US Ambassador,three others killed

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61709

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

JUSTICE DELIVERY:

Fidelity emerges Telecoms Bank of the Year —P.14

CJN blames delay on AGF

LIBYA BOILS AGAIN:

US Ambassador, three others killed •FG places Military, Police on alert

•Tightens security around embassies, foreign missions •US Marines head to Libya; Justice 'll be done — Obama •United Nations condemns killings

Pg.8

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, KINGSLEY OMONOBI, WITH AGENCY REPORTS

L

AGOS—NIGERIA, yesterday, beefed up security around diplomatic installations, buildings and embassy personnel in response to the killing of United States’ Ambassador to Libya, Mr. Christopher Stevens and three embassy officials in the US consulate in Benghazi.

The consulate was looted and damaged.

The bodies of the four

Continues on Page 5

FG signs •P.26 performance agreement with 15 parastatals

Ojetunji Aboyade and Philip Asiodu:

Voices from an epoch of optimism •P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA Pg.19

THE HUB Pg.19

Mr & Mrs

KILLED IN LIBYA—Libyan civilians help a man, identified as US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, at the US consulate compound in Benghazi, early hours of yesterday after an overnight attack. Below right: An armed man waves his rifle as buildings and cars were engulfed in flames during the attack. Photo: AFP.

Otudeko appointed Chairman —P.14 FBN holdings

....Zenith, Visafone launch EaZyMoney —P.14

2— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

New Somali President escapes death E XPLOSIONS and gunfire have rocked the Mogadishu hotel where the newly elected Somali president was meeting with Kenya’s foreign minister and other dignitaries, witnesses say.

A bomb exploded outside the gate, followed by an exchange of fire. At least eight people have been killed.

Al-Shabab, a radical Islamist militia that is waging a war against the So-

mali government, opposed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s election saying it had been manipulated by the west.

The group claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday, according to a spokesman.

“We are responsible for the attack against the socalled president and the delegation,” spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told AFP. Reports from the Jazeera Palace hotel in Mogadishu, where the attack occurred on

Wednesday, said that two explosions had taken place, and that gunfire had erupted immediately after the first blast.

Mohamud and Sam Ongeri, the Kenyan foreign minister, escaped unharmed, Greste reported.

ability Project (SERAP), a non-governmental organisation has joined two Nigerians on death row

in Gambia to drag the country before the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, asking the court to

S/Africa’s miners protest persists

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ROTESTING South African miners have blocked access to shafts of platinum company Amplats as officials sought to prevent the

SERAP drags Gambia tto o ECO WAS o w ECOW ovver death ro row

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

S

OCIO-Economic Rights and Account-

stop their impending execution.

The Nigerians; Micheal Ifunanya and Stanley Agbaeze argued that the threat by the Gambian government to execute them publicly amounts to deliberate and willful disregard of the request by the African Commission to the effect that African countries including The Gambia should fully comply with their obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, guaranteeing very person accused of crimes for which capital punishment a fair trial. In the suit with No. ECW/CCJ/APP/11/12, instituted on behalf of the plaintiffs by Femi Falana, SAN, against the Gambian government, plaintiffs alleged that the threat of execution while they (2nd and 3rd plaintiffs) have been denied the right to appeal, violates their human rights to life; due process of law; access to justice and judicial independence; fair hearing; appeal, and to effective remedy.”

widening strike movement from turning into a nationwide revolt.

The latest unrest broke out on Wednesday along roads leading to a shaft run by Amplats - the world’s top platinum producer - in the same region as the Lonmin plant where 45 people have died in a wildcat strike that started last month.

Reports from Marikana in North West province, said that workers are demanding a pay raise to 12,500 rand, or about $1,500. “Its unclear at this stage where the peace negotiations are at, since they stalled for several days.”

She said that protests in Marikana, 100km north of Johannesburg, were inspiring protests to spread further. On Tuesday night, at the world’s largest platinum producer, Amplats, about a thousand workers confronted security.

“The company warned its workers to not turn up for work today because of high levels of intimidation,” she said. Workers “were unable to clock in for night shift due to fear of intimidation and threats by unidentified individuals in and around our Rustenburg operations”, Amplats spokesman Mpumi Sithole said in a statement.

US economy grows

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HOLESALE inven tories in July rose by the most in five months, beating forecasts in a sign economic growth started the third quarter on stronger footing than expected.

A separate report on Wednesday showed import prices rose in August as the cost of imported oil jumped, a factor that could weigh on American consumers and temporarily boost inflation.

Total wholesale inventories climbed 0.7 percent in July to $485.2 billion, the Commerce Department said. That was the biggest increase since February.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected stocks of unsold goods at U.S. wholesalers to rise 0.2 percent after falling by 0.2 percent in June.

U.S. economic growth

has been woefully slow since the 2007-2009 recession and too weak to push the unemployment rate below 8 percent. The weak economy has fueled expectations the Federal Reserve could try to lower borrowing costs by announcing a bond buying program as soon as this week.

Inventories are a key element in the government’s measure of changes in gross domestic product.

Weaker growth in inventories dragged on GDP during the second quarter, when the economy expanded at a 1.7 percent annual rate.

Economists polled by Reuters ahead of the inventory data expected the GDP growth rate to hold steady in the third quarter at 1.7 percent.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—5 THURSDA

POCKET CARTOON

Libya boils again: US Ambassador, three others killed Continues from Page 1 Americans were at the Benghazi Airport at press time. Reports said Libyan gunmen had attacked the U.S consulate in the Eastern city of Benghazi and set it on fire.

The move coincided with that of President Barak Obama, who has ordered increased security measures around all US diplomatic installations world wide just as a 50- member Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST), has been sent to Libya.

The Marines’ FAST detachment is specially trained to protect government workers overseas. Reports, yesterday, said Ambassador Stevens and three other US embassy staff were killed in a rocket attack at the US consulate and a building where some of the dead staff were taking refuge.

Before the attack in Benghazi, there had been violent protests in Egypt where protesters scaled the wall to destroy the embassy buildings, pulled down the American flag. The anti-American protest quickly

spread to Libya and other Arab states like Tunisia. The protests have been ignited by an amateur video which Muslims described as offensive, thereby provoking Muslim faithful.

The California-born ambassador Christopher Stevens played an active role in securing US support for rebels during their uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule.

U.S. President Barack Obama, whose administration supported the Libyan insurgency with funds, weapons and training, branded the killing an “outrageous attack” and ordered increased security at U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide.

Justice 'll be done — Obama Obama said: “No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for. Today we mourn four more Americans who represent the very best of the United States of America. We

LIFEWORDS

O

BY PASTOR ITUAH

NE of the most painful things on earth is one losing his own value in the process of valuing an entity or individuals too much because in the process of always trying to over value people, one may rather be tagged a very foolish fellow.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you —Jim Rohn

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O-one can define your life purpose for you.

Your life purpose is something within you. But first you must decide and know that you matter.

You are unique and different from everyone else and you are special. For 15 minutes each morning, take some time out to sit in a room free of distractions. Every day, try and find the time, an opportunity to sit quietly and concentrate on just being in the moment. Focus on you and experience a comfort within yourself.

To find out what matters to you and define your life purpose, it requires delving into your life from various angles to discover any matching themes.

You may want to find a nice quiet spot to answer these questions.

What do you love doing in your spare time or when working? What do you naturally do well? What are your 10 greatest successes throughout your life so far? (Note: this isn’t what someone else thinks, this is what you think) What causes do you feel passionate about?

What are the 10 most important lessons you have learned in life. How would your life be different today if you knew it was impossible to fail? Act as if your dreams are already a reality...and follow your bliss.

will not waver in our commitment to see that justice is done for this terrible act. And make no mistake, justice will be done."

The consulate attack followed a larger protest at the US Embassy in Cairo, where thousands shouted religious slogans and tore the US flag. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who dispatched Stevens to Benghazi said the second victim was identified as Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information management officer, who was a 10-year veteran of the State Department.

The two other victims have not been named at press time. Clinton said the government was working to contact their families.

Stevens was the sixth U.S. Ambassador to die by violence in the line of service. Two others had been killed in plane crashes. The United States was taking added security measures to protect her citizens worldwide after Tuesday’s attacks. The last time an American ambassador was murdered was in 1979, when the envoy to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, was kidnapped and killed during an attempt to rescue him, according to State Department records.

Al-Qaeda links The attack, which came less than two months to the US presidential election has been linked to Al-Qaeda revenge attack for the death of Abu Yaya alLibi, al Qaeda’s second in command killed a few months ago. It has raised questions about the future of U.S. diplomatic presence in Libya, because of the frosty relations between Washington and Tripoli, in the post-Gaddafi Libya.

US Marines and private contractors were charged with safeguarding diplomatic posts abroad and it was unclear how the attackers managed to breach security.

The Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team, under the authority of the US Navy’s Chief of Operations, was formed in 1987 to provide a fast response to security threats after a series of

terror attacks in the 1980s and 1970s.

Clinton mourns US deaths, vows to stand by Libya Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, yesterday, the killing of the US envoy to Libya and three others by “a small and savage group” should “shock” people of all faiths around the world.

Paying tribute to Ambassador Chris Stevens and his American coworkers killed when militants attacked the US mission in Benghazi, Clinton vowed the United States would not turn its back on Libya as it builds a new future.

“This is an attack that should shock conscience of people of all faiths around the world,” she said in a somber statement at the State Department.

FG places military, Police on alert Vanguard gathered that the Presidency which was still facing the embarrassment of spate of suicide bombings by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, would not want to be caught unawares.

Consequently, the government has directed

the armed forces and the Police to take preventive and decisive measures to contain a possible domino-effect of the crisis which broke out on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States.

Vanguard learnt that the Nigeria Police have taken proactive security measures to ensure that no similar violence was replicated within the country. A statement signed by Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, noted that the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has placed all Police Formations across the Federation on red alert.

According to Mba, “the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and Command Commissioners of Police to ensure a 24hour water-tight security in and around all Embassies and Foreign Missions in Nigeria as well as other vulnerable targets.

“In addition, the AIG in charge of Intelligence and Commissioners of

Police in charge of the various Police Special Squads such as the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Special Protection Unit (SPU) have been directed to ensure that their personnel are strategically deployed to prevent and nib all potential crisis in the bud.

On the part of the military, Vanguard learnt that General Officers Commanding the Divisions and Corps Commanders in the Country and their equivalent in other services were yesterday directed to work with other security agencies to ensure that there was no out break of violence. For the Army, Quick Response military outfits, Counter terrorism and Special forces were to be deployed for patrols while places of worship and religious leaders were to be monitored to ensure they don’t instigate their followers into violence.

The Navy and Air Force were to follow suit.

US diplomatic missions in trouble spots

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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OR either good or bad reasons, the United States has sent troops, 24 times or more, to about 19 countries of the world. From Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Afghanistan, Liberia, Iraq to Libya, the mission has been to protect its interests or that of its nationals.

Below are an estimated timeline of troops from US that have invaded other countries for different reasons at different times.

2000–2009 *2000 – Sierra Leone.

On May 12, 2000 a US Navy patrol craft was

deployed to Sierra Leone to support evacuation operations from that country if needed. *2000 - Nigeria. Special Forces troops sent to Nigeria to lead a training mission in the county. *2000 – Yemen. On October 12, 2000, after the USS Cole attack in the port of Aden, Yemen, military personnel were deployed to Aden. *2000 – East Timor.

On February 25, 2000, a small number of U.S. military personnel were deployed to support the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). *2001 – On April 1, 2001, a mid-air collision between a United States

Navy EP-3E ARIES II signals surveillance aircraft and a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) J-8II interceptor fighter jet resulted in an international dispute between the United States and the People’s Republic of China called the Hainan Island incident. *2001 – War in Afghanistan. The War on Terrorism began with Operation Enduring Freedom. On October 7, 2001, US Armed Forces invade Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks and “begin combat action in Afghanistan against Al Qaeda terrorists and their Taliban supporters.”

See more on Page 15

6—Vanguard , THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

FG secures $1.1bn loan from China zFor Abuja light rail, airport terminal

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF & MICHAEL EBOH

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PRESIDENT JONATHAN VISITS BOTSWANA—From right: Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Muhammed Sanda; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed; Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; and Culture and Tourism Minister, Dr. Edem Duke during bilateral talks with their counterparts from Botswana, on Tuesday. Photo: State House.

PDP to hold crucial meeting with govs, founding fathers zWe 'll regain lost states in 2015—Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday disclosed that plans have been concluded for a very crucial meeting between the National Working Committee, NWC, governors elected on the party’s platform and founding members to strategise.

According to him, if the continued existence of the party must be guaranteed, it has become imperative for the NWC to immediately hold a summit for stakeholders, including founders of the party.

Speaking yesterday when he received in his private residence in Abuja leaders of the party from the SouthWest, the PDP National Chairman stressed that the NWC will engage these governors in what he described as brainstorming session with a view to reshaping and consolidating on the PDP electoral fortunes, ahead 2015.

Tukur also boasted that the party will regain all the lost states in the 2015 general elections, just as he said the PDP will no longer tolerate incompetent and discredited aspirants into positions of office.

According to him, the PDP was ever ready to launch internal democracy with its operations in all parts of the country, just as he promised that openness, transparency and fairness will be the watchword during the 2015 election.

The PDP National Chairman reiterated that the party has begun the process of consolidating on its electoral strength which the new reform being packaged by its National Working Committee, NWC, adding that the ongoing reform within the party in line with his 12-point Agenda of Three Rs. Three Es and Three Ds are designed to widen the horizon for PDP to retain the states currently in its control while winning the ones the party had lost by 2015.

The delegation was led by Chief Oyewole Fasawe, with Chief Ademola Adepegba; chief Remilekun Iyiola; Prof Ishola, among others as part of those who visited him.

Speaking further, Tukur who noted that with the new status of party supremacy being enjoyed by the ruling party, the sky would be the limit for it in executing all its progressive agenda, even as he urged every member of the party to contribute to the agenda, adding that the umbrella of the party was being

reconstructed to make it more attractive and accommodate more political players who may wish to join the party.

According to him the new reform by the party would make it more robust, all encompassing, technology driven as well as prepared to deliver more dividends of democracy to all. Tukur noted that with the resolve

by PDP to do things differently beginning from now, members of the party who had long decamped would find the PDP more attractive, while they would have no alternative than to reconnect with the party early enough before 2015.

Tukur said, “Some people are accusing us of not doing anything. But you and I know that we need not rush in embarking on actions aimed at making our great party regain its groove in political engineering and operations. We are, at the moment, making consultations with PDP elders, youths, women and every relevant groups on how best to take off so that we begin to regain the lost grounds, henceforth.

“I am saying that we have started reconstructing our beautiful umbrella and in the process, we will plug all loopholes, we will extend the shelter, we will strengthen the structure and make it more attractive

to everybody. At the end of it all, PDP will rise up powerfully and prove its strength as the only National Party in Nigeria through subsequent elections that will be devoid of rigging.

“I hereby call on you our dear members in all states of the federation to join us in the process of making PDP the only attractive party with inputs from the youths and women most especially since we are now inclined to give more space to the youths and women in our new ideology and agenda.”

HE Federal Government has secured a loan facility totaling $1.1 billion from the Chinese Export-Import, EXIM, Bank with which to complete the Abuja Light Rail project and build four new airports’ terminals across the country.

According to the agreement for the facility signed in China, yesterday, the Abuja Light Rail project will take $500 million and the Galaxy Backbone ICT infrastructure which will be financed with $100 million.

The third project will be the construction of four state-of-the-art airport terminals in four cities across the country at the cost of $500 million. The terminals will be located in Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to Finance Minister on Media and Publicity, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, described the projects as “high priority, high impact projects meant to realize President Goodluck Jonathan’s pledge to boost critical infrastructure in the country”.

He said that yesterday’s agreement was the culmination of a process which has been on for several months and has included the approval of the Federal Executive Council and a visit to the Asian country in February by high powered Federal Government delegation.

The loan agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria

by the Coordinating Minister of Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and, Managing Director of China Exim Bank, Mr Sun Ping.

Explaining the rationale for prioritising the projects, Dr Okonjo-Iweala said that the projects are targeted at making a difference in the lives of Nigerians across socio-economic segments.

According to her, “President Goodluck Jonathan is keeping his promise to Nigerians through these important projects. The light rail in Abuja will improve transportation for all residents, especially the working class. The backbone will help to improve service delivery in areas like education and health while empowering the youths with better connectivity to the rest of the world. And the four new airport terminals will like the others create jobs and also ensure that Nigerian air passengers enjoy the services and convenience that their counterparts in other parts of the world take for granted.”

In line with the Federal Government’s policy of prudence with regard to loans, the facility was obtained on highly favourable concessional terms of 2.5 per cent interest over 20 years with a grace period of seven years.

One part of the intra-city rail network will extend from the city centre to Kubwa and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The second will run from the city centre to Masaka in Nassarawa State. Both are high density, high traffic routes.

NJC queries Osun CJ nominee

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE National Judicial Council, NJC, has commenced investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption, leveled against Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s nominee for the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole.

Justice Oyewole who is currently serving under the High Court of Lagos State was dragged before the NJC by an ex-convict, Chief Emmanuel Nwude, who was accused with one Mrs. Martina Anajemba of

obtaining money running into millions of dollars, by false pretence (a.k.a 419), leading to the liquidation of a Brazilian bank.

In his petition, Nwude alleged that “the judge made orders against properties related to me situated outside Lagos state despite the fact that he had no jurisdiction to do so.”

According to him, “I immediately appealed against the judgment and whilst the appeal was pending, the judge made further orders without notice to me, that the properties be vested in persons who were not

parties in the charge against me and who had nothing to do with the case.

His lordship started sitting on the case whilst I was being detained and conspired with EFCC officials and lawyers and by ex-parte process, ordered the land registries of the respective states where the properties were situated to register the title over the properties in favour of strangers to the judgment.

“The case file relating to these processes was subsequently destroyed by the judge such that all efforts to get them at the court registry became abortive".

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 7

Ritualists kill lunatic, steal son in Anambra zShe slumped, there's no son— Police

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THERE was confusion at the popular Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, yesterday, following the murder of an insane woman by suspected ritualists, who allegedly snatched her five-year-old son.

However, police in Onitsha presented a different version of the incident, saying it was not ritualists that killed the woman, but that she might have

slumped and died.

An eyewitness in Onitsha had said the woman was sitting with her son at Upper Iweka, yesterday, when suspected ritualists accosted her and forcefully took her son. The source said she was killed because she put up resistance.

The police have deposited the woman’s body at the Onitsha General Hospital mortuary.

Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Onitsha Central Po-

lice Station, Mr. Abdul Yusuf, confirmed the death of a woman, but dismissed the ritualists angle of the story.

According to the DPO, there was no person who saw when the ritual-

ists killed the woman, adding that it was likely that the woman just slumped and died.

He also said nobody confirmed seeing the woman with a boy, but stated that the Police was

still investigating the matter. He added that no parts of the woman’s body was removed and the police has not seen anybody or family member who reported the case of a missing boy.

Police kill 1 robber, injure 4 in gun battle

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—ONE person was feared dead and four others injured, yesterday, when suspected armed robbers engaged members of the State AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, in a gun battle at Agulu in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. All

the victims were members of the robbery gang.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Raphael Uzoigwe, the suspected robbers were those that allegedly killed two members of a vigilante outfit at Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area, Tuesday.

HEALTH: From right— Dr. Wale Alabi, CEO, Global Resources and Project West African Health; Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, Ogun State Commissioner for Health; and Dr. Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, at the 8th International Medical Exhibition and 2012 West African Health Conference on Financing Healthcare Delivery in West Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, organised by West African Health in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

2015: Opposition parties to adopt one candidate in Enugu

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—A grand coalition of all the opposition parties in Enugu State has been formed to take on Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2015 governorship election.

The coalition, which was a fallout of yesterday’s meeting of the state chapter of Conference of National Political Parties, CNPP, in Enugu, resolved to present a sole candidate against PDP in the 2015 elections.

The opposition group also faulted Governor Sullivan Chime’s plan to build a N13 billion state secretariat complex, saying such a gigantic project should not be a priority of a state that is being weighed down by increasing youth unemployment.

Abia, PPMC in war of words over pipeline vandalisation

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State government has accused the management of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited, PPMC, of sabotaging efforts of the Federal and state governments to ensure availability of petrol at the newly re-opened Osisisioma Depot near Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

The government alleged that PPMC was conniving with operators of tank farms to claim that pipelines that pump products from Eleme to Osisioma were being vandalised when in fact the reverse was the case as the pipelines were being guided round the clock by soldiers.

The face-off between the government and PPMC was sparked off via a letter dated August 6, 2012, by PPMC to the government, claiming that it has lost 2.7 million litres of petrol worth over N232 million to vandals between July 5 and July 19, 2012.

In the letter, PPMC named the areas where the “multiple vandalism” took place to include Eleme axis, kilometre 19.1 at Ubaku and kilometre 26.6 at

Owaza, adding that “the vandals carried out these nefarious activities undetected.

The letter signed by Dr. A. Fagbure, said: “We wish to urge Abia State Government to intensify its campaign against pipelines vandalism among the communities to enlighten the people of the dangers of this nefarious act.

“This is due to the fact that NNPC may be compelled to shut the line once again if successful pumping of petroleum products through the lines cannot be

guaranteed.”

However, the state government, through the Commissioner for Petroleum and Solid Mineral Resources, Chief Don Ubani, dismissed it as “spurious” and “in bad faith.”

He said: “We see the letter as spurious, a blackmail to discontinue pumping fuel to Abia State. My investigation showed that some people, who operate tank farms, were behind it. They want to sabotage the Osisioma depot. There is no truth in the letter.”

Anambra spends N1.9bn on pensioners

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—ANAMBRA State government spends about N1.9 billion every month to pay 52,770 civil servants and pensioners in the state, the state Head of Service, HOS, Chief Chidi Ezeoke has said.

Speaking in an interview, yesterday, in Awka, the HOS explained that there are about 14,000 civil servants and 9,000 workers in the local government system; 12,178 teachers, 9,368 pensioners from the civil

service, and 8,032 pensioners in the local government system.

He said though the number of civil servants could not be said to be high, the reason for the high wage bill was because the state civil service is heavy at the top and light at the bottom.

He said the reason for the top-heavy civil service that whenAnambraStatewascreated in 1991, most of the senior civil servants were from Anambra and the new state, therefore, inherited high wage bill from its inception.

8 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

NEW SANS TAKE OATH

A cross section of new silks who were elevated to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, during their swearing-in conducted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar at the Supreme Court, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

From left: Femi Falana, Francis Chuka Agbu, Henry Oghogho Ogbodu, and others.

Justice delivery CJN blames AGF over delay zNo, it is indiscipline of the bar— Adoke

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

From left, Newly elevated members of the bar, Paul Ananaba, SAN; Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Alfa Begore and Chris Uche, SAN, during the swearing-in of 2012 SAN in Abuja, yesterday. Pix: Gbemiga Olamikan.

BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, yesterday, blamed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, for unwittingly contributing to undue delay in the prosecution of high profile cases of corruption in the country.

The CJN who stated this on a day she administered oath on 25 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria, insisted that “the courts cannot on their own prosecute criminal cases,” noting that “on the streets of Nigeria and beyond, the cry for justice lingers.”

25 new SANs According to the CJN, “the administration of justice is not confined to the courts; it encompasses officers of the law and others From right: Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Ikeddy whose duties are necessary to ensure that the courts Isiguzo and Paul Ananaba, SAN. function effectively.”

Besides, Justice Mukhtar who equally used the occasion to flag-off the 2012/ 2013 legal year of the Supreme Court, stressed that “the society can operate under the rule of law only if laws are administered fairly, rationally, consistently, impartially and devoid of any improper influences that may be inconsistent with each of these objectives,” adding “ without judicial independence, there can be no preservation of democratic values.”

She said: “the prison Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Chairperson Senate Committee on Gas Resources system for instance presents (left); Paul Ananaba and his wife, Mrs. Ananaba.

a horrific state that calls for urgent attention. There are presently an estimated number of 40, 000 prisoners in Nigeria with about two thirds of this population not convicted. Perhaps the Amnesty International is correct for laying blame on the Nigerian judiciary.

Unnecessary adjournments of cases along with the attendant ills of the courts to ensure that inmates are tried within a reasonable time, comes into play here.

40,000 prisoners in Nigeria “ I n t e r e s t i n g l y, administration of justice, with particular reference to criminal law, is a compendious term that stands for all the complexes of activities that operate to bring the substantive law of crime to bear, or to keep it from coming to bear, on persons who are suspected of having committed crimes.

“It refers to the rules of law that govern the detection, investigation, apprehension, prosecution and trial of persons suspected of crime and those persons whose responsibility it is to work within the rules.

“The administration of justice is not confined to the courts; it encompasses officers of the law and others whose duties are necessary to ensure that the courts function effectively.

“The constitution provides that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as the Chief law officer of the Federation has the power to institute, undertake, take-over, continue or discontinue

criminal proceedings before the courts of law in Nigeria in respect of offences created under any Act of the National Assembly.

“It, therefore, follows that the courts cannot on their own prosecute criminal cases, there must be the willingness of all prosecuting agencies to prosecute cases brought before our courts, especially high profile cases of corruption and all others.

“I am not unaware of the challenges but let me mention here that the efforts of some State administration aimed at introducing alternative punitive measures as a way of prison decongestion is commendable. Community Service, non-custodian sentences and probation as they operate in a host of other countries have been suggested by different quarters.

An implementation of these policies will no doubt be of great benefit to the government and the society at large.

“Efforts will also be made in the new legal year and again in the course of my headship of the Nigerian Judiciary to ensure speedy disposal of cases in our courts at all level. Slow delivery of justice is one salient area that concerted efforts will be devoted to,” the CJN added.

More so, she lamented that one of the major problems confronting administration of justice in Nigeria was inadequate funding for the judiciary, particularly at the state level, saying “it is regrettable that some State Executives treat the Continues on Page 16

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 2012—9

L-R: Christopher J.F. Harrop, Director, Oando Energy Resources, Omamofe Boyo, Deputy Group Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, both of Oando PLC and Pade Durotoye, CEO, Oando Energy Resources during the listing of Oando Energy Resources – first Nigeria’s indigenous oil and gas company on the Toronto Stock Exchange, on Wednesday, September 11, 2012 in Toronto Canada.

PL-R: Dr. Taofeek Folami, Special Adviser to Governor on Environment; Mr. Tunji Bello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment; Mr. Olukunle Shotade, General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), during the handingover of all the Lagos State parks and gardens to LASPARK, by Lagos State Ministry of Environment, at Confernce Room, Ministry of Environment, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Tuesday.Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Akingbola in witness box, denies stealing N47.1bn

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

I

KEJA – Former Man aging Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank), Dr Erastus Akingbola yesterday stepped into the witness box to defend the allegation of stealing N47.1 billion brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC while he held sway as the Chief Executive Officer of the bank.

Akingbola who was led in evidence in the witness box for more than five hours by his counsel, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, put up a strong defense against several allegations of fraud levied against him.

He however admitted being the Chairman of two of the companies mentioned in the transactions leading into the charge in court. Ac-

cording to him, the companies were formed by him more than 15 years ago.

He described the allegations against him by the anti-graft agency as false, incorrect and malicious.

He told the court in his evidence in chief that he neither authorised nor benefitted from any of the transactions for which he was being prosecuted.

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS police command yesterday exonerated its men over the death of a 56-year-old driver of the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS, who was allegedly died on Tuesday evening, when he was stopped by some policemen at-

•300,000 to brush teeth simultaneously

L

AGOS State government, yesterday, said over 300, 000 persons will simultaneously compete in the Lagos World Record Tooth Brushing Challenge in December, aimed at creating a new Guinness Book of Records in tooth brushing across the world.

The state government also said preventive dental health care department will be established in the entire Primary Health Care, PHCs, in the state.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Dr. Yewande

the NOSTRO account.

“Like any other customer of the bank or any Nigerian that needs foreign exchange, I commissioned the bank to buy them for me.

“I put the naira equivalent down before they bought the exchange and my transfers did not go through until the naira equivalent was in the

Police did not beat LASAMBUS driver to death — Lagos PPRO

Lagos targets new record in Guinness Book

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

He denied ever transferring 8.5 million and 1.3 million Pounds Sterling belonging to the bank to Fulgher Solicitors, a United Kingdom-based law firm between March and July 2009.

“My Lord, this is not correct because money was not paid from the bank’s NOSTRO account but through

hands of our foreign operations department staff,” he said. He said the naira equivalent was sourced from Regal Investment Company Ltd., owned by the Board Chairman of Intercontinental Bank, Dr Raymond Obieri, who granted him a N2.2 billion loan.

The former managing director added that after sourcing the money, he instructed the bank’s Head of Foreign Operations, Mrs Ayoola Ayinde, to go ahead

Adeshina, who disclosed this, at a world press conference held yesterday at the World Oral Day, said that the project will commence with the establishment of two centres next month.

The current record of 177, 003 in tooth brush challenge was set by India in 2007.

Adeshina said; “The toothbrush challenge programme tagged ‘Do not wait: address your future now,’ is not just solely aimed on shattering the world record on December 5 alone, but the challenge will also provide vital information for future research baseline on oral health planning in the state.”

tached to Surulere division for violating the new traffic law.While some LASAMBUS staff accused the policemen of hitting the deceased, Jimoh Fasasi ,with the butt of their guns during a scuffle that ensued between them and the deceased, the Lagos State Police Command described the claim as untrue, asserting that the deceased slumped and died moments later in the hospital.

The late Fasasi was reportedly riding home on his motorbike on the fateful evening. However, on reaching Stadium Bridge around Barracks at about 7p.m., a team of policemen who were enforcing the new traffic law reportedly confis-

cated his motorcycle for plying the bridge, as action that is unlawful.

A LASAMBUS staff who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that the deceased contacted his office informing one Lateef, of the development.

According to the staff who pleaded anonymity; “Fasasi told Lateef that a policeman was beating him at Surulere, urging him to rush down. We were later told that as the policeman continued hitting him with the butt of his gun, he slumped in the process and started foaming in the mouth” But when contacted,spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braid, a

Deputy Superintendent of Police, stated emphatically that the policemen did not have a hand in Fasasi’s death.

“Rather, investigation conducted around the scene,” according to her, “revealed that after making calls on his phone, the deceased moved close to a petty trader who was selling soft drinks.

“When he got there, he started panting while the trader was staring at him.

But after some time, he fell down and started shaking and foaming from the mouth. He was immediately rushed to the Island General Hospital, where the Divisional Police Officer was called at night to say he had died.”

with the transfers.

“I do not know if the transactions passed through his personal domiciliary account with the bank because there is no complaint from the beneficiary.

“I could only have known such things if there was a complaint from the beneficiary in the UK but there was none. If I may add my Lord, Intercontinental Bank was a bank with over 1,000 branches in Nigeria, 50 in Ghana and in other countries and so I had no time to be checking such things, ‘’ Akingbola, however, admitted that he was the chairman and a signatory to the accounts of Tropics Securities Ltd, being managed by Dada, Tropics Property Ltd, Tropics Finance Ltd and Balkison Nigeria Ltd. The EFCC had claimed that Akingbola used his influence to instruct the bank to pay N18.6 billion to these companies for the purpose of buying shares on behalf of the bank.

Responding to the allegation, he said: “I never processed, instructed or authorised such payments and neither did I receive any money from these companies, not to talk of stealing it.

“I am only a signatory to their accounts because I signed when the accounts were being opened about 15 years ago."

Woman claims husband attempted to poison her

A

OLUWATOSIN OLUWARINU

33-year-old woman, Mrs. Grace Adegboyega, told an Agege Grade A Customary Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Shokunle that her husband, Sunday Adegboyega, attempted to kill her by poisoning her drink and informing people of

her death.

The plaintiff added that she was shocked when her ‘husband’s lover ’ came to their home to sympathize with her husband over the ‘demise of his wife.

She added that when she asked about the identity of the dead, the visitor responded that Sunday told her that she died few

days ago.

Narrating her story, Mrs. Adegboyega said, “While l was pregnant, my husband poured kerosene into my food.

“Shortly after the incident, my husband decided to stay away from home, claiming he was busy working in a factory, not knowing that he had impregnated another wom-

an whom he was staying with.”

