struck. Hundreds of people were rescued from under collapsed buildings on Saturday, but nightfall severely disrupted emergency efforts. Reports said rescue teams have stopped looking for survivors from two p o w e r f u l earthquakesnearnorthwestern city of Tabriz, state television said, adding all those trapped under the rubble had been located and saved.

Plagarism: CNN suspends Fareed Zakaria indefinitely

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NN host and Time magazine contributing editor-at-large Fareed Zakaria was suspended by his employers on Friday after he acknowledged copying material for a recent column he wrote about gun control from another writer. Time said it was suspending Zakaria for one month, “pending further review,” and CNN said it had also suspended him for his journalistic misstep.

CNN put no time limit on

•Fareed Zakaria its suspension. The sanctions came after Zakaria issued a public apology for

borrowing from a recent New Yorker essay about gun control for a column he wrote for Time this week.

“Media reporters have pointed out that paragraphs in my Time column this week bear close similarities to paragraphs in Jill Lepore’s essay in the April 23rd issue of the New Yorker. They are right. I made a terrible mistake,” Zakaria wrote in his apology. “It is a serious lapse and one that is entirely my fault.”

Journalist killed as Syrian rebels demand ‘No-Fly’ zone

A

journalist for Syria’s state news agency was assassinated at his home in a suburb of the capital yesterday as rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad need the protection of foreignguarded no-fly zones and

safe havens near the borders with Jordan and Turkey.SANA reported yesterday that Ali Abbas was killed Saturday night at his residence in the Jdaidet Artouz area.

The report blamed an “armed terrorist group”, which is the regime’s

catch-all term for its opponents. No further details were released.There have been several attacks on pro-regime media over the course of Syria’s 17month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad.

Billy Graham hospitalised for infection

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spokesman for Billy Graham says the 93year-old evangelist has been admitted to a North Carolina hospital for an infection in his lungs.

A joint statement Sunday from Graham’s spokesman and Mission

Hospital says Graham was admitted overnight for evaluation and treatment of an infection thought to be bronchitis.

The hospital is in Asheville, near his home in Montreat.

•Billy Graham

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

GOOD GOVERNANCE:

How civil society is missing it — Rep Nkoyo Toyo •Why I can't change the things in the N/Assembly AMBASSADOR Nkoyo Toyo was the Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia with concurrent accreditation to Djibouti until 2010 when she stepped away from the diplomatic circuit to seek election into the House of Representatives. Her effort in 2011 was about her third attempt before she was finally selected by a major political party for elective office.

Before entering the political fray and then the diplomatic circuit, Toyo was a leading light in the country’s civil society movement with a long standing reputation in gender advocacy. In 1994, she founded the Gender and Development Action (GADA) to fight social justice especially from the gender viewpoint. She was in 2003 selected as the chairperson of the Commonwealth Peoples Forum in Abuja.

A leading expert in governance issues, she has been on the board of the Commonwealth Foundation; Participation and Development Relations Advisory Group of the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Britain and the Forum International de Montreal (FIM) in Canada.

She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2011 and represents Calabar/ Odukpani Federal Constituency of Cross River State. Mrs. Toyo was a guest at the August 9 commemoration of the International Day of the Youths organized in Abuja by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Democratic Governance for Development, DGD project. On that occasion, she spoke on issues concerning the initial passivity of civil society groups to politics, the challenges against women in the *Toyo: I will remain an obedient participant political arena and the difficulties in effecting the needed changes in the National Assembly.

Excerpts:

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ASSIVITY of modern day youths In all the three elections I have done, I haven’t seen one civil society person one day, stand up for me. I speak as a person, who has been in the civil society movement for over 30 years, one day, no civil society organization has spoken on behalf of me. The best they have done has been to analyse my problems.

But the point is that parties have the ways they are organized, they have their structures, they are based on a structure of hierarchies, we start from the national we have the zonal where you have zonal systems, then we have the states and then the local governments, and after that the wards at the very bottom of the parties.

Those are nurtured structures.

If you want to change that situation, you have to come in there and change it.

If we do not have a dominant counter force in the system, the C M Y K

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

system will continue to support its own, it will continue to define itself in the way it is defined.

The beneficiaries of the system will continue to benefit from the system.

How Civil Society missed out in 1999 I was delighted when some of us in civil society admitted today that we missed the mark in 1998. We stood up against military rule, we said that we didn’t want military rule but when it came to 1998 and led by people like Beko RansomeKuti, we all said that we are not joining politics that the groups that were leading it were corrupt, were this, were that, and that we were too good for them and we stood aside and looked at them and OBJ just came collected the whole thing and went away.

And then when we started observing that what OBJ was about to do was bad for us, the system had already began to shape itself.

I am not asking everybody to come and join politics, I am not that naïve, I am saying that where there is a critical mass,

I am a member of the National Assembly inclined to make changes happen in the National Assembly but I will not succeed, I know it, I regret it, I sympathise with myself that I will not succeed

,

there cannot be change. There cannot be change without a critical mass.

Why I cannot change the National Assembly I am a member of the National Assembly inclined to make changes happen in the

country are concerned, you can only come into that space through effective selective politics.

In many countries today where democracies have been well developed, whether you are in the political party or not, you define yourself in terms of affiliations to certain political leanings. There is nothing like neutrality. You are an independent only to belong to the conservatives or to the democrats on the day of election.

Look at the (African National Congress) ANC in South Africa, these are political parties that deliver on the quality of leadership that they have.

Competitive politics

National Assembly but I will not succeed, I know it, I regret it, I sympathise with myself that I will not succeed. Why? Because I do not form a critical mass.

I will remain an obedient participant without necessarily doing what they are doing.

That is the reality. In politics you have to belong somewhere and that is why you have to stand on the platform of the party, you don’t (stand) outside of it and you have to represent it somehow.

Agenda of the country Does that necessarily mean that because I am in the (Peoples Democratic Party) PDP or someone is in the (Action Congress of Nigeria) ACN and that we don’t have the interest of the country at heart?

Definitely not. We only are agents in trying to bring about that agenda that represents the agenda of the country.

If you think that you want to be part of it as far as the constitution of this country is concerned and the laws of this

I think that the point has been made that for these institutions to become better organized, even for you who are not interested in competitive politics, come there and stoke the fire inside there and make that space less comfortable for the old order. We have seen a bit of it happening in Edo State. Let us see what the new order will be in Edo State.

Practical steps for women entering

politics When we lost it in 1999, the women’s group, I have been a key member of WIN (Women In Nigeria) over the last 20 years, we sat down, we tried to change the constitution to bring in Affirmative Action and whether they like it or not, we will continue to try until we get Affirmative Action into the constitution.

We tried that, it did not work.

We then decided to organize ourselves as women. We recruited ourselves, a few of us, but it was Mrs. Josephine Anenih that said, ‘you people want me as your women leader to go and deliver 20 erp cent, but where are the women?

Nkoyo, you are sitting down here and every day you are castigating me ‘ And that was how some of us volunteered to go and try. And we were smacked a lot of times, but we stayed in there and continued to run.

It is true that you will need resources, but I think that before you need resources, you will need to be dogged, you need to be ready to remain where you are until you get what you want.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—45

OGONI:

What manner of autonomy?

A faction of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP makes a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Nigeria. But does it change anything?

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

O

GONI, a leading oilproducing area of Rivers State has been quiet and calm after the August 2 declaration of self-government by the faction of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP led by Dr Goodluck Diigbo.

During a tour of some communities in Ogoniland, some locals told Vanguard that they heard of the declaration in the media like most Nigerians, adding that nothing had changed in the area.

The people have rather enjoined the Federal Government to address the environmental challenges posed by oil exploration in the area.

All they harped on was the failure of government to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, a year it was officially made public by the same government.

In Ogale, Eleme, the people lamented the contaminated ground water just as they expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government for trucking 10,000 litres of water to them daily for consumption. Water below their soil, according to the UNEP report, is contaminated with benzene, an agent capable of causing cancer in humans.

*Ken Sarowiwa: Died in the struggle for Ogoni people

Political autonomy

Sovereignty of Ogoni nation Dr Diigbo in an online post to newspaper houses from his oversea abode, announced what many viewed as sovereignty for the Ogoni nation on August 2.

His words: “Conducting this solemn affair in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 13, 2007, guided by the purposes and principles of international law in accordance with the United Nations Charter, I, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, hereby make this historic statement, to announce the proclamation of this General Assembly Declaration of Political Autonomy for the Selfdetermination or Selfgovernment of the Ogoni people within Nigeria, today, the 2nd Day of August, 2012. So declared, and so be it; for the advancement of liberty in freedom and the preservation of the ancestral heritage of the Ogoni people.”

Many residents of Port Harcourt dismissed the declaration as another media seeking attention by the Netherlands-based Diigbo, who heads a factional wing of

convinced that their non-violent struggle and the support of the international community will eventually make the Nigerian government respond positively to Ogoni’s legitimate demands,” Naanen said He also called on the Federal Government to create a state for the Ogoni, arguing that this would help them overcome some of their challenges.

A frontline Ogoni and Niger Delta activist, Comrade Celestine Akpobari, said it was really embarrassing that Dr Diigbo would declare political autonomy for the Ogoni nation from outside the country.

According to him, the action of Diigbo did not have the backing of the one million Ogoni people. He said declaration of political autonomy was an idea the Ogoni were x-raying if it could help draw Federal Government’s attention to their plight as a people but there was no place where it was resolved that it should be declared on August 2, a date that had no relevance in Ogoni struggle.

*Akpobari: Faults the declaration MOSOP. At a recent media parley with Rivers State chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Governor Chibuike Amaechi said it was an issue not worth talking about. The governor dismissed it as another comic act coming from Diigbo’s faction of MOSOP. Also, the former Senator representing Rivers South East senatorial district, Senator Lee Maeba, who is from Ogoni, refused to comment on it when Vanguard sought his opinion.

The sitting Senator, who is also from the area, Senator Magnus Abe, declined comments as well.

However, in another post, Dr Diigbo said he did not seek sovereignty for the Ogoni with the declaration but for political autonomy.

According to him, Ogoni people have not resolved to pull out of the Nigeria federation, what they need is political

*Diigbo: Declared political autonomy for the Ogoni

autonomy within the nation’s federalism.

“It’s internal autonomy which means self-government within Nigeria in accordance with the United Nations declaration on rights of indigenous peoples.”

He said MOSOP was forced to declare internal autonomy for the Ogoni Nation because of the level of devastation and neglect in Ogoniland.

He argued that with the declaration, his people had the choice of either remaining part of the nation or pulling out. But at the moment they had resolved to remain in the country.

“Ogoni people are in a very difficult situation right now. The land has been totally devastated as a result of 55 years of petroleum operations. So it becomes very urgent because if you want to talk about anything concerning the land, which to the Ogoni people is not just land but

also life and god.

“We should remain part of Nigeria – we are not saying we are out of Nigeria. We have a choice as part of this declaration to be part of it or out of it and at this moment we are part of Nigeria.” Meantime, the action of Dr Diigbo has deepened the crack in Ogoni with the other faction of MOSOP led by Prof Ben Naanen dismissing Diigbo’s declaration as attention-seeking.

Prof Naanen, in a statement, noted the degree of poverty and environmental challenge in Ogoni but quickly added that as a people they would continue to explore non-violent approach in their struggle to press for Federal Government’s attention to the challenges. “Ogoni people are dissatisfied with their condition in our country, Nigeria. But they do not believe the sovereign option is the answer. They are

“Yes there is so much poverty in Ogoni, our environment is polluted. Political autonomy was in our agenda but the declaration

by Diigbo was not in our agenda. If Ogoni want to declare political autonomy it would have been on these dates of any year, January 4 or November 10 when Ken SaroWiwa and others were murdered.

“January 4 is Ogoni Day, it’s a day set aside by United Nations for World Indigenous people. On January 4, in Ogoni, nobody goes to the farm. The most important thing is that Dr Goodluck did not consult the one million people of Ogoni before his declaration. He can’t stay in Netherlands to declare autonomy for Ogoni” Comrade Celestine recalled that before the late Ken SaroWiwa led Ogoni to boycott the general elections in 1993, he consulted widely with the entire six kingdoms of Ogoni. “Ken went round the six kingdoms of Ogoni letting them know that voting in the election was voting for slavery.”

He said Ken later had a General Assembly with the Ogoni where the decision to boycott the election was ratified.

“Where did Diigbo meet with Ogoni before the declaration”, he queried. He said there would have been massive sensitisation if the Ogoni want to declare political autonomy.

At press time, Ogoni was peaceful, residents of communities in the area were going about their daily chores with no attention for the political autonomy declared by Diigbo on the internet.

C M Y K

46—V anguard, MOND AY, AUGUST 13, 2012 MONDA 46—Vanguard,

3 reasons why married people are healthier I T is as traditional as something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue - the conventional wisdom that married people live longer and are healthier than single people.

Psychologists say people who are married are healthier, live longer, and report more happiness, compared to people who are not married. According to them , there are three reasons why married people are healthier. These include; safer behaviour, socially connected and health helper.

Safer behaviour: Risk-taking and substance abuse drop when couples marry — more than if they move in together.

Socially connected: If you are married, ideally that’s your closest relationship.

That means there is a partner and close source of support readily available.

On the other hand, people who are unhappily alone may run the risk of social isolation and that can lead to depression and neglecting one’s health. Health helper: Your spouse could help you keep healthy habits. According to UCLA psychologist Theodore Robles, “Your spouse is a large force of influence in your own behavior. You have someone to remind

Help! Andrew, journalist is going blind

U

NLESS there is an urgent interven tion, Andrew Airahuobhor, a Maritime Reporter with the Daily Independent Newspapers may go blind. Andrew, according to doctors handling his case, has cornea opacity which requires an urgent corneal graft (Corneal transplant) in far away India, precisely at the Narayana Nethralaya eye Hospital, Bangalore.

As you read this article, Andrew has been issued a two-month single entry visa by the Indian High Commission in La-

you that you shouldn’t eat that; that you should have one less drink.”

Research has also shown that people who are in happy marital relationships are also more likely to follow their doctors’ recommendations.

In the views of Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, Ohio State University S. Robert Davis chair of medicine, “Supportive relationships are associated with better health and the absence of a supportive relationship is a risk factor.”

Confab to honour outstanding contributors to W/A health sector

I

NDIVIDUALS and firms that have made outstanding contributions to the development of the health sector in West Africa are to be recognised in special awards to be announced at the 8th West African Health Conference and Exhibition, WAH Nigeria 2012, holding this year in Nigeria.

The awards tagged; West African Health Excellence Awards,WAHEA, is intended to celebrate individuals, organisations and corporate institutions that have added value to healthcare, especially at the delivery level across the sub-region.

Project Coordinator of WAH Nigeria 2012, Dr. Wale Alabi,said the essence is to bring the efforts of those to be recognised to the forefront, as a way of creating opportunities for further partnerships with governments and private sectors for better and affordable healthcare delivery for the people in West Africa and the continent at large.

Alabi noted that, “The Awards is to recognise and celebrate the rapid growth of the healthcare sector, and the capacity of individuals to influence and set new performance standards across West Africa.”