She therefore urged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her custody of the children.. But Adegboyega denied the allegations, saying he met his wife 15 years ago at Akoko in Ondo State and they moved to Lagos thereafter.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,

2012

3 years after, PDP re-admits Fayose As Sambo heads Ondo Campaign Committee Committee, NWC of the

BY HENRY UMORU party.

BUJAThree The party also ahead of years after the the October 20 Ondo former governor of Ekiti State gubernatorial State, Chief Peter Ayo election, has put in place Fayose dumped the a 32-member National Peoples Democratic Campaign Committee Party, PDP for the Action with Vice President Congress of Nigeria, Namadi Sambo as the ACN, the party ’s Chairman.

National Chairman, It will be recalled he Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was elected the governor yesterday re-admited of Ekiti state on the him into the party’s fold. platform of the PDP, he This was part of the was later removed, but in decisions arrived at the 2009, Ekiti re-run, he yesterday at the 315th was made a member of National Working the 52-member campaign

A

L-R: Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, MON, Sector Commander, FRSC, Lagos; Mr. Lateef Aderemi Ibirogba, Hon Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy; Barr. Jide Ologun, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State Chapter, during a recent visit to Radio Nigeria on Matters Arising on the New Lagos State Road Traffic Administration Laws, at FRCN, Ikoyi, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Ekiti LG workers start indefinite strike .Govt says it's blackmail

BY GBENGAARIYIBI ADO EKITI

E

KITI State council workers under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Local

Government, NULGE, yesterday declared an indefinite strike over the inability of the state government to pay the N19,000 minimum

Mimiko's aides accuse ACN of plotting to fake LP agents

BY DAYO JOHNSON AKURE

T

HE Olusegun Mimiko campaign Organisation yesterday alleged that the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, had produced about 300,000 units of vests and face caps to impersonate the party during the October 20 governorship election in the state.

Addressing newsmen and displaying the vest and caps in Akure, the Director General of the Organisation, Akin

Adaramola, said that the opposition party had taken possession of 300.000 of the 500,000 produced at an undisclosed location in Lagos.

Adaramola added that the plan of the opposition party was to “make their boys to wear the vests and fez caps with the Mimiko name on the election day.

“They planned to take photographs and document the incident for the purpose of presenting them as evidence at the election petition tribunal.

PDP candidate denies marginalisation allegation

BY DAYO JOHNSON AKURE

T

HE Olusola Oke governorship Campaign Organisation in Ondo State yesterday denied that some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party were marginalised which may affect the party’s chances at the October 20 governorship elections.

A group called Ondo State Coalition for Positive Change had alleged that the marginalisation of the chieftains of the party will spell doom for the

party in the election.

But the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity of Oke Campagn Organisation, Kunle Adebayo said in Akure that the statement by the group is a misrepresentation of the truth.

According to Adebayo, “It is not only hundreds of miles away from the realities in the party; it appears motivated by a sectional interest focused at diminishing the soaring status of the Ondo PDP by painting a picture of disunity, disaffection .

wage.

The aggrieved workers carried placards of various inscriptions including; ‘Fayemi must pay our minimum wage’, ‘Enough is enough’, ‘Mr Governor should address the issue of minimum wage’, ‘Fayemi should stop diverting the council funds’.

Meantime, the state government has expressed dismay that a section of NULGE members has succumbed to cheap blackmail by allowing themselves to be used by some disgruntled politicians to disturb the existing peace in the state under the leadership of governor Kayode Fayemi.

A statement from the office of the state’s Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Mr. Apalara WoleAdewumi, however, warned the leadership of NULGE to stop any further protest as government cannot be intimidated through any act that could lead to the breach of public peace.

Speaking on the strike, President of NULGE, Ekiti State, Comrade Dele Ajayi, the National Treasurer, Comrade Oluyemi Esan and Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Ekiti, Comrade Ayodeji Aluko, told the workers who trooped out in their numbers that they would do everything to ensure that the minimum wage is paid to the council workers.

They expressed displeasure at the way the Local Government workers were being

deprived of the minimum wage while other categories of workers in the state have been enjoying the new salary since May this year.

His words: “Before coming up with this position, the union has taken due process by intimating the government with various communications on the issue of minimum wage and gave 21 days ultimatum, followed by 14 days, seven days and finally three days which lapsed 11.59p.m. yesterday. Since nothing positive has been heard from government, I hereby invoke the power vested on me by the

constitution of our great union by declaring a trade dispute via an indefinite strike.”

The state government, however, stated that it is on record that the leadership of NULGE and government representatives agreed on a meeting slated for 1p.m. on 11th September, 2012 following the notice of three-day ultimatum but the union backed out of the meeting even without notice.

“In spite of this u n f o r t u n a t e d e v e l o p m e n t , government is still ready to accede to the legitimate requests of NULGE.

Committee that was headed by the then Vice President and now President Goodluck Jonathan.

But before the election, he dumped the party to work with the incumbent, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, just as the then PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor described his action of leaving PDP as a political suicide.

In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh at the end of the meeting, Fayose will be free to enjoy all the privileges of the party like other members.

Metuh’s statement read: ‘’The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 315th regular meeting held on Wednesday, 12th September 2012 considered important party matters and arrived at the following resolutions. ‘’The NWC ratified the re-admission of Dr. Peter Ayo Fayose into the party with effect from 14th September 2011. The NWC also approved a waiver for Dr. Fayose in line with the provision of Article 8(a) and Article 17.2 (g) of the PDP Constitution. ‘’By this action, Dr. Fayose is cleared to enjoy all rights and privileges of a member.

Akeredolu blasts LP on Lagos beautification claims

BY CHARLES KUMOLU that Labour Party, LP,

T

HE Akeredolu C a m p a i g n Organization, ACO, has dismissed claims that the urban renewal being implemented by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola was designed when Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko was the Minister of Housing and Urban development.

It also described as laughable, reports that Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, National Leader, Bola Tinubu was using Adaba FM, Unique FM, and TVC to incite people against Mimiko’s government.

A statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of ACO, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, stated

lacked the capacity and competence to transform Ondo.

According to him, ‘’we wish to bring the attention of the good people of Ondo State, the latest series of antics and falsehood by the drowning Labour Party(LP) that the urban renewal being implemented by iconic progressive Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola was designed by Governor Olusegun Mimiko when he was a Minister of Housing and Urban Development.’’

Ajanaku further said, ‘’We want to categorically state that the Mimiko led government lacks the capacity, competence and creativity to transform

Ondo State, as such could not be trusted to do more than the cosmetic projects we have already seen. In fact, we have heard Governor Mimiko declared that he will continue to be a government of markets, town halls and stalls builders.’’

In addition, he urged the people of Ondo not to allow themselves to be deceived by LP, adding that ACN would replicate Fashola’s feat in the state. ‘’Ondo people should vote massively for Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), another SAN in the mould of Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State for a true transformational leadership."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—11

Flood sacks 178 homes in Kaduna

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

SCREENING: From right: Elder Najite Kuejubola,member; Mr. Amaju Pinnick, Chairman; Mr. Ejiro Etoroma, member and Mr. Gabriel Okpuno, member, during the screening for appointment as chairman and members of Delta State Sports Commission, at Delta State House of Assembly, yesterday.

Photo: Nath Onojake.

ADUNA—PARTS of Kaduna town lying close to the flood plains of Kaduna River were submerged yesterday after several days of downpour.

Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, official put the number of affected homes at 178, though many residents dispute the figure.

Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mr. Ishaku Makam, said areas af-

Don't arrest me, Delta monarch begs Police

BY FESTUS AHON

Ripples as Delta Assembly dissolves U DESOPADEC

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

S A B A — D E LT A State House of Assembly, yesterday, dissolved the state Oil Producing Areas Commission, DESOPADEC, over alleged poor performance and directed the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to send fresh names to them for screening and confirmation.

However, a source close to the commission, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter, shortly after the House session, that “this is just a mere smokescreen because some of them have interest in contract execution, which they want at all cost without following due process.

So we are not surprised they are coming up with this rash decision. Secondly, they have no power to dissolve the board as they can only advise the governor on the issue.”

The nine-member commission, led by Mr. Oritsua Kpogho, was sworn in

by Governor Uduaghan on August 25, last year after the exit of the pioneer chairman, Chief Wellington Okirika.

At the sitting of the House, yesterday, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Johnson Erijo, who moved the motion under matters of urgent public importance, said that 26

out of the 29-member House had already signed a vote of no confidence on the commission.

The motion reads: “That this House in accordance with section 12 of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission 2006, as amended, do hereby dissolve the Chairman and members

F

ORMER Minister of Petroleum, Prof.

Tam David-West, has described the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, on the Chairman of Globacom, Mr. Mike Adenuga, as a way of balancing the bestowing of a similar honour on another frontline entrepreneur,

GHELLI—THE Orovworere of Effurun-Otor Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, HRM Eyareya Ogbogbo IV, has urged the Inspector General of Police to prevail on men and officers of Delta State Police Command to desist from arresting him and further arresting some of his subjects, pending the determination and enforcement of rights suit he initiated

before a Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun.

The monarch, in a petition addressed to the IG, noted that the court had granted them an interim order to enforce their fundamental human rights.

He added that the court also restrained the police from arresting them as a result of a petition lodged against them bordering on unlawful and dangerous conduct of kidnapping and promoting war, pending the determination of the substantive suit in court.

Three bank officials docked over alleged Bankers c'ttee to Sanusi: Don’t tamper with lower denominations N77m fraud posed N5,000 note into

BY EMMANUEL

BY EMMA AMAIZE & EMMA ARUBI

S

APELE—THREE bank officials have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Sapele, Delta State, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N77 million from Multiple Credit Limited, a cooperative society, under pretence.

The accused are Chinedu Njoku, Desi Austin and Tennyson

Ikpi. They were alleged, alongside others, of conspiring among themselves in July 2012, to obtain money under false pretence, an offence that is contrary to Section 8 of Advance Fee Fraud Act, Cap A, Laws of the Federation, 1995.

While Chinedu was specifically charged for obtaining N27.3 million from Multiple Credit Limited under false pretence, Desi and Tennyson were accused of ob-

Adenuga’s GCON balances North/South equation —David-West entrepreneural spirit.

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

of DESOPADEC with immediate effect for lack of performance and total inefficiency of duty.

“And with the dissolution, members of the Commission are to hand over all Commission’s property in their possession to the Commission’s Secretary not later than September 14, 2012.”

fected are regarded as flood flash point areas, consisting of Abubakar Kigo Road, Rafin Guza, Nasarawa, Bashan Road, Tudun Wada and Unguwan Rimi GRA. He said: “After our assessment of these areas with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Red Cross, we confirmed 178 homes submerged.

We have not heard of any reported death or injury.

“We are writing a report to government, to obtain assistance to set up camp for affected people."

Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

He noted that Adenuga had done a lot for the country, adding that the award was hitherto given to vice presidents.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan had, at the 2011 national honours award ceremony, confered on Dangote the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, for his

David-West said: "Last year, Aliko Dangote was awarded GCON and this year a similar award is also being given to Adenuga, who has done very much for the country. I see the move as a way of balancing the South for the honour, which was given to a Northerner last year. So, I see the move as a way of making up to the South.’’

taining N3 million and N14.5 million respectively, from the cooperative society in like manner.

The trial magistrate, Mr. S. Nannah, adjourned further hearing in the matter till September 20.

In count 2, Njoku, aged 33, an officer with United Bank for Africa, main branch, Sapele, was accused of obtaining the sum of N27.36 million under the pretence that he would invest it in a business, a representation he knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 1(2) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, Cap Law of the Federation 1995.

In count 3, Austin, aged 43, Manager, UBA main branch Sapele, now at large, on the same date, time and place, obtained the sum of N37 million under the pretence that he would invest it in a business, a representation he knew to be false.

ELEBEKE

R

ISING from its 6th Annual Banking and Financial conference meeting yesterday, the Chattered Institutes of Bankers of Nigeria and Alliance of African Institute of Bankers, AAIB, have called on the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, not to tamper with the lower denominations in his bid to introduce the pro-

the economy.

The bankers in a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day conference held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, said given the position of the apex bank on the introduction of the new currency, the bank can go ahead with the introduction of the controversial naira note but must allow the lower denominations remain to avoid unhealthy implications on the economy.

Madam Ahiuma-Young passes on

T

HE burial of late Mrs. Anna Ahiuma-Young Okwurionu, of Alimokwu, in Alisimie, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, takes place Friday, September 14.

Late Mrs AhiumaYoung, 67, died on June 16, 2012.

A burial programme released by the family, indicates that corpse leaves Agbor General Hospital by 8 a.m., to the family compound on 5, Igbanke Road, Alimokwu, in Alisimie, Ika

South Local council.

Service of songs and interment will take place at the same venue.

She is survived by her widower, uncle, children among whom is Mr. Victor Ahiuma-Young of Vanguard Newspapers, and grand children.

Late Mrs. Ahiuma-Young

12 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Delta orders evacuation of flood prone communities

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—FOLLOW ING a warning by National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, of imminent flooding of some coastal communities across the country, Delta State Government has ordered some riverine communities in six local government areas of the state to relocate immediately.

The evacuation order by the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, yesterday, said the communities under threat “are advised to evacuate immediately to safer places.

“The communities are in the following local government areas – Oshimili North, Oshimili South, Ndokwa East, Patani, Bomadi and Burutu,” he added.

Ikeji Aro holds Sept 22

T LAUNCH: From left: General Manager, Business Development, Mr. Richard Iweanoge; Sales and Distribution Executive, Mr. Omatsola Barrow and Mr.Usoro O. Usoro, General Manager, Mobile Money, all of MTN Nigeria, at MTN Mobile Money Trade Launch for partners held at Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

Kidnapped judge: Lori-Ogbebor petitions CJN, IG, others

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

F

RONTLINE activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, calling for a probe into the circumstances surrounding the kidnap of a Delta High Court Judge, Justice Marcel Okoh, who was handling a case between Delta State Government and Okere people of Warri over a landed property.

Lori-Ogbebor also said she suspected foul play because the judge had already fixed August for the hearing on the motion for interlocutory injunction restraining the government from trespassing on the land before his kidnap.

In the petition which she also copied to the Chief of Defence Staff,

Inspector General of Police and President of Nigerian Bar Association, Lori-Ogbebor regretted that while the case was adjourned till September 24, the state government had continued to develop the land.

She said: ‘’Í suspect that the purported kidnap is a smokescreen meant to pervert the course of justice and I hereby call for a probe.

If the judge was indeed kidnapped, what has the government done about it? It needs to be conclusively proved that the kidnap is not a make-believe. How can a judge be seized so easily when politicians not only have thugs, but also soldiers and policemen guarding them? If we lose the judiciary, we have lost the country.

"When the arbiter and

dispenser of justice is kidnapped, aren’t we descending into total anarchy? And why on a day he was to make pronouncement on a crucial matter involving the state government and Okere people? I call for a probe because somebody has a lot to gain in the purported kidnap of the judge.

"We went to court on July 30,2012. The court first determined the matter of jurisdiction, and held that it could hear the case. The judge upheld our motion exparte and ordered the defendants to be put on notice.

He fixed the motion for interlocutory injunction on August 7, 2012, during the vacation period of the courts. On the said day, we were all taken aback when we got to the court and were told

Nasarawa revokes firm’s C-of-O over N7.2m land rents debt number of the titles re-

N

ASARAWA State Government has made the first revocation of land owned by H.A.R. Petroleum Service Limited, in Karu, along Abuja-Keffi Road, following the firm’s alleged default in payment of ground rents since 2001 when the titles were issued.

The letter of revocation by the governor, Tanko Al-Makura, was sent to the firm on September 6, after the expiration of the one month grace given

them to clear up their outstanding charges of N7.2 million accumulated over the period of nine years.

The decision to revoke the land titles including Certificate of Occupancy, and Right of Occupancy was approved by the State Executive Council (SEC), in its last meeting, according to the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Mr. Sonny Agassi.

He also gave the file

voked as NS7549.

The commissioner said the revocation was in compliance with the provisions of Section 10(b) of the Act, CAP 2002 Laws of the Federation, 1990 which spells out the conditions for holding a C-of-O, and R-ofO, just as he said the governor used his powers to approve the revocation under Section 28(5) and (6) of the Land Use Act, CAP 2002 Laws of the Federation, 1990.

that the court would not seat because of some challenges.’’

HE people of Arochukwu in Abia State, will next weekend celebrate the annual New Yam Festival. This year’s celebration which will be held at Amaikpe Square, will be marked with fanfare amid performances by sundry traditional dance groups and masquerades on Saturday September 22. Already, the count down has started with what the organisers describe as Okpo na aza Awada,

which was observed on September 4.

The arena, where the festivities will be marked, is wearing a new look preparatory to receiving the August visitors. The Guest of Honour at this year’s Ikeji Aro is the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio. According to the SecretaryGeneral of Nzuko Arochukwu, Mazi Ernie Onwumere, a lot is at stake at this year’s New Yam Festival.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 13

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

FLOOD IN KADUNA: Motorists and residents on flooded Makarfi Road, Kigo New Extention, Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTOS: Olu Ajayi.

Overflowing River Kaduna.

Alleged Delta oil kingpin flees to Cotonou

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—A suspected crude oil kingpin in whose residence at Ugborodo community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, soldiers of 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, allegedly discov-

ered a cache of arms last week, has fled the country for Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

A source confided in Vanguard that the suspect, popularly known as AK-47, escaped to Cotonou after five loaded AK-47 magazines and 204 live ammunition were

found in his apartment.

He was said to have called some close friends from his hideaway.

The suspect allegedly took off as soon as he sighted soldiers approaching his house at Ajudaibo, Ugborodo, penultimate week. When his house was searched, the weapons were allegedly found hidden in a sack inside the ceiling of his

10 drown, 3 missing in Taraba boat mishap K

ANO—TEN teenage girls drowned while travelling by canoe to a wedding in Taraba, a region hit by severe seasonal flooding, Red Cross said, yesterday.

Three others, who were in the canoe that capsized on the Karim River, are still missing, said the head of the Red Cross in Taraba State, Manja Agwe Mathew.

He said: “The bodies of 10 passengers in the canoe were recovered by local fishermen, while search for the remaining three is still on.”

He added that the accident occurred, late Tuesday, while the group was travelling “to a wedding ceremony in another village across the river.”

On Monday, the Red Cross said at least 137 people in Nigeria have died since July from flood-related incidents.

Water levels have surged on the River Benue, which feeds the Karim, causing at least 30 deaths.

Officials have urged thousands of people in the south and centre of the country, who live on the plains of the River Niger, to evacuate their homes, fearing it will overflow.

kitchen, while three suspects, including his girlfriend and two boys, were arrested.

It will be recalled that the said AK-47 had denied ownership of the weapons recovered from his home, claiming that it was planted by the soldiers, who invaded his home on the instigation of some chiefs in the community that were out to undo him.

Vanguard gathered that he fled with two other boys in two speedboats towards Benin River, but his whereabouts has remained unknown.

Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion, Lt. Col. Ifeanyi Otu, informed Vanguard when contacted, yesterday, that the army was in search of the suspect and would arrested him whenever he was found.

Asked if he knew that the suspect had fled to Cotonou, he said he was not aware.

Otudeko appointed Chairman FBN Holdings

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BN Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Dr. Oba Otudeko as Chairman

and four others into its Board.

The others are General Garba Duba (rtd), Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale, Mallam Abdullahi Mahmoud and Mallam Bello Maccido, who will serve as the Chief Executive Officer, while Alhaji Tijjani Borodo will serve as Company Secretary.

A statement from the bank said the appointments were in accordance with its strategy and objectives of the FBN Group in 2009, where it undertook a comprehensive review of

its governance structure.

The review, it said resulted in the development of a new group governance model, which has at its core a holding company structure.

The holding company structure was determined as the best option to enable it continue with the pursuit of its long-held vision of being the leading diversified financial services group, while complying with the new regulations introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The statement said: “Having secured approval from the regulator to operate as FBN Holdings Plc, the FirstBank Group has appointed Dr. Oba Otudeko, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the holding company.”

Residence of Ononiwu Crescent, Kigo Road New Extention, Kaduna, moving out.

Fidelity emerges Telecoms Bank of the Year

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IDELITY Bank Plc has been adjudged the “Best Telecoms Financing Bank” in Nigeria. The bank emerged tops among three banks that were nominated for the award at the 8th Annual Nigerian Telecom Awards, which took place at the Incubator Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, weekend.

Other banks nominated were Access Bank Plc and First Bank Plc, which emerged first and second runners-up, respectively, in the Banking and Financial Services category.

The organisers of the award said that Fidelity Bank was recognised for its overall contribution to

total loans and advances to Information & Communication Technology, ICT, and telecommunications sectors.

In their assessment, the portion of the banks support to ICT within the period under review clearly surpassed those of its competitors.

The panel of judges, made up of renowned telecoms industry operators and journalists, looked at major indices like the sector credit share, sector concentration and loan portfolio in IT and telecoms projects and finance before arriving at the final decision to pick the most outstanding financing bank in Nigeria.

... as Zenith, Visafone launch EaZyMoney

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ENITH Bank and Visafone Communications Limited have launched a niche product, EaZyMoney, to consolidate their leading roles in the evolving cashless society project currently being pursued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Peter Amangbo, Executive Director, Zenith Bank, said it represented a remarkable step in the bank’s drive to play a leading role in the emerging cashless society being spearheaded by CBN. Mobile money services, through EaZyMoney, have the potential to serve as the easiest route to the financial inclusion of the unbanked segment of the economy.

Amangbo said: “We are proud to be working in strategic partnership with Visafone on this mobile money initiative and we feel that the combination of innovation and customer focus for which Zenith Bank is so rightly recognised, combined with the financial strength and trust with which the bank is held will be a unique

and successful partnership.”

He said the partnership with Visafone was in line with the bank’s promise of working in the best interest of customers of both organisations in providing them with innovative financial services and a platform that delivers convenience, safety and accessibility to customers.

Passage

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LDER Louis Ani, 81, is dead. He died August 3. Ani, until his death, was a community leader, a philanthropist and a devout Christian.

He will be buried on Saturday, September 29, at his residence in Ibute Ameke Ngwo, Enugu State.

Late Elder Louis Ani.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—15

Assault, revenge for al-Qaeda leader

MEMORIAL: From left— Mr. Ademola Edun, Mrs Tokunbo Edun, Mr. Adesope Edun and Mrs Anike Lawal, at the one year memorial service for late Deaconess Grace Oshinowo, founder of Grace Schools Gbagada, at the Methodist Church of Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos, Sunday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

AL-Zawahiri: IT was noted that the attack immediately followed a call from al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri for revenge for the death in June of a senior Libyan member of the terror group Abu Yahya al-Libi.

The group suspected to be behind the assault - the Imprisoned Omar Abdul Rahman Brigades - first surfaced in May, when it claimed responsibility for an attack on the International Red Cross office in Benghazi. The following month the group claimed responsibility for detonat-

US diplomatic missions in trouble spots Continues from page 5

•2003–2011 – War in Iraq. Operation Iraqi Freedom. March 20, 2003. The United States leads a coalition that includes Britain, Australia and Spain to invade Iraq with the stated goal being “to disarm Iraq in pursuit of peace, stability, and security both in the Gulf region and in the United States.”

•2003 – Liberia. Second Liberian Civil War. On June 9, 2003, President Bush reported that on June 8 he had sent about 35 US Marines into Monrovia, Liberia, to help secure the US Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania, and to aid in any necessary evacuation from either Liberia or Mauritania.

• 2003 – Georgia and Djibouti. “US combat equipped and support forces” had been deployed to Georgia and Djibouti to help in enhancing their “counterterrorist capabilities.”

•2004 – Haiti. 2004 Haïti rebellion occurs. The US first sent 55 combat equipped military personnel to augment the US Embassy security forces there and to protect American citizens and property in light.

Later 200 additional US combat-equipped, military personnel were sent to prepare the way for a UN Multinational Interim Force, MINUSTAH. •2004 – War on Terrorism: US anti-terror related activities were underway in

Georgia, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Eritrea.

•2004–present: Drone attacks in Pakistan •2005–06 – Pakistan.

President Bush deploys troops from US Army Air Cav Brigades to provide Humanitarian relief to far remote villages in the Kashmir mountain ranges of Pakistan stricken by a massive earthquake.

•2006 – Lebanon. US Marine Detachment, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, begins evacuation of US citizens willing to leave the country in the face of a likely ground invasion by Israel and continued fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

•2007 – Somalia. Battle of Ras Kamboni. On January 8, 2007, while the conflict between the Islamic Courts Union and the Transitional Federal Government continues, an AC-130 gunship conducts an aerial strike on a suspected Al-Qaeda operative, along with other Islamist fighters, on Badmadow Island near Ras Kamboni in southern Somalia.

•2008 – South Ossetia,

Georgia. Helped Georgia humanitarian aid, helped to transport Georgian forces from Iraq during the conflict. In the past, the US has provided training and weapons to Georgia.

2010–Present •2010-11 War in Iraq.

Operation New Dawn. On February 17, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that as of September 1, 2010, the name “Operation •2011 Libya. Operation Odyssey Dawn. Coalition forces enforcing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 with bombings of Libyan forces.

•2011 - War on Terrorism.

Osama Bin Laden is killed

by U.S. military forces in Pakistan as part of Operation Neptune Spear.

•2011 - Drone strikes on al-Shabab militants begin in Somalia. This marks the 6th nation in which such strikes have been carried out, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen and Libya.

•2011 - Uganda. US Combat troops sent in as advisers to Uganda.

No going back on sale of property —Gov Aliyu

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INNA—NIGER State government, yesterday, said there was no going back on the planned sale of government houses in Minna the state capital, insisting that its decision was in the best interest of the people of the state and in line with government existing policy on monetisation.

A statement by Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, stated that those present at a stakeholders meeting held at the Government house, including commissioners,

special advisers, directors general, heads of boards and parastatals and selected senior special assistants, as well board members gave their backing to the move to sell off the government buildings. The buildings to be sold, constructed as far back as 1978 housed commissioners and state lawmakers.

Ndayebo noted that government had resolved that only the Governor, his Deputy, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Chief Judge and the state Grand Khadi were entitled to houses.

ing an explosive device outside the U.S. Consulate, and later released a video of that attack.

Benotman, who had earlier warned of the likelihood of renewed attacks against U.S. interest in Libya, said the Omar Abdul Rahman Brigades is a prime suspect in the Benghazi attack Tuesday.

He believes it is likely the deadly attack was also linked to a video statement released by alZawahiri on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In the video, alZawahiri confirmed the death of al-Libi - a prominent member of the al Qaeda-linked group adding: “His blood is calling, urging and inciting you to fight and kill the crusaders.”

The video released by the Brigades in June showed nighttime explosions around the consulate, interlaced with footage of Osama bin Laden and al-Zawahiri, along with images from the 9/11 attacks. At the time the Brigades claimed it had launched the attack in response to the first reports of al-Libi’s death in a drone strike in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

Notably, the Brigades said the June 5 attack was also timed to coincide with preparations for the arrival of a senior U.S. State Department official.

“The time frame of attacks

shows that the group has been following and actively involved in gathering information about the activities of diplomatic missions in the country,” Benotman wrote in a June briefing paper on the group.

He adds that it appears the Omar Abdul Rahman Brigades was also responsible for a rocket attack against the convoy of the British ambassador in Benghazi on June 11 and an attack against the Red Cross in Misrata on June 12. Libyan and Western security officials tell CNN that al Qaeda has taken advantage of a security vacuum to build up a presence in eastern Libya.

A senior Libyan official told CNN in June that the United States had flown surveillance missions with drones over suspected jihadist training camps in eastern Libya.

The official said that, to the best of his knowledge, they had not been used to fire missiles at militant training camps in the area.

One of militant commanders, according to several sources, is Abdulbasit Azuz, a longtime associate of alZawahiri. Azuz was dispatched by al-Zawahiri to Libya from Pakistan’s tribal areas in the spring of 2011 to create a foothold for al Qaeda in Libya, the sources say.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

CJN blames AGF over delay Continued from Page 8 judiciary as an appendage of the executive arm.”

Noting that judges at the state level are “at the mercy of the state executives and politicians,” the CJN, maintained that section 121(3) of the Constitution provides that “any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the consolidated Revenue Fund of the state shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.

“Unlike the Federal judiciary that enjoys 90 per cent of financial independence, inadequate funding and inaccessibility to funds appropriated to states’ judiciary in the budget, is the bane of administration of justice in the Federation,” the CJN said.

Meantime, the AGF, who was visibly unsettled with the CJN’s address, in his own speech, insisted that prominent among the challenges facing the judiciary in the discharge of its duties, includes the “declining ethical standards and indiscipline at the Bar.”

He said: “it is a matter of deep regret that lawyers, including some Senior Advocates routinely engage in unwholesome practices unbecoming of members of this noble profession.

“Today, lawyers are accused of deliberately misleading clients on the strength of their cases with a view to appropriating unearned professional fees; tampering with clients’ money; criticizing judges in the media even where it is clear that they have not read their judgments in order to determine the reasoning of the Court and commenting on matters that are subjudice.

“There are matters that were completely unheard in the profession some few years back and where such misconduct was reported, it drew condemnation and appropriate sanctions.

“You will recall that at our recently concluded Bar Conference, I stressed the need for us to reclaim our profession and to show the bad eggs amongst us the way out of the profession. I wish to reiterate that call

again and to urge the leadership of the Bar to put the issue of professional ethics and discipline on the front banner.”

While tasking the new SANs on integrity, Adoke, said the occasion was an opportunity for the judiciary “to reflect on the true significance of the rank of SAN,” noting that “in popular discourse within and outside the profession, there is a palpable feeling/

perception that the rank is a passport to fame, personal riches and comfort.

“To others, the rank is a licence to command fat fees, open doors and prominence bordering sometimes on arrogance. It is a matter of regret that these negative perceptions of the rank have engendered resentment from our colleagues who are yet to be similarly recognized and honoured.”

It would be recalled that a total of 125 legal practitioners and

academicians applied for the rank of SAN, out of which 71 of them were found to have satisfied the basic criteria for the conferment. However, at the end of a thorough screening exercise, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, LPPC, selected only 25 applicants, among who were Lagos based human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs and Paul C. Ananaba.

Anniversary

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AJCOM Limited, electronics manufacturer and retailer has concluded arrangement for the celebration of its 10 th anniversary tomorrow.

As a build up to the 10th anniversary celebration, Dajcom will engage in extensive give aways of its finest products through its social interactive platforms.

Flood sacks 178 homes in Kaduna

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ADUNA – ABOUT 178 houses have been submerged by flood in Kaduna State following several days of rain in the s t a t e .

The areas maily affected include, Abubakar Kigo Road, Rafin Guza, Nasarawa, Bashan Road, Tudun Wada and Ungwan Rimi GRA, which are close to the River Kaduna.

Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, confirmed the flooding, saying that the places affected were flood

flash point areas.

Executive Secretary of SEMA, Ishaku Dogo Makam said: “After our assessment of these areas with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and the Red Cross, we confirmed that 178 homes were submerged. We have not heard of any reported death or injury. “We are writing a report to government, so we can be helped to set up camp for affected people.

“We are still appealing to people living in flood-prone areas to please leave, as the

danger of flooding is not yet over.”

The state government had warned about the flooding on August 7, 2012 and directed people residing in the flood prone areas to relocate to other communities lying outside the the plains of the river. A journalist with The Road newspaper, Amina Anebi who resides at Kigo Road said, “I was woken this morning by a roaring s o u n d .

“When I woke up, I heard the sound of water flowing in from my doors and windows, so I jumped down

from bed. By this time the water had risen close to my ankles. I started to move my things on top of my table. I took some on my head but when I opened the door, more water flowed in. I however waded through it and ran out.

“This was around 2am.

Everywhere had been flooded. As I speak now, my things are still there. I saw people moving out their belongings in vehicles; some carrying children on their arms in the mid night.

It came as a surprise to many of us.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—17 invent their hegemony through historical acts of sacrifices which gives more to the oppressed classes.

"World-historical men-the heroes of an epoch-must be recognized as its clear-sighted ones; their deeds and their words are the best of their time” -Friedrich Hegel, quoted in Dr. TunjiOlaopa’s “Tribute: Aboyade and the burden of national progress” (SUNDAY TRUST, September 9, 2012). enjoyed reading two pieces on Sunday; first was a tribute to the much-lamented Professor OjetunjiAboyade, written by his biographer, Dr. TunjiOlaopa, Federal Permanent Secretary. The 1997 book was titled, “A Prophet is with Honour: The Life and Times of OjetunjiAboyade”; the piece was very timely at so many levels. On the one hand, is the shallow depth of economic thinking today in our country, in my view, and the neartotal absence of a patriotic vision in the public space. Ruling class intellectuals today are not driven with the passion and patriotism which drove Professor Aboyade’s generation; of course, the times are different. The generation of intellectuals of those times were driven by the passion of the struggle for independence as well as the determination to succeed in nation building. They also had the vision of a developmental state as the instrument to wage the struggle against underdevelopment.

But as Dr. Olaopa noted, the developmental state also came into a crisis with the abandonment of the National Development Plans and then the paradigm shift which emerged in the mid-1980s with the introduction of SAP and the consolidation of a market fundamentalism regime since the emergence of PDP civilian regimes, since 1999. The state has become progressive weakened and lost capacity to even regulate anything; it has been rolled over by corruption and has become an instrument of private accumulation by an increasing rapacious ruling class. The consequence is the deepen violence in our country today. I thought it was most timely to re-examine the works of intellectuals like Professor Aboyade. I was quite delighted about the piece, that I contacted Dr. TunjiOlaopa, asking how I could get a copy of the Aboyade biography.

I

was equally delighted to read Chief Philip Asiodu’s interview with the SUNDAY SUN. He re-enforced, in my mind, the pioneering endeavours made to selflessly develop Nigeria, in those early years. Chief Asiodu told THE SUN that: “In 1960…our federal revenue was not more than 40 million pounds. It was under Balewa and Okotie-Eboh that it reached 50 million pounds.

Under General Yakubu Gowon, in his second year as Head of State, it reached 100million pounds and by then we were in a civil war, which we fought without borrowing money”.

Chief Asiodu was not done; he said it was with “this little sum of money, all harbours…were built.

The 4,000miles of railways…were built from the same little money.

It was with this also that the country was criss-crossed along telegraph lines…”. But what followed?

“The military destroyed the state.

They then proceeded to remove 10,000 civil servants, the best among them. They destroyed institutional memories, destroyed continuity, destroyed commitment to selfless service. Destroyed respect for public funds and public property. And having now got the civil service prostrate, stripped off check and balances, they then abandoned the 1975-1980 National Development Plan, which was to introduce the transformation of the economy radically. They abandoned not only the plan but

Ojetunji Aboyade and Philip Asiodu:

Voices from an epoch of optimism the tunnel.

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he state has lost capacity; was deliberately destroyed as an instrument of service to the Nigerian people and has become a vehicle to rape the nation. In the hands of the ruling class, the Nigerian state has become a dan-

his was the basis of the wel fare state in post-Second World War Europe. If this historical step is not taken, then the entire ruling class hegemony is endangered, with the possibility of the emergence, consolidation and likely overthrow of the ruling class hegemony. Unfortunately in Nigeria, we have not created a counter-hegemony within the working people and the poor, able to posit that alternative, counterhegemonic vision. As a result, the landscape is littered with anarchic acts of ethno-religious origins; they can deepen the crisis which the ruling class faces but they can never be platforms of national liberation. And since nature abhors a vacuum, where we have refused to posit a National

,

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Reading those pieces about Professor OjetunjiAboyade and the Philip Asiodu interview, just re-inforced my incurable optimism, that despite the gloom today, our country possesses tremendous possibilities for change and liberation

,

•Chief Philip Asiodu also the discipline of planning.

And once you abandon the discipline of planning, all is lost”.

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hose who cannot appreciate the profound interconnection between these decisions and the woes which face us today, then come out with simplistic assumptions about contradictions between the Nigerian people, located at ethno-religious planes.

Their simplistic understanding lead to equally simplistic attempts at finding solutions; the extremists call for the dismemberment of our country, just as the ethnic entrepreneurs posture threateningly against all of us.

Chief Asiodu pooh-poohed these ridiculous positions: “In a world

in which North America is one market, Europe is one market, South America is united, you hear some Nigerians say: ‘Let’s break, let’s separate. Let’s stay apart’. And I ask: Break into what? Miserable, non-developing, non-civilized states?” He then challenged the young: “So as young people, you must strive to create the conditions for a better tomorrow”.

As I said earlier, I found the two pieces particularly delightful and a lift out of the gloom that envelopes us today. I am not deluded about the depth of the crises phenomena in Nigeria today. The majority of citizens live in despair and they see no way out of

ger to the survival of the nation itself. And a ruling class that has become increasingly illegitimate, despite the rituals of periodic elections, which are regularly rigged anyway, has dug itself into a situation whereby its greed has made life into a Hobbesian jungle for most of the people. Unfortunately for the Nigerian state, it has also lost the monopoly of violence; the expanding insurgency, especially but not exclusively, in Northern Nigeria, is a portent for the frightening realities ahead of us. The question is whether the ruling class can reign-in its crass irresponsibility and greed.

When nations face serious crises phenomena, it is imperative for the ruling classes to either re-

Agenda of National Liberation, it is no surprise that what we see are reactionary platforms like ‘Yoruba Agenda’, the Boko Haram insurgency, ‘Biafra’ resurgence or ‘Niger Delta autonomy’.

These different ethno-religious platforms are reactionary and they are not the route for the liberation of our country. Reading those pieces about Professor OjetunjiAboyade and the Philip Asiodu interview, this weekend, just re-inforced my incurable optimism, that despite the gloom today, our country possesses tremendous possibilities for change and liberation. The forces of its liberation have to discover the métier to fight for that liberation, because there is no other way!

Godson Offoaro: A remembrance of times past I

T was from reading VANGUARD’s columnist, Pini Jason, last Tuesday that I learnt of Godson Offoaro’s death. Steve Nwosu confirmed it on Friday, in DAILY SUN. I called Nwosu to rejoice with him about his lucky escape from robbers that shot him in the head and his survival of the ordeal. I also insisted that he sent new yams from Imo State for ‘daring’ to share my birthday, September 5th, and the mischievous guy, who grew up in Kwara State, said he would rather we ate wara(cheese), the FulBe contribution to the culinary makeup of Kwara State! I also commiserated with him on the passing of Godson. I contacted Godson sometime last year and we re-collected times back at the University of Lagos; we promised to find time to link up. Unfortunately we never got to meet till his death a few days ago. The last time I saw Godson was in 1981; we were neighbours at the ElKanemiHall. I was the President of UNILAG’s Marxist League and he held stridently, rightwing, anti-communist views, but we endlessly debated issues of national development.

Those were truly liberating moments in African history! My

generation of activists had produced the famous NANS “Nigerian Students’ Charter of Demands”. The Nigeria labour movement under the progressive leadership of Hassan Sumonu was consolidating the place of the working people in our national life just as the alliance of workers, students and patriotic intellectuals was burning a radical imprint on Nigerian life. We were also within the democratic a m b i e n c e o f t h e Second Republic, despite its imperfections. In 1980, Godson decided to run for General Secretary of the Students Union Government, SUG. He was intensely passionate about his candidacy and would accost students on the long stretch from El-Kanemi Hall to the academic area. He had a very musical approach to his campaign; he gestured animatedly, telling whoever cared to listen: “Offoaro is for you”; “I’m at your service”; “Vote for me”, etc.

Godson faced a formidable opponent in a beautiful lady, ImaNsa, who was rumoured to have connections at the highest political levels of Nigeria’s Second Republic. She ran a

•Godson Offoaro campaign that was in tune with those times in our national life; she brought in local musicians who followed her everywhere around the campus and her slogan was beaten out repeatedly on the talking drums: “ImaNsa is the answer ”! No one really bothered to ask what the question was that Ima was answer for; and boy, could Ima dance!

It was a contest between erotic emotions and the cerebral pos-

turing of Godson; there was no contest, because in the long run, the students went for emotions and Godson lost that election!

I read somewhere that he tried to enter politics again on his return from abroad, but he did not seem to be cut for the cloak-anddagger world of Nigerian politics. I found that his convictions remained consistent; he was a defender of the Igbo and an advocate for his rightful place within the context of the interelite struggle for advantage in Nigeria’s political life. From that perspective, he was unsparing in his attacks on the elite of Northern Nigeria, who he saw as the ‘problem’ or in more extreme circumstances, the ‘enemy ’. Yet he remained for me that intellectual sparing partner from UNILAG’s EI-Kanemi Hall. Looking back now, those were some of the best phases of our national life but we thought the ruling class was irresponsible and as young people we wanted a much better country; who would have reckoned then that we will arrive at the tragic pass of contemporary Nigeria?

May Godson Offoaro’s soul rest in peace.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 UR attention has been drawn to the controversy over allegations that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, described Nigeria as “an Islamic country with the largest Christian population.” He was said to have made the statement in a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) programme aired in a very worrisome signal. Given the fact that as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Nigeria Abuja on Wednesday, August 15, 2012.

Already, the President of the Christian Dr. Mohammed is one of the foremost offiAssociation of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo cials that represent the voice and face NiOritsejafor, has debunked such character- geria in the international arena, it is imporisation, calling for the sanctioning of the tant that we establish exactly what he said.

Minister. But in a rebuttal, Dr. Mohammed We want to know whether he actually said denied ever making such a statement. Ac- those words attributed to him or he is simcording to him, he only said Nigeria was ply being maligned or quoted out of con“the largest Islamo-Christian country in text. The NTA, fortunately, should have the the world” during the meeting of the Or- records and should be able to provide it for ganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) independent and credible scrutiny.

It will be a most unfortunate disservice to which recently took place in the Kingdom this nation if indeed he said so. In fact, Dr. of Saudi Arabia.

This issue is causing quite a stir in an al- Nurudeen Mohammed’s admission that he ready super-charged atmosphere in a described Nigeria as an “Islamo-Christian country wracked by the murderous cam- country” shows he does not understand the paigns of Boko Haram extremists demand- true constitutional definition of Nigeria. Niing for the Islamisation of Nigeria. It sends geria as an “Islamo-Christian country”

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Call this minister to order

means that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has accorded Islam and Christianity the status of official state religions of the country, which is definitely not so. Nigeria has no state religion. But Nigeria has given Christianity and Islam special preferences, which account for the fact that offiicials are sworn into office with the Bible or Qur’an only because the overwhelming majority of Nigerians are followers of the two faiths. Professor Wande Abimbola once declined to be sworn in on the Qur’an or Bible, opting to be sworn in according to Ifa religion and he was obliged.

We call on the Federal Government to look into this matter and establish Dr. Nurudeen’s culpability or otherwise, as well as his motives for delving into this sensitive issue in this most inappropriate manner. If found ill-qualified or psychologically too immature to hold such a sensitive high office he should be relieved of his position immediately. We cannot afford keeping irresponsible officers on the job when we are going through the worst region-related violent threat to our national survival.

OPINION

BY ADEWOLE FALETI

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HE BRT scheme was borne out of the need to reduce the overwhelming mobility problems that commuters were facing on Mile12 – CMS corridor. Considering that Ikorodu road is one of the major gateway roads providing a link to Lagos Island where about 70 percent of the industrial/commercial activities are concentrated, it became necessary to institute a reliable transport system on that corridor to meet the need of commuters.

Prior to the commencement of the BRT, about 306,750 of vehicles use Ikorodu road on a daily basis; therefore, it was clear that mini and midi buses that were prevalent on the corridor would not be able to cater for the demand.

The BRT on Ikorodu road also maximised the capacity of the road as it now take on more commuters. Before the implementation of the BRT, traffic count showed that 485,789 commuters used Ikorodu Road. With the introduction BRT lanes and the rehabilitation of the service lanes, commuter figure increased to 625,567 with the BRT carrying about 25 per cent of the figure.

The Mile12 – CMS BRT was modelled after BRT concrete schemes in cities like Istanbul in Turkey, Jakarta in Indonesia, Bogota and Pereira in Colombia, Curitiba, Porto Alegre and Sau Paulo in Brazil, Quito in Ecuador, and Brisbane and Adelaide in Australia. In these cities, BRT

Re: Beyond Lagos’ Traffic Law has been implemented running on their physically segregated lanes.

Before the implementation of the BRT on Ikorodu Road, users of the road usually experience horrendous traffic gridlocks, caused by impatience and bad driving habits of drivers in Lagos. Ikorodu Road became counter-productive and the economy of Lagos State suffered tremendously for this. The Lagos State Government in ameliorating the situation sought the transfer of the road to it for the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system. The Federal Government under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo promptly transferred the road to the Lagos State Government having been convinced of the benefits of implementing a BRT system on the road, one of the longest and busiest in the state.

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n cities where BRT has been imple mented by using one lane for the BRT buses, huge success has been recorded.

However, before the implementation of the BRT, a comprehensive planning was carried out to determine the most cost effective and safest way to implement it. Ikorodu road has three speed lanes and two service lanes. In the design of the BRT therefore, certain reasons guided the choice of using one lane for the BRT buses. Such

reasons include; 1 (Need to reduce congestion) One BRT bus carries about 80 passengers, which about six danfoes (mini buses) would carry. Therefore, one BRT bus has replaced six danfoes, thereby, reducing traffic congestion on the corridor. It is indeed expected that private car users would drop their cars to use the BRT bus for convenience and comfort .2 (Safety) Movements of high capacity buses in mixed traffic pose safety implications for other road users. 3 (Bus Frequency) The need to ensure high frequency of buses to meet the demand, and minimise travel and waiting time of the users also necessitated the segregation of the BRT lane .

The implementation of the BRT is Public Private Partnership arrangement, where the government provided the infrastructure ie depot, bus shelter etc, whilst the private sector ( NURTW) provided and owned the buses, as well as run the scheme. A total of 220 buses are in the fleet, and about 200,000 passengers are generated daily. Since inception, over 211million passengers have been carried.

The Lagos BRT system has been acknowledged worldwide with visits by delegation from United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire and from states in Nigeria desiring to implement

a solution similar to the Lagos system in overcoming traffic gridlocks in their domain.

I

korodu Road used to be popular for the “One Chance” syndrome before the advent of the BRT. With “one chance” people are robbed at will in moving buses, injured and sometimes killed. Since the advent of the BRT, “one chance” has become a thing of the past on Ikorodu Road. The BRT moves more than 180,000 commuters daily, ensures shorter travel time from 87 to 55 minutes, showing 37 per cent savings, average waiting time reduced from 45 to 10 minutes, fare reduction and stability by 30 per cent, greener environment as a result of many commuters dropping their cars and embracing the use of public transport, thus reducing the level of emission into the atmosphere along the corridor by about 13 per cent. The BRT has also created 15,000 direct and indirect jobs besides building capacity in the private sector.

All over the world, city managers have always devised means to make their cities liveable and one of the things they do is to ensure they put in place good transport infrastructure that support the population.

Such infrastructure must support their lifestyle as well as provide means of moving from one point to the other in a safe and affordable manner. This informed the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit System for Lagos.

•Mr Faleti, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—19

, N5,000 Note and matters arising M

Y interest today on the new N5,000 currency note about to be issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has nothing to do with the controversies of whether it should be issued or not.

From all indications it is already a done deal.

I want to examine the three eminent Nigerian ladies chosen to grace the obverse (front) side of the note. These are: Dr Margaret Ekpo, Mrs Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Hajiya Gambo Sawaba. Who were they?

Ekpo was born into the family of an Igbo father, Okoroafor Obiasulor and an Ibibio woman, Inyang Eyo, in Creek Town, Calabar in 1914. She married an activist medical doctor, John Udo Ekpo and spent most of her political life in Aba, specialising in the mobilisation of women to fight for their rights and fully participate in the politics of decolonisation on the platform of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC. She earned high political offices such as member of the Eastern Nigeria House of Chiefs and later,

the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly.

Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas was born into an Egba family in Abeokuta in 1900. She later married Rev Israel Ransome-Kuti.

Both were educationists. But Funmilayo was a radical fighter for the rights of women, becoming the first woman to ride a car in Nigeria. She was, like some of her equally radical children, often punished by government for her revolts against dehumanising colonial and traditional practices.

Both Margaret and Funmilayo were so high in the political calculations of the pre-independence era that they were selected as part of the Nigerian delegation to the talks that produced our independence.

Hajiya Gambo Sawaba had a more daunting struggle. Born of Nupe parents, she spent most of her time in Kano and environs where she carved a niche in the Mallam Aminu Kano school of politics (democratic humanism) which ranged itself against the entrenched Sokoto Caliphate system that relegated women to the

Whoever made this selection must be commended for picking exemplary women pioneers whom the nation has let down by beating the track of tribalism and sectionalism

,

background and pandered to the royalty and elite. Unlike Margaret and Funmi, she did not have much formal education.

Sawaba shared everything she had with the poor and was passionate about one united Nigeria where religion, region and gender would not be a barrier to anyone’s development. During military President Ibrahim Babangida’s reign she once famously warned: “If I hear that the President is oppressing his wife I will go and put my mouth in it!”

Whoever made this selection must be commended for picking exemplary women pioneers; the foremost Founding Mothers of Nigeria, whom the nation has let down by beating the track of tribalism and sectionalism that have thwarted the Nigerian Dream.

These national icons should inspire both men and women of Nigeria to strive towards one united, progressive nation free of primordial discontinuities.

Drop Ajami from the notes

B

ut the item I will like to see withdrawn from our currency notes is the Arabic inscriptions (Ajami) still on our N100, N200, N500 and N1,000 notes.

Indications are that the sample of the N5,000 does not have the Ajami, just as Charles Soludo’s CBN dropped it from the polymerised lower currency notes.

We should only have objects, persons and figures that bind us together as a nation on our national flag and currency. Anything that concerns only one religion or section should go. They were unilaterally imposed. Majority of Nigerians do not even understand what they mean. However, if the issue is debated in the National Assembly and two-thirds majority agree to let sleeping dogs lie then so be it.

Mike Adenuga, GCON, at last!

A

round this time last year when Alhaji Aliko Dangote led the pack of National Honours Award winners to bag the second highest honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCON, with the name of Dr Mike Adenuga conspicuously missing, I cried foul. I did not protest that Dangote did not merit the award.

I had also complained when Nollywood star, Aki was given an Award with Pawpaw, his “twin brother” left out.

I argued that even though both men were great industrialists and world acknowledged successful businessmen, with thousands of Nigerians and foreigners alike on their payrolls, Adenuga made himself more relevant to Nigerians outside his business sphere

through phalanxes of philanthropic outreaches on a scale not seen since the days of Chief Moshood Abiola.

His Glo Group was the first to pump enormous amounts of money into sponsorship of Nigerian football, a venture that was suspended due to lack of accountability by the football ruling authorities. Glo financed many players in the Nigerian movie and music industries and played a leading role in launching our celebrities to the world stage through sponsorship.

They even went into the sponsorship of rich cultural festivals, and my community, Abiriba, was a profound beneficiary of it in July 2012. Our musicians thrilled the youth on campuses and cities around Nigeria on the Glo bonanza. They helped the entertainment industry boom for the first time ever.

Nigerians fought hard for the granting of operating licence to the company and when Glo eventually got it in 2003, it bagged the prestigious portfolio of Second National Carrier. Glo gave back.

Since my critique of Dangote’s low rating on corporate social responsibility there have been some noticeable wake-up signs.

We are glad that President Goodluck Jonathan is giving honour to whom it is due, just as he responded positively to Pawpaw after we complained.

Our people who have made money through hard work, putting thousands of young people to work and giving back to society through many acts of philanthropy must be encouraged to do more. Adenuga’s GCON is befitting. Monday, September 17, 2012 is the D-Day in Abuja.

Congratulations! But please do more!

Most praised, most criticised IGERIANS are a peculiar breed. This shows up everywhere. In a football match with another country on our home ground, Nigerians would start off encouraging their team; but as soon as the Nigerian team falls into goal deficit, Nigerians would switch their support to the visiting team and, depending on their level of disappointment, they might begin to haul stones at the Nigerian players. This is the Nigerian spirit: no matter who is involved, the spirit punishes indolence and rewards excellence.

Suppose the leader suddenly surrenders?

Sometimes, we pray and hope that our President is not about to give up on the system. President Goodluck Jonathan was being economical with the truth when in his opening address to the 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja on Monday, August 28, 2012, he provided a frightening glimpse of the Nigerian situation. For the first time perhaps, President Jonathan came to the awakening that Nigeria had a load of problems.

The President sees himself as “the most criticized President in the world”, except that “his critics failed to understand that the current challenges predated his administration”. In a tone suggestive of a man who is beating a retreat from responsibility, the President now admits: “We don’t have the magic wand, except the miracle worker who with the wave of the hand, probably will help to throw all these challenges away and prosperity will appear”.

Hear him further: “Sometimes, even people who have held offices in government criticise me to the extent of personal abuses. Sometimes I ask, were there roads across the country and Jonathan brought flood to wipe out these roads? Or we had

power and I brought hurricane to break down the entire infrastructure?”

These are cheap escapes in which the President left the Nigerian spirit behind.

Otherwise, he would have begun from the beginning. It is now convenient for the President to remember that he is the most criticised politician in the world. He has forgotten that he was once the most praised politician on earth. The media that have today become “politicized” and “unreliable” were the same media that fought his opponents to a standstill, when during the final days of the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua, certain elements were bent on frustrating him from the presidency, particularly when the PDP machines were bent on Jonathan respecting the party’s so-called zoning policy.

Yes, Nigeria’s problems, like many others, are not new. Jonathan knew that much when he was asking for the job. And in the Nigerian spirit, Nigerians encouraged him, believing that he was coming to clear the existing mess.

I

t is on record that in the beginning, President Jonathan was encouraged to the extent that he stands as the only Nigerian President who came into office on votes from across party divides. Nigerians voted for Jonathan, not for him to tell them that there are problems, which, of course, the people already know. Rather, they expect to hear that their President has solved their problems.

In any case, the media, the new critics of Jonathan’s administration, are the mirror of the discontent of society. In essence, they represent the supporters’ club – they applaud you when you perform and boo you when you don’t!

In adjudging himself the most criticized President in the world, President Jonathan

,

N

Nigeria’s problems, like many others, are not new; Jonathan knew that much when he was asking for the job; and in the Nigerian spirit, Nigerians encouraged him, believing that he was coming to clear the existing mess

,

ought to know that at his level, the totality of his environment comes into play. His friends and family cannot be removed from his life. We are not in a hurry to forget the controversy that trailed the church gift of his Italian friend, Domenico Gitto, to President Jonathan’s hometown of Otueke in Bayelsa State.

W

e wonder how many people know that Gitto has since died perhaps out of depression from heavy debt pile-up in Nigerian banks. At the time of his death, on June 26, 2012, the full extent of his indebtedness was not ascertained but it was immediately known that his company was indebted to three Nigerian banks to the tune of N21 billion.

Talking of criticism, the First Lady has not been too helpful, either. It has been one controversy after the other. And all this must necessarily impinge on the President.

Whether we are talking of her status as a ghost worker in Bayelsa State during the era of Governor Timipre Sylva, or her controversial appointment as Permanent Secretary, or, for that matter, the public opprobrium of Governor Chibuike Amaechi in her hands on the Port Harcourt waterfront settlement, it has been controversy galore.

A

gain, there is no way some multimillion Naira investments said to be owned by the First Lady will not attract press attention and be lifted to the front burner. People will talk and our President will complain.

The dog of the President is also the President of dogs. And when it concerns the President, no news is good news. He cannot shy away from public view. If he refuses to declare his assets publicly, it is news.

But if he opts for open declaration of his assets, it is also news. In all these, where does the Dame, the Permanent Secretary, the First Lady, stand on the issue of assets declaration? More criticisms may still lay ambush for our President!

Our counsel is simple: Let President Jonathan turn on the Nigerian spirit. Like in the game of football, if he performs, he can still become the most praised, but if not, he must contend with being the most criticised.

20—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTMEMBER 13, 2012

No to introduction of N5,000 note NationalAssemblywiththeflimsy reasonthatitwasairedtothepublic before bringing it to them for consideration. That was how the financialguru’splanwasfoiledand was not allowed to see the light of the day. If that laudable idea was giventherightofwaythen,bynow we would have been singing a different song and possibly we wouldbeatparwithotherdeveloped countries. But because the intendedventure wouldadversely

,

Dear Sir, THE idea of introducing N5,000currencyintotheeconomy as proposed by the Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi LamidoSanusishouldbediscarded ifwewantthiscountrytocomeout from its present economic quagmire. In addition, redesigningtheN5,N10andN20 notestocoinswouldspiralinflation.

This is because people are no longer willing to carry coins along and as such, normal transactions would shift from coins to notes.

That means those items that cost N5 or N10 would jump to N50 or more.

I therefore advise the Central Bankhelmsmantorethinkandfocus attention on ways to revamp the economyinsteadofembarkingon agrandioseventurethatislikelyto plunge the country into degradation.

It would be recalled that his predecessor,ProfessorChukwuma Soludo, wanted to improve the country’scurrencyby makingN20 the highest denomination in circulation. He cited example of other nations that took that some measure and succeeded, maintainingthatourswouldnotbe an exception. The proposal was vehemently opposed by the

If Malam Sanusi is allowed to go ahead with the project, the purpose of the cashless policy will be defeated

,

affect our business moguls, politicians and other people at the upper class who have stored up their wealth in foreign currencies, they felt that if the naira appreciates, their foreign monies would lose value. So if president Jonathan hasagenuineintention to project the country to 20:2020 target,heshouldnottaketheCentral

Bank Governor’s move hook, line and sinker.Iknowmembersofthe NationalAssemblywouldwelcome thedevelopmentbutthepoormasses shouldbetakenintoconsideration before a crucial matter like this is given a go ahead. More dangerously,theideawouldnegate the cashless policy that is in the offing. One wrap of N5,000 is N500,000. that means a bundle, which is five wraps will be N2.5milion.

Lessons from Cynthia’s death Dear Sir, THE death of Cynthia Osokogu is heart aching going by the circumstances that surrounds it. It is simply a reflections of the deep decay in values and moral decadence in our society. I sincerely commiserate with her family. It is important however for us, especially the youths, to draw crucial lessons from her death. I disagree with people who just condemn Facebook and other social networks because of the vices committed by a few people proposed for the printing of the N5000 note be used to tackle our security problems?

Uduebor Osaro 08059826021

N40 billion to print N5000 note

The Federal government should reverse its decision immediately and redeploy the N40 billion earmarked for the printing of new N5,000 notes into the provision of needed infrastructure. Spending over N40 billion just to print N5,000 notes is not in the interest of Nigerians but would rather draw back government's effort at ensuring that the country becomes one of the 20 most developed economies in the world come 2020.

Francis, journalist writes from Abuja

Cashless society and introduction of N5000 note

It is like the CBN boss, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is lacking vision and losing focus on his policies as a risk management officer. Introducing N5,000 note is a contradiction of his cash less policy which the CBN has spent millions of naira to promote in the last few months.

He went further to encourage the use of virtual money and rolled out a policy limiting the

amount of cash a customer can withdraw from the bank. Why contradicting same policy now by proposing N40 billion to print N5000 notes? I feel that Mallam Sanusi is out to destroy Mr. President and the Nigerian economy; he should be sacked before putting Nigerians into more hardship.

NASS, NLC and organise

Why will Mr. President agree to spend 40 billion naira to print N5,000 note when we lack infrastructures in Nigeria? Why on earth would Mallam Sanusi Lamido, think of converting our currency note of N5, N10, N20 and N50 to coins? What happened to the former coins? With this, the newly reintroduced

,

FG in support of the proposed N40 billion to print N5000 note

The Federal government should reverse its decision immediately and redeploy the N40 billion earmarked for the printing of new N5,000 notes into the provision of needed infrastructure; spending over N40 billion just to print N5,000 notes is not in the interest of Nigerians

,

dprivate sector should please take note and act fast.

Anonymous 080317237456

CBN and introduction of N5,000 note

The problem of Nigeria now has nothing to do with the currency. It is so painful that what our leaders always think of is how to enrich themselves. Can't the N40 billion

If Malam Sanusi is allowed to go aheadwith theproject,thepurpose of the cashless policy will be defeated.Itwillbeacaseofonestep forward, two steps backwards.

Against this backdrop, economic experts and other stakeholders shouldnotfoldtheirhandsandallow the country to be plunged into jeopardy. Nigeria has other fish to fry.

•NkemakolamGabriel PortHarcourt080722573

N20,N50,N100 will soon be phased out of our systems, and the next stage will be to turn N200, N500 and N1000 to coins. This is wastage and and is bound to cause inflation. The National Assembly and Nigerians should kick against it now.

Anonymous 08063481745 Bombing of churches in Kogi

using these media. As humans, God created us with freedom of choice and what you do with any invention or creation is up to you.

My consternation in this matter is that, she threw caution to the wind in dealing with the suspects. She would have gone the extra mile to do a proper check on who they are. It is part of business risk analysis. I agree that they may have presented her with a good business deal but you still have to do a thorough investigation and not just take people on the face value. I don’t want to assume that

state Kudos to Captain Idris Wada, He should fight terrorism to its logical conclusion.

Your Excellency, please ensure that all those who killed innocent worshippers at the Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene are punished in accordance with the laws of the land. Justice must take its course. Terrorists must never succeed, we should unite and wipe out terrorism from our dear country.

A.M 07057485111

IBB at 71

President Jonathan should be very careful with the alleged evil genus because the former military dictator can easily mislead Mr. President.

Many Nigerians do not have trust and confidence in him.

We don’t need him now. IBB is allegedly one of the major contributors to Nigeria’s problems, we need excellent and

the luring of making it quick led her into this dead end or is it one of those escapades? I do not question the dead but we must learn from this incident. As a rule I don’t chat with people I don’t know, if I have to, my senses must be alert. We should be extremely rational in dealing with strangers through social media. Having accountability partners can save us the danger of falling into wrong hands.

In curbing these excesses,society must redirect its value paradigm. A society that celebrates wealth without genuine sources will forever be plagued with criminality. When you see a young man without a known means of living driving exotic and expensive cars and living in affluence, it calls for questioning, but more often than not we don’t care. Young people should know that it is not all that glitters that is gold. We need to put our values right. Leaders, clergies, parents , teachers and the society at large must be deliberate in modelling good character and young people should also know that great successes are products of hard work, determination and creativity. Like the scriptures say “ he that gathers by labour shall increase but ill- gotten wealth shall diminish.

•Alexander Ighoro Warri, Delta State

honest people to advise Mr. President, not IBB. Alhaji U.H 07057789779

EFCC and Ibori’s alleged $15million bribe

The 15million dollars allegedly tendered as exhibit by the EFCC against former governor of Delta State ( Chief James Ibori) should only be given to Delta State government on the following ground: The state should convince Nigerians that the said money belongs to it. Secondly, it should show evidence of probing Chief Ibori’s administration from 1999 to 2007, and proof of the former governor 's acceptance that the said money was taken from the state’s account and that he gave it as bribe to EFCC to avert his arrest and prosecution. If not, the alleged money belongs to the Federal government.

Odu Lionel 08154721963

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.A sword is useless in the hand of a coward.

2. Music will not be appreciated if the listener is deaf.

Oladele Akinrinmade(08058154895), Abiye Maternity Hospital ,Ganmo, P.O.Box4906,Ilorin, Kwara Delta Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 21

Empty containers an economic problem to Nigeria — Shittu

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

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PERATORS in the maritime industry have condemned the high level of empty containers returned to their countries of origin without taking cargo, noting that the practice is taking a toll on the nation’s economy.

Chief Executive Officer of Shiba Services Ltd, Babatunde Shittu, told Vanguard that the situation showed the level of neglect of the local industry and the over concentration of imported goods from other countries.

Shittu pointed out that unless government takes a drastic measure to curb this trend, the nation’s dependence on importation would continue unabated. To this end, he charged the government to look at the problems affecting local industries with a view to correcting them. One of the areas to urgently look at is the issue of energy supply that must be improved to encourage the productive sector of the e c o n o m y .

The CEO of Shiba Services Ltd., said that energy situation forced one of his companies, Carbon Coal Road Technology which produces cold asphalt to stop production. He further noted that another factor that is affecting the productive sector of the economy is the policy of the government that is not friendly to local operators.