Some of the categories to be recognised

include: Best primary Healthcare provider, best secondary healthcare provider, best tertiary healthcare provider, best manage care/health insurance provider, best healthcare it provider, best radiology service provider, best pathology service

provider, best biomedical engineering service company, healthcare entrepreneur of the year, best stand alone specialty hospital, best indigenous pharmaceutical company, best multinational pharmaceutical company, among others.

L-R:Dr. Stella I. Smith, Deputy Director, Research and workshop Coordinator,Nigerian Institute of Medical Research,NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah Director-General, NIMR and Dr. Kolawole Oyedeji, Chief Research Fellow during the opening ceremony of the 4th Annual Molecular Biology and Biotechnology hands-on-training workshop at the research institute

Nutricima launches Yo! Classic yoghurt

D

AIRY products and beverages mar keter Nutricima Limited has introduced a natural flavour variant of its popular Yo! range of yoghurts to the market.

Yo! Classic is a life style product aimed at health conscious consumers who care about what they ingest and seek to maintain trendy choices.

According to Nutricima Head of Marketing Mrs. Wande Oluwasegunfunmi, Yo! Classic is “a careful combination of nature and nutrition science prepared to the Nutrima nutrition of high quality standards, and now delivered with love to our consumers and partners”.

Oluwasegunfunmi said, “The essence of the Yo brand is to provide products that support the health and general wellness of its teeming consumers in a fun and exciting way. It is targeted at males and females between the ages 20-45 years, people who are literate and seek to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

Nutricima introduced Yo yoghurt brand in 2009 and added a tetrapak offering in 2010. The Head of Marketing said the unflavoured variant, Yo Classic, seeks to meet the needs of increasingly health conscious and aware consumers. “The product is packed with live cultures which promote general digestive health and helps to keep your immunity intact. In addition to its natural taste and feel, it is packed with calcium and other vitamins for general body wellness”.

Dr. Bartholomew Brai, Council member of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, presented the Yo Classic brand to Lagos media and the trade while fitness expert and physician Dr. Bisi Abiola presented a health talk. She also led guests at the launch event through dance and exercise topped with a pulsating dance drama by a group.

Nutricima plans to launch Yo Classic in Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Mr. Andrew Airahuobhor gos, which would expire on August 24, 2012, unfortunately, Andrew is yet to raise the money to embark on the trip and his condition is deteriorating by the day.

The Narayana Nethralaya eye Hospital had given an estimate of N1.7 million for the treatment excluding accommodation and travelling expenses for approximately six weeks period. Andrew, bread winner of his family cannot afford the life-saving surgery to save his sight.

Narrating how it all started; Andrew said “In August 2011, I was struck with a medical condition that caused hemifacial lesion on my forehead and eventually resulted in loss of light perception in my left eye while undergoing treatment at the hospital. I was on admission for one week at Subol Hospital, Idimu, Lagos and eventually went to University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Benin City, Edo State, where I was placed on admission at its Ophthalmology Clinic and discharged after two weeks of treatment.

“The doctors say I have cornea opacity, which can only be corrected by corneal graft and UBTH is not equipped for such.

If you are touched by Andrew’s story, pls send your donations to Ecobank; Account Name: Andrew Airahuobhor, N0: 0024398588; Sort Code: 056150357 or call 08023058754.

Dr. Brai Bartholomew, Member, Nutrition Council of Nigeria, Wande Oluwasegunfunmi, Head of Marketing, Nutricima, Deola Kasali, Senior Brand Manager, Nutricima and Bola Arotiola, Sales Director, Nutricima at the official launch of YO! Classic Yoghurt by Nutricima Limited, last week in Lagos.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—47

C M Y K

48—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA

Colonialists' wrong steps caused 1945 general strike Beginning from today, we will be serialising OWEI LAKEMFA's latest work: "One hundred years of trade unionism in Nigeria" for your delight.

I

NTRODUCTION: The Trade unions which have featured prominently in our national life from colonial times will be one hundred years old on Sunday August 19, 2012. In other words, the trade unions formally existed two years before Nigeria became a country.

In colonial times, the primary focus of the unions were inflation, cost of living, working conditions and higher wages. They were also preoccupied with issues like

O WEI LAKEMF A LAKEMFA nationalism and the war against racial discrimination especially in ‘ wages paid African workers and their white colleagues and access to facilities like hotels and public places.

Other issues the unions took up were building Pan-Nigerian and Pan-African consciousness. Unlike most other organizations, the trade unions from beginning transcended the parochialism of ethnicity, religion and regionalism. The trade unionists were passionately committed to the working people and the cause of liberation. They built a culture of collective leadership, mass meetings, rallies and aligning workers with the larger society.

Workers were a major force and vehicle in the anti colonial struggles, the fight for independence and good governance.

In contemporary times, the issues in the trade unions remain the challenges of inflation and a living wage.They also face challenges of good governance, corruption, casualisaton, currency devaluation, factory closures, C M Y K

mass sack and constant increases in the prices of petroleum products. Over the ages, the Labour Movement has etched itself in the consciousness of the Nigerian people. Today, it remains a major movement that millions of Nigerians across all divides, look up to accept and defer to. These series are a celebration of trade unionism in Nigeria in the last one hundred years.

Politics and the Unionist: Colonialism was about domination, subjugation and exploitation of the human and natural resources of the colonized. It was about enslavement, and the colonized people accepting their fate or be severely punished. Any dissent, even over working conditions was seen as protest, rejection of the colonial system or nationalist agitations, all of which were punishable offences. Therefore, to be a trade unionist, or defend basic rights under the colonial system was to be seen as a dangerous person.

So trade unionism was wedded to partisan politics; to be a trade unionist was to be a politician. So many of the leading trade unionists in colonial Nigeria were partisan politicians, and a number like Gogo Chu Nzeribe, Nduka Eze, Haroon Adebola and Samuel Udoh Bassey won elections into parliament at federal and regional levels.

Most successful trade unionist Perhaps the most successful trade unionist who transformed into a partisan politician was Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo who founded the Nigeria Produce Traders Association.

He was also Secretary of the Nigeria Motor Transport Union. When on July 31, 1943 at the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, Labour leaders gathered to found the first labour centre in the country, Chief Awolowo led his union to the event.

There, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUCN, was founded. T. A. Bankole was elected the new TUCN President,

Enugu workers on strike over minimum wage

The 1945 General Strike that defined a nation: Nigeria was amalgamated into one country in 1914. However, the consciousness of it being a country amongst the people was forged in 1945 when the entire populace responded to the first general strike in 1945. It was also a strike that struck the most devastating blow against colonialism in the country.

The events that led to this started with a February 10 meeting by representatives of technical workers. That meeting set up a Joint Executive of Government Technical Workers. On March 22, Continues on page 49

Map of Nigeria

Chief A. Soyemi Coker as Vice President, M. A. Tokunboh as Secretary General, P. S. Taiwo, the Treasurer, and Chief Awolowo as Secretary/Editor of the TUC publication, The Nigerian Worker.

The publication was an instant success and a thorn in the flesh of the colonialists which branded it subversive and banned the publication. Chief Awolowo proceeded to London, read Law and returned to found the Action Group.

He was elected Premier of the Western Region in 1954, a position he held until 1959 when he went to the Federal level as leader of opposition. His administration of the Western Region is regarded by many as one of the best examples of good governance.

Another quite successful politician who crossed from trade unionism was Malam Aminu Kano, a teacher and leader of the Northern Nigeria Teachers Association. He was a consumate mass organizer and mobiliser who transferred his skills to organizing the downtrodden. He became known as the teacher of the TALAKAWAS (the down trodden)

and was a Minister of the Federal Republic.

It is instructive that when in the 1960s the political class was in crisis and the credibility of elections was in doubt, the TafawaBalewa government reached out to a full time trade unionist, E.E. Esua, the then Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, to head the Federal Electoral Commission.