He noted that there is a big market as the product is demanded mostly by the federal and state governments, adding that there is also a big market in terms of exportation.

From left: Mr. Toyin Munis, Partner, Bailecole Consulting, Mr. Tafeeek Olusanya, Head of Department, Centralised Payroll and Data Validation, Lagos state Treasury Office and Mr. Ola Tubi, Managing Partner, Bailecole Consulting,Nigeria, During the 4-Day Workshop on Specialiser Excel Modelling and Analysis Programs for Financial Managers and Finance Professionals, held in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Maritime Workers petition Presidency over offshore operations of oil firms

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

M

ARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, have petitioned the Presidency over activities of some oil and shipping companies, including the Shell Development Company, SPDC, resulting in the loss of revenue to the nation and the union in particular.

In the petition routed through the Minister of Transport, the union named other companies as Pacific Drilling, Noble Drilling, Trans Ocean Sedes Forex, Red Transport and Megatop Nigeria and host of others.

The petition by the President-General and Secretary-General of MWUN, Comrades Tony Nted and Aham Ubani,

Aquaculture industry targets 4m tons of fish, 5m jobs

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

N

IGERIA has the potentials to produce four million metric tons of fish per annum, and the sector can also generate five million jobs in two years, says Godwin Emakenemi ,

171.85

+8.80

2,654.00

-22.00

19.32

-0.06

114.41

+0.16

96.17

-0.25

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

154.78 247.973 197.7364 163.7364 1.9851 0.2824 236.4915 24.4305 41.2703 26.5293 237.4944

155.28 248.7741 198.3702 164.2653 1.9915 0.2924 237.2554 24.5098 41.4036 26.615 238.2616

155.78 249.5751 199.009 164.7942 1.9979 0.3024 238.0194 24.5892 41.5369 26.7007 239.0288

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/09/2012

Managing Director, Dickem Farm.

Dickem Farm is one of the key investors in the nation’s aquatic industry and the largest fish farmer in Lagos State “N100 billion is spent in importing frozen fish into Nigeria, annually.

That is the one that was legally documented. That means Nigerians are consuming almost N9 billion worth of frozen fish every month. That being the case, why are we importing frozen fish? If you look at the country’s topography, you will realize that the country is naturally blessed with water resources and with the level of fish farmers across the country, we have ability to produce four million metric tons of fish locally,” said Emakenemi.

He noted that the country presently produces 780,000 metric tons of fish both the ones the aqua culture industry is producing and the ones being caught from the sea.

“For us to meet WHO minimum standard of 35 gram of fish protein everyday per person, we needed 2.66 million metric tons of fish to satisfy that requirement. That means if you remove the minimum requirement from what we produce locally, we have a short fall of almost 1.9 million metric tons which is being imported from Europe, South America and the Far

East.

“But with what we have in the industry, if you remove what we produce locally (. 788) from four million, you would realise that we will meet the minimum WHO requirement which is 2.66 million metric tons. In fact, we will be having a surplus of 4.4 million metric tons that can serve the whole of Africa. Within the level we are in fish farming nationwide, I am convinced that employment of five million can be generated within 24 months only just using fish farming,” he said.

On what his company has being doing to develop the local industry, he disclosed that the products they have developed can bring down the cost of fish production in the country to 54 percent from the current 80 percent.

“80 percent of the cost of fish farming is the feed. Feed is the food fish eats, and one of the ways to rear fish is by using floating fish feed because you can’t over feed or under feed fish.

When fish is satisfied they will be playing with the food. So, it is agreed that the best technology is using floating fish feed,” he said. According to him, the products they developed and introducing into the market are the company ’s brand of extruder machine, locally made floating fish feed and mobile fish ponds.

called on government to call the affected companies to order failing which the union would shut down the maritime sector.

The petition read in part “We have observed with pain and disbelief the open show of impunity by some seeming powerful agents, Shipping Companies and multinationals who specialize in anchoring and operating their vessels off-shore/midstream in naked contravention of the given conditions governing off-shore/ midstream operations in our territorial waters. All ships/vessels are expected to berth and operate at the conventional Sea Ports at the hard Quays. In very exceptional cases however, ships/ vessels that cannot berth at the conventional ports for declared reasons, must as of law, obtain the direct approval of the Minister of Transport; pay all statutory NPA dues and stevedoring bills; must ensure the presence of Customs, Navy, relevant Security Agencies at the point of operations to ensure that the State Security is not compromised, and the Stevedoring Companies notified for supply of the appropriate labour force - the registered Dockworkers for the operations.”

“Some of these companies operate offshore/midstream without the mandatory approval of the Minister of Transport.

They have also refused to pay the statutory NPA charges and stevedoring bills, thereby giving rise to loss of employment to Dockworkers and loss of revenue to the Government. It is disheartening to note that while hiding under the cover of challenging the enforcement of these approved conditions in the Law Courts against NPA management, the Companies have not relented in perpetuating these illegal acts that encourage revenue leakages, non-payment of NPA statutory Port Charges, NIMASA levies, under-declaration of tonnage, stevedoring bills and loss/denial of gainful employment to Dockworkers, among others.”

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

NSE to penalise defaulters on market making

By PETER EGWUATU

T

HE Nigerian Stock Ex change (NSE) has said that it will penalise defaulters on market making when the short selling and lending securities takes off in September 18, 2012.

Speaking at a workshop preparatory to the take off of the scheme on Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, said, “There will be zero tolerance in the operations of market making and every participant is expected to play the market according to set rules and regulations.”

Onyema, said for Market Maker(MM) to be vibrant, the Securities Lending and Short Selling structures being put in place to support the process, must to be leveraged. “Therefore, we need all stakeholders to actively understand the mechanics for effecting Securities Lending and Borrowing, as well as Short Sale Transactions. We encourage major asset holders such as AMCON, PFAs, Insurance companies and other entities to participate and earn additional income through the process, while helping to improve

liquidity in the Market” he emphasized.

He assured all stakeholders that the introduction of market making should help to drive liquidity in the marketplace to the benefit of Retail Investors, Institutional Investors, the Broker Dealer Community as well as Regulators.

From a Presentation titled

“Market Operations-Key Highlights” jointly made by Olumide Lala, Head, Transformation & Change and Abimbola Babalola, Head, Surveillance both of the NSE, said Primary Market Makers (PMM) and Securities Lending Agents (SLAs) who default in the laid down rules would be penalised; especially

those who sold Stocks they don’t have.

According to them, “As part of their penalty, they are given T+1 period to buy back the Securities sold. Also, there would be monetary fine of 10 percent (10%) on the value of transaction. Other penalty options include suspension from performing Market Making

From left: Managing Director, Insight Communication, Jimi Awosika, Marketing Manager Larger, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Tony Agenmonmen, Marketing Director, Walter Drenth and the Brand Manager, Legend, Mr. Funsho Ayeni at the Legend Celebration of Excellence Award in Lagos. Photo by Sylva Eleanya.

SMEs target increased contribution to economies in Africa

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

O

PERATORS of Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurs in Africa are set to converge in Johannesburg, South Africa to address the sectors poor contribution to economies in the region.

Meanwhile, the sector would be hosting Africa’s first ever International Small Business Congress (ISBC) with leading policy makers, thinkers and practitioners in small business promotion from around the world, including entrepreneurs in Johannesburg from 15th to 18th September, 2012.

The congress with theme, “Fostering Small Business in New and High-Potential Industries Worldwide,” will focus on strategies to ensure that as governments and other economic development actors around the world identify and foster new industries and seek ways to grow traditional ones, small businesses receive the necessary att e n t i o n .

Accordingly, the congress which would among others, closely examine the role of small businesses in international efforts to turn the glo-

bal economy around and propel it onto a new growth path, is taking place against the backdrop of fragility in the global economy.

According to a statement signed by Septi Bukula, Director of the ISBC, “Participants are to dialogue and exchange experiences and insights on policies, strategies and programmes to increase SME participation in local, regional, national and international economies.

“The Congress is unique not only in that this will be the first time it is held in Africa since its inception in the US in 1974, but also because it is the first time that three global small business bodies are working together to organise and promote a global SME showpiece. ”Through its unique Youth Business Congress, taking place on September 16, the Congress will provide a platform for young entrepreneurs and a variety of entit i e s involved in youth enterprise development to discuss challenges and responses to youth entrepreneurship and small business developm e n t . ”An exhibition running

alongside the Congress will showcase small business support programmes within the government and its agencies, the private sector and academia. Importantly, the exhi-

bition will also showcase products and services of small businesses that are ready to do business beyond their national borders,” Bukula has said.

IEI launches online scratch card for vehicle insurance

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

I

NTERNATIONAL Ener gy Insurance Plc, IEI, has commenced moves to boost its profitability, as it launched a third party online scratch cards, which is also part of its contribution towards the promotion of the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative, MDRI, of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM. Unveiling the scratch cards in Lagos recently, Managing Director of IEI, Mrs. Roseline Ekeng said the move is the company’s way of increasing insurance penetration in the country and providing genuine third party motor insurance cover.

She said “The new Third Party Online Scratch card is part of our contribution towards promoting the Market Develop-

ment and Restructuring Initiatives, MDRI, championed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). It is our little way of increasing insurance penetration in Nigeria, by reaching out to the large population of the uninsured in the country, and a platform of providing genuine third party motor insurance cover.”

According to Ekeng, the product is aimed at ensuring that one can purchase third party insurance at their convenience from the comfort of their home/office through the internet. “The product is very easy and simple to use, just buy the scratch card that is applicable to you (private motor, commercial, motor cycle), scratch gently to reveal the pin, then go to our web site, enter all the information about your vehicle and send. It is that simple,” she said.

functions for Serial Offenders (more than one in the same year).Apart from these, there will be termination of market making privileges and when a Securities Lending Agent is the defaulting party, the NSE will recommend to Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to suspend or terminate the Securities Lending Agent (SLA )approval to perform the lending function.”

The NSE said as part of these, it may also impose its penalties on the SLA and all penalties borne by the Primary Market Maker (PMM) will be absorbed by the SLA. Ade Bajomo, Executive Director (ED), Market Operations and Technology of the NSE, while clarifying issues that may result in market making, said, “The Exchange hopes that operators who are involved will not default. So we have designed the system in such a way that people would not have to default.”

He affirmed that there is processes in place whereby there are checks to confirm that the Securities to be transacted upon are available before the transaction occurs. “Only a Market Maker is allowed to bypass this process; because they are allowed to short sell provided they have cover for the Short Sell’ he said.

Morgan Stanley, Citigroup settle brokerage dispute

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ORGAN Stanley and Citigroup Inc have agreed to value their brokerage joint venture at $13.5 billion, settling a months-long dispute that notches a victory for Morgan Stanley.

The figure is far lower than the value Citigroup had assigned to the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney business on its balance sheet, and as a result Citigroup will take a $2.9 billion non-cash charge against earnings in the third quarter.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is the biggest brokerage in the United States with nearly 17,000 financial advisers and $1.71 trillion in assets.

The two banks agreed to the joint venture in 2009 in the wake of the financial crisis. Morgan Stanley, the majority owner, had always expected to buy out Citigroup, but it was unclear how much it would have to pay.

“It was a bad transaction for Citi, but the market has known it was probably going to go against them for awhile, so at least it brings closure,” said David Trone, a bank analyst with JMP Securities. “Sometimes you just want to sell something and you’ll take whatever price you can get.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 23

CBN’s proposed currency restructuring, unthinkable — CIIN

BY ROSEMARY ONUOHA

T

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has said that the proposed introduction of N5,000 notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is unpopular and unthinkable.

President of the Institute, Mr. Wole Adetimehin, who said this added that the move will send a wrong signal that all was not well with the economy.

Adetimehin said “The proposed issuance of N 5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria is unpopular and unthinkable and it would send a wrong signal that all was not well with the nation’s economy.

Such action would amount to aiding inflation in a nation whose citizens are groaning under the burden of an inflationary trend calculated in geometrical proportions over the years.”

Adetimehin wondered why the CBN would conceive such idea at a time it should be preoccupied with measures aimed at actualising its canvassed cash-less policy. “CBN’S cashless policy is well conceived and commendable but it is now being contradicted by the proposed issuance of the N

5,000 note,” he stated.

The public outcry against the move by the nation’s apex bank to churn out N 5,000 currency denomination has

continued to make the news, with most critics calling on the federal government to apply the reins and forestall what would amount to a pitfall in the

nation’s monetary policy. If public opinion is anything to go by, the move should be thwarted and the CBN made to rest its plans.

From left: Dr. Maxwell Ubah, a change management consultant; Mr. Idorenyen Inang, former Managing Director, Samsung West Africa and CEO, Corporate Shepherds; Mrs. Tito Adeniyi-Aderoju, Chief Client Engagement Officer, Interswitch Limited; Mr. Roger Snow, Vice President, Miller Heiman and Mr. Oliver Nnona, CEO, Profiliant Development Resources, all speakers, at the 2012 Sales Performance Summit (SPS) organized by Profiliant in Lagos.

Skye Bank wins card innovation award

BY RITA OBODOECHINA

A

S a further confirmation of its leading role in electronic payments business, Skye Bank Plc at the weekend won the “best card innovation Bank” award in the nation’s financial services industry at the 2012 ‘Nigeria Telecomms A w a r d s ’ .

The awards organizers, Nigeria Telecomms Awards Group, said Skye Bank Plc won the award because of the overwhelming industry consensus and independent research of its various assessment teams which acknowledged the bank’s creativity in payments cards.

Specifically, the awards organizers said the bank won the award because of its creative ingenuity in the creation of the first Pound Sterling denomination Mastercard and for being the first bank to issue a Mastercard Verve card.

In addition, the group said Skye Bank was the first to issue a Visa co-branded card for online transactions which it described as a commendable premise on which the card business has built further creativity.

Skye Bank Plc received popular endorsement in this regard as over 70 per cent of the

respondents recommended the bank for the award over and above the other banks nominated for the award.

It will be recalled that Skye Bank recently won the “best card issuing efficiency award” at the ACI Payments Worldwide’s ‘African Payments Awards’ held in Lagos where banks and other providers of cards and electronic payments systems c o n v e r g e d .

ACI Worldwide , a worldwide leader in payments system solutions to banks, processors and retailers around the world, has a reputation built on the success of its products that have consistently provided stability, scalability and reliability.

Also recently, the bank won Intermarc’s best ‘card activation award’ at the recent Card Expo organised by Intermarc Nigeria Limited in Lagos where operators in electronic payments and card business were recognised and honoured.

The bank was adjudged to have demonstrated the most efficient card issuance strategy and sustained the

highest active card rates in the banking industry in Nigeria for the past one year.

According to the awards organizers, Skye Bank was rated number one in terms of

card issuance and activation rate, in addition to being the industry leader in terms of focused and strategic card issuance to relevant sectors of the economy.

CSR: FCMB begins second phase of Evergreen Project in Katsina

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IRST City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) in collaboration with Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and the Service to Humanity Foundation (STHF) has commenced the second phase of its Evergreen Project in 10 communities in Katsina State which aims at fighting desertification in the state.

Evergreen Project is an FCMB Corporate Social Responsibility initiative which integrates economic empowerment with genuine environmental sustainability drive, engineering a behavioral change through sensitization, advocacy and training on sustainable alternative. It reduces the demand for firewood as well as reduce carbon emission with the introduction of the Save80 Stove and the Briquettes made from combustible waste.

This year ’s exercise will involve the training of 200 beneficiaries from Mai’Adua and Kaita local government areas in the making of briquettes and the use of save80 stoves, distribution of 250 Save80 Stoves to further ensure the adoption of environmentally friendly lifestyle changes and emission reduction, and supporting the governor ’s skills acquisition drive by empowering 10 selected youths from the Craft Village to be awarded seed capital.

In 2011, FCMB worked with SIFE and the STHF to implement the first phase of the project. The briquette making machines were designed and produced by SIFE while the Save80 stoves were supplied by BIA (a Nigerian social enterprise) which has an understanding with Atosfair .

B-R-I-E-F-S Naira eases, seen gaining on dollar flows

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HE naira weakened against the U.S. dollar on the interbank market on Wednesday, on strong dollar demand from importers, as dollar sales by a unit of Shell come in too late after the market was shut.

The local unit closed at 158.05 to the dollar on the interbank, weaker than the 157.95 it closed at on Tuesday.

Dealers said Shell sold an undisclosed amount of dollars on Wednesday but it did not him the market before close.

“We hope to see positive reaction to the dollar sale by Shell tomorrow in the market, provided the amount sold was significant,” one dealer said.

The naira has been hovering at around 157-158 level in the last two weeks, owing to dollar sales by the state oil company, multinational oil firms and inflows for offshore investors buying local debt.

At the bi-weekly foreign exchange market, the central bank sold $200 million at 155.78 naira to the dollar, the same amount and price at the last auction on Monday.

Europe’s new banking plan gets cool German response

T

HE European Commission unveiled sweeping plans for the European Central Bank to supervise all euro zone banks on Wednesday, though Germany immediately raised objections that the proposals risked overstretching the ECB. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso set out the proposals in a speech to the European Parliament, telling its members that giving the ECB responsibility for monitoring banks would be the first step towards creating a banking union for Europe.

The reforms, which need to be approved by the European Union’s 27 member states, aim to break the link between struggling banks and heavily indebted governments, an interdependence that has exacerbated the debt crisis over the past three years.

By empowering the ECB to police all banks in the euro zone, the proposal hopes to break the vicious cycle and then lay the ground for deeper fiscal cooperation across the EU as the economic and monetary underpinnings of the union are strengthened.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Aganga charges Permsec, Directors to be result oriented

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

T

HE Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has charged the Permanent Secretary, Directors and Directors-General of agencies and parastatals under the ministry to be result oriented.

He made the charges when he signed a Performance Contract with the Permanent Secretary and the directors, stressing: “The objective of signing the performance contract is very clear”, we want everybody to be performance -focused. By doing this, we will be focused on how we deploy our human and financial resources to improve the lives and welfare of the Nigerian people .When you present a budget for a project, you must be able to justify why that amount should be allocated to you and what the country will get in return.”

“If we all adopt this style, it will be good not only for the President, all the ministers but also for the entire country be-

cause we have all been elected or appointed to serve the Nigerian people. And the only way to serve is to deliver on what the people have elected

us to do. So, I am delighted that we have signed the performance contract,” he said.

Aganga explained that the Key Performance Indicators

were designed after due consultation with the Permanent Secretary, Directors and Chief Executive Officers of various

agencies and parastatals within the ministry, adding that the KPIs would be reviewed to reflect emerging developments.

SMEDAN, stakeholders to establish auto mechanic clusters

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MALL and Medium Enter prises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is collaborating with the stakeholders to establish world-class auto-mechanic clusters fully equipped with modern technologies across the country.

The stakeholders comprise National Automotive Council (NAC), the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) including Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, MTN Foundation, Peugeot, Tata, Honda, Mitsubishi, Global Fund for Women, Toyota Nigeria, RT Briscoe, Mandillas, Coscharis Group, CFAO, and Sandex Car Care Ltd. In a statement, Tuesday, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Muhammad Nadada Umar, said the clusters when completed will

employ hundreds of thousands of male and female technicians in auto repairs and maintenance “SMEDAN would make available some of her Industrial Development Centres (IDCs) scattered across the country, provide entrepreneurship training,

provide access to working capital and mentoring services to the prospective beneficiaries, while NAC and LMI are to provide the qualitative technical training to existing and prospective auto mechanics using ultra-modern technologies and facilitating the

procurement of start-up technologies for the trainees,” h said.

Founder/Executive Director of LMI, Engr. Sandra AgueborEkperuoh, stated: “The initiative is also aimed at breaking the barrier for the female gender in a male dominated profession.”

ASACCIMA to build international trade centre in Asaba

BY NAOMI UZOR

ASABA Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA) has acquired hectares of land for the building of an international trade centre in Asaba.

The President of the chamber, Chief Uju Udeme, while inspecting the site in Asaba, said the centre will have 5,000 units

of shops, and warehouses, among others.

He disclosed that the aim of the centre, which would also have parking spaces for more than 500 vehicles at a time, was to attract investors to Asaba and that ASACCIMA is partnering with KANMA Properties Development Company Limited, for the building

of the centre.

He said that the project would be beneficial to the people of Delta and those in the neighbouring states.

Chief Kennedy Kanma, the Managing Director, of KANMA Properties Development Company Limited, said that the centre would be a landmark project.

Innoson as an emerging brand in Chinese technology transfer

BY ANDREW RAPULU UDEH

H

ARD work does not kill. The seed of success is sometimes best sown in the field of despair. And so, when Chief Innocent Chukwuma set out to form a business name “INNOSON “ little did he know that something incredible was ahead of him. Even in 1982 when Innoson Nigeria Limited was incorporated to merely sell Tyres and Motorcycle spare parts at Nkwo Nnewi, Anambra State, the real message was yet unknown. However, being the first indigenous company after Leventis and Boulous Enterprises to bring motorcycles into Nigeria was an eye-opening and a strong signal that he was destined to be great. Then two years after, exactly 1994, when the voyage to China began, little did he know that he was embarking on a mission that would give Nigeria economy a boost.

Chukwuma, a determined and unassuming man of vision delved in with two strong business ideas: “Invention and innovation”, the former simply to create a unique idea that would usher in a breakthrough in motorcycle spare parts while the later was to make positive changes in efficiency, productivity and quality. The first Nigerian whose invention of having 240 units of Complete knock Down (CKD) machines instead of normal 40 units of Built- up machines in a container thereby crashing the prevailing market price down to

•Plate moulding machines inside Innoson factory N50,000 from N100,000.

S

ix years after, 1990 pre cisely, his desire of being a dominant player in industrial sector unveiled. His mission was to satisfy the yawning gap in the sector, particularly the industrial and household plastic requirements of clients by using the highest standard automation and technology. He then assembled well motivated and trained indigenous workforce as well as the technical partners from China. Innoson motorcycle in no distant period became a strong force in Nigerian market. The brand became a must demand for private and corporate organizations.

According to Chief Chukwu-

ma, the joy of contributing towards the economic development of Nigeria by way of technological transfer, employment generation and competitive pricing of motorcycles, plastics and automobiles were upper most in my mind” In 1995, a fully automated motorcycle assembly plant was established at Nnewi, Anambra State, thus became the first fully indigenous motorcycle maker to join A.G Leventis Plc and Boulous Enterprises.

Buoyed by the success of Innoson motorcycle, Chukwuma enlarged his industrial coast by going into plastic and allied products. That was in 2002, the year Innoson Technical and Industrial Company was incorporated. And the ob-

jective was to manufacture first class plastic products for household use, industrial applications and export. With state of the art facilities the plant eventually became the largest plastic factory in westAfrica, with over 150 product lines.

Y

et Chief Chukwuma con tinued venturing, perhaps to fulfill the divine mission of making Innoson a global brand. In February 2009, the first made in Nigeria vehicle emerged! Under another subsidiary, Innoson Vehicle manufacturing Company Ltd. (IVM) the dream became a reality at Nnewi. It was an ultra modern auto plant producing intra and inter-city buses of

various capacities, trucks and pick-up vans, tricycles as well as sports utility vehicles (SUV) with at least 70 percent local content. Already, Auto Star Company, Ekeson Motors, Orizu Motors, God is Good motors, Eastern Mass are among the transporters using Innoson buses, while Enugu, Anambra and Imo State Governments have differently patronized the auto manufacturing company.

Chukwuma enthused: “I am sure we have not left anyone in doubt that we are set to surpass records and re-write the history of automobile industry in Nigeria as we earlier did in the motorcycle and plastic subsector. I am also aware that some of our initial critics are being stunned and dazzled”.

Chukwuma’s innovative spirit shifted to tyres and tubes manufacturing under another subsidiary, “General Tyres and Tubes Company Ltd”. Located at Emene, an industrial out skirt of Enugu, the huge factory in collaboration with his Chinese partners decided to fill the vacuum created in tyre manufacturing in Nigeria.

Indeed, Innoson brandhas contributed tremendously towards the successful transfer of Chinese technology to Nigeria. The evidence on the ground proves that. On record, the Innoson Group boast of over 7,000 indigenous workers of diverse disciplines scattered in various subsidiaries nationwide .

•Andrew Rapulu Udeh is the Head, Public Relations Unit, Innoson Group of Companies, Enugu State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 25

Learning Resources, Covenant University: “Virtual libraries need internet facilities, a large amount of available bandwidth, and stable electricity. These things are lacking to a large extent in many Nigerian universities. In places like the institution where I work, we see pockets of it because the facilities are there. But until these facilities are put in place in every Nigerian university, the virtual library is just a mere decoration."

Future of virtual library

From left: Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Nuhu Shem Zagbayi; Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Julius Okojie; Minister of Education, Prof Ruqquayat Rufa’I; and Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, at the accreditation portal in Calabar recently.

That the library might live...

Virtual solutions to an age old problem

By LAJU ARENYEKA & AMAKA ABAYOMI

N

ON-EXISTENT’- the term Nigerian Librarians used to describe public and community libraries in Nigeria. ‘Outdated’-the word students of some Nigerian universities use to depict the books found in their libraries. These words, combined with the mournful rhythm of ‘poor funding’ and ‘terrible management’, have pushed stakeholders in the education sector onto the borders of Virtual Libraries. This shift, experts say, is not without its challenges.

In July 2012, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, said the Commission will spend about N500 million to revive its National Virtual Library Project which was set up by the commission in 2001. Okojie said the objective was to enhance

Women in Colleges of Education crave security, peace

learning skills and the acquisition of knowledge. He added that the library would also provide a more solid basis for quality assurance in education using ICT-based methods.

“It is fully in place.” The NUC Boss said. “We have subscribed to more than 7,000 titles of journals in 13 disciplines. We are going to pay about N500m for ebooks and e-journals. It’s to all universities, whether private or stateowned.”

However, beyond the Commissions ability to provide this information is the inability of many Nigerian universities to receive them easily due to lack of available infrastructure.

Henrietta Otokunefor, Head of Information Services, and automation Librarian, Daniel Ekong Library, University of Portharcourt said: “The challenges of the Virtual Library in Nigeria are infrastructural. Internet bandwidth is

so expensive, and it is quite difficult for students to download ebooks. There is also the issue of electricity. Although our school has a generator for the purpose of the library it is also quite expensive to maintain. Without the

grants we obtained from different foundations, it would have been impossible for us to even set up what we have on ground today.”

According to Dr. Chrsitopher Nkiko, the Director, Centre for

Beatrice Fabunmi, a Librarian at Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan in a paper on the future of virtual Library in Nigeria said: “The implementation of a virtual library implies that libraries will spend more money on computer hardware and software, licensing, training of librarians in new technologies especially in the area of texts selection, scanning, verification and indexing of the materials to be digitized as well as employment of experts with web technologies skills to support and manage them. Copyright holders have to be contacted and rights obtained.

Money is needed to translate content into digital form and to access the resources. A powerful server is required, supported by specialised software and personnel. The server must operate all day, and new materials should constantly be added.Building and sustaining a virtual library requires the proper technological

Continues on page 26

NUC opens new vista for Nigerian varsities •Launches accreditation portal in Calabar

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has in its effort towards digitising the Nigerian Universities System (NUS), opened a new for Nigerian universities and other education institutions in the country with the launch of its first online programme accreditation portal,.

The programme which was a public/private initiative between NUC and GUCCI CHIS Nigeria Limited was launched at the

University of Calabar, Cross River State thus adding i value to the Nigerian education sector, in line with global best practices.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i said the Portal packaged to kick- start a revolution in the administration of the NUS, particularly in the realm of ICT. The idea, she said, was aimed at addressing the challenge of poor ranking of Nigerian Universities by making them more visible on the world map and en-

Dressing up for examinations

hanced other academic deliverables such as automation of database of all universities in Nigeria with link to the NUC. The Minister expressed delight that the initiative was in line with Mr. President’s transformation agenda of integrating ICT to all sectors of the economy, including the education sector.

She appealed to all universities and stakeholders to embrace the initiative, so as to facilitate effective teaching and learning proContinues on page 26

Dragnet to establish career clubs in tertiary institutions

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

CAREER GUIDANCE

FG signs performance agreement with 15 parastatals

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

FEDERAL government has signed performance agreement with 15 parastatals in the education sector following President Goodluck Jonathan’s three months performance target for all the federal Ministries, The performance agreement signed on behalf of the federal government by the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqquayat and the Minister of State for education Barr Nyesom Wike at in Abuja recently was aimed at spurring the parastatals to focus on job delivery.

The Ministers urged the heads of the parastatals to work in earnest in order to meet up with the limited three months’ time. Rufa’i said that every four weeks, the ministers will be getting in touch with the parastatals heads to see how far they have gone adding that “we need to meet the target and I commend Mr President for putting this process across because through it we will know the area we are going to focus.

“The key performance contracts are the things we are to

• Mr. Ubadigbo Okonkwo, President, London School of Economics Alumni Association of Nigeria (4th left) with new students during the Association’s lecture and send-forth reception for new students held in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele

achieve in the next three months. The two of us cannot actually deliver without your cooperation, after all, the parastatals are the engine room, you are the one doing the job, we are just overseeing the affairs of the ministry to make sure things are done correctly. ”We cannot deliver without

your cooperation, it will not make any meaning if we do not work together to achieve the desired goal”, she added.

Earlier the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike in his remarks said that Mr. President is going to hold them responsible if the targeted objective was not met in the next three

months. According to him, “If you do not perform, obviously you have failed, you need to work as a team because education is very large sector and by the time you put more efforts in achieving this, we will definitely see changes in the next three months”.

That the library might live...

Continued from page 25 infrastructure which includes telecommunication, servers, application platforms and software applications” Vanguard Learning also sought the thoughts of some students on the state of their schools’ libraries and the future of virtual library. A student of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Clement Olusegun, said though there are some new facilities in the institution’s library, there is still the urgent need to stock it up with more upto-date reading materials.

Internet facilities “There are some new facilities in the library like the internet facility which allows students to read up materials and download same for free for one hour. We also have the e-library which is not as modernized as it ought to be, but students still go to download reading materials.”

For Usman Shuiabu Rano, a student of Bayero University, Kano, students make more use of the e-library than the physical library because it is less stressful to use. “BUK has two modern libraries in both campuses and

they are well stocked. this era of information explosion, there is the need for Nigerian university libraries to use the right technology to access the world of information to enable them carry out their traditional functions effectively and efficiently.”

In this era of information explosion, it becomes paramount to find out whether the idea of the virtual library will soon swallow up books and shelves.

Dr. Nkiko doesn’t think so. “I don’t think you can have a total virtual library anywhere in the

world,” he said. “Even Harvard has about 16 million books in hard copy despite its rich virtual library.”

A budding virtual library community, coupled with dwindling management of hard copy books is the situation that describes the Nigerian ‘book’ sector. Speaking on the culture of public libraries that once was, Nkiko said; “In the 1950s and 1960s, you could find such places, but today, they have become places where people just smoke, and do other mischievous things. It’s just a reflection of the

decadence in the society. We are in a society where people do not treasure knowledge. I saw a cartoon recently where someone pointed a gun at the head of a Nigerian and said; ‘your money or your brain.’ The Nigerian replied that his brain should be taken instead as he didn’t need it to survive in Nigeria, but he needed the money.”

For many, the future of libraries in Nigeria may hang entirely on cultural adjustment before policy changes.

NUC opens new vista for Nigerian varsities Continued from page 25 cess, saying it had opened up frontiers of engagement for the benefit of the entire public.

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, in his keynote address, said that the deployment of ICT in accreditation, was not only meant to make the process faster, but also better.

He said the project which commenced in 2008 had materialised with mutual benefits for both the NUS and the general public. Professor Okojie observed that the NUCDB, as a central data reposi-

tory system, would further help the Commission in enforcing its laws, by effectively regulating the system for improved service delivery.

In a welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Calabar, Professor James Epoke thanked the Minister and the Executive Secretary for the choice of the institution for the programmes and its inclusion in the TETFund special intervention fund. He said, the University would maximise the opportunity of the project to be among the best ranked universities in Nigeria and the global community. He pledged that the University

would protect and safeguard the facilities for maximum utilisation.