Successful politician Another trade unionist, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, a former teacher at the Government Teachers College, Minna, and a former national officer of the Nigeria Union of Teachers also became a successful politician. He is currently the governor of Niger State.

Perhaps the best known trade unionist today who crossed into politics is Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, NLC President from January 1999 to February 2007. He is currently in his second term as Edo State Governor.

,

BY OWEI LAKEMFA

Over the ages, the Labour Movement has etched itself in the consciousness of the Nigerian people. Today, it remains a major movement that millions of Nigerians across all divides, look up to accept and defer to

,

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—49

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF TRADE UNIONISM IN NIGERIA

Colonialists' wrong steps caused 1945 general strike this body sent a letter to the colonial regime demanding a two shillings, six pence minimum wage and a 50 per cent increase in the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) back-dated to April 1, 1944.

The colonialists replied this letter on May 2, 1945. While it agreed that inflation was on the rise, the colonial government blamed the public for this arguing that “Unless the public is willing to do without, or reduce the consumption of commodities which are scarce, or to substitute other commodities for them, instead of taking the least line of resistance and buying (regardless of value and price control) in the black market, no benefit will result from increasing cost of living allowance.”

Seventeen days after the government’s reply, technical and manual workers held a mass meeting at the Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos. The communiqué of that meeting deplored “... the callous attitude of Government to the sufferings of the masses of African Workers.” It also accused the colonialists of practicing dividerule tactics amongst Africans "by the extension of local allowances to Africans holding so-called European posts.”

Workers' communique The workers' communiqué said that "...the situation can no longer be sustained.” It gave a one month ultimatum emphasizing that “not later than Thursday, June 21, 1945, the workers of Nigeria shall proceed to seek their own remedy with due regard to law and order on the one hand and starvation on the other” unless their demands are met.

These resolutions were passed to government on May 21. On May 23 leaders of the civil service met. At this meeting were the Civil Service Union president, J.A. Ojo and General Secretary, Osmond Osadebo; Union of Railwaymen president, C.O. Odugbesan, its Secretary, A. Oshosanwo; the chairman of the Committee of Africans Holding Superior Appointments, Mr. A. J. Marinho and the Committee’s secretary, Mr. S. O. Ogunyemi. They all signed a resolution endorsing the ultimatum for an all round COLA increase made by the Technical Workers.

On May 30, 1945 the colonialists met a delegation of the workers led by their President, T.A. Bankole. J.O. Erinle, A. Abosede and J. M. Osindero were on the delegation. Twelve days after this meeting, the colonial government sent a letter more or less reinstating its old position, but offering an increase of three pence on COLA for workers in Lagos and C M Y K

20 per cent for workers in the provinces.This offer was rejected.

In the heat of this agitation, the British Colonialists devised a tactic by setting free Imoudu on June 2, 1945. The colonialists might have hoped to divert attention with this act. But as Labour Historian, Wogu Ananaba wrote, it was an action that acted as a catalyst. “There is little doubt that

nial governor who has 21 days within which to act. The leaders agreed with him and went about convincing the unions to shelve the strike action. A meeting attended by 300 delegates was held that same day to deliberate on shelving the strike. While the Joint Executives of the Workers favoured a postponement, some, like the African LOCO Drivers union president, F. Modupe

failed, so the strike must go on as scheduled. After this, the workers got up and sang for the strike.

This was the beginning of Imoudu’s sack of the TUCN leadership as the general strike took off.

On June 21, the day the ultimatum expired, a mass meeting of workers held from 5.30 p.m. at the St. Peter’s School, Lagos. The workers decided to commence the strike action from midnight. They

Continues tomorrow

Labour leaders leading Nigerians out on a fuel protest in January 2012

but for Imoudu’s activities there might have been no General Strike on June 22.”

Having taken so many wrong steps in response to workers agitation, it was not surprising that the colonial regime on June 11 took another wrong one. This time it wrote a letter to workers' leaders arguing that to accede to workers demand would “result in the present circumstances in adding materially to the circulation of currency at a time when the objects on which the increase could be spent are remaining static or even decreasing in volume."

Three days after this letter was sent, the African LOCO Drivers Union placed their management on strike notice with effect from the midnight of June 21. The Railway workers followed with their own notice. On June 16, 1945, a mass meeting of about 8,000 workers was held to consider the Government’s June 11,1945 letter. The meeting reiterated the strike ultimatum while leaving a window open for possible negotiations. That same day, the TUCN leadership held its regular consultative meeting with the Labour Department.

The Commissioner of Labour told the TUCN leaders that the strike ultimatum had not followed laid down procedures which requires a formal report to the colo-

Alade not only rejected it but also asked their national leader, A. T. Bankole to step aside.

On June 20, the eve of the strike ultimatum’s expiration, the national labour leaders issued a statement signed by J. Marcus Osindero, Secretary of the Workers Joint Executive and J. O. Erinle, entitled General Strike of the Association of Civil Service Technical Workers. The statement read: “In view of the subjoined communication from the commissioner of labour, the proposed strike which should have come into effect from midnight on June 21,1945 has been postponed for 14 days retroactive from June 19, 1945.”

Underestimation of Imoudu's powers Apparently, the strike leaders had misread the mood of the workers; a postponement was the last thing on workers' minds. That same day, a mass meeting of the Railway Workers Union met at which the leaders of the labour centre; TUCN and the Joint Executive of the workers explained why the strike was being postponed. They underestimated the powers of Imoudu who was wearing a war dress. He told the meeting that negotiations had

also passed a resolution ordering their leaders to resign. The leaders subsequently resigned enmasse. During the meeting, the traditional ruler of Lagos, Oba Falolu arrived to persuade workers against the strike, he was forced to leave due to workers hostilities. The Amalgamated Union of Mercantile Workers held their mass meeting that same evening and decided to go on strike immediately.

The general strike took off on June 22 and went on for 45 days.

They were days that shook the colonial administration to its foundations. The whole society was involved either in aid of the strikers or sometimes to sabotage it on behalf of colonialism. While many nationalists led by Herbert Macaulay, Azikiwe, Madam Adunni Oluwole and Obafemi Awolowo supported the strike, some particularly those of the Nigeria Youth Movement tried to sabotage it.

Historian, Mokwugo Okoye wrote: “After two weeks of the strike, a committee of gentlemen comprising Dr. Akinola Maja, Dr. K. A. Abayomi, S. L. Akintola and other leaders of the NYM were hired by the government to cajole the strikers back to work; but the men would not budge an inch without definite guarantees

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Continues from page 48

which of course the quixotic emissaries could not give, if they ever thought of the matter before hand.

Troop movements were frequent and every artifice was tried by the government to break the workers morale, but these failed.”

The media was a study in contrast. The Daily Service, the NYM’s newspaper in its support of the colonial authorities not only tried to rubbish the strike but went to the quite unprofessional extent of omitting any mention of lmoudu’s role in the strike.

Imoudu’s inclusion in the historic tour was proof that labour had arrived at the centre stage of anti-colonial politics

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50—Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

BY EVELYN USMAN

O

N July 22, 2012, 20-year-old Chizoba Nnozirim visited the coropoerate headquarters of Vanguard at Kirikiri canal, Apapa, Lagos, looking pale. But she was not alone. She came in the company of her mother, three relatives and a man who later introduced himself as Evangelist Udochukwu Ben. Four days before the visit, Chizoba’s relatives had visited Vanguard to inform about the disappearance of Chizoba, who was said to have last been seen after her boss gave her the sum of N500,000 to deposit into the bank.

During an interview session with Crime Alert, she claimed that some men approached her as she was about entering the bank and asked her to direct them to a place. But according to her, “as I attempted to see what was scribbled on the paper, one of them blew a powdery substance into my face and I lost consciousness.

Uncompleted building

•Chizoba

•Evangelist Ben

Police expose sales girl who disappeared with master’s N.5m

“Like a dummy, I followed him into a car where I found three other men. I was driven to an uncompleted building where they used a white handkerchief to clean my face before I regained consciousness.

While there, they asked why my madam said she gave me the sum of N600,000 instead of N500,000 and I was shocked on how they knew about the mi- there, my madam called me and nor argument that ensued be- they asked me not to pick her tween me and my madam be- calls. Then, I overheard them fore I left for the bank. saying they would release me on “The next bomb they dropped Sunday since my madam did not was that they show up. But bewon’t release me cause I had lost until my madam count of the date and comes. I begged days, I did not know them to let me go, when would be Sunthat I was not in day.” any way related to She further my madam, that I claimed to have was only her salesbeen blindfolded by girl. I even tried to her abductors and explain to them thereafter driven to that I am from Imo Mile 2, along the while she is from Oshodi /Apapa ExAnambra. It was at pressway from where that point that one Evangelist Ben met of them landed a her and volunteered slap across my to take her home. face, ordering me But during investo be quiet and at During investi- tigation by operatives the same time askat X-Squad, it was ing what gave me gation by opdiscovered that the effrontery to eratives at XChizoba misled evspeak when they eryone with her acwere speaking. Squad, it was count. In the first inThe next day, they discovered stance, it was discovbrought food and ered that while she water for me but I that Chizoba claimed to have did not touch it. All misled everybeen abducted by I needed was for some unknown men them to release me one with her and kept in an unbecause I knew the completed building account trauma my mother in Apapa area from would be going where she spoke to through. While her relatives on

•‘Evangelist,’ boyfriend quizzed

C M Y K

phone, she was actually with her boyfriend, one Ikechukwu.

Investigation by the operatives also absolved Chizoba’s boss, Mrs Veronica Ogbuchi, the Director of CLEMENS Investment Nigeria Limited and her husband, Mr. Clement, over earlier perception by the family during her disappearance that there could be more to the disappearance than meets the eyes.

Another startling discovery by the operatives was that Evangelist Ben who claimed to have found Chizoba at Mile Two was an alleged accomplice in Chizoba’s disappearance.

Alleged accomplice Police sources hinted that: “We started first by collecting her phone from her and when we checked the call log from the network she uses, we discovered that a particular person had been calling her before the day she was given the money.

And when we asked her, she opened up and told us that the N500,000 was collected by conmen. She gave the name of the woman who collected the money from her as Iya Opeyemi. She was told to bring the money in order to get ten million naira. In fact, in one of the conversations,

she asked when she would come for the N10 million they promised her. Rather than going back to her boss, she went to her boyfriend, one Ikechukwu, with whom she remained for days.

She fooled everyone by saying she was abducted by an unknown person. It was when we were making plans to check the call log that she resurfaced with the Evangelist, who claimed he met her at Mile 2.

But with this revelation, it was

discovered that the Evangelist is a cousin to Chizoba’s friend. He only used that as a ploy to deceive everyone,” Police sources said.

Chizoba’s family as gathered, had made a payment of N150,000. The case was charged to court 7, Ikeja, Monday where Chizoba was remanded in prison custody over failure to meet with the bail condition, with the case adjourned to September 14, 2012.

Contact the Inspector-General of Police on this e-mail policemonitor@npf.gov.ng When to be used: (a) When providing information on activities of criminal groups, terror gangs or other forms of organized crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, advance fee fraud, arms trafficking, etc. (b) When reporting cases of breach of public peace or imminent breach of public peace. (c) When providing information relating to on-going criminal investigations by the police and other law enforcement agencies.

•MD Abubakar, InspectorGeneral of Police

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—51

C M Y K

52 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,,

MOND AY 13, AUGUST MONDA

10, 2012

YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

VIRGO; You will be in better position to consolidate on progress made recently. And it is wrong to take people for granted today……

LIBRA; Many people may be disappointed because of broken promises, therefore you will need to prepare your mind accordingly and refuse to take others for granted SCORPIO; . You can make it a good day as both career advancement and financial success are closer to you. Secret lovers are in for an exciting day.

SAGITTARIUS; Although there will be challenges here is a day when things will eventually go according to your plans. Don’t take friends for granted.

CAPRICORN; From now until next few days you will need to be as practical as possible along your career line; this is the wrong time to experiment with new ideas.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

T

HEfather has his own duty, just as the son too has his own. It is the same thing with God. The duty of God is to make provisioin for us. Our duty is to access that provision and take our share of it. Now let’s do this simple

God will provide — 3 exercise together. Are you living? I do not mean to embarass you.

I mean, in the real sense, can you honestly say you have fully utilised your God given endowment or talent?

Are you

TERROR MUDA

producing result with what you are doing now? Have you gotten to the height of your ability? Are you convinced you have gotten to the limit and you can’t go any futher?

in “Never say goodbye”

God is unlimited. He is a God of possibility and because you are made in His likeness and image, nothing should be impossible for you. If your life seems stagnant, examine your thought life because you were created to succeed.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; You may not be in total control of your mind till around 5.36pm. That is to say you will need practical approach in all you do today. Be more cooperative.

PISCES; Continue to be more careful about proposals having to do with joint ventures. Yet that is not to say you can not take good advice. Prepare to work harder.

ARIES; You stand good chance to extend recent favourable events both at work and on matters-ofthe-heart. Watch what you sign before 5.36pm.

TAURUS; Young-at-heart will be willing to give priority attention to sentimental related issues probably because of your recent success.

GEMINI; Refuse to become mentally arrogant or else you would be working against your own interest.

Your love life will continue to enjoy favourable aspects.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

CANCER; Financial success is within your reach, especially if you back your old plans early in the day.

The more family minded you are the better for you.

LEO; It is important you don’t allow others to mislead you in the name of giving you good advice before 5.36pm. Those travelling or moving around in search of love may be in for both an exciting and pleasurable day.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my immediate future?

Dear Joshua, I am into business; sometimes I am alone but the other time I just have to do with some partners.

Kindly tell me what my immediate future does have for me, especially between now late November 2012.

Anonymous-Jos. Dear Anonymous, For your own goodness I appeal to you to take what you will find here-under very seriously so that you will avert very serious business trouble coming through partnership very soon. I wish you the best.

Here is a period that will reverse most of the difficult situation you have experienced in your immediate past period. You are therefore advised to take good opportunities the period will bring. However it is imperative you have it at the back of your mind that next few weeks will bring another round of similar challenges thus you will need to take business you will be able to conclude on or before March 14th when the whole thing favours you, especially as it concern partnership related issues.

The said favourable period will bring you co operation, money, love and emotional satisfaction.

Savour your good time.

Planetary placement and aspects are calling for carefulness on how you manage your relationships with others as some of them may be forced to betray and or disappoint you over MONEY and other important business transactions, consciously or unconsciously. Either a junior female worker or a lowly rated member of your opposite sex may be willing to tempt you during this period, who you just have to resist whichever way the person comes with antics.

Your health looks fragile. And you are accident prone.