Some of the benefits of the portal include access to students’ biodata; course registration; course grades; new students admission; list of universities; accredited courses in each universities with dates; courses with denial accreditation; undergraduate programme; post graduate programme; number of students in each university; by state of origin, faculty, department, gender, research projects of top 20 students and online certificate verification among others.

Highlight of the event was the

Want to be a psychologist?

PSYCHOLOGY is the study of people: how they think, act, react and interact. It is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivations underlying such behaviour. Psychology is one of the most popular subjects to study because it has a big impact on all areas of life, from education and health, to the economy and crime.

Psychologists apply scientific methodology to explain human behaviour. They formulate theories, test hypotheses through observation and experiment, and analyse their reports with statistical techniques that help them identify important findings.

If you are interested in finding out why people behave the way they do or how the brain works then psychology could be for you.

It is suggested that you prepare for a career in psychology by some basic high school science courses: chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics and, of course, psychology, if your school offers it. This is because science courses teach you to think logically, and give you important insight into how the physical world ‘works.’

Analytical thought Biology and chemistry courses prepare you for later studies in the biological aspects of brain functioning, while mathematics teaches you analytical thought and prepares you for the statistics courses that are necessary to understand all the research that is fundamental to the field of psychology.

To be a really good mental health professional, you must develop an early interest in what motivates people, so courses in the humanities, such as history, sociology, art, literature, and religion will be helpful. Language courses will also be helpful. You should also become very good at writing and should develop excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation as well as keen analytic thought.

Studying to be a psychologist is a lengthy but rewarding process – on average it takes seven years. The path you take will depend on what type of psychologist you wish to be and what academic level you have reached so far. Studying psychology will give you lots of options for your career, especially if you are interested in working with people or in areas that need good problem solving skills. This is because it develops a number of valuable transferable skills.

According to recent research, only about 20 per cent of psychology graduates end up working as professional psychologists. However, this does not mean that psychology graduates do not use the skills they have learnt.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 —27

BY IKENNAASOMBA

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AST Wednesday when unofficial sources reported that management of the Lagos State University is making plans to relocate students of the Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication (AASOC), Ojuelegba, to Topo in Badagry, where LASU Foundation Programme is run, the school and various social media have been awash with mixed reactions from students and staff.

According to some of the students, the move became necessary as children of the rightful owner of the Adebola Adegunwa Building, where the school is housed, have shown interest in reclaiming the property. More so, it has also been said that the move to Topo coincided with the fact that the LASU Foundation Programme being run in the building, will be rounding off by October.

Inhuman treatment As a result of this, anxiety has gripped the students, especially those in 200 and 300 level. For the 300 level students, moving them to Topo is an inhuman treatment and high level of insensitivity on the part of the university management. According to them, this is the third time in two years that management will be relocating them to various campuses all in the pursuit of a four-year Bsc. programme.

Genesis of relocation exercise: It will be recalled that at the end of the 2009/2010 academic session which ended in February 2011, the 300 level students, then in 100 level, were informed of a relocation for an academic session from the Ojuelegba campus to the main campus at Ojo. The students eventually resumed at the Ojo main campus, amidst

UACN GOODNESS LEAGUE: Hakeem Ogunniran, MD, UACN Property Development Company (2nd left), presenting the most outstanding student prize to Danessien Eno at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Goodness League Programme at Gbagada Senior Secondary School, Lagos, on Saturday. With him are Lizzy Ometan, Director, Guidance and Counseling, District II (left) and Oluwatoyin Williams, Chief Education Officer, District II, both with the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Tension grips LASU communication students over move to Badagry •Why we don’t want to relocate —Students mixed feelings. Joining them to resume at the main campus were the fresh students, now in 200 level.

Commenting on the move then, the management of AASOC explained that the move was due to management’s decision to enable the students get a feel of what real academic life entailed.

“Moving to Ojo will make you

Frequently Confused Words Exercise 2 Instruction: Choose the appropriate word from the alternatives in the bracket.

1.

I would strongly (advise/advice) against having premarital sex before your wedding day.

2.

I will contact the First Lady to (advice/advise) her husband to heed the (advise/advice) of prominent Nigerians on the state of the nation.

C M Y K

mix and interact with students from other disciplines. In fact, by the time you are back, your life will never remain the same, in terms of the scope of knowledge you must have acquired,” said Prof. A. I. Lawal, immediate-past dean of AASOC in the wake of the move.

However, despite the reasons given, reports from some quarters then, held that the move was

necessitated by an upcoming accreditation exercise by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC). The reports said NUC had earlier threatened to strip the school of its accreditation if it still houses four levels in the threestorey Adebola Adegunwa House, comprising about five lecture theatres each with the capacity to seat 70 people.

Further, the sources said the

3.

The police were called in to (quell/quench) the violence.

4.

Firemen came to (quench/quell) the flames raging through the building.

5.

Drink water to (quell/quench) your thirst.

6.

A (mature/matured) student is an adult student.

7.

Leadership is for (matured/mature) people.

8.

Girls are in some ways more (mature/matured) than boys of their age.

9.

A boy of eighteen years is sexually (matured/mature).

10.

Wale has (mature/matured a great deal in the past one year.

11.

She has (matured/mature) into one of the best poets in the Creative Writing class 12.

The students are (all ready/already) to write the examination.

13.

The players are (already/all ready) to start the game.

14.

I’ve eaten (all ready/already), thank you.

15.

By the time he got home, his children were (already/all ready) in bed.

16.

I’m fifteen minutes late (all ready/already).

threat by NUC became necessary as the four levels housed by the school had over 500 students, as against NUC’s expectation. The move was successfully made in the 2010/2011 academic session; March 2011 to be precise.

Second relocation: After the end of the 2010/2011 academic session in November 2011, the students, having completed their second year, were mandated to move back to the Ojuelegba campus, leaving behind the fresh students.

This announcement by management was never without the usual mixed feelings. While some of the students lauded the move, others criticized it heavily, saying it’s waste of money, time and energy. According to them, “while in 100 level, we spent money looking for apartment around Ojuelegba and its suburb. Moving to Ojo, we spent heavily again looking for hostel accommodation. This is the third time we will be spending,” they lamented.

Third and latest purported relocation: In the wake of last Wednesday’s International Communication exams, news of the third relocation to far-away Topo broke, leaving the 300 level students in a dilemma.

“I have already rented an apartment and paid for two years, which cost my parents about N300,000. Getting an accommodation here in Surulere is very expensive. Having spent this much securing an apartment, not considering the stress, why this new relocation?” asked one of the students who pleaded anonymity.

For some 200 level students, the move to Topo-Badagry is not worth it as some of them have already made arrangements for hostel accommodation within Ojuelegba.

(compliment/ complement).

2. (compliments/ complement) of the season!

3.

Communal labour should (compliment/complement) government efforts on road repairs.

4.

Men and women have strengths that (compliment/complement) each other.

5.

The bus was (stationary/stationery) when a car ran into it.

6.

Adun went to a (stationary/stationery) store to buy a note book.

7.

His belt is (loose/ lose).

8.

The upper end of her wrapper is (loose/lose).

9.

Don’t (loose/lose) your head when others are keeping theirs.

10. You can (loose/lose)

Instruction: Choose the appropriate word from the alternatives in the bracket.

1.

The cashier did not take the customer’s remark as a zCONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.D, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

BRIEF OAU inducts medical doctors and dentists

BY SIKIRU AKINOLA

Dressing up for examinations

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

THE answer is yes. Yes you should dress up for examinations. This isn’t a list of designer clothes that would make you feel hip, but fashion advice that could save your life…or at least your grades.

•Prepare for all seasons: Exam halls could be unpredictable. You wouldn’t want to leave your exams unfinished simply because the air condition is freezing your fingers. You also don’t want to sweat onto your answer scripts because you’re dressed like an Eskimo. So it’s advisable to wear cool colours, and carry along a scarf or jacket that you can remove easily.

•The hair test: It’s natural for headaches to come with the exam period. If you want them on a higher scale, fix your hair just before exams begin and enjoy the painful show. Do you also want to waste the time you would have spent on revision combing, brushing and restyling? Then don’t stick to braids, go for complex styles.

•Loose is the answer: From bras to ties, wrist watches to trousers, and shirts to shoes, loose is the answer. If you think breathing properly is important

to writing your exams with ease, save the tight clothes for the after party.

•Watch the nails: Fixing your nails too long could make writing uncomfortable, and with the clock competing for

your grades, you need no extra baggage.

•Don’t change bags too often: You don’t want to be the one who has to go back to the hostel to collect your clearance or identity card. Even if you

change your bag, double check, and triple search for the essentials.

•A working wristwatch: Do I have to spell this out? Get one that works…on time.

T

HE vision of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is to become a formidable professional body committed to fostering effective and efficient health care delivery with high ethical standards and protecting the interest of its members. This was a dream come true for the 201 newly inducted medical students at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Despite the heavy downpour, academicians, parents, well wishers and students thronged the Amphi Theatre, venue of the induction ceremony.

A release by the PRO of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the College, since inception, had graduated over 3,400 doctors and dentists.

The provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof. Solomon Ogunniyi, while congratulating the new doctors and dentists who are graduating at a time the university and the College of Health Sciences are celebrating 50th and 40th anniversaries respectively, charged them to maintain links with their alma mater and strive to keep the flags of the college and the university flying. He expressed gratitude to the new doctors and dentists for the ongoing construction work on the 500-seater lecture theatre and four seminar rooms within the Teaching Hospital premises. He did not fail to acknowledge the 40 microscopes which the university supplied to the college.

Amstel Malta entertains students in Ibadan •as 9ice and MI rock stage

BY MOSES IKEBELI

ALL work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” so goes an old saying. Recently, students of tertiary institutions in and around Ibadan were left begging for more, as Amstel Malta Showtime took over the ancient city of Ibadan. The variety show, organised by Nigerian Breweries Plc, makers of the premium drink, Amstel Malta low sugar, had rap star, MI of Chocolatecity music group and Alagomeji exponent, 9ice, thrill the audience, along with fast rising comedian, Laff UP, reeling out hilarious jokes. It was certainly a night to remember for the students.

For several months now, the ancient city had been abuzz with excitement in anticipation of the event. For students of University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic, Ibadan and other tertiary institutions in and around the state, this was the event they had been waiting for.

Last month, Amstel Malta Showtime was at the ancient city of Benin, bringing along two of the biggest artistes in the country,

NaetoC and Davido. A month earlier, the oil rich city of Port Harcourt was the stage from which the duo of P-Square and Na abania crooner, Flavour, rocked students of tertiary institutions. Finally, Ibadan was getting its own spotlight courtesy of Amstel Malta Showtime with the arrival of MI and 9ice.

However, it was not all about the superstars, the night also featured a special talent hunt competition, where some of the hottest talents from tertiary institutions competed in the singing, dancing and comedy competition. The winners in the different categories, walked away with the mouth-watering sum of N500,000 cash prize, as well as a brand new iPad and an all-expense paid weekend for two in Lagos.

The show kicked off with a bang, as the students trooped to the Red carpet to take photographs and savour the experience of Amstel Malta Showtime. The ambiance certainly had an air of glamour around it, as the paparazzi took their turn to interview the excited

students.

Finally, it was Showtime, time for the grand finale!

Kick-starting proceedings was entertainer, Darey ‘Art’ Alade, the show anchor. Darey has featured in all of the Amstel Malta Showtime editions with his impressive stagecraft and uncanny ability to bond with students. Amstel Malta Showtime in Ibadan was no different as the Kogi-born

* 9ice, (far left) performing with all the contestants during the Ibadan leg of the 2012 edition of Amstel Malta Showtime.

entertainer thrilled the students.

While the students could not wait for the main stars of the night to step on the stage, they had to be patient as the talent hunt competition kick-started proceedings. The competition saw the audience play a key role as they decided the winners via voice votes. Up stepped Owomoyela Oluwatobi Peteru (Tobi), Olakunle Aderenle and

Temitayo Smith, to do battle for who would be crowned winner in their category. While the three contestants gave a good account of themselves much to the delight of the audience, a winner had to be crowned and Owomoyela Oluwatobi Peteru was adjudged winner. In addition to the prizes he won, Peteru, who is a HND 1 student of Purchasing and Supply in The Polytechnic, Ibadan, also had the rare privilege of

performing alongside Laff Up, the comedian of the night.

The dance competition was also exciting as Bamidele Oni, Happy Ijeoma and Onome Ilovhogie lit up the dance floor with their exciting dance routines. Edo State-born Onome Ilovhogie who is a 300 level Sociology student of the University of Lagos, was voted winner of the dance category.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 29

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

M

INISTER of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i commissioned the Electronic Teaching and Learning Platform at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The Minister assured that government was determined to provide the basic facilities that would enhance the educational system and make it globally competitive.

Rufa’i said that the platform would address the challenge of large classes, particularly general courses, as students can participate adequate in their lectures from a distance.

She noted that the platform would complement the Virtual Library Project of the NUC with a library holding of over 16,000 academic journals for students and researchers. She disclosed that the Nigerian Universities Electronic Teaching and Learning Platform was one of the schemes introduced by the Federal Government with the support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to support the universities in producing more quality graduates and research output.

Professor Rufa’i further explained that the project was an ICT-enabled interactive teaching and learning concept, which main focus was to develop ‘smart’ classrooms that use technology to overcome the challenges of large classes, aid modern methods of teaching and learning as well as content development using interactive tools.

She listed some of the component of the platform to include a pool of interactive whiteboards with networking capabilities; high resolution audio-visual teaching aids,; capacity development on modern

mane for teaching, research and community service, Stressing that the present administration was determined to transform the Nigerian University System.

Professor Okojie expressed delight at the level of progress in the university and commended the Vice-Chancellor and her team for striving to address some of the challenges which had improved the accreditation status of the university.

E

•From left: Rev Canon Dr. Joe Ajaefobi, Church of the Holy Spirit, Onitsha; Mr. Chris Ndulue, Chairman, Board of Trustee, Dawn Michaels Nursery and Primary School, Okota, Lagos, and Mrs. Ndulue Uchenna, Director, during the official opening of Dawn Michaels School at the weekend. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

NUC commissions e-learning platform at UniUyo methods of teaching and learning and an electronic content development and a pool of electronic clipart resources.

The Minister said as part of government’s efforts toward deploying ICT in the universities, ICT resource centres were built in some federal universities which include: Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike; University of Port Harcourt; University of Benin;

University of Abuja;Federal University of Technology, Minna; Federal University of Technology Owerri and University of Calabar.

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Professor Julius Okojie enjoined the students to protect the facilities from vandalisation, noting that government had invested so much to actualise the project. He said,

for Nigeria to be in the league of the 20 biggest world economies, her citizens, especially the academia must strive to catch up with evolving technology. He disclosed that ICT has developed from a very complex course to a more interesting one with inventions for solving difficult problems.

The NUC Scribe challenged the staff to develop a university culture, which he said was ger-

arlier in her welcome ad dress, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Comfort Ekpo commended the Federal government and the Honourable Minister of Education for considering the institution among the 12 beneficiaries of the pilot project. She said the University had received an initial consignment of 20 interactive white boards with accompanying projectors and accessories.

She disclosed that the university had also deployed the facilities to 20 locations with a minimum of one unit in each faculty. She said in addition, adequate power supply had been provided with the procurement of inverters for the systems. Professor Ekpo also informed the minister that part of the measures to ensure the usage of the platform, 50 academic staff had been trained to manage the facilities. She commended the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio for donating some classroom blocks, a Moot Court for the Faculty of Law and the construction of access road in the university.

Eight years is enough to achieve vision 20:2020—Professor Anya

V

BY DAYO ADESULU

ISION 20:2020 that is eight years from now has received optimism from Professor Anya .O. Anya a Chartered Biologist and a former university don who said that Nigerians must not loss hope of actualising the vision 20:2020 if she meets the conditions. He said: “Vision 20:2020 is possible if the conditions are met, adding, Nation can be transformed in their developmental experience within a historically short period as in China which transformed in eleven years.”

He added that the experience of China has demonstrated that the expertise, skills and knowledge of a nation which confers competitive advantage on them is more important than the reservoir of natural resources which a nation possesses.

Speaking at the Bishop Mike Okonkwo 13th annual lecture titled: “Dependance,

Resource Curse and the Challenge of Building a Prosperous Economy in a Global World- Nigeria’s Options” Professor Anya noted that Nigeria has over depend on oil at the expense of other resources adding, “in the new global world, economic power is increasingly dependent on access to and control over information, technology and the global financial institutions” Quoting Michael Porter, he said, “Countries that improve their standard of living are those in which firms are becoming more productive through the development of more sophisticated sources of competitive advantage based on knowledge, investment, insight and innovation.”

According to him, if a nation is to move beyond poverty, it must upgrade its institutions and skills to cope with international competitiveness, saying that the usual litany will include

upgrading human capital, improving infrastructure, opening up to international trade and investment, protecting intellectual property and raising regulatory standards to enhance quality, as well as expanding regional integration in a manner that enhances cost effective linkages.

Increased prosperity Transforming economic development, he noted must start from the acceptance of the fact that prosperity issues from increased productivity rather than from the control of resources, discriminatory dispensation of government favours or control of military power.

On his part, governor Babatunde Raji Fashola while commending the initiative of the presiding bishop of The Redeemed

Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo for organising such yearly essay competition and annual lecture to broaden the horizon of students said, “I am so happy, I came because these children are my responsibility. What they become in future depend on how I do my job as the governor of Lagos State. If Bishop Okonkwo does this without being member of my cabinet, that shows the vital role he is playing as a nation builder and good follower by investing in the future of the country” He, however urged all Nigerians to emulate the good gesture of nation building in Bishop Mike Okonkwo.

The governor who used the occasion to felicitates with the Bishop Mike Okonkwo on his 67th birth day said he was happy when he saw the Shell Hall at Muson Center filled with people who were willing to enjoy the diet of knowledge to celebrate

scholars. Master Ahia Fego, student of Brillient Child College, Lagos who came first in 2011 edition also emerged first in this 2012 edition. Fego said the secret of his success was hard work. According to him, he reads virtually everything he comes across and check difficult words in the dictionary. “I read our national newspapers, books and internet, he said” He was rewarded alongside these eight students: Okoli Chinaza, Vivian Fowler College, Lagos, Nwabiankea Mark, Lagos Senior Model College, Badore, Alufa Temijuopelo, Community Secondary School, Abuja, Famadewa Irenitemi VivianFowler College, Lagos, Asuzu Kamsi Vivian-Fowler College, Lagos, Eke Ikechi Kalu, Fountain Heights Secondary School Surulere, Sanusi Morenike, VivianFowler College, Lagos and Ooretoluse Delano, Fountain Heights Secondary School, Surulere.

30— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

F EF RIIE BR B

Women in Colleges of Education crave security, peace T

•Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) 2012 senior category winner, Uwa Benjamin; Sales and Marketing Director Promasidor, Ghana, Festus Tete; and junior category winner, Akintokun Samuel, at Promasidor head office in Accra, Ghana recently. velopment of the country are discussed. With the current security challenges we are facing today in the country as mothers, we are concerned. This has made everyone to become emergency security personnel”.

Prof Rosemond Ayanniyi has pleaded to the federal government to ensure that critical insecurity menace should be directly or indirectly stopped in other to restore absolute peace and bring about development to Nigeria

Dragnet to establish career clubs in tertiary institutions

BY DAYO ADESULU

I

N its bid to act as catalyst in challenges faced by undergraduates in tertiary institutions, Dragnet Solutions has disclosed plans to set up career clubs in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Mr. Robert Ikazoboh, Managing Director, Dragnet Solutions, said such clubs would help in addressing some of the challenges that undergraduates face in planning for a future career, after school. These challenges include negative and pessimistic views about their future and that of the nation; dependency syndrome inherent in our youth; and lack of information and knowledge of the possibilities and opportunities that exist, and how to go about taking advantage of them.

Others include lack of a structured job search system, distant and inaccessible employers, highly competitive nature of the job market, nepotism in the employment process and the youth lack of faith, hope and

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

I

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU & AMINAT AMUDA

HE Association of Women in Colleges of Education, WICE have called on the federal government to do all it can to restoration peace and security in the country. WICE President, Mrs. Grace Ini-Udom at the opening ceremony of the second national conference/journal launch said women in the colleges of education earnestly desire the return of peace and security in Nigeria.

Ini-Udom said a lot of women have lost their loves ones including children and husbands to security challenges in the country.

She said, “In whatever way, the women become endangered- the victims, could be our husbands, children, loved ones, the perpetrators could be our children, so, what role do women education play in all of these?”

She therefore, the contributions of women to peace in the country was immeasurable which inspired the theme of the conference, ‘Women’s Education and the State of Insecurity in Nigeria: The Way Forward..

She stated, “It is during a conference such as this that an avenue for professional growth is created. This is because; contemporary issues relating to the de-

US honor honorss Gr ace Grace Ihejiamaizu

belief in self and in the future.

Ikazoboh who noted that he will swing into action once the idea of the career club is accepted by the various tertiary institutions in the country, added that the fortunes of thousands of Nigerian students, who graduate annually, without any inkling of their career direction, would have been significantly helped.

He said: “The career club idea is an initiative which will inspire, assist and propel undergraduates of our tertiary institutions to accomplish their career dreams.

The club will aid them in overcoming the challenges standing as obstacles to realizing their job dreams. It will work to bridge the gap between the employers and students, the education environment and the economy at large.

“This club is truly about empowering students to take charge of their future in a proactive manner. The tagline of the club will be “Empowering the Future” and this adequately captures the essence of setting it up.

Empowering the future entails transforming the fortunes of the students by providing them the requisite knowledge and platform with which they could make the best out of their lives postgraduation.”

Ikazoboh who disclosed that his company was already holding discussions with some universities in order to help them set up the club, reiterated that the career club will have three key areas of focus. These include reorientation and personal effectiveness, career and course of study support and human capital development programmes.

Dragnet Solutions, which recently celebrated its 5th anniversary, is Nigeria’s leading computer-based testing and talent management firm, and has various solutions that support areas like scholarship administration, E-application management, matriculation examination, testing among others.

and Nigerians Ayanniyi made this appeal at the women in colleges of women in colleges of education (WICE) annual national conference and journal launching tagged women education and the state of insecurity in Nigeria the ward forward.

A

yanniyi who is the lead speaker said education of women enhances their participation in decision making at all levels.” Education exposes women to broader thinking and help them to discuss better about marriage, healthcare and other government programme.”

Also speaking at the occasion the chairman of the day Minister for education Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i represented by Mrs Oyerinde expressed her gratitude to the team of seasoned educationist and administrator who are making a deliberate effort at improving the standard of education.

The chief host, professor Tijani Ismai’l provost, college of education Zuba also added the role of woman in the society cannot be overemphasized therefore there is need to empower the women because what a man can do a woman can do better.

The president of National Council of Women’s Societies Nigeria (NCWS), Mrs Nkechi Okemini Mba added that all the insecurity experienced in Nigeria are from mothers.”

N recognition of her unalloyed dedication to developing Nigeria’s next generation of leaders, Grace Ihejiamaizu, the founder of an after-school youth program, has been selected by the United State’s Department of States as September’s State Alumni Member of the Month.

Grace who took part in the study of the United States Institute for Student Leaders (SUSI) Program on Social Entrepreneurship has since not relented in applying her experiences from the entrepreneurial concepts in Nigeria, hence the birth of an after-school youth program.

The SUSI experience has also assisted her in the examination of how business techniques and entrepreneurial skills can be used to address social issues. Motivated by the knowledge and following her passion to help young people, Ihejiamaizu returned to Nigeria and launched Raising Young and P r o d u c t i v e Enterpreneurs(RYPE).

Internship placements Since its inception, afterschool youth development program has been offering skills trainings, internship placements, volunteer activities, and a peer mentoring club to educate, engage, and empower Nigerian youth to become leaders and entrepreneurs.

And as a young social entrepreneur, Ihejiamaizu has already won considerable national and international recognition, owing to her outstanding contribution towards a better Nigeria society and subsequently named one of Google’s 12 Brightest Young Minds in the World.

Grace has also won a grant from the Young African Women Leaders Forum Small Grants Program in support of her RYPE initiative and most recently, she was one of 60 young people selected from more than 2000 applications to attend the British Council’s Global Change maker’s event.

All through September, Grace Ihejiamaizu will be recognized on the alumni website of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 31

It takes about N1.5m to train an average undergraduate per session —Isaac Adeyemi Some years ago, public institutions were the inthing; parents struggled to get their wards into public universities, while private schools were established mostly to cater for children with special needs nd cannot cope in a normal school environment. Unfortunately, like every other thing in Nigeria, public institutions took a nosedive. There were incessant disruptions in the academic calendar as the staff complained of poor remunerations, poor infrastructure, lack of funds etc. It is said that if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. To stem this tide, private universities were established to meet a need. In this chat with Professor Isaac Adeyemi, Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, he said private universities have been able to justify their establishment. Excerpts:

BY EBELE ORAKPO

W

hy private universities: According to the professor of Food Science, “private universities were established to fill a gap in our university system. First and foremost, there has been an increase in the number of applicants which the public institutions - federal and state - could not absorb. Secondly, the increasing cost of running the university system was becoming too much for government to bear knowing full well that there are other sectors of the economy they have to invest in to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.

Also, getting quality education was another reason for the establishment of private universities. Based on these parameters, the government, I believe, supported the idea of having private universities in place.”

Meeting the need: The question now is, have all these reasons been justified? Have the private universities lived up to expectation?

I will say yes, they have, in the sense that at least, they have been able to attract or to take care of some of the applicants who would have been denied university education.

Two, it has also introduced a sort of competition. I believe that the approach in running private universities is having some positive effects on the running of public institutions as well although private universities for now, are still not the model but rely partially on some of the existing institu-

tions to survive in terms of manpower development.

Also, most of these private universities are relatively new but at least, they are absorbing between 10 and 20 per cent of total admissions and I believe that this will keep increasing with time.

In terms of qualitative education, from my own perception, private universities have been doing well. First and

,

• Prof. Isaac Adeyemi

school fees in private universities are relatively high compared with fees in public institutions, but argued that they still charge lower than

In Bells, it is planned that the student population should not exceed 5,000 so we are talking of manageable student population. By the time you have so many students and you cannot meet their needs, you water down the quality

,

foremost, the student knows that if a programme is four years and he does very well, he will have no cause to exceed four years.

Incidences of strikes, students’ unrest etc, are minimal in private institutions; that is an aspect public institutions are trying to see how they can adjust and it means if we can have crisis-free private universities, then it is possible to run public institutions that are crisis-free. That is a dimension that private universities have introduced,” he said.

High school fees: Although Adeyemi acknowledged that

what it actually takes to train an average undergraduate in Nigeria. “My argument is this; first, public institutions are cheaper but somebody is paying to bridge the gap between students’ fees and what it takes to train an average undergraduate in Nigeria. Even the private universities you claim to be very expensive charge lower than what it takes to educate an average Nigerian undergraduate.

From studies, I know that it takes about N1.2 - N1.5 million per session because when you talk about cost, you have to think of salaries of workers,

enabling environment, facilities etc. It is more expensive to train an average medical doctor than those in the liberal arts. So where students are paying N40,000 or N100,000 per session in public institutions and cost of maintaining an undergraduate is over N1 million, who is paying the difference?

Government of course! Private institutions are not being financed by government, so our sources of income are mainly from students’ fees, proprietary contributions and donations from friends of the university. By the time you aggregate all these, you discover that whatever is being charged as fees, is still below the cost of training. “ Carrying capacity: Giving reasons for the relatively low carrying capacity of private universities when compared with public schools, Adeyemi said their carrying capacity will increase with time as they develop and mature, adding that some private universities like Bells, “right from inception, have a ceiling as to number of students to be admitted.

In Bells, it is planned that the student population should not exceed 5,000 so we are talking of manageable student population. By the time you have so many students and you cannot meet their

needs, you water down the quality,” he stated.

Way forward: Speaking on the way forward for Nigeria’s educational system, Adeyemi noted that the fact that some of our graduates are not employable “is fallout of our curriculum which the 6-3-3-4 system was meant to correct although it did not really work due to incessant policy shifts.”

He was, however, happy that the problem is being addressed as most institutions now have entrepreneurship programme in their curricula.

He also blamed the economy for the woes in the education sector. “We are operating within a macro economy and the enabling environment must be there. For instance, if a graduate who is not from a rich home has an idea, who funds such a project? Does he go to the capital market, to banks where the interest rate is about 17, 20 per cent or to microfinance banks where the interest could be as high as 30 per cent?”

Surviving in rural areas He advocated Silicon Valley-like environment where such graduates can go.

“Again, we have to make life more meaningful in the rural and semi-urban areas. Almost 60 per cent of our graduates are in the key towns because to survive in the rural areas is a problem. But if life becomes more meaningful in rural areas, you discover that people can operate within their own immediate environment and survive.“ Strengths: Bells which offers two novel programmes in engineering – Mechatronics, a combination of mechanical and electronic engineering, and biomedical engineering – handling and repairs of medical equipment, according to the vice-chancellor, is very strong in information and communications technology. “We participated in a national competition organised by the National Mathematical Centre on computer programming. In 2008, we came third, second in 2009, first and second in 2010 and first in 2011. The school currently has about 1,700 students,” he said.

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

BRIEF

EEPNL trains lecturers on capacity building in Geosciences S

Geosciences workrooms The UAP scheme, which started in 2007, entails the construction of min-Geosciences workrooms with state-of-the-art accessories, furnishing and equipment, in the Geosciences departments of benefitting universities as well the donation of workstations. The programme further entails the training of lecturers and students to use the machines provided for their schools by EEPNL. To further build capacity and ensure effective use of donated equipment and sustenance, EEPNL embarked on the five days training programme facilitated by Danvic Concepts International Limited, an identified leading training organization in Nigeria.

The workshop, which is intended to enhance and complement the skills of lecturers in geosciences departments, expects that, in turn, the lecturers will impact the knowledge gained to their students, thereby improving the quality of graduates coming out of the tertiary institutions.

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

S

BY DAYO ADESULU

TAKEHOLDERS in the oil and gas industry have lamented the level of decay in the Nigerian university system.

Research has showed that it takes at least 36 months to make a Nigerian graduate employable.

This has led to many oil companies going outside the country to search for Nigerians to employ.

Nigerian lecturers do not conduct research. The level of lecturer-student ratio has fallen, several Nigerian universities cannot use the current equipment needed to properly study geology, which results in poor training of upcoming Geosciences students.

This is the reason why Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), in conjunction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), deemed it fit to sponsor the training of lecturers of the geosciences department of Nigerian universities.

The programme is tagged “Train-the-Trainer Workshop” and organised under the University Assistance Programme (UAP), with the aim to develop indigenous human capacity in Nigerian Universities, particularly in the area of Geosciences.

School Principals task Govt on new Secondary School curriculum

• Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Executive Governor, Lagos State.Mr Ahia Fego, 1st Prize Winner, Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition and Bishop Mike Okonkwo, presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission ( TREM) at the 13th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture at The Shell Hall Mouson Centre.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five-day programme, in Benin City, Edo State, one of the facilitators, Mr. Mayowa Afe, Managing Director, Danvic Concepts International Limited, said that the programme was aimed at capacity building and to ensure effective use of donated equipment.

Mr. Goodluck Adagbasa Manager, Deepwater Production, Geosciences, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, In his opening speech said: “The Trainer-The-Trainer workshop is

inline with NNPC/EEPNL’s commitment to developing indigenous human capacity in Nigerian Universities, particularly in the area of Geosciences.”

He added: “We want to help empower the graduates coming out of our universities to be able to compete in the marketplace with their counterparts from other parts of the world. It is our sincere hope and belief that the better the output of the university, the more impact they will have on our business, moving forward.”

According to Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi, Supervisor, Community Development, Public Affairs Department, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), representing the Manager, Public Affairs Department, NAPIMS, Mr. Kennie Obateru, “Today’s Initiative by NNPC/EEPNL is part of that continuous effort to ensure that we contribute to the development of the country and to the study of Geosciences, which is an important part of the oil and gas industry.