Although the whole of the period calls for carefulness last four weeks can be a little bit sensitive. Please take note that nothing fatalistic is predicted here, you only need to take care so that you will avoid the pitfalls of the period.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012—53

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OGBUNJI—I, formerly known and addressed as Ogbunji Florence Nnenne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oguama Nnenne Florence. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

BELLO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Zainab Bolajoko Bello, and Zainab Gbolajoko FarinreBello, now wish to be known and addressed as Zainab Bolajoko Momodu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EFIENE—I, formerly known and addressed as Efiene Mokwuma Chi Ngozi,now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enujekor Chi Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWODO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwodo Ang e l a Ogechukwu,now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uchendu Angela Ogechukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OFOEGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lilian Chienyenwa Ofoegbu,now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lilian Chienyenwa Ebere. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

HAMMED—I, formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Ademola Hammed,now wish to be known and addressed as Ibrahim Hamed Ademola Adeoti.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BALOGUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Balogun Funmilayo Adeteju, now wish to be known and addressed as Honawon Funmilayo Adeteju. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

AMADI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Constentia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okwudili Chioma Constentia. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Owerri and general public please take note.

SOWOBI—I, formerly known and addressed as Omowunmi Fatimoh Sowobi, now wish to be known and addressed as Omowunmi Adesola Seidu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMOAKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bekisu Omoaka,now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Becky Ndubuisi Gad. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMEDO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Cynthia Oluchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Anthony Cynthia Oluchi. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede Owerri, Imo State, NYSC and general public please take note.

ANIEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anieke Ebere Agatha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eziekwu Ebere Agatha.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take n o t e .

AKPA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jennifer Uyo Akpa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jennifer Akpa Amedu. All former documents remain valid. Bureau for Local Government Pension, Kogi State and general public please take note.

ABAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Evelyn Onyowo Abah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Evelyn Abah Onyowo Ekwata.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

KOATE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Kabor Koate, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kabor Blessing Gideon Koru. All former documents remain valid. College of Health Technology, Port harcourt and general public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Umunu Emmanuel Ejovwoke, refers to one and the same person as Isodje Emmanuel Eseoghene, now wish to be known and addressed as Isodje Emmanuel Eseoghene. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name Oritsegbubemi Agbajor, refers to one and the same person as Toju Oritsegbubemi Agbajor Dudu, now wish to be known and addressed as Toju Oritsegbubemi Agbajor Dudu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKPEKI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogheneakpobor Alvin Ekpeki, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akpobor Jegbefume. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EYETAN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eyetan Bridget, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Umunade Onoriode .E. Bridget. All former documents remain valid. Auchi Polytechnic, NYSC and general public please take note.

UCHENDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uchendu Chinenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okafor Chinenye Theresa. All former documents remain valid.

Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, NYSC and general public please take note.

AFOAMAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Afoamah Chinwenma Nkemdilim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aguegbodo Chinwenma Nkemdilim. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission, Anambra State and the general public please take note.

IZU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Izu Iroro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abeke Iroro.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ISIBOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Isibor Nkechinyere Susan, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oziri Emeke Susan.

All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

ANAKWEZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogechukwu Jane Anakweze, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogechukwu Jane Nwokolo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UWAOMA—I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Uwaoma Prisca Chika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwosu Prisca Chika.

All former documents remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and general public please take note.

EFAKWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Efakwu Ruth Ngozi Justina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ruth Godspower Ifeanyi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AGBAKWURU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agbakwuru Uchechi Geraldine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O d o e m e n a m Uchechi Geraldine.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OVIOSUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Franklin Uwaifo Oviosun, now wish to be known and addressed as Franklin Uwaifo Airaodion. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHARITY—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Charity Ewhrudjakpor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Ewhrudjakpor.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OJARIGHO— We, formerly known and addressed as Ojarigho Family—Felix Ogbejeko Ojarigho Mercy Ajokperiniovo, Oghenetejiri Ojarigho, Oghenerukevwe Ojarigho, Oghenenyerhovwo Ojarigho, Oghenefejiro Ojarigho, Oghenerunor Ojarigho, and Purity Ojarigho, now wish to be known and addressed as Oyovwe Family—Felix Oyovwe, Mercy Oyovwe, Oghenetejiri Oyovwe, Oghenerukevwe Oyovwe, Oghenenyerhovwo Oyovwe, Oghenefejiro Oyovwe and Purity Oyovwe.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

VANGUARD'S

AKPOYOWARE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Ojiyovwi Akpoyoware, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Ojiyovwi Ovigueroye.

All former documents remain valid. The Nigeria Police Force and general public please take note.

LAGOS OFFICE

YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E R T S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

22 shortlisted for NB/Farafina creative writing workshop ABOUT 22 participants have been selected for the fourth Nigerian Breweries sponsored Creative Writers Workshop which begins in Lagos on Tuesday, August 14. The lucky 22 which includes four participants from the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa and Cameroun were chosen from 987 applications received for the workshop this year.

According to Farafina Trust, organizers of the annual ten day workshop, the number was chosen on merit from an initial list of 60 earlier distilled from all applications received.

Facilitators for this year’s workshop would be led by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria’s celebrated international writer.Other facilitators are Jeffery Renard Allen, Robert Spillman and Binyavanga Wainaina who has been part of the literary workshop since inception in 2009.

Jeffery Allen is a Professor of English at Queens College of the City University of New York and an instructor in the Writing Programme at The New School.

He is the author of two collections of poetry, Stellar Places (Moyer Bell 2007) and Harbors and Spirits (Moyer Bell 1999), and two works of fiction, the novel Rails Under My Back (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000), which won The Chicago Tribune’s Heartland Prize for Fiction, and the book of stories Holding Pattern (Graywolf 2008), which won The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.

NITAD plans 20th confab for Abuja NIGERIA Institute of Training and Development, NITAD, holds its 20th Annual Conference in Abuja, August 21-23, 2012. with the theme: "The training function and the bottom-line: A new Perspective”.

The conference, which would attract over 500 training and human resources practitioners from the public and private sectors, would be a forum for seasoned training, learning and development practitioners to brainstorm.

Conference Chairperson, Mrs. Jumoke Lambert, said in a statement in Lagos that the conference will provide an opportunity for cross-fertilization of ideas and bests practices in learning and development from various industries and human resource functions throughout Nigeria.

54 —

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

"P

USSY cat pussy cat where have you been?

I Have been to London to see the Queen” While waiting for my kids to provide me with the full… of this popular nursery rhyme, these two lines I believe are enough to explain the expedition of some Nigerians who left our shores some twenty days ago to London!

As if that was not enough, Saturday morning, Blessing Okagbare and triple jumper Tosin Oke were interviewed by a Supersports reporter on what they thought could have been responsible for Nigeria’s dismal outing at the Olympics.

Blessing waxed spiritual. She thanked God for ending the Olympics without injuries and for the season’s best time returned by the team…blah…blah.

Then came the bombshell by Oke. I quote. “….If you have rubbish preparations, you get rubbish results. I did not get adequate preparations hence my poor showing…..”

The triple jumper then went ahead to allege that despite the “ lot of funds released by government…” those funds do not get to the athletes!

From today we are set for the vituperation and bile that will accompany Nigeria’s poor showing.

We are also set for the excuses of those who will profess Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s doctrine of “ Glory in participation”. How I wish our officials told us when they were leaving our shores that they were only going to participate. They should not have raised our hopes, counted their chickens and rated this as the “best preparations ever”.

I pity the sports minister. He was dragged into this. And I am happy for the young man, whose eyes have now been opened to the realities on the ground.

No sooner was he sent to supervise the sports ministry that he was indoctrinated on the sins of the NFF and he nearly fell for it. It took the House of Representatives and Senate Sports Committees sittings to make him know better. I fell for him, when in the closing remarks of that sitting he said he was ready to prostrate, beg those who were embittered, wronged in the course of the acrimonious, selfish and senseless battle that nearly ruined our football.

It is to the credit of Minister Abdullahi that there is a relative peace in the house of football today and the results are being reaped, on the field.

When it came to the Olympics, I will never forget the boast of the NOC President on the floor of the Senate, who instead of contributing to the debate at hand stood up to sing praises of Olympic readiness, booked tickets and logo rebranding. Did I read somewhere that even Olympic pins did not arrive in time for the Games?

What about those Officials who took the next available plane home because they could not even get tickets to watch the Games? When President Ndanusa posted a disappointing tenure as Sports minister and was being forced on us as NOC President, some of us resisted and lost. Today, Gumel who was hounded out for Ndanusa is permitted to throw a “ I told you so” party!

Honourable minister did you say our sports has

"Pussy cat pussy cat where have you been . .? degenerated? Then you should ask questions. Since when did it get bad?

I remember vividly, my boxing ringside position at the Barcelona Olympics and how we posted six boxers in the quarter final thanks to the industry of the late Group Captain Brai Ayonote led Boxing Association.. I remember that two Nigerians, yes TWO were in the final line up of the 100 meters event. I remember that memorable run by Mary Onyali and co in the 4x100 metres relay final. I remember more.

Sir you came in and they told you stories. What are they telling you now? That a great country like Nigeria cannot win gold in a competition where Bahamas, Uganda, Belarus, Ethiopia, Gabon and Kenya exceledl? Honourable were you told that a nineteen year old Kershon Walcott won javelin gold for TRINIDAD and TOBAGO? (capitals mine).

For eleven consecutive years I have run a Mobil sponsored, AFN approved schools athletics championship in Akwa Ibom State, yet the products of that competition are not given any opportunity to grow even within the state, no thanks to the National Sports Festival culture that sacrifices the development of athletes on the altar of number of medals won. Ye Shiwens abound here, but who cares to fish them out, track and patiently nurture them to stardom?

Sir, are you aware that there was a team, Grashoppers Handball team of Owerri who were African champions in Handball?

Sir, just five, six years ago Nigeria dominated table tennis in the continent? We were a threat to the world in wrestling and weightlifting. Why did we not build on those achievements? What has happened to all our sports associations? I am sure you will want to see the development programmes of the associations in the last twelve months. Please ask for them.

How come we went into Olympic history books as the country that the US routed in basketball?

I became the laughing stock of my family whenever I came home to say “ this is our last hope”…..Okagbare….., Ogoke, Women Relay teams…Chukwumerije…… now my wife has told me to take heart, that very soon one of those win-

23 Eagles depart for Niamey •Free three for Sunshine Stars

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), at the weekend changed the travel plans of the senior national team by bringing it forward to Sunday evening after considering the logistics and security implications of the team traveling by road through Sokoto to the Nigerien capital; Niamey.

The team made of 23 players, technical crew and backroom staff eventually left the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport for Niger on Sunday evening for the friend-

ly that will take place on Wednesday in Niamey.

Eagles spokesman, Ben Alaiya, quotes Team Secretary, Dayo Enebi Achor, as saying that the change in plan was both strategic and at a cost to the federation but added that no matter what, the safety and security of any national team comes first to the football house. The team is expected to land in Niger, Sunday evening and starts training for the friendly on Monday. “We will have at least two quality training

•Keshi session to prepare for the match and that will help the boys to be ready for the task ahead and particularly, the upcoming Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in September”, Big boss Stephen Keshi declared.

P

RESIDENT of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club,Barrister Sam Egbuchunam has predicted further doom for Team Nigeria in the 2016 Olympics unless there was a change in the manner of sports administration in the country.

Speaking on the failure of Nigeria to pick a single medal at the London Olympics despite the boasts by officials of the National Sports Commission of “best [preparations ever ”, Egbuchunam said, “the trend is that we never prepare for competitions. We don’t have a talent hunt

ners will test positive and Nigeria will be catapulted to the medals podium. Not a laughing matter.

In Warri on Friday, a comedian stood up to disown Okagbare. That “ Warri no de carry last……”

Okagbare he said has been discovered to be of Sapele origin! Laughing away our sorrow.

The last time I felt this way was at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. After a woeful outing, the National Sports Commission asked for the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation to explain how monies released to it were expended and we supported the enquiry muscularly.

We knew we were not going to do well in London.

We knew. Even those who made you believe otherwise, knew but for one reason or the other, benefited in “ preparing along” You spoke about coming home to prepare. I pray fervently for you to survive as sports minister in a government where cabinet reshuffle is based on political patronage rather than professional savvy.

The South Africans have a slogan: “It takes a nation to win gold.” How apt.

There are so many positives to take away from the Olympics especially the standard of the women football event. I do not know whether our women coaches who have qualified for the world cup (U-20 and U-17 ) took time out to watch and analyse the progression of the sport.

This has attracted me particularly because FIFA in ordering national federations to appoint Technical Directors insisted that they must be coaches who will provide technical knowledge in the areas of youth, development and WOMEN football. For three years going we have not put that person in place, we have failed to draw from the FIFA grant that accompanies that appointment and seeing the technical advancement in women football in the Olympics I have no doubt in my mind that other countries have certainly left us behind.

Honourable minister, you spoke about the medals table reflecting the level of economic development.

Yes sir, yes sir, but certainly that will not hold true for Kenya, Ethiopia, Bahamas and Jamaica? Sir it will interest you to note that the Taekwondoist who beat Chukwumerije’s conqueror is from GABON. Gabon is therefore guaranteed at least a silver medal.

With the personnel and infrastructure that we have in place, billions of naira released will be money down the drain. Organization sir. Organization. International best practices, professionalism.

I quote Chief Segun Odegbami in Sunday’s issue of The Sun. “WE COULD BEGIN TO MAKE AMMENDS BY SHOVING ASIDE THOSE WHO ARE HOLDING NIGERIAN SPORTS HOSTAGE AND GOING AHEAD TO ENTRENCH A COMPREHENSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SPORTS POLICY IN THE SYSTEM “That team Great Britain came back from the Atlanta Olympics to ask “relevant questions”? Well spoken. .…….welcome back from London. see you next week

2016 Olympics could be worse — Egbuchunam system hence, no succession plan for our aging athletes.”

The club President said although he was not a soothsayer, he foresaw a very bleak future for Nigerian sports. “Okagbare came last in the women’s 100m race. That makes her the 8th best in the world. I don’t know if we could get one finalist in the next Olympics,”he said.

Egbuchunam insisted that for the country to successfully relaunch

herself to prominence in international sports, “we must get back to effective schools sports system to discover young talents, groom them and organise frequent competitions for the athletes.”

He frowned at the last minute ‘fire brigade’ approach adopted by sports officials in the training of athletes, pointing out that if smaller countries like Gabon, Mali,among others could produce medal winners, why not Nigeria.

Vanguard, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 — 55

London Olympics: Ali blames frequent changes in leadership for poor outing Olympic N

ATIONAL long jump coach, Yusuf Ali has blamed Nigeria’s poor outing at the London 2012 Olympic Games, which ended yesterday on frequent changes in the leadership of sports in the country.

Ali, a 1990 Commonwealth Games long jump gold medalist said in London that such changes had also led to changes in policies for sports development.

“Changes in the leadership of sports as far as I am concerned, affects sports development because it affects everything that concerns sports,” he said.

Ali said the current Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, had a vision that could take sports to a high level, if allowed to do his job.

“The minister has a direction to take sports to a greater height. I say this with all sincerity, he has

flops return today

the vision but he should be supported and left alone to do his job,” Ali said. The sports minister was appointed only two months to the Olympic Games.

Ali said that though Nigerian sprinters at the Games may not have won any medal, they did well.

“To me, the athletes did their best, especially the girls. Ajoke Odumosu broke the national record, Okagbare and others did their best,” said the Algeria 1988 African Championships gold medallist.

“World sprinters and athletes have stepped up their performances. Before, 10 seconds was the world record, but now it is 9 seconds.

“So, Nigerian sprinters should also step up their performances because the world is moving very fast.