Loyola Jesuit College rated best school in Nigeria

BY MOSES IKEBELI

L

OYOLA Jesuit College (LJC) which is located at the north of Nigeria, in Abuja to be precise, has been viewed by many as the top secondary school in Nigeria. LJC is a private roman catholic school and is run by the Society of Jesus Religious Order. The school was established on the second of October 1996, and since then has grown in leaps and bounds. For the past seven years, LJC has claimed the best West African Council Examination (WAEC) result as well as the best jamb result in the country for several years.

In a recently conducted poll, the question if LJC was the best secondary school in Nigeria was asked to citizens at random and the response was highly positive. Majority

believed LJC was the best secondary school in Nigeria when the question was asked.

Loyola is also a popular secondary school in Nigeria, as it has become the first choice for primary school children across the nation.

“Loyola Jesuit College is arguably the best secondary school in the country”, those were the words of MR. Yinka Onabamiro who is a trader and a graduate of LASU varsity.

Okei Charles, a final year student of computer science Babcock varsity said “LJC in all fairness and sincerity is the best secondary school in the country at the moment, all my friends that were fortunate enough to attend LJC, are all standing out today in their respective institutions”.

Loyola Jesuit College has a solid reputation, and its students never disappoint.

Another passerby was asked and she had this to say “I believe LJC is the school to beat in Nigeria when it comes to secondary education” she gave her name as Amaka Nnamani a teacher at a private secondary school.

Admission into LJC does not come easy, in the year 2010 an estimated 5000 students wrote the admission examination, but only two percent were granted admission. Entry into LJC is strictly by merit, which allows for massive competition among prospective students.

Students seeking admission into LJC apply online and get their result online. The current president of the school is Ehis Omoragbon, SJ. Loyola Jesuit college is a coeducational boarding school and is situated in a very conducive environment for studying.

CHOOL Principals under the auspices of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, have lauded the newly implemented Senior Secondary School curriculum urging the government to urgently review the funding pattern to ensure the effectiveness.

Speaking in Lagos during ANCOPSS’ National Executive Council, NEC Meeting, the academicians lamented that most of the pre-conditions for the effectiveness of the new curriculum like infrastructure; man-power and adequate funding are not yet in place.

In his lecture entitled; “The New Senior Secondary School Curriculum: Application and Challenges to School Administrators”, Dr. R.O Ajetunmobi of the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Tai Solarin University of Education Ijagun Ijebu – Ode explained that constant curriculum review was one of the major criteria for measuring any serious, progressive, responsive and forward looking education business.

Traditional platform Ajetunmobi pointed out that the curriculum is the traditional platform for translating expectations of the society into knowledge, attitudes and skills that are to be developed or acquired by learners within the school system formal and non – formal settings.

Ajetunmobi who was the Guest Speaker at the event stressed the need for proper implementation of the curriculum as sustainable development which is the aspiration of the global world cannot be achieved outside relevant curriculum.

According to Ajetunmobi reminded the gathering that in the implementation of the new curriculum, the administrator must always remember that he is the leader. “Quality leadership must be demonstrated in all aspect of educational management. This is so because given good educational plans, good school programmes, adequate facilities, qualified and adequate number of staff, highly promising and intelligent learners without a good administrator to harness the human and materials resources effectively for high productivity, the input of the government, indeed the society as a whole is a wasted effort,” he added.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—33

34—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

(Ibid) pages 17-19) Further conceptualisation of the Treaty of Protection between the Old Calabar and Britain of 1884 by highly qualified publicists of the various nations/scholars as required by the ICJ: Basically, the controversy generated by the ICJ verdict of October 10, 2002 which ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun, attracted global reactions, questioning the validity of the court’s interpretation of the above cited 1884 treaty of protection between kings and chiefs of the Old Calabar and Great Britain which eventually form the basis of the said judgment.

Solomon Ukhuegbe: In an article entitled “Bakassi At The Bar of Politics” accessed from the internet observed that “politics of the partition of Africa has led in the transformation of the classical meanings and concept of international protectorate.

External sovereignty Nigerian soldiers lowering the Nigerian flag at Bakassi following the ceding of the territory to Cameroun

Why Nigeria should ask ICJ to review Bakassi verdict (3) Mallam Abdullahi U. Maiyaki, a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos in this third edition of the Vanguard Media series on rethinking the judgment of ICJ and options before the Federal Government where the executive seems to be alone in conceding Bakassi provides fresh insights on options before President Goodluck Jonathan

,

Classic notion of international protectorate vested only external sovereignty in the protecting power, whereas the colonial protectorate was in fact not a protectorate (except in name) but was rather fully assimilated in legal regime of colony

Continues from yesterday

J

,

UDGE Al Khasaweh fur ther challenged the ICJ where he opined that “no support can be found to the Court conclusion by reference to the Western Sahara or the Island of Palmas decisions.” The latter he maintained, “mistakenly compounds inequality in status and inequality in power by concluding suzerainty over a native State becomes the basis of territorial sovereignty by the protecting powers”. (d) In addition, Judge AlKhasaweh opined that “excessive generalization results in the assumption that local chiefs are deemed to have become virtual colonies or vassal of the States under the suzerainty of the protecting colonial power regardless of the nominal control exercised by the protecting State and the fact that they were often recognized as sovereigns in their subsequent dealings with the protecting State”. (e) Consequently, Judge AlKhasaweh then emphasized

that “treaties of protection were sometimes a first step toward the development of a full colonial title”, but argues that “until that happened and in the absence of provisions which may be interpreted as conveying title, they remained a lever and no more”. This conclusion, Judge Al-Khasaweh maintained “is supported by several examples of State practicein particular by Great Britain contemporaneous with the Berlin Conference”.

Fundamental concern (f) Furthermore, the ICJ Judge to the October 10, 2002 verdict raised another fundamental concern as to why the disputed case over Bakassi Peninsula “ was not addressed within the principle of inter temporal law?” Since historically, he opined, “protection a concept traceable to the Roman Jurist Ulpian excludes notion of ownership and connotes elements of guardianship”. How-

ever, he argues “after 1885, State practice began to deform the original classical concept and converted it into an instrument of colonialism”. He then questioned whether “deformation be taken into consideration in the application of the intertemporary rules?” (g) In conclusion, Judge AlKhasaweh maintained that, “the 1884 Treaty had International Legal standing. It concerned protection and not colonial title and that the Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar had capacity to enter into Treaty relations”. He argues that “the plain word Treaty suggest that there was no intent to transfer territorial sovereignty.” The situation Judge Al-Khasaweh observed “was not altered until 1913 when Great Britain ceded Bakassi to Germany”. The cession, he argues implied “powers associated with territorial sovereignty that Great Britain did not possess”.

(Source: Summary of the ICJ ruling in disputed Bakassi Peninsula of October 10, 2012

He argues that “classic notion of international protectorate vested only external sovereignty in the protecting power, whereas the colonial protectorate was in fact not a protectorate (except in name) but was rather fully assimilated in legal regime of colony”. (Source: Solomon Ukhuegbe (2002) – Bakassi at The Bar of Politics, Nigeria World Feature Article accessed from nigeriaworld.com/articles/ 2002/nou/08/htm (p.3-4) Charles Henry Alexandroniez: The General Act of the Berlin Conference of February 26, 1885 attracted his concern, because it legitimizes the emerging notion of colonial protectorate. He challenged that “the classic protectorate tended to be converted into a new institution which most of the positivists lawyers at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century defined as the colonial protectorate.” He observed that “nowhere in the articles of the Berlin Act is the term colonial protectorate specifically used”, and conceded that “indeed state practice largely continued to adhere to the neutral term protectorate”. (Source: Solomon Ukhuegbe, (200) Ibid. p.

4).

Max Huber: A renowned Swiss publicist and former Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) presented a contrasting view which seems to have been adopted by the Court in its judgment of October 10, 2002. Max Huber said to have served as the Sole Arbitrator to the 1928 Island of Continues on page 35

Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 —35

Why Nigeria should ask ICJ to review Bakassi verdict (3) traitor masked in our nation’s leading counsels at this ICJ case between Nigeria and Cameroun. No wonder, Nigeria lost the case.

Sir Lindley: A renowned Jurist and Scholar was reported “as late as 1926 to have insisted that there was no justification for treating African treaties as less than obligatory”. He maintained that “it is difficult to see how there is no regard to the universality of the practice of grounding a colonial protection upon an agreement with local authority, the importance attached by the European Powers to such agreements in their relations inter-se, the requirements for such an agreement to be regarded other than as a rule of law”.

(Source: Ibid. p.3.)

Solomon Ukhuegbe: The international law analyst viewed such an attitude as more of selectivism, when he observed that, “although, the partition of Africa was largely through procurement of trea-

the judges of the ICJ that adjudicated over the case, but challenged the Court’s verdict of October 10, 2002 in their separate/dissenting opinions raised credibility, validity and the legality of the said ICJ judgment. Consequently, the Court’s action present a breach of its Statute contained in Article 38 (1) (b-d) which among other things requires the Court in its task a consideration of “the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations as subsidiary means for the determination of rules law”. Article 38 (1)d).

Nigeria’s Prayers before the ICJ Accordingly, Nigeria hereby respectively requests the Court to: 1. Interpret the legal status of the various treaties/agreements entered/concluded with a Consul on behalf of the British Government with other treaties/

Justice Minister, Mohammed Adoke between the classical concept of international protectorate in legal framework and colonial protectorate. The Court should also distinguish between colony and protectorate before the enactment of the General Act of the Berlin Conference of February 26, 1885; 5. That Nigeria request the Court to state whether operators of International Law including judges are required to periodically appraise the concept and practice of protection as to whether it connotes guardianship of the protected entity or the notion of territorial ownership/acquisition of territorial domination. (With contribution from Solomon Ukhuegbe (2002) Ibid. pages 1-4).

Nigeria hereby requests the Court to adjudge and declare that; (a) The judgment of October 10, 2002 in the case between Nigeria and Cameroun over the sovereignty of Bakassi Peninsula was passed on erroneous premise; (b) That the interpretation of the treaty of protection of September 10, 1884 between the Kings and Old Chiefs of Calabar and Great Britain should mean a treaty of protection, not a surrender of their territories to Britain;

Various interpretations

R-l: Olusegun Obasanjo, former UN scribe Kofi Annan and Ahmadu Ahidjo of Cameroun at the signing of the Green Tree agreement

Nigeria’s leading counsel in this case at the ICJ. However, his reaction to the General Act of the Berlin Conference of February 26, 1885 seems surprising, not expected of a defence counsel to Nigeria.

H

e was reported to have stated that “by virtues of the Act of Berlin, colonial powers had full international powers over an African protectorate and that ceding away protectorate territory without the consent of the local kings and chiefs and in breach of the protectorate agreement was lawful”. (Source: Solomon Ukhuegbe (2002) Ibid. p.3). The character of such a defence counsel to Nigeria to have accorded the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 legitimacy, can better be described as conspiracy of the highest order, and a

ties of protection and of friendship with African kings and chiefs, such as that entered into with the Old Calabar ”. He, however, asserted that conventional wisdom dictate that international law from this class of agreements appears to create any legal obligations for the European parties, even when such status seems to be inconsistent with the zeal with which European powers went about this business of treaty making”.

(Ibid.p.3). Such inconsistency may eventually lead to morality questions when it forms basis of passing judgment in contentious cases like the one over sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula that went to the ICJ. The foregoing conceptualization of the 1884 treaty of protection between Kings and Chiefs o f the Old Calabar and Great Britain by both some of

agreements entered in the Niger-Delta with the Royal Niger Company within the context of International Law before the enactment of the General Act of Berlin of February 26, 1885; 2. That Nigeria request the Court to adjudge as whether the treaties entered between kings of Old Calabar and Great Britain in the Niger before February 26, 1885 gives the powers of jurisdiction over their territories as a colony or just a control over foreign relations as conceived; 3. That Nigeria request the Court to state as to whether there is any similarity between the Western Saharan case and the sovereignty dispute over the Bakassi Peninsula case ceded to Cameroun by the ICJ on October 10, 2002; 4. That Nigeria request the Court to define and distinguish

(c) Consequently, Nigeria request the Court to admit that there were sufficient evidence from the various interpretations of renowned Jurist/Publicist of international repute of the concept of treaty of protection as represented in the preceding paragraphs which has credence both in International Law and Jurisprudence respectively to which the Court as of the time of its Judgment of October 10, 2002 was unaware; (d) Accordingly, Nigeria hereby request the Court that in pursuant of the provision of Article 61 of the Statute of the ICJ, which empowers a revisal of any of its Judgment; that the Court should adjudge and declare that its verdict of October 10, 2002 which ceded the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun was passed in error. (e) That the Court should, therefore, declare the revisal of its said earlier judgment of October 10, 2002 by ceding the

sovereignty of the disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Nigeria as so requested respectively.

In conclusion, these are my articulated thoughts presented as a Paper to the Nigerian Government to reinforce existing ideas on how Nigeria can seek redress over the unfair and unjust ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun by the International Court of Justice in its Judgments of October 10, 2002. At the same time, respective governmental authorities at home in Nigeria should take urgent measures to provide relative comforts, facilities and shelter to the displaced Nigerians from the disputed Bakassi Island.

It is hopeful that, some of these enumerated policy opinions can equally be found to be useful in realizing our desired national objective of reclaiming our ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Nigeria.

Continues tomorrow

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Continues from page 34 Palmas case argues that, “such a treaty of protection is not an agreement between equals, it is rather a form of internal organization of a colonial territory, on the basis of autonomy of the natives. Sovereignty over native states in this situation becomes the basis of territorial sovereignty as towards other members of the committee of nations. (Source: RIIA, Vol. 11, pp. 858-859, ICJ Report Inside Solomon Ukhuegbe (2002) p.4).

However, this conception has been challenged Judge AlKhassaweh of the ICJ verdict of October 10, 2002 where he observed that “the object of the protectorate system - like the mandatory system - is a form of guardianship which by definition should exclude notions of territorial ownership o r territorial domination”. (Source: Solomon Ukhuegbe (2002) Ibid. p.4).

Professor James Crowford: He was said to be one of the

The character of a defence counsel to Nigeria to have accorded the Anglo-German Agreement of 1913 legitimacy, can better be described as conspiracy of the highest order, and a traitor masked in our nation’s leading counsel at this ICJ case between Nigeria and Cameroun. No wonder, Nigeria lost the case

,

36 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

How to end corruption Counsel Corner in judiciar judiciaryy — Shittu — Pg 37

— Pg 38

Modernising the NBA: A necessar e (2) necessaryy debat debate — Pg 39

Dana Crash: What becomes of the Coroner Inquest?

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

S

INCE a suit filed before the Federal High Court by the Civil Aviation Round Table Initiative Limited, and an aviation expert, Captain Dele Ore (rtd) stalled further proceedings in the coroner ‘s inquest into the June 3, 2012 Dana air crash before Magistrate Alexander Oyetade Komolafe and the subsequent revalidation of its operating licence, Nigerians have been pessimistic on what becomes of the coroner inquest set up by the Lagos State government on the death of the passengers as well as those killed on the ground.

It will be recalled that shortly after the air crash, some Nigerians petitioned the Lagos Chief Coroner Judge, Justice Latifa Okunnu on the need to institute a coroner inquest into •The ill-fated Dana aircraft the circumstances leading to the the Federal Airport Authority of sudden death of the passengers and Nigeria, FAAN, National Emergency crew members of the ill-fated craft and Management Authority, NEMA etc those who lost their lives as a result of and officials of the airline and several the crash. others including the Lagos Chief Precisely, Justice Okunnu appointed Pathologist, Professor John Obafunwa Magistrate Alexander Oyetade who gave evidence on the DNA Komolafe to preside over the coronary carried out on the remains of the which started its sitting on June 18 at victims of the air crash to determine

,

Coroner law imposes specific civic responsibilities on individuals in both private and official capacities by strengthen the security of human life by investigating suspicious or questionable deaths, and enabling the state take action necessary to forestall the repetition or continuance of circumstances capable of bringing about avoidable loss of human life

,

the Alimosho Magistrate court, AbuleEgba, Lagos.

The proceeding was sequel to a request made by the Falana and Falana and Olisa Agbakobas Chambers for the inquest.

Subsequently, the coroner court heard evidence and testimonies from witnesses including the victims families and government agencies that took part in the rescue missions at the scene of the crash as well as the medical team that carried out autopsy and DNA tests on the dead bodies to determine the identities of the burnt victims of the crash.

The government agencies that testified before the coroner court were

their identities.

However, the recent court action by Capt Ore and his organisation, Civil Aviation Round Table Initiative Limited, CARTIL, has already stalled proceedings at the coroner court.

The Coroner’s System Law as promulgated by the Lagos State Government was out to establish a new method of investigation of death in the State. It imposes specific civic responsibilities on individuals in both private and official capacities by strengthen the security of human life by investigating suspicious or questionable deaths, and enabling the state take action necessary to forestall the repetition or continuance of

circumstances capable of bringing about avoidable loss of human life.

The case filed by the organisation in its originating summons specifically is seeking for an order of the court nullifying all steps taken so far either by way of summoning or invitation of witnesses to testify or give evidence in the inquest in the coroner court, presided by the presiding Magistrate, which was said to have contravened S. 29 of the Civil Aviation Act No. 6 of 2006.

Joined as defendants in the suit were the Chief Judge of Lagos State, the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, the Attorney General of Lagos State, the Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Aviation.

Other defendants include Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Federal Airports Authority, The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigerian Air Space Management Authority and Dana Airlines Limited.

The plaintiffs also sought for an order setting aside the proceedings of the coroner court already conducted till date on the grounds that the court as presided by the Magistrate lacked the requisite authority or competence to investigate the cause of deaths occurring from the June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash.

They asked the court to declare that the coroner court could not exercise or carry out any form of inquisition or inquest into the deaths arising from the Dana Air crash of June 3, 2012 or any matter related to aviation accident or deaths arising from it.

They also asked the Federal High Court to declare that the appointment of Magistrate Komolafe as coroner on the Dana crash was ultra vires of the powers of the Chief Judge of Lagos state having regard to amongst others, the fact that the cause of death of the victims is known and as arising from the air crash.

In addition they sought a declaration that the provisions of sections 14, 15, 17 and 25 of the Coroners’ System Law of Lagos State No. 27 of 2007 was not applicable to deaths arising from aviation accidents, specifically within the contemplation of section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act No. 6 of 2006.

It further sought a declaration that the deaths occurring from the Dana crash was not such that fell within the contemplation of Coroner’s Systems Laws, Laws of Lagos State 2007, particularly, Sections 14 and 15.

In a 29 point affidavit in support of the originating summon deposed to as the President of the NGO, Captain Ore, argued that “having read the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the NCAA Act No. 6 of 2006 and the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Chicago 1944(ICAO) in conjunction with the Lagos State Coroners’ Systems Laws, the Laws of Lagos State 2007, that the honourable Chief Judge of Lagos State and the Coroner have no power to inquire into causes of air accidents and deaths arising therefrom”.

Captain Ore further averred in the affidavit “that it will be in the interest of justice and continuing pursuit of safer air travel in Nigeria for passengers and users of the Nigerian aviation sector to stop the abuse going on in the name of Inquest as afore stated”.

However, the state in its counter

Continues on page 44

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—

37

How to end corruption in judiciary — Shittu M

R. Wahab Shittu is a legal practitioner and a law lecturer at the University of Lagos. In this interview he spoke on some national issues including corruption in the judiciary and how to secure the country using legal mechanism.

Excerpts: How do we stem the tide of corruption in the Judiciary?

One fundamental problem is the undue delay in the administration of justice and that can be addressed through a qualitative reform process that is tailored to address both the systemic failures and the question of integrity.

We need to undertake holistic review of the institution and structures that constitute

the administration of justice in order to block all loophole or leakages.

I would also recommend the establishment of the Judiciary Performance Monitoring Committee to monitor and assess the performance of judges, both in terms of their professional commitment and ethical integrity.

We also need to monitor the activities of our lawyers to ensure that those who violated ethics are brought to book.

Another way to address the problem is to ensure that only people with proven track record of excellence and integrity are appointed to the bench. The bench should also be adequately remunerated in terms of welfare packages.

What is your opinion on the call for the

•Wahab Shittu reformation of the National Judicial Council in order to reduce the power of the CJN? The best way to appreciate the issue is to look at the faceoff between the former Chief Justice of Nigeria and the suspended President of the Court of Appeal and then use it as a test case to be able

to pronounce on the unsuitability of the present arrangement. I also understand that the former CJN also raised concerns on the lopsided nature of appointment into the NJC. I think all that should be addressed as part of the holistic reform package in order to ensure that no one individual is, by virtue of his position has overriding influence on the activities of the commission that is charged with the responsibility of ensuring this orderliness, integrity and discipline in the profession. NJC should be constituted in a manner as to guarantee its independence and impartiality.

As a law lecturer, do you subscribe to the

view that the quality of our legal education is declining?

It depends on the perspective under which one is looking at the issue, on the present generation of lawyers who are being trained, are they exposed to far more materials in terms of the technology revolution that has taken place like ICT as evinced in the internet and allied facilities. This of course is an advantage over the lawyers of the past generation.

If you use that as assessment, you would say that the present generation should rank higher compared to older generation.

However, given the culture of erosion of values which I referred to in the past and the

Dana Crash: What becomes of the Coroner Inquest?

Continues frompage 43

At the time of the distress call, he noted, affidavit urged the the plane was at 11 NM Federal High Court to (nautical miles) to touch strike out the action on down, which gave them the ground that the the impression that the applicants lacked locus standi and that they had plane would crash inside the airport. no legal interest in the According to him, case. immediately he got the Apart from this, the distress call, the state argued that tit was message was transferred not interested in the technical issues involving to Aerodrome Controller, to prepare the stage for the ill fated aircraft but emergency that the coroner was out Also, testifying the to find out the cause and forensic Pathologists, manner of death of the Professor John victims.

Obafunwa, who carried It further stated that it was interested to find out out DNA test on the the level of preparedness bodies of the victims said the remains of the of the state emergency victims of the Dana Air services and how they crash were burnt beyond were responding to emergencies in the state, recognition. vis-a-vis the issue of crowd control at emergency scenes.While testifying earlier before the coroner, a witness, Mr. Rafiq Olubukola Arogunjo, an Air Traffic Controller with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had related to the coroner court details of his discussions with the pilot of the ill-fated Dana airline flight 0992 before it crashed at IjuIshaga, Lagos on June 3, 2012, saying he received distress call from the pilot at(14.42 UTC- universal time coordinate)3.42p.m. local time and that three minutes after, the aircraft went off the radar.

According to Obafunwa several of the bodies only “contain bone fragments while some had body parts” which were salvaged in pieces by the rescue team who brought them to the hospitals for autopsy.

The Pathologist who bemoaned the cost and time for carrying out DNA test abroad, said it is time that the country has a functional DNA center in the country.

However, the question observers are asking is what becomes of the coroner inquest, which has temporarily been stalled by the action filed by CARTIL before the Federal High Court and the lifting of the ban

of the operation licence of the airline by the Federal Government.

The restoration of the operation license of the airline according to the federal government was due to “government’s satisfaction with the airworthiness of the airline after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit of the airline.”

Speaking on the development, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba said the government should have ordered an inquiry on the matter, establish the cause of the accident before clearing the airline to resume operations.

His words: “I hope that Dana Airline would have learnt its lesson from the recent fatal accident. As a rule, it must be made clear that an accident does not mean that an airline must not fly again. The only thing I see is that if the regulatory authorities have cleared them to fly, they can resume operation. I am not talking specifically about Dana now.

What happened in the Dana case is that we do not have full disclosure on what went wrong with its ill-fated flight.

The clearance came out of the blues. The decision clearing Dana must be in the public domain.

fact that the present generation of the students is reluctant to embrace pupilage, you may count that as some deprivations and disadvantage against the present generation.

The older generation understudied the senior colleagues for 10, 12, 15 years before setting out on their own. The trend this day is that lawyers hardly want to stay for up to two or three years.

The mentoring system has a lot of role to play in churning out quality lawyers. To that extent, one can say that the old “brigade’ seems to be better than the present.

How will you assess the Nigerian democracy from 1999 till date? Are we getting things right?

I think any assessment of Nigerian democracy has to be based on certain underlying fundamentals. It is after assessing the said fundamentals that we can be able to arrive at correct assessment of our journey so far. The first fundamental is constitutionalism.

Secondly, adherence to rule of law, others are respect for fundamental rights, respect for due process, due and fair electoral process. Zero tolerance for corruption, transparency and accountability and above all, good governance. Of course, all these are interrelated.

These are the fundamentals of a good democratic tradition. The assessment of our democratic practice must be based on how we have fared on all these parameters.

38 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

VANGUARD LAW IN PIX

NIALS holds training course on International Criminal Justice

Caretaker rented out property illegally

Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, early in the week, held its 6th Training Course in International Criminal Justice at the University of Lagos, Unilag Campus of the Institute in Lagos.

I

HAVE a big estate somewhere in Lagos which an oil servicing company rented until recently when the company relocated . Unknown to me, my caretaker rented out part of the property to some individuals who moved in there with their families.

Part of what is supposed to be a vast office space was converted to rooms with toilet facilities. I also found out that he had sold some portions of the land in the estate. He wrote a letter of apology which he claimed he did because he needed money to sustain his family.The letter is quite selfimplicating. My problem however is that there is a corporate outfit that is in interested in renting the property. I asked the 'Illegal' tenants to leave but they are somehow blackmailing me . They asked me to refund their rents. I'm thinking of reporting the caretaker to the police for dealing in my property without my consent. But i'm also weary of complications that may arise if i involve the police.

For the 'illegal' tenants, should i call the police to eject them or do i need a court order?

Left: NIALS Librarian, Mrs Funmi Lamikanra and Justice Chima Nweze of the Court of Appeal, Lagos.

Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN and Institute’s Secretary, Mr James Bathnna.

Left: Mr Ubanda Kenneth of the Nigeria Police Force and Maitumbi Duvihrum of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Abuja.

Left: Justice S.Dikko and Justice James Abundaga of Nasarawa State High Court, Lafia.

Agbo, Lagos .

You did not quite explain the kind of authority which you allowed the caretaker to exercise on your behalf.As an agent of the landlord who is the principal , a caretaker can rent out property on behalf of his principal in addition to the responsibility of generally supervising the said property. Since you said that he rented out the property without your knowledge suggests however that you did not grant him the authority to bring in tenants into the property.That implies that whatever action(s) he had taken amount to nullity and of no effect whatsoever. That is between the two of you at the level of principal and agent. For present occupants of the property whom you described as 'illegal' tenants,yes they are because they are in possession without the owner,s consent. But i dare say that law recognises illegal tenants and they can only be ejected by a court order and not by the

10% Rent commission

Left: Omolade Olomola of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan and Peter Dabup of the EFCC.

Left: Mr Dare Funsho and Bethy Ugwueze of Public Complaints Commission.

M

INE is not a question please.I think the issue of collection of exhorbitant rate of 10% for period of 2 years each as fees by the agents and lawyers when looking for accomodation should be looked into by Governor Fashola in lagos despite the fact that some landlords collects 1 year and 1 and half year rent Funmi Ade Hope Governor babatunde fashola SAN and lagos state Attorney General MR Ade ipaye as well as the lagos state house of assembly have taken note.

The piece of advice in this column last week which you reffered to was a repeat because of several questions readers have been asking on the Left: Mr Nkwor Momah and Juliet Rone of the Delta State Ministry of Justice lagos state tenancy law.As at the time of the original puplication,i relied on the copy of the law obtained from a government source because it was not available for sale immediately after the government signed the bill to .I do not know what might have happened between the time it was signed and its official gazette.This clarification is neccessary because you reffered to section 2 but i coted section 4 i must however say that if the copy you have provides for sitting tenant in section 2 and the rent payable is 6 months and 1 year respectively there might have been a typographic error somewhere.I do not claim to know more than the solicitor and Attorney General of the state. please try and make your response a bit coherent next time.

Thanks.

You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only)

Left: Mr June Obozuwa and Mr Basharu Faruk of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC.

Left: Suzzie Onyeka Ofuani and Uzoma PrinceOparaku of NIALS.

Left: Mr Cosmas Ugwu and Mr Ushie Okom of EFCC.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 39

Modernising the NBA: A necessary debate (2)

BY CHIDI ODINKALU

I

N Nigeria, Adedibu and h is ilk sought (and still seek) elections that guarantee a predetermined outcome based on indeterminate rules. One must hope that the learned Senior Advocate does not genuinely believe that the NBA should or could reprise the Lamidi Adedibu Playbook.

Third, in an effort to clothe an anodyne idea with an adverse animus enough to elevate it to a non-existent danger of an existential proportions, the learned Senior Advocate attains undesirable genius with a line that gratuitously insults Senior Advocates and simultaneously gives offence to juniors in claiming that “The only way to dislodge the leadership offered by the rank (of Senior Advocate) is to go for universal suffrage where by way of example juniors who will then be in the majority can be persuaded to vote for the Chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum or any other aggressive Junior or any of the midlevel seniors who are in the forefront of the clamour for universal suffrage.”

for the Richard Nixon school of democracy. As recalled by Christopher Matthews in Kennedy and Nixon: The Rivalry that Shaped Postwar America (1996), Nixon’s politics was shaped by two precepts the first of which was that “voting was a negative act: people don’t vote for someone; they vote against someone.” The suggestion that if given a free vote, juniors would blindly vote against Senior Advocates rather than for a Bar that offers them value is beneath a Bar President. A President of our Bar cannot who genuinely believes this calls the very basis of his own mandate as President into question.

Gratefully, many Senior Advocates enthusiastically support universal suffrage.

Membership and leadership

Fourth, the illustrations offered by the learned Senior Advocate with respect to what transpires in other Bar Associations and how they organize membership and leadership are inapplicable and misplaced. Take the ABA, it has a much younger history than the NBA, having been founded Line of only in 1978; but a much argument larger membership – the ABA’s current This line of argument membership is 410,000, manages – rather comprising about 50% of painfully - to imply that the lawyers in the USA. Senior Advocates lack The ABA knows its the capability to win membership and offers through to the them value. In Nigeria, Presidency of the Bar with a membership unless they are protected merely in high five from competition and digits, not even our also that juniors lack the President can tell us judgment to discern from how many lawyers we among competitors the have or appeal to our ones with serious members with a credentials. programme of valueYet, it is clearly the case added unique to the that even in the current Bar. Or maybe the GBA? system Senior Advocates The GBA has fewer than make up less than 18% of three thousand current the presumptive members. In the second electorate and thus have quarter of every year, shown themselves to be the GBA issues a much more durable and publicly accessible list of competitive leadership its “members in good materials – but not as a standing” who, thereby, right of birth, tribal have the right to vote in hygiene or patronage as its elections or the learned senior participate in Advocate implies. In membership activities. pursuing this line of The latest list of GBA’s argument, the learned members in good Senior Advocate standing is available at demonstrates an appetite

Chidi Odinkalu and downloadable from http:// www.ghanabar.org/pdf/ good-standing.pdf.

The East African Law Society and the Pan African Lawyers Union (EALS) and PALU respectively, have competitive elections.

The EALS’ last leadership election took place in Arusha March 2012 (I was there); and PALU’s leadership election will take place in Nairobi in September 2012. The example of Bar Councils that he cites are otherwise inapplicable because in Nigeria, unlike in those other places, the Bar Council is a statutory body not established or controlled by the NBA. Finally, and perhaps most fundamentally, the learned Senior Advocate pays admirable homage to the learned (and mostly now departed) pioneers at the Bar who led the resurrection of our Bar from the debacle of Port Harcourt. In response to this, one can only say that these respected and departed leaders of our Bar surely cannot have made the sacrifices they made on the assumption that they would freeze our Bar perpetually in a looking time capsule.

THE CASE FOR MODERNISATION WITH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE This then is the argument for modernizing our Bar – that there is an imperative to adapt, change which begins with leadership. We have at our disposal today, a Bar that is not recognizable from what it was 20 years ago in terms of its demographics, footprint or skills. The data capture, integration and management capabilities we have today were not there 20 or even 10 years ago. Thus we can easily re-organize

membership records and management as the bases for a different way of doing things. And remote access and voting is now at the finger tips of any lawyer who has access to mobile telephony. The benefits will mean a richer and better organized bar, able, therefore, to invest in upgrading the skills of its members who, in return, acquire the right to determine who leads them and what programmes these resources get spent on.