The performance at this year’s Olympics will be a wake-up call for Nigeria to begin to prepare early for the next Games,” he said.

Continued from back page Long Jump) and Chika Chukwumerije in taekwondo had shown glimpses of world class athletes Nigerians could bank on.

The Women’s 4x400 relay team, the Wrestlers, weightlifters and the table tennis teams were all touted to be medal hopefuls.

When competition began in London, the table tennis players and boxers were the first set of athletes to return from the games.

Since their early exit, things never looked up for Team Nigeria as the entire contingent fell in quick succession to better prepared athletes of other competing countries.

As they return today, there will be calls for an inquest as to why the country performed so woefully at the quadrennial games.

Chelsea fans set to celebrate Mikel’s ‘Euro glory’

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

O

VER 60,000 Chelsea fans all over Nigeria are waiting eagerly to roll out the red carpet in honour of Super Eagles’ midfielder, John Obi Mikel over his UEFA championship victory on May 19 ,2012.

The ceremony which comes up on 2 nd September, 2012 tagged “A Night with Mikel is scheduled to hold at Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos.

Paul Sambo, the Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Breed, the organizers of the event said at a media briefing that there are over 3.5 million Chelsea FC fans in Nigeria and about two million in Lagos alone while over 60,000 of these eager fans are expected to storm Lagos for the Chelsea fans party.

“On the 19th of May 2012,

•Mikel Obi C M Y K

history was made, as the European club side, Chelsea FC for the first time since inception , won the coveted UEFA Champions League Cup. Out of the multinational squad of highly skilled professional football players that brought the unprecedented glory to Chelsea FC, John Obi Mikel was the only Nigerian. It goes without saying that Chelsea FC commands a great army of eager supporters across the length and breath of Nigeria and the rest of Africa”, he said. He urged Nigerians, sports lovers and Chelsea fans to support this event saying, “it is our event aimed at honouring our very own , John Obi Mikel.

Therefore, let us come out in large numbers with unity of purpose to make it a memorable one” Sambo also said the outline of the celebration include music fanfare where prominent artistes from the Nigeria music industry will be featured, ball joggling from past and present Super Eagles super stars, dance from various dance group while assuring on security of all that would be at the event.

CRASH LANDING . . . Nigeria’s Tosin Oke flops in the men’s triple jump final at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games in London. Photo: AFP

•Bolaji Abdullahi

City beat Chelsea to Community Shield

M

ANCHESTER City may not have yet secured the big-name signing manager Roberto Mancini is craving for, but they sent a message to their Premier League rivals after a 3-2 win over 10-man Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday.

With Wembley busy with Olympic duties, Birmingham’s Villa Park hosted the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season, which pitted league champions City against FA Cup and Champions League winners Chelsea, a week to the start of the Premier League.

Chelsea have spent more than 60 million pounds over the close season while City’s only major activity has been the likely purchase of Everton’s Jack Rodwell, which came to light hours before kickoff.

However goals from

Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri within12 second-half minutes proved they have more than enough firepower already. They were helped

by the first-half dismissal of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic for a challenge on Aleksandar Kolarov.

City, employing a new 3-4-3 formation, started

the brighter and it was against the run of play when Chelsea opened the scoring five minutes before halftime through Fernando Torres.

What Nigeria lacked – Itanyi Continued from back page returning in the months running to the Olympics track and field followers knew the winner would run about 10.8 seconds.

Blessing was running 11 seconds and only ran a sub 11 one week to the Olympics. She got to the Olympics and did her personal best two times, running 10.93 and 10.92.

I therefore maintain that Blessing did very well at the Olympics. Getting to the final was a great thing and running two personal best times was equally great. The prob-

lem was that Nigeria expected too much from her and the pressure possibly got to her.”

Itanyi, an Olympian, is a track and field coach in US. She also commended Ajoke Odumosu for reaching the final of 400m Hurdles. ”Ajoke surprised me.

She did well and reached the final. Nigeria lacked the athletes to beat the people ruling the tracks and these athletes who reached the final of their events did well as far as athletics is concerned. If you are

running 11.10 or 11.20 seconds and suddenly run 10.8 seconds to win gold then something must have gone wrong and IAAF will not test only your urine and blood they will even test your bone.”

The thing Nigeria did wrongly was not guiding Blessing to take Long Jump seriously.

She got bronze in Beijing in Long Jump and I thought that she would build on that. But she concentrated on 100m and did well only that people running faster times were many in the pool.”

VANGUARD, MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012

Olympic flops return today T

HE last batch of members of Team Nigeria to the London 2012 Olympics are being expected today after a fruitless campaign at the summer Games.

Nigeria took part in Table Tennis, Boxing, Taekwondo, Basketball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Athletics and 51 athletes were taken to London, none won a medal.

Before their departure, hopes were raised as some of the athletes, particularly the likes ofBlessing Okagbare (100m, 4x100m relay and Continues on Page 55

London Olympics: What Nigeria lacked – Itanyi P

AT Itanyi preferred not to talk about the sports ministry or Nigeria’s preparation for the just concluded London Olympics.

But she simply spoke about what the country lacked and what they did wrongly that cost them a possible medal at the Olympics. ”Nigeria lacked world class athletes and they mounted a lot of pressure on Blessing Okagbare,” Itanyi said from her US base. ”I wonder how a country would be going to the Olympics and every-

body would depend on one person for a medal.

They thought Blessing could win the gold medal in 100m. Although there are surprises in

sports but track and field is measurable. Blessing had never run 10.8 seconds in 100m and from the times athletes were Continues on Page 55

City beat Chelsea, win Community Shield — Page 55 MEDALS TABLE Country 1 USA 2 China 3 Great Britain 4 Russia 5 Germany 6 Japan 7 Australia 8 France 9 South Korea 10 Italy

Gold 46 38 29 24 11 7 7 11 13 8

Silver 29 27 17 25 19 14 16 11 8 9

Bronze 29 12 19 33 14 17 12 12 7 11

Total 104 87 65 82 44 38 35 34 28 28

•Odumosu TODAY'S

CHAMPIONS: City captain Vincent Kompany with the community shield.

PUZZLES FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Dulcet (5) 5 Undergo (6) 8 Correspond (5) 10 Gloomy (6) 11 Confess (4) 14 Spirit (6) 15 Pastoral (7) 18 Gain (3) 19 Cereal (3) 21 Obligation (4) 23 Scholar (5) 24 Lump (4) 27 Clique (3) 29 Swab (3) 31 Burst (7) 32 Charm (6) 34 Yawn (4) 35 To each (6) 38 Fragment (5) 30 Ace (6) 40 Condescend (5)

DOWN 2 Court (3) 3 Preserve (6) 4 Sailor (3) 5 Bogus (4) 6 Ornate (6) 7 Refuse (6) 9 Boring (7) 12 Swear (3) 13 Decline (4) 16 Information (4) 17 Antic (5) 20 Nominal (7) 22 Dim (4) 24 Scant (6) 25 Self-satisfied (4) 26 Consolation (6) 28 Streak (6) 30 Vigour (3) 33 Trial (4) 36 Cushion (3) 37 Tooth (3)

FRIDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Search 5, Scar 8, Bond 9, Hue 10, Spur 11, Void 12, Spray 13, Method 16, Sign 18, Emit 20, Arc 22, Set 23, Dam 24, Plea 25, Stem 28, Roving 30, Mould 32, Leer 33, Urge 34, Eye 35, Witty 36, Pose 37, United.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Scheme 2, Aperture 3, Cosmos 4, Carpenter 5, Savaged 6, Sate 7, Ride 8, Bus 14, Dissolute 15, Dim 17, Get 19, Manifest 20, Ale 21, Calorie 26, Modern 27, Agreed 29, Slip 30, Mews 31, Dry.

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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C M Y K