The biggest argument for universal suffrage, however, was born of the Boston Tea party – no taxation without representation. If a lawyer pays practising fees and branch dues, which, in turn, are the mainstay of the NBA’s finances, why should he or she be compelled to proxy their votes to someone when they can, by themselves, exercise the right to decide who leads their Bar and how?

This is the question that our dear and outgoing President failed to engage or address. In avoiding this, the learned Senior Advocate suggests that our Bar is in a state of what German

Psychiatrist, Ernst Kretschmer, described as “stable equilibrium”. But Krestschmer also warned that this state has “never been spurs to great deeds.” If our Bar cannot evince modest reform to advance its internal management, membership governance and leadership selection, then our corporate standing within Nigeria as well as individual standing as professionals will continue to diminish and so will our earnings.

In summary, the arguments in support of universal suffrage are both instrumental and ethical: There is the technical capacity to achieve it. It enhances inclusion. It will improve the governance of our Bar because we cannot do it without reforming membership records and their management. It’ll also enhance our revenues because it will be tied to verifiable payment of annual practising and branch dues. It is also compatible with advocacy for inclusion at the Bar. The benefits of the present “Jamboree” are neither clear nor demonstrated beyond its historical links to an admittedly painful

historical episode in Port Harcourt 20 years ago.

But the world has moved on from 20 years ago. Do we have to get stuck in the past?

A TRIBUTE AND A PRAYER In closing, let me be clear. The NBA is a voluntary association.

Service to it in any elective or leadership position is also voluntary. Those who put themselves forward for such service deserve our support and gratitude for as Winston Churchill said in a generous eulogy to Neville Chamberlain at the latter’s funeral in 1940: “In one phase men might seem to have been right; in another, they seem to have been wrong, and when the perspective of time lengthened, all stood in a different setting.” Our outgoing President has offered wholehearted and voluntary service to the Bar. As he relocates to “a different setting”, we must wish him well and look forward to having his wisdoms at the service of our Bar and our country. This is also a good place to wish the in-coming President the best as he takes on a difficult legacy and pray for the success of his tenure.

Justice Adejumo chides lawyers, journalist at LIM forum

BY DAYO BENSON NATIONAL Industrial Court president, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, has taken a swipe at lawyers who are fond of talking to journalists on matters before the court immediately after proceedings when a definite pronouncement has not been made on issues, just as Senior Advocate of Nigeria designate Mr Femi Falana, lamented that no media organisation has taken advantage of the freedom of information Act.The duo spoke separately at the Lawyer In the Media (LIM) forum which held during the just concluded 52nd Annual General conference of

the Nigerian Bar Association with the theme”Nigeria as an Emerging Market: Redefining Our Laws and Politics for Growth” in Abuja.

Justice Adejumo, who also berated reporters that run to lawyers to seek their comment after court sessions stated that such practice was subjudice and called on LIM to do something about it.

“Any journalist who wants comments from a lawyer after court proceeding should be told to obtain record of proceeding from the court registrar” he stated.

Mr Falana, who raised the issue of enforcement of FOI act lamented that till date, no media house had

taken advantage of it.

According to him, “that is why the NNPC is saying that it is not a public enterprise, I think the challenge is for media houses to take up NNPC on this using the FOI Act”.

Present at the LIM forum which is an annual feature of the media were the immediate past president of the NBA, Mr J. B. Daudu, SAN, NBA former Secretary General, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, Professor Epiphany Azinge, D.G. Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Study, NIALS, Mr. Tony Akiotu, MD AIT, president OAAN, Chales Chijidi and LIM president, Mr. Charles Odenigbo among others.

40—Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Editors storm A-Ibom for 8th national confab

BY TONY NYONG

U

PRESENTATION: From left: Mr. John Ugbe, MD, MultiChoice Nigeria and Mr. Gozie Onumonu, Anti-piracy Manager of the company, during the presentation of operational equipment to Mr. Afam Ezekude, DG, Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) and Sir Charles Olisaeloka Obi, Director of Public Affairs at the Commission’s head office in Abuja.

LAUNCH OF ASUS MOBILE: From left: Managing Director of NEPTECH Ltd, Mayokun Ogedengbe; ASUSTek’s Country Product Manager for West Africa, Mr. Simplice Zaongo and Onyeka Achukwu, Business Development Executive, NEPTECH, at the formal launch of ASUS Mobile PCs in the Nigerian market in Lagos.

YO—SOME prominent members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, including the President, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, arrived Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday, for the eighth Annual National Conference, of Nigerian Guild of Editors, which kicks off today.

The three-day conference that would have no fewer than 250 editors of the print, electronic, and on-line media in attendance, is taking place at the Ibom Le Merdien Hotel and Golf Resort.

Senate President, Senator David Mark, is billed to be the special guest of honour at the confab.

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is expected to deliver the keynote address.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who is the chief host, is already on hand to welcome the editors.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and the Director General, State Se-

curity Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, and the former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, will be among other prominent Nigerians who will grace the conference as the editors brainstorm on the security challenges of the Nigerian state, which has been of great concern in the last few years.

The theme of the conference The Nigerian

Kaduna ANPP chieftain defects to PDP

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

ADUNA—IT was celebration galore in Kaduna State, Tuesday, as a two-time gubernatorial candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in the state, Senator Ahmed Aruwa, defected to the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with about 600 of his supporters amid fanfare.

Aruwa represented Kaduna Zone 2 on the platform of his former party from 1999 to 2003 before contesting the 2007 gov-

A

chieftain of All Ni geria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Nicholas Ayaji, yesterday, accused the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, of enthroning a one party state in Lagos State, calling on other political parties to join hands to upturn the development.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, Ajayi said that a one party state was same as dictatorship, blaming the country’s woes, violence and poverty on bad leadership.

He said: “The ruling party in Lagos must know and accept opposition, otherwise, we may be heading to a one party state, which is no more than a dictatorship. The absence of opposition to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration has made it to go to sleep. His government allowed doctors in public hospitals to go on strike and many lives

were lost in the process, yet the government still gave in to the doctors demand. If another state had done that, ACN would have shouted on the roof top.

“Look at the new traffic law, no offence carries a penalty of less than N30,000 and the mini-

mum wage is N18,000.

For an honest civil servant, how do you expect him to get that kind of money to pay the fine for a little offence like faulty trafficator? It will surely make him want to cut corners and be corrupt.

“The traffic law was simply copied from the

British law because it states miles instead of kilometres and ounce instead of kilogramme.

One would have expected them to exhibit some intelligence by changing some of these things by doing a proper job, but they never did."

Only peace can ensure rapid devt —Sri Lanka president

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE in Columbia

C

OLOMBO—PRES IDENT of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has said that peace was the only way to ensure rapid development of any state or country.

The president, whose country survived 30 years of terrorism, explained that “both peace and development work

hand in hand because if there is no peace there is no way there is going to be development in any nation.”

Rajapaksa spoke at the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, conference in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka.

He said: “For over three decades our country was ravaged by terrorism but today we have overcome that and you can see the reflection in our people and our edu-

cation and health sectors which are one of the best in the world. Our population is 97 per cent literate today because of the peace we achieved of late that had eluded us for over 30 years, due to terrorism. ”We are not deterred as a nation as we want to equally empower our women with all available resources to further enhance development in our country and ensure they actively participate in politics.”

ernorship election against former governor, of Kaduna State, now Vice President, Namadi Sambo but lost. He also recontested the election against Governor Ibrahim Yakowa in 2011 and lost.

Speaking at Murtala Muhammed Square, venue of the event, Governor Yakowa commended Senator Aruwa for taking a wise decision by joining PDP, saying his defection had confirmed the party's victory in the December council elections.

Enugu PDP guber candidate appeals court judgment

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

ANPP accuses ACN of enthroning F one party state in Lagos

BY INNOCENT ANABA

Editor and National Security, the President, Mr. Adefaye, said will take a holistic look at the security situation and challenges in the nation, explore ways to battle and proffer solutions within the three days and also take decisions on other issues concerning the body, as well as conduct investiture of fellows of the body, and induct new members.

ORMER governor ship aspirant on the platform of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Chief Alexander Obiechina, has appealed against the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which dismissed his suit seeking to sack Governor Sullivan Chime from office for lack of jurisdiction.

Obiechina’s lawyer, Mr. Oba Maduabuchi, who filed the appeal with number CA/A/358/2012, faulted the judgment of the lower court delivered on May 21, this year and

asked the Appeal Court to determine whether the lower court was right when it held that the plaintiff, now appellant, could not challenge the result of the January 12, 2011 primaries which he was prevented from participating in, even when the PDP agreed that he was a candidate.

Obiechina further asked the Appeal Court to determine if the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to adjudicate over the matter vis-a- vis the judgment of the Supreme Court in PDP versus Timipre Sylva relied upon by the lower court in holding that it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate over the case.

Mary Izere, 95, for burial

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HE death has oc curred of Mrs. Mary Izere on Monday July 30, 2012 aged 95 years.

Funeral arrangements begin Thursday with a Christian wake at No. 1 N.D.C Road, opposite Leo House, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State at 6pm followed by burial service and interment on Friday September 14.

In-laws’ condolence visit is on Saturday, Sep-

tember 15 from 10am .

She is survived by children, Edafe Izi Izere and Ajekpaoghene and Josephine Eragba, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Late Mrs. Mary Izere

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—41

42—V anguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER13, 2012 42—Vanguard,

Ports operators are slave drivers — Nted

BY VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

PRESIDENT-GENERAL of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, Comrade Anthony Nted, who also is a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in this interview with Labour Vanguard, spoke about ports concessioning, terminal operators, and insecurity among others. Excerpts

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HE issue of security: When you get to the ports you will find out that it is not as it was before when Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, was managing it. The number of people, the inflow into the ports especially miscreants and those who have no business in the ports have reduced to the barest minimum. Today, you will find out that most of the terminal operators have fenced their areas of operations making it difficult for miscreants to come into the ports. But our major concern is the vessels that come into the ports. When a vessel comes into the port, the Customs come in to do their job and leave with the documentation but the people that actually do the loading and off loading from the beginning to the end are the Dockworkers. Theirs is the most important aspect of the job.

That is why we have impressed it on them to be security conscious by having the eagle’s eyes to look out for anything inimical to the security of the country and raise alarm. We have intimated

have sisters in school, have relatives in the churches and other places who could be victims of violent attacks.

Since our administration came into ofzComrade Anthony Nted fice over three years ago, the ports has remained peaceful and the Dockworkers terminals is a company you reach an have been reformed. When I visited agreement with today, tomorrow they Apapa ports, over 2,000 workers came will not honour the agreement. You to welcome me. If it were before, it will cannot go to APMT and talk to them be violence, vandalisation, fighting and on “gentle man” basis. What I mean so on. But you do not see such things by gentleman basis is, if they say again, that shows that the Dockworkers something will be given to the workhave been reformed. ers and this is not written down or Performance of terminal documented, before you turn your operators: Like we have always said, back, they will do a different thing the port belongs to the government and entirely. they deserve the right to do whatever I will tell you what happened durthey want to do with the ports. That is ing the January fuel hike strike. the reason when the government said it Eight of our members, working on containers that carried frozen fish, APMT asked them to be on standby to mount the generator and take care of every other thing and that they should not go home, promising that they would give them N25, 000 for accommodation. APMT told them that they would be given N5, 000 first and the remaining N20,000 would be paid into their accounts after the wanted to privatise or concession the strike.

The workers stayed behind be ports to allow for private participation, we had no other option than to support cause if any of the containers defroze it. If you look at the ports today, it is , the fish would spoil, it means that better compared to when NPA was man- the company would pay heavily for aging it. Now NPA just seats back and the damaged goods. So the workers collects royalties and does oversight took pain to do as APMT asked and functions. The terminal operators do at the end of the day, APM terminal most of the maintenance and repairs. refused to honour the promise to the However, that does not mean they are workers.

Just last year, we had a meeting doing hundred per cent of what it is with the company and said, look expected of them.

While some are doing very well, oth- there is need for you to provide busers are terrible and are unti-labour. I es for our members in your compacan give you a typical example of some, ny to bring them in and take them to like APM Terminals, APMT, to us as various part of Lagos close their desorganized labour, is the greatest draw- tinations. It was agreed between the back to the port concessioning of the gov- company and us. The company said ernment. Similarly, we rate Intels as the it would be done first quarters of best terminal operators in Nigeria. APM 2012. Till now they have refused to

While some are doing very well, others are terrible and are unti-labour

,

them of the need to take the issue of security very serious in the ports because unscrupulous elements and enemies of Nigeria can bring in weapons and other destructive things to distabilise the country. We made them to understand that not only the customs or other security agencies have security duties in the ports, they also have a right to raise alarm if they find anything incriminating in containers. We told them that they could report to the customs, the police or to the NPA and even to the union who will in turn intimate the authority on the findings especially when such discoveries are dangerous to the country.

Though because of the so-called Ni geria factor, you and I know that some people could collect N1.00 and allow their mothers to be killed, but we have warned the Dockworkers that when they find anything incriminating inside a container and fail to raise alarm it would be to their detriment.

Influence of corruption: I agree that corruption is everywhere and it has eaten deep into every fabric of Nigerian system. We have made it clear that anyone caught collecting anything in form of gratification or bribe will be expelled from the industry and it will be very grave for such a person. We made it very clear that if they collect money or any gratification from anybody to conceal any dangerous thing they find in a container, they should remember that they have brothers in the market place,

,

buy a single bus and they want the workers to provide 50 percent of the money before they could buy the buses. There are too many unfair labour practices we can talk about concerning APM Terminals which I do not want to talk about here.

The welfare of the staff of any organization should be paramount. But for APMT, it is not so. However, we are out for companies that are slave drivers. Nobody can come into this country and turn Nigerians into slaves. We have sent out signals and we have written to them intimating them that most of the issues that have not been addressed must be addressed as quickly as possible otherwise; the union will have no other alternative than to withdraw the services of our members. But other terminals are doing well, like ENL Terminals, Intels and so on . Go to their terminals and you will see that they are doing well.

Concessioning of Pilotage district: We are all involved in the governance of this nation in one way or the other. It is not all about concessioning or privatisation.

We are all living witnesses to what have happened to most of the parastatals that have been concessioned and privatised. The National Assembly has said most of them would be revisited because they were not properly done. Like the Airport, Ajaokuta Steel Company, Delta Steel Company, Daily Times, Aluminum Smelter Company, Ikot Ekpene, Oshogbo Rolling Mill and others. Now they are talking about concessioning the pilotage district. We learnt a lesson from what happened during the concessioning of the NPA.

T

hey said concessioning would create more jobs. In fact, the then Managing Director, Adebayo Sarumi, swore to the union that concessioning would create more jobs and with our short sightedness the union agreed. But after concessioning, I began to ask myself questions; how would concessioning create more jobs in Apapa ports and Tin Can ports where we had eight thousand workers and they reduced them to about three thousand today? How can they create jobs when there is no virgin land to develop? We can only create jobs where you have virgin land to develop and when you develop the virgin land, people will come in, more equipment will come in, workers will come in, you can create jobs. In Lagos there is no virgin land to develop, so you can't jobs.

But if you go to Onne where you have virgin land, you will see that Intels is developing the place and they are creating more jobs. During concessioning, we had about three thousand workers there, but today, we have close to seven thousands workers. So, the concessioning of the Pilotage district, we have asked, why do they want to concession it? Well, we have told the authorities that we are looking at the matter to see if it will be beneficial to the nation and the workers particularly. If it will not, we we will not accept it.

NUPENG decries unfair media attacks

N

IGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, decried media reports over the subsidy payment where certain allusions were made against it which intended to malign the union, insisting all actions taking regarding the issues of subsidy were done in the interest of members. In a statement to correct perceived wrong about it,

Acting General Secretary of NUPENG, Comrade Isaac Aberare, said “We decided to embark on that action to protect the interest of our members who were owed five months salaries and whose jobs were on the line, plus other nagging issues affecting the oil and gas industry.

The union did not set out to protect the interest of indicted oil marketers as we have always stated that those

found culpable be made to face the wrath of the law. We made it clear earlier that the union supports the report of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on the oil subsidy scam. Our action was not therefore self-serving and we don’t just embark on strike actions because of the advantage of our strategic role in the industry to cause economic disruptions as you declared.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—43

PenCom decision on failed PFAs out soon STORIES BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HERE are indications that the National Pension Commission, PenCom, will soon come with a definite statement of the two Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs, that failed to meet the N1billion new N1billion minimum capital base.

The commission however, however reassured that the interest of contributors would continue to be paramount in whatever decision it takes.

It will be recalled that while PenCom announcing the names of PFAs that met the new minimum capital base in July, it said two PFAs; Citi Trust Pension Managers Limited and IGI Pension Fund Managers Limited, failed to meet the requirement, could not meet the requirement.

The Commission gave them 28 days to sort things out or their licenses would be resolved.

An official of PenCom who spoke to Pension and You on condition of anonymity, said “ yes the 28 days has long elapsed, the commission will

Mr Ahmed, Director-General Pension Commission (left) and Dr Musa Ibrahim, Inspector/ Comissioner National Pension Commission during a briefing soon come out with a definite position of their status. Since the 28 days given to them, they have done some things we are looking into and immediately we are through, which will not be long, we come out with a statement. That is the position as at today.”

The Commission had in released names of 18 PFAs that met the new N1billion mini-

mum capital base and threatened to revoke the licenses of those that failed within the next 28 days. In statement issued in Abuja, the commission announced that while two PFAs failed to meet the new capital requirement, four had been acquired by other PFAs, restating that First Guarantee Pension Limited, FGPL, is still under regulatory intervention.

PenCom’s statement by its Head of Communication Unit, Mr.Emeka Onuora, however said that ARM Pension Managers (PFA) Limited, Leadway Pensure PFA Limited, Premium Pension Limited, Sigma Pensions Limited (Sigma), Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited and Trustfund Pensions Plc, met had met the N1billion requirement before

the circular. It will be recalled that the commission had on May 31, 2011, issued a circular giving the PFAs up to June 30, 2012 to meet the new requirement.

According to the statement other PFAs that met the requirement are “Aiico Pension Managers Limited, APT Pension Fund Managers Limited, Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited, Fidelity Pension Managers Limited, Future Unity Glanvills Pensions Limited, IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited, NLPC Pension Fund Administrators Limited, Legacy Pension Managers Limited, Oak Pensions Limited (Oak), Pensions Alliance Limited, Penman Pensions Limited and Royal Trust Pension Fund Administrator Limited.” While Citi Trust Pension Managers Limited and IGI Pension Fund Managers Limited, failed to meet the requirement, Amana Capital Pension Limited acquired by Sigma Pensions Limited (Sigma), Crib Pension Fund Managers Limited acquired by Oak Pension Limited (Oak) and Evergreen Pensions Limited acquired by Oak Pension Limited (Oak).

Don’t let me die like this, 84-year old pensioner begs Jonathan

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hat did I do to these peo ple that they have refused to pay me my 18 months pension areas? I suffered for it, I am not asking for what does not belong to me. It is my rightful entitlements. Do they want me to die without enjoying the benefit of my labour?”

With these words and in tears, Pa Timothy Dumbiri Akpede, an 84-year-old blind pensioner from Umunede, Ika North-East local Government Area of Delta State, passionately appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the appropriate Federal government agency to pay his 18 months pension arrears, outstanding from the federal share of pension.

It will be recalled that Pension and You had on February 16, 2012, published the pathetic plight of Pa Akpede.

Speaking with Pension and You, almost in tears, at his Umunede residence, Pa Akpede contended that the appeal became imperative as he now found it difficult to feed and take care of his medical needs.

He recalled that his predicament started in July, 2010 when the payment of his federal share of pension suddenly became irregular, lamenting that he had been receiving his pension

Pa Timothy Dumbiri Akpede monthly since he retired in 1984 until July 2010 when its payment became inconsistent.

The retiree who lost his sight in 2003, noted that he was not paid his federal share of pension from July 2010 to July 2011, stressing that the authorities concerned only paid him in August, October and November 2011 while his pension for the months of September and December 2011 as well as that of January, February, July and August, 2012 was not paid to him.

According to him, they paid him for March, April, May, June and July 2012 after the story of his predicament occasioned by the irregular payment of his federal share of pension was published on this page before they stopped paying him

again. While emphasizing that he had never missed any screening exercise for pensioners in the country, the Octogenarian said that it was most annoying that a man like him could be owed 18 months of pension arrears and exposed to such pains and inhuman suffering after serving the nation meritoriously. He said “My wife and children have been struggling to feed me and take care of my medical bills because I do

not go anywhere as a result of my health condition”, pointing that were if not for his wife and children as well as the grace of God, he would have long died of hunger since 2010 when the payment of his monthly pension became astonishingly irregular.

He, implored the relevant government agency saddled with the responsibilities of paying federal share of pensions to retirees to pity him because of

his condition and pay him his 18 months pension arrears to enable him feed and take care of his medical needs.

He added, “The appropriate government authorities should have pity on me by paying me the arrears of my 18 months federal share of pension and after that, they should continue to pay me my monthly pension regularly to enable me feed and take care of my health until I die.”

Trustfunds Pension counsels PFAs on regular interaction with contributors

By JOSEPH ERUNKE

T

RUSTFUND Pensions Plc, has called for regulation interaction and forum between Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs and their account holders and other stakeholders abreast with happenings in the sector and create better understanding for all.

ACTING Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Trustfund Pensions Plc, Mrs Helen Nneamaka Da-Souza, particularly advised PFAs to make it a point of duty to sensitize account holders or contributors on how their money was being run, explaining such would not only instill confidence in the minds of customers but show transparency in the administration of their

fund. Speaking against the backdrop of its recent sensitisation forum with the leadership of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUGTWN, She said Trustfund had already taken it upon itself to organise regular interactive forum for its contributors with a view to educating them on its policies and programmes.

According to her, “To ensure our customers have a firsthand knowledge of our operations and present their challenges to us with a view to addressing them, we in Trustfund Pensions have taken it as a duty to engage our customers in regular interactive session. We have a vision to provide first class services and continuously improve our operations to ensure that workers retire to comfort.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

A

S usual the organisers of the prestigious Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards have released nominees’ list for this year ’s edition. And since the list was made public the hype has got off to code red alert with people knocking one another over speculations as to who will shine and who will be snubbed at the glamorous event.

Maybe, the glam award is still the Best Actor or the Best Actress categories but the talking point for this year’s edition is the ‘Best Kiss in a Nigerian Movie’ award. Not only is the category refreshingly new it has also offered a deeper insight into how real and down-to-earth our actors and actresses can actually pull-off a sensual scene.

The battle line has been drawn among a pair of five nominees and already the entertainment world is all fired up to see who wins it.

Will it be Uti and Tonto in ‘Broken Silence’ or 9ice and Laide Bakare in ‘Jejere’. Nse and Bola in the ‘Search’ and Tonto Dikeh and Thomas Altman in ‘My Life, My Damage’ or will Desmond Elliot and Nse take it for their close-up necking in ‘Spellbound’.

The event is expected to hold before the end of year with Actor, Nonso Diobi and Mercy Aigbe of ‘Osas’ fame billed to be the chaperones for the show.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

BON shakes entertainment industry with ‘Kissing’ award

•Tonto Dikeh

Rihanna gets new breast tattoo for her grandma

•Rihanna

T

he pop songstress, Rihanna has showed off her newest piece of body art, tweeting a picture of her freshly-inked torso.

The tattoo depicts Egyptian

goddess Isis, her head turned to the left, one knee raised and the other kneeling. The goddess’ sleek wings span the star’s lower rib cage, reaching under her breasts.

Obesere, Femi Kuti, others set to celebrate KSA

•King Sunny Ade

O

tunba Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (MFR) popularly known as King Sunny Ade is a juju music icon and a living legend of our time.

And this status has in many ways enhanced his acceptability within and outside the music world.

It is in this regard that the Entertainment Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN) has deemed it fit to organize a show tagged: “An Evening with KSA”, as part of the activities marking his 66 th Birthday, on October, 1, 2012.

The event, which will take place at Premier

Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State, would feature King Sunny Ade on the band stand. It will also parade friends of King Sunny Ade like Admiral Dele Abiodun, KI de Ultimate, Femi Anikulapo Kuti, Osupa Saheed, Obesere, Pasuma, Ayo Balogun, Kollington Ayinla, Yinka Ayefele, Esther Igbekele, Earthquake, 9ice, Salawa Abeni, Femi Opalemo, Omo Olope and Olamide among others.

According to Mrs. Esther Ajayi, Managing Director, Premier Hotels, Ibadan, the host of the show, “this is a unique opportunity for the fans of King Sunny Ade to see him again live and direct in the ancient city of Ibadan.

•Uti

How MI, 9ice, rocked Ibadan at Amstel Malta Showtime

By DAYO ADESULU

And the popstar posted a picture of the X-rated tattoo on her Twitter page, to make sure the whole world has seen her new body accessory.

The 24-year-old singer tweeted that the art was in honour of her late grandmother, who died in July after a battle with cancer.

“My new body art isn’t just a decoration for my boobs, it’s a dedication to my grandma; Goddess IsisComplete Woman - Model for future generations#GRANGRANDOLLY - always in and on my heart #1lo” she posted.

F

or tertiary students within and outside Oyo State, it was their turn to play as Amstel Malta Showtime, the variety show organized by Nigerian Breweries Plc for tertiary institution students berthed at Ibadan.

With rap star MI and Alagomeji exponent, 9ice, thrilling the audience along with fast rising comedian, Laff UP reeling out hilarious jokes, it was certainly a night to remember for the students.

For months, the ancient city had been abuzz with excitement over the event. For students of University of Ibadan, The polytechnic, Ibadan and other tertiary institutions in and outside the state, this was the moment they had been waiting for.

The night kicked off with aplomb as the students

trooped to the red carpet to take pictures and savour the experience of Amstel Malta Showtime.

The ambiance certainly had an air of glamour around it as the paparazzi took their turn to interview the excited students.

Then it was Showtime!

Time for the grand finale!

K i c k - s t a r t i n g proceedings was entertainer Darey ‘Art’ Alade the show anchor.

Darey has been featured in all of the Amstel Malta Showtime editions with his impressive stagecraft and uncanny ability to bond with the students.

Amstel Malta Showtime in Ibadan was no different as the Kogi born entertainer thrilled the students.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 13, 2012— 45

Breaking boundaries between art, craft and design Stories by JAPHET ALAKAM

I

T was indeed a beauty to watch as art patrons, artists, promoters and others converged at Quintessence Gallery, Falomo, Lagos for the first of its kind exhibition by Swedish based artists and founder of Modernafricanart , Lande Anjous-Zygmunt as she brought her wealth of experience to the country in a solo exhibition tagged African on the floor, an exhibition of special artistic painted rugs. The exhibition which opened last Saturday with the launch of a book by the artist titled Africa on the floor: A new Voice and Medium for Contemporary African Art will run till 22nd of September, 2012.

The exhibition featured a collection of 20 hand made rugs, designed with the works of six

One of the rugs exhibited by Lande AnjousZygmut

ami, Nike Davies Okundaye, Sam Ovraiti, Ehi Obinyan and Tola Wewe. They are painted in an innovative yet ancient form

by TIbetan, Indian and Afghan artists with some of the works of the artist. Each rug has been painstakingly hand made over the process of several months, having made an arduous journey from the Himalayas to Europe and finally to the exhibition in Lagos. Such works include, the work with design of Ibadan Dun and Olukun (2008) by Nike Davies Okundaye, Dance in the bush of ghost by Bruce Onabrakpeya, Ileto(20040 by Muriana Oyelani, Market Scene and Eyo Festival by Ehi Obinyan The rugs and the book represent a hyand others. features brid, where the similarities and differenc- ofOther the rugs aces in culture come to light, as the rug is cording to her is that they are culturally important to the Asian, paintfunctional as it ing is a form propagated by Europeans, has provision for while the artists fuse African culture with the floor, can be hanged or put on their art the table so it is left for the ownans, while the artists fuse African culture er to decide what he/she wants to use it with their art. for. The touring exhibition which will go Displayed at the hall were a collection Abuja after the Lagos show according to of an exclusive range of rugs designed by Lande is aimed at returning African art to the artists with the finest quality wool from the context of everyday function, and the Himalayas and master hand-knotted through the art rug collection also celeby artisans in the 2000 age old Tibetan brates traditional artists the world over and tradition. Taking the viewers round the encourages the breaking down of boundworks, Anjous-Zygmunt explained that aries as well as the creation of wholly new African rugs are no longer merely floor categories. This collaboration brings tocoverings. “African rugs certainly are great gether three very different continents; for use on floors. But, they really have Asian craftsmanship meets vibrant Afribecome the African home décor items of can design in Europe. This collection celchoice in this day and age. Indeed, many ebrates the past even while refusing to be people who truly love great art are using bound to old forms.

African rugs for wall decoration.” she exThe exhibition also featured the plained. launch of a catalogue of 68 pages, with Continuing, she stated that the rugs are over 50 full-colour photographs and illushand crafted on all levels. From the pro- trations which outlines the background to duction of the wool to the unique design the collection and its place in the contemand crafting associated with each of these porary art world.

African rugs, everything literally is underSpeaking at the event, renowned art taken by hand and on a custom made ba- collector, Yemisi Shyllon, master print sis. “ these rugs are rugs for life, with maker, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Sam Ovraiti, their extraordinary texture and visual rich- JD Ojeikere, Prof. Grace Alele Williams ness, they will be used, appreciated and and others commended the artist for her passed on from generation to generation.” novel idea. At least for those who do not She added. But one special feature of the take delight in buying paintings, they now rugs are that they are specially designed have a choice as they can buy the beautiwith the work of the African artists, they ful designed rugs, one of them stated. are Bruce Onobrakpeya, Muraina Oyel-

African artists and a video of the rug making process.

Through the exhibition, Lande who learnt the art of rug making in far away Sweden through two brothers who has been in the business for over 3000 years ago and has been looking for a way to give the artists a new voice and medium decided to bring the exhibition to Nigeria as a way of projecting their culture with that of Africa. The rugs and the book represent a hybrid, where the similarities and differences in culture come to light, as the rug is culturally important to the Asian, painting is a form propagated by Europe-

,

,

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Better opportunity to make money may come your way but those who want your affection and vice versa, may not allow you to concentrate fully. Take advantage of the opportunity to establish friendship with influential people.

GEMINI: Most of the exciting happenings are within your base of operation. And healthy relationships may start between you and other members of your work force. Take the initiative.

CANCER: When it comes to passion/romance, you come first. And on a day like this when love is in the air, you can’t be left in the cold. Don’t be selfish please.

LEO: Financial success may be what you want to celebrate with members of your opposite sex who unexpectedly arouse your passion.

VIRGO: Many will desire you strongly today but you’ll equally attract the green-eyed monster called jealousy especially from your established relationship. Movement and communication will do the magic

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

AM not an econo mist; but I knows there is what is called ‘comparative advantage’.

This simply put is the principle which encourages countries to produce goods and services for which they have comparative advantage in international trade. Under this principle, countries

Strengthening your areas of strength are expected to produce and export products in which they incur least cost. In other words, they should concentrate on areas they have advantage.

As it is with nations, so it is with individuals. Every human no matter how

TERROR MUDA

excellent, must have his areas of strength and areas of weakness. In other to excel, it is only proper that we further work on our areas of strength, so much that it will impact on our weakness. By way of analogy, let us exam-

in “Never say goodbye”

ine darkness and light.

You don’t have to fight darkness. When the light is too much darkness will disappear on its own volition.

Strengthen your areas of strength, and your weakness will continue to diminish on its own.

Think out it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Romantic Venus and sexy Mars are bringing influences of money, friendship, real love and leadership to earth’s inhabitants. What do you want?

SCORPIO: Venus, Mars and Pluto at work today will influence many of you to give more time to matters-of-theheart, especially physical side of it.

SAGITTARIUS: Love is in the air but if care is not taken, members of your opposite sex you see as your superiors (or boss) may become entangled. Watch it.

CAPRICORN: Influence of the Moon today actually wants you to work hard but if you ignore love, you’ll not be able to concentrate on what you are doing. Friends will drive your fun-seeking vehicle along social circles.

AQUARIUS: Some of you will be falling in love for the first time. And those of you who are old in the act will have rare excitement and satisfaction. Money can come in.

PISCES: You will find it relatively difficult to ignore love as attractive members of your opposite sex may go out of their way to gain your attention.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: Powerful emotional feelings may overwhelm some of you and make you crave secret affair (with your subordinates?) It’s important you don’t allow scandal.

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 is wrong with me?

Dear Joshua, I have written you many letters without response, I hope I will be lucky this time around. What’s your e-mail address?

Although, I am interested in my financial affair and will like to know what awaits me in the future as the ups and downs are giving me concern, what I want you to tell me is: Who is working spiritually against my marriage? I have married four times. Why?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Jide, Oyo. Dear Jide, My e-mail is: joshuaadeyemo@yahoo.com If you have spiritual warfare, it is in your financial affairs. You were endowed with special ability to make money for both yourself and other people.

However, three things can militate against your finances namely; inability to hold on to your gains for too long (miscalculation) jealousy and occultic manipulation by those who are green with envy.

Yet, whatever happens, dire financial misfortune is not meant for you, especially if you heed advice from your star; your being spiritual will assist you.

Fortunate placement of the Moon and Venus in Libra and Sagittarius endowed you with charming and magnetic personality which will make it easier for you to attract members of your opposite sex who will be willing to make you happy.

But after sometime, your hidden aggressive personality and tendencies to worry will come out to the resentment of members of your opposite sex.

Some other times, you promise more than you can deliver.

Then yours is a jealous soul (yes everybody was born with jealous traits) but yours is extraordinary and if you have reason to doubt the other person, you may not be able to forgive.

The summary here is that there’s not much spiritual aspect working against you here but your too strong or powerful personality is what you will need to work on: if at all you have problem with love. One sure bet is members of your opposite sex cannot do without your magnetic pose.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—47

Food contamination, greatest health risk T

HE greatest health risk today from food is contamination from bacteria and to a lesser extent from various types of fungi and viruses. In the past, salt, sugar, smoke, fermentation and drying were used to protect against food borne illnesses.

Today careful cooking, pasteurization and temperature control provide additional insurance. On one hand, we are told to eat more fruits, vegetables, fish and poultry; on the other hand we are warned that these foods may contain dangerous substances, and the question arises... How safe is our food?

The risk of contracting food borne illnesses is high because in addition to problems from consumers’ unsafe handling of food both at home and outside, recent trends have added new causes. Firstly, there is greater consumer interest in eating food of animal origin raw or undercooked.

Furthermore, the food industry tries where possible to increase the shelf life of food products. However a longer shelf life at room temperature allows

eatrightconsult@yahoo.com fully cooked 08091276796 foods pose a

with Funke Oshifuye more time for bacteria in foods to multiply. Some bacteria even grow at refrigeration temperatures.

Partially cooked and some

particular risk as refrigerated storage may only slow, and not prevent bacteria growth.

The risk of illnesses from food borne microbes increases as more of our foods are prepared in centralized kitchens outside the homes like our favourite

“bukkas” and ”mamaput” .

Tips to prevent food poisoning? I can go on and on but I will just mention a few...... Hand-washing! You need to wash your hands thoroughly with hot soapy water before and after handling food. This practise is especially important when handling raw meat, fish, poultry, eggs and after using the bathroom. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables under running water to remove dirt and bacteria clinging to the surface; make sure you

use a vegetable brush if the flesh is to be eaten. Also, when thawing foods, do so in the refrigerator for 1 to 3 days, under cold running water or in a microwave oven; make sure you cook your food immediately after thawing and never let frozen foods thaw unrefrigerated all day or night.

You also need to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Make sure you reheat your leftovers thoroughly. Cooking still remains the most reliable way to destroy food borne bacteria, so cook your foods thoroughly especially beef, fish and eggs.

Neimeth rewards outstanding pharmacies

N

EIMETH Interna tional Pharmaceutical Plc on Monday rewarded outstanding pharmaceutical stores and distributors in the NCP Season 2 promo.

Six key distributors were given return tickets to China, India and Dubai to foster international business.

Six flat screen television sets and 31 fridges were also given as consolation prizes to other winners in the national promo that ended on July 31, 2012.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Lagos, Neimeth acting Managing Director, MD and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Emmanuel Ekunno said that the initiative was part

of the quantum leap vision, which recognised customers “as the king and great partner in our transformation agenda.” Ekunno said that the company has moved from customer relations to customer satisfaction, and is poised to give customers and the market a good value for their investment.

Recipient of the return ticket to Dubai, Mr. Steven Nwadinigwe of Mivero Pharmacy, Lagos said it was the first time he would be appreciated.

He thanked the MD and his management team for their listening ears and the initiative to relate with customers as partners. The distributor won with 10, 000

units of NCP purchase.

“What they have done to-

day is to energise us to do more and it is a sign of better things to come,” he said.

Neimeth' s Finance Director, Mr Chris Mmeje presenting a return ticket to China to Mr Okechukwu Dike of Skob Global Investments, Lagos.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

AM a house wife and I do so much to take care of the kids and household. My husband acts as if I am the one enjoying while he has to work. Things are getting worse and it has affected our love life. I have to beg for money for stupid things like soap and things needed in the house. I cannot take it anymore – Mrs Ajayi Dear Mrs Ajayi, I am sorry to hear this. What you just complained of is typical in many families. For as long as only one person makes money in the family, there is a tendency that the other person will have to beg for money sometimes, which can be humiliating. I advise you to work part time. That is the only solution. No matter how much work you do, if you don’t earn money for it, your efforts won’t be appreciated the way they should – Uche My sex life is fine but I am embarrassed by vaginal odour and I am a clean and decent person - Veronica Vaginal odour often develops rapidly because of the moist nature of that environment, the limited circulation of air, sweat and body secretions. My advice is to always wash before intercourse or at least clean with wet wipes like Summer’s Eve Feminine Cleansing Cloth. Also wear lacy or Crotchless Underwear that allows for greater air circulation. And finally, use scented lubricants during intercourse. 69 Vanilla Flavoured Stimulation Cream effectively overpowers such odours – Uche Dear Uche, I have completed a bottle of Big Bam Boo penis enlarger and about to complete two bottles of Mega me. I have recorded some appreciable results. I have noticed equally that I can now maintain an erection for much longer than before.

Should I stop now or continue taking these treatments? – William That’s great William. The average course of treatment with any good penis enlarger is six months. That way you will grow to your biggest size and the results will last too. So continue treatment until the sixth month. You can buy the products one bottle at a time for affordability – Uche I am in my early thirties and I noticed that for the last two years (immediately after my wedding), I always have issues having erection after the first round of sex. Also, the early morning sex seems to be impossible. Prior to this period, I

have never had this issue before especially with early morning sex. I had to abstain from sex for about three years before my wedding because my wife was a virgin and she wanted us to have sex only after our wedding. It was after the wedding that it started. I need your help – Cletus Dear Cletus, this problem is either psychological or biological. Not having sex until marriage may have caused your mind to adjust to a life without sex and now, it is having problems readjusting. This is rare but it is possible. The second possibility is that you are experiencing a mild form of erectile dysfunction which started before your wedding but you only found out after the wedding. We will identify the problem through a system of elimination. I recommend taking a supplement that will give you renewed sexual energy, interest, strong erections, staying power and the ability to have multiple rounds of sex minutes after ejaculating. For this you can use Cockstar for Men or Enzyte supplement. If there are no results after taking any of these supplements for one month, then it can safely be said that your problem is psychological. There are men who cannot get an erection with their wives but they perform well with other women outside of marriage – Uche The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com.

48 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

*Tukur *Jonathan

2015: Is PDP NWC really broke?

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

F

OR many, who are used to claims that the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, is the largest political party in Africa, recent reports that the party’s National Headquarters is experiencing financial distress, has remained a source of concern.

Anyone, who is familiar with the party’s rise from a group of 34 elder statesmen, who dared the then dreaded military ruler, late Gen. Sani Abacha in 1998, to a party of billionaires in this era, will find the latest development puzzling.

That this report is coming barely three months after the party, at its June 2012 three-day Induction/Policy Retreat Organised for members of its National Working Committee, NWC,reviewed its funding strategy, has also contributed to the astonishment of many.

The party, particularly, premised the retreat held at Uyo on three sub-themes; membership drive, strategy for funding and party discipline.

And it consequently, "resolved that the National Working Committee must review the party ’s funding mechanism and embark on creative, credible and all inclusive ways of raising funds for the party’s programme.’’

But this latest allegations of insolvency seems to have cast a lot of doubt and raised many questions on the funding of the party under the chairmanship

of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

The alarm The National Headquarters of the party, it will be recalled, was recently reported to be on the verge of being broke.

The report which was published by Sahara reporters, stated thus: ‘’Several sources at the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party have described the party as being close to broke. One source, who is a founding member of the party, told SaharaReporters that the poor state of the PDP’s finances forced officials to shelve any plan to organize a formal celebration of the 14th anniversary of the party ’s existence.’’

Implications for PDP leadership ‘’Two of our sources attributed the party’s financial woes to a decision by several PDP governors to turn their backs on the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the party. Many of our governors are paying back President Goodluck Jonathan for imposing Dr. Bamanga Tukur as the national chairman.’’

In the face of this, questions have popped up on the validity of the reasons behind the alleged development and its implication for the PDP leadership.

Speaking on the matter, a chieftain of the party, who pleaded anonymity, said:’’We

are all aware of the intrigues that eventually produced Tukur against the wish of the governors. So, we are not surprised with the said development, but the PDP cannot be broke. Maybe the NWC is no longer getting so much donations from the governors. I can't say if the claims have anything to do with 2015 because the President has not said that he is contesting. ‘’Continuing, the PDP chieftain, added, ‘’I hope that you remember that Niger State governor, had at one time told the NWC members to desist from relying on governors for fund. So, that tells you that the governors a re not obliged to give them money because the party constitution makes it clear on how our party should be funded.’’

It would be recalled that the Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum and the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, while paying a courtesy call on the leadership of the party on May 7, told Tukur that it was wrong for the party to beg its governors and other elected officials for money as it would erode the powers of the party to discipline any errant member.

“The party should stop begging us (governors) for money. If you come to beg for money from me and I have to gather people and collect money to give you, when I do wrong, how do you discipline

me?”he asked.

However, attempts to speak to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olise Metuh, was not successful as calls to his mobile phone did not go through. But a source told Vanguard that when Metu and some NWC members were contacted on the matter before now, mum was the word.

Position of the party ’s constitution on funding Instructively, Article 18 of the PDP Constitution states: ‘’There shall be and established and maintained for the party a fund into which shall be paid all;

,

In a society where being the ruling party at any level of government translates to enormous leverage and financial muscle, the polity is perplexed with claims and counter-claims that the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, is broke.

exercises, individual or corporate donations as well as undertaking commercial activities. It further recommend donations from politicians as support to the parties. The recommended ceiling on donation from individuals towards elections include; President, N20 million; Governor, N15 million; Senate, N10 million; House of Representatives, N5 million; State Houses, N2.5 million; Chairmanship of Local Government, N3 million and Councillorship, N500,000.

What NWC members earn Nonetheless, the NWC,it will be recalled, recently fixed salaries for its members against the former arrangement where allowances were only paid to them after meetings.

This was courtesy of a proposal by the NWC, which was raised in July 2012.

Under the the new arrangement, Tukur with a monthly salary of N2 million, will be earning more than President Goodluck Jonathan whose annual salary is N14 millon.

Annual salary The Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, will receive N1.7 million monthly and National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, will take home N1.5 million monthly.

Other members of NWC, Onwe Solomon Onwe, Deputy National Secretary; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Women Leader, Chief Kema Chikwe; the National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani, and others, will go home with N1.2 million each, monthly.

According to the package, the

The party should stop begging us (governors) for money; If you come to beg for money from me and I have to gather people and collect money to give you, when I do wrong, how do you discipline me

subscription,fees and levies from the membership of the party, proceeds from investment made by the party, subventions and donations, group and grants by individuals or group of individuals as authorised by the law, loans approved by the national executive committee, such other monies as may be lawfully received by the party.’’

In addition, the retired Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais committee on Electoral Reforms recommended that parties should be encouraged to raise funds of their own through sale of forms to candidates, fund raising

,

NWC members would also receive N5,000 weekly allowance.

The NWC members will also be entitled to housing, vehicle and furniture allowances.

It was that gathered that the rationale for the new development, was to discourage members of the NWC from going to the party’s governor’s cap in hand. But with the current allegations of the NWC’s insolvency, it seems the salary structure, is far from making the NWC members independent of state governors.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012—49

With time we'll have state police all over the country — Oyegun CHIEF John Odigie- Oyegun, first Executive Governor of Edo State, in this interview with Vanguard in Benin, threw his weight behind the demand by Yoruba Elders for regional autonomy, regional police and a return to the parliamentary system of government in a restructured Nigeria, saying the was call timely in view of on-going debate on the issues and need to practice true federalism. Excerpts:

O

N the call by Northern Governors’ Forum for a revisit of the Onshore/Off shore dichotomy What I will say is consistent with my position. All issues should be on the table for discussion. If they also want that to be discussed, we cannot say we want resource control, true federalism and the rest of it and be telling others that things that also give them concern should not be raised. So, they should also be raised and this issue should also be discussed, trashed out and I think it is not beyond Nigerians to arrive at acceptable compromises and solutions which will be will good for this country.

On Yoruba leaders call for division of the country into six regions, regional police and return to Parliamentary system of government There is no question at all and this is what we have been saying that our constitution needs fundamental tinkering, redrafting, and discussion by major stakeholders of critical issues that is going to build up the constitution. What kind of federation do we want? What kind of distribution of powers do we want? What kind of resources distribution do we want and the rest of it? I think I must compliment them; I must say the Yoruba elders and leaders have been open and have shown us that there are truly substantial things that we must grapple with in order to save this nation of ours and save this generation of ours.

The two issues they mentioned that, is regional autonomy and reverting to Parliamentary system of government are some of the very basic ones. When they say that they want six regions, they are now thinking in terms of reconstituting the federation and the question is what should form the basic federating units?

Should it continue to be states or do we have bigger agglomeration which they have now termed regions?

I have personally held this view and I think the group to which I belonged, NADECO for a long time held the view that we should have eight federating regions, not six as the Yoruba leaders have suggested.

These are the things we need to sit down and discuss. What are

the advantage of constituting new federating units? What will happen to the states which people have gotten used to? Can states not also become units of the larger federating units? There are all sorts of ideas, there are all sorts of solutions to whatever people may term as problem that this will lead us to.

It has nothing to do with the unity of the nation; it has everything to do with the major groups within the federation.

Being able to feel challenged, being able to feel wanted, being able to feel and say, look, even if they are not controlling the federal power structure within their areas, they can do virtually everything they want to meet the challenges that face them. So, that is just one of the possible solutions. There could be others.

It is possible that we discuss these issues at length, it may even end up that we say, let’s keep the states that we have or let’s go to 10 regions or whatever.

But the issues must be discussed; we cannot run away from them.

,

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

Parliamentary system for very good reasons. Our type of Presidential system in our type of multi-ethnic society is inherently unstable because anytime the opposition gets strong enough against the ruling group at the centre, it begins to almost border on treason, and people start waving the flag of treason because the concentration of power at the centre is so much.

The President represents the sovereignty, the totality of power, the repository of all authorities such that any attempt to question the Presidency in strong terms is always equated to destabilizing the nation and the rest of it.

Whereas, in a Parliamentary system, it is totally different, the elected representatives of the people at any point in time can decide who leads government business and the country hardly notices it. Parliament decides who becomes Prime Minister and if that Prime Minister is not performing, within a year they will replace him and put

From the basic point alone of our democratic experiment, of our growth as a proper democracy, it is really a pity that we dumped the Parliamentary for the Presidential system of government, but that is one of the things that the Military imposed on the nation

,

If they are not discussed, they are in fact planting the seed of future implosion of our dear country which I personally, I am sure, and nobody really, truly wants to break up if he can have satisfaction and sufficient decorum within this community called Nigeria.

So, I absolutely support that idea and we have always in the NADECO group, demanded that we need eight regions. The South-South will be constituted into two regions; Middle-Belt will have two regions instead of one monolithic Middle-Belt and so on and so forth.

On Parliamentary system of government On the second issue of Presidential versus Parliamentary systems of government, again, it is another very fundamental question which we need to debate.

I have been an advocate of

somebody else without the fundamental basic structure of the nation, the stability of the nation being called to question.

Secondly, the Presidential system as we practice it in Nigeria is inherently corrupt and has a major corrupting influence on the polity. Corrupt because, there is hardly an office in the current Presidential system you want that you don’t need to have stolen massive amount of money from the treasury to be able to contest.

So, it limits the democratic space, it limits the number of people who can possibly aspire, it discourages competent people who may not have access to resources a from being able to contest.

If they are even made to contest, they must have a major sponsor, who is ready to spend billions to install that person as President. So, from the basic point alone of our democratic

*Oyegun

experiment, of our growth as a proper democracy, it is really a pity that we dumped the Parliamentary for the Presidential system of government, but that is one of the things that the Military imposed on the nation.

In the Parliamentary, everybody has a small unit called his constituency almost as the House of Representatives today.

That is manageable. The constituencies are such that somebody who has distinguished himself within that area is likely to be known. So, he needs only fairly marginal resources to be able to carry his message across. People know him, they know his family, they respect them, they want that kind of person as their leader and so, the corruptible influence is massively reduced.

On agitation for State Police We are virtually going to have a state police all over the country.

I have not seen any powerful argument to the contrary. People will think, oh, we are not matured enough, fine, so, the federal government is matured enough to control the National Police and you are sure that they will not use it to jail political opponents?

Have they not used it in the past against political opponents, have they not used it to aid victory in elections? We can never be matured as a federation unless we go back to the basic essence of federalism and that is, allowing each federating unit to be self governing within its areas of competence. It is clear today that the Federal Government cannot look after the police. That

is a fact. The Police go all over the place begging state governments to help look after them. It has become part of the accomplishment of state governments to once in a while donate vehicles, the last one a few days ago in Niger State and they make a lot of noise about it and it was not just the donation of vehicles, a lot of money changed hands to assist the operational requirements of the Police. That is the reality.

Basics of federalism The Police barracks are not there, facilities are not there and if you look at the Police, you will know that there are a lot of rot.

Look at the Police Stations, they are supposed to be all inspiring, but if there is one place any decent human being would avoid today, it is the Police Station. So, what are we talking about? Are we saying that the federal government looks at the Police so well that standards are likely to appreciate? No. So, my take is let us go back to the basics of federalism; let the states have their own Police and if possible, let the local governments have their own security forces with specified responsibilities. So, if we want to federalize the Police or decentralize the Police, the Police in each tier of government will have specific responsibility.

There will still be a federal Police which will also be responsible for specific responsibility and specific aspects and will be there to complement the state police.

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

F

ROM Otukpo to Apa and Makurdi, it is the same story of flood devastation. Benue State has been hit by a devastating flood never witnessed in the history of the state. Presently, those affected are bitterly counting their losses. This is so because millions had been rendered homeless while many have lost valuables they acquired through thick and thin after toiling for hours, days, weeks and years.

This occurred when some victims of the devastation were breathing a sigh of relief following a lull in rain falls. So, they were caught napping as the unprecedented surge from the River Benue submerged one quarter of Makurdi, the state capital, leaving no fewer than one million persons homeless.

The surge which started building up last Sunday night has at the last count submerged close to 10,000 living houses, business places, huts and farmlands.

Worst hit by the devastation were residences and houses near the bank of River Benue and most structures within five kilometres radius of the River.

Some of the communities in the town badly hit by the rising flood water that has swept away property and house hold items worth billions of Naira include Kucha Otebe, Gyado Villa, brick factories in Wadata and New Garage, the abattoir along the new Makurdi bridge, North bank

*Some residents displaced by the flood

Rage of River Benue: We lost virtually everything---Makurdi residents ed Benue University Teaching Hospital and the Regional Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, all in Makurdi. The devastation has also sacked majority of the students of the state owned Benue State University who are moving

,

We woke up this morning to discover that our houses have been completely submerged by water flowing from the river; many lost virtually everything; this is the first time we are witnessing this type of disaster in this part of the country

,

and the highbrow Judges Quarters area of the town where Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, have their residential houses.

Also threatened by the steady rise in water levels is the main campus of the Benue State University and the newly construct-

out in droves in makeshift canoes after losing most of their books and household items to the flood.

One of the victims of the flood and a final year student of Benue State University, Mr. John Itodo , told Vanguard Metro, VM, that the flood took them unawares.

He said, as he tried to fight back tears: “Two days ago we noticed a sudden rise in water lev-

Stranded...One of the victims with his children

*A woman taking her household items to safety

els along the bank of River Benue but we felt it was normal given the torrential rains in the last few days. But to our surprise we woke up this morning to discover that our houses have been completely submerged by water flowing from the river.

“Some of us have been able to rescue few of our belongings from the flood but many lost virtually everything; this is the first time we are witnessing this type of disaster in this part of the country”.

Recounting his loss, a father of four, Mr. Romeo Dajoh, said he lost several of his household items but thanked God that he was able to excape with his family alive.

While lamenting the insensitivity of the government to their plight he said: “The Governor was here yesterday(Monday) and said they will relocate all the victims to a school but up till now no government official has visited this place after the Governor left.

“The problem in this country is that our leaders will go on air to make pronouncements but at the end of the day such promises are never fulfilled. It is saddening I must confess”.

On her part, Mrs. Theresa Oche who claimed she owns one of the flooded houses urged the state government and public spirited individuals to come to their aid as theylackedthecapacityandwherewithal to handle the situation.

The Makurdi flood came on the heels of similar flood that sacked no fewer than seven communities, including over 236 residential houses, farmlands and property worth millions of Naira which were destroyed by flood in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue

State following six hours of torrential rain. Communities and villages affected by the devastation include Otukpo-Icho, Otukpo-Nobi, Upu, Emichi, Amla, Odudaje and Okpomaju, while no fewer than 150,000 inhabitants of the communities have also been rendered homeless. VM gathered from some of the affected persons that the flood also swept away the only bridge linking residents of Odudaje, Okpomaju, Amla and Emichi to the Otukpo main market and the only hospital at Otukpo-Icho.

The severe flooding which has crippled business and farming activities in the affected communities also swept away farm yields preserved in various locally constructed storage facilities in the affected communities.

Potable water The devastation has left the affected without food or potable water in places where they sought safe haven. The district head of Otukpo district, Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eimonye who spoke to newsmen on phone expressed worry over the development which he said has rendered thousands of residents homeless.

The paramount ruler who dis closed that no casualty has been recorded in the disaster, however, expressed satisfaction with the prompt response of officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, whom he said arrived the affected communities to assess the level of damage. Most of the victims, he said are presently taking refuge in

neighbouring villages where the flood did not wreak much havoc.

Chief Eimonye further enjoined health personnel in the state to urgently visit the camp of the displaced person in order to check an outbreak of diseases.

Aside Otukpo local government, the home town of the Senate President, Senator David Mark, Apa Local Government Area was not also spared by the ravaging Benue flood. VM gathered that the Ocheko bridge linking the people of Ojecho Idiku in Apa local government area of Benue State to the rest of the world has been swept away by flood occasioned by over seven hours of torrential rains which caused River Ocheko to overflow its banks and pulling down the bridge and any tree on its way.

The development has caused an untold hardship on the people of the community who have now resorted to swimming across the river to get to other parts of the local government Headquarters and other towns for their daily activities. Lamenting the unfortunate incident, head of the community, Mr. Sunday Achigili, decried the suffering of the people of the area.

He pleaded with the state government, NEMA and other donor organisations to come to the aid of his people Meanwhile the state Director of Environment at the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Daniel Iorshahea, has warned residents living within the banks of River Benue and other adjoining communities to immediately vacate their abode to avoid being swept away by the fast increasing water levels of the rivers across the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 51

52 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

England line up Brazil, Ireland friendlies Arsenal want Drogba E A NGLAND will launch the FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations with matches against Brazil and the Republic of Ireland next year.

Five-times World Cup winners Brazil will visit Wembley in February as part of a two-match arrangement that will see England head to South America for a short tour in June.

Immediately before that, the Three Lions will take on the Republic of Ireland for the first time since their abandoned fixture in Dublin 17 years ago.

While the February 6 encounter with Brazil is bound to be attractive, given the South Americans were recently in the UK for the Olympics and played Team GB just before, arguably the Irish match on May 29 is of more significance.

Certainly, Wembley is likely to be full given the interest there is bound to be from the Irish fans in their side’s first visit to the stadium since 1991.

For the FA, the highprofile fixtures are in keeping with the rest of their 150th anniversary celebrations.

A match against Scotland has already been confirmed for August, with another fixture planned - possibly against Uruguay - next summer.

•N eymar •Lampard

Murray’s victory: U.K. bookmakers lose $1.6 Million

A

NDY Murray ’s breakthrough Grand Slam tennis title at the U.S. Open has proved costly for U.K. bookmakers.

Murray yesterday ended a 76-year Grand Slam drought for British men when he beat Novak Djokovic in the finals in New York. His 7-6 (1210), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 defeat of the defending champion from Serbia yesterday was his first major final after four previous losses. Murray had won gold at the London Olympics last month, beating 17-time major champion Roger Federer of Switzerland.

Enlarge image Andy Murray’s Breakthrough Costs U.K. Bookmakers $1.6 Million

Chinese club to see if there is a way of bringing Drogba back to London, reports The Sun. Liverpool and Real Madrid are also ready to pounce if Drogba indicates he wants to leave.

•Drogba

MTN Street Soccer enters crucial stage

T

EXPENSIVE VICTORY: Andy Murray, US Open Champion

U.K. bookmakers paid out one million pounds ($1.6 million) in total on Murray winning the year ’s final major at

Van Persie injury ‘not serious’ H OLLAND coach Louis van Gaal played down concerns over the fitness of Robin van Persie after the Manchester United striker was replaced at halftime during Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying victory over Hungary.

Van Persie was forced out of the 4-1 win in Budapest after suffering a knock to his thigh, with Klaas Jan Huntelaar brought on in his place, but the Oranje boss insisted he was merely erring on the side of caution.

‘We took off Robin for precautionary measures,’ Van Gaal said.

‘It doesn’t seem to be too serious, but you never know. We didn’t want to take any risks.’

The 29-year-old has scored four goals in three games for United and

RSENAL are ready to offer Didier Drogba an escape from his China crisis The 34-year-old former Chelsea striker has been caught up in a boardroom power struggle just three months after signing a £200,000 a week contract with Shanghai Shenhua.

The Gunners, desperate to fill the void left by Robin van Persie, have made enquiries with the

Flushing Meadows, according to estimates by British online sports betting website Coral and William Hill Plc, the UK’s largest bookmaker with 2,370 licensed betting offices.

“We took quite a hit,” William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said in an interview. “Every time he makes it through to a final, and every time a grand slam comes around, he is the bestbacked tennis player.

We’ve made a lot of

money on the back of Murray, and we’re certainly not going to begrudge him finally winning a Grand Slam.”

William Hill paid out about 250,000 pounds, its biggest ever sum on an individual winning the U.S. Open, Crilly said.

The bookmaker had offered odds of 5-1 on the 25-year-old from Dunblane, Scotland winning before the start of the tournament, meaning a $1 bet would yield $5 plus the original stake.

HE MTN Lagos Street Soccer Season 5 tournament enters its crucial stage as the quarter finalists battle for honours on Sunday at the Campos Mini_Stadium Lagos.

In the male category, teams to look out for include Aiyetoro Street from Surulere, Ago Owu Street, Odi Olowo, Mushin Awolowo Way Street, Ikeja, F.E.Y.A Street 1, Amuwo Odofin, Ajao Jimoh Street, Igando, Ikotun amongst others, while in the female category, Magbon Alade Street, Ibeju Lekki and Osolu Sea Lion Street, Ojo are among the teams to play.

For the corporate category, MTN will play against All Stars in the final while Golden Age and Lagos SWAN battle for third place.

This year’s tournament will see the winning team in the male category cart away a whopping sum of N5 million in addition to a trip to Spain.

Champions League: City can shock Real, says Aguero group stage, along with NO CAUSE FOR ALARM: Van Persie (l) goes under a hard tackle also found the net in Holland’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Turkey on Friday.

Another United new boy Shinji Kagawa missed Japan’s World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Tuesday with a back problem but has also reassured fans over the injury.

‘Obviously it’s a shame I wasn’t able to play. It’s not that serious and I don’t think it will keep me out for long,’ Kagawa said.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who was in New York to witness Andy Murray’s US Open success, is already without injured striker Wayne Rooney.

S

ERGIO Aguero in sists Manchester City is now good enough to beat Real Madrid as the two sides gear up for a Champions League clash at Santiago Bernabeu, next Tuesday evening.

The Premier League champions are embarking on only their second Champions League campaign, and were knocked out of last season’s competition at the

bitter rivals Manchester United.

However, the Argentine striker - who used to play for Los Blancos’ fiercest rivals, Atletico Madrid, believes his side are now good enough to challenge the likes of Madrid and Barcelona for European glory.

“I was never on the winning side against them so let’s hope with City we can beat them,” he told the Daily Express.

•Aguero

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 53

Mikel Continues from BP sidering the options to adopt to cover up for his lapses the way Chelsea players do should they invite him for the return leg of the Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia in October. It is hoped that strong marker Gabriel Reuben of Kano Pillars would have recovered from the injury that sidelined him in Liberia. Nigeria missed him. Another good marker who may be considered is Fegor Ogude who also missed the match in Liberia. If Fegor and Gabriel who are all defensive midfielders start, Mikel may have to be offensive. He doesn’s fit in there any more and the last time Stephen Keshi tried to assign him that role in the friendly against Malawi Mikel opted out of the match.

Keshi and his crew may play him in his normal holding role but will have to shop for two more mifilders who will mark well offensively and defensively. They will have to sacrifice a lot to accommodate Mikel.

”We must look for the players to complement if Mikel will be invited,” one of the officials of the Eagles said in a heart to heart chat on the state of Eagles. They are considering him for Liberia match.

Another thing counting against Mikel is that he never pushes hard to score and hardly puts opponents under pressure by running forward and attempting to score. He passes side ways or behind and only passes forward few times. But nobody can deny his passing ability.

Victor Ikpeba has said Eagles can do without Mikel and Osaze Odewengie, recalling their awful outing against Guinea under Samson Siasia. Osaze was even worse in Rwanda in February this year and Keshi had butterflies in his stomach.

But there may be a way out for Mikel especially with the quality officials have seen in Nosa Igiebor who performed well in Monrovia. Mikel is in their mind.

Maigari: Eagles will qualify for 2013 AFCON

F

ROM the Nigeria Football Federation came a solid vote of confidence on Wednesday that the Super Eagles will surely qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations finals to be

hosted by South Africa.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari agreed that though a win would have been better than the 2-2 draw garnered from Saturday’s Cup of Nations qualifier against

President Jonathan Continues from BP at the just concluded Paralympic Games in London “have wiped away our tears”.

According to him, the Paraolympians and the Falconets performance at the just concluded FIFA Women U-20 Championship in Japan was brilliant, and the planned reception this saturday is to send a clear message that all athletes are important.

“They (Paraolympians) have wiped away our tears. The message they have sent is that we need a greater passion in what we do. Their performance confirms that every citizen is important. The reception will send a clear message that all is important”, he noted.

On the Falconets, the

Minister described the performance of the female junior team that came third as “ventilating”, adding that “they showed a lot of talents and defeated very great football nations.

“They have demonstrated that when women are asking for 35 per cent they mean it. It is a clear indication what women can do better where men have failed”.

At the London Games, the Nigerian special athletes won a total of 13 medals; six gold, five silver and two bronze medals. The performance lifted the dampen spirit of Nigerians when the able bodied athletes could not win a single medal at the main London Games London.

Liberia in Monrovia, the return leg at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar on 13 th October would settle all issues comfortably in Nigeria’s favour.

“The good thing is

that the players and technical officials realize that was one match they should have won. I spoke with the Head Coach and the Captain and they both feel confident about the return leg.

Amaju Continues from BP During the question-andanswer session in the House, members spoke glowingly about the achievements and foresight of Mr. Pinnick, which has been replicated on the victories of the State in successive national sports festival, Nigeria’s version of the Olympic Games.

Clearing the coast for other members of the Sports Commission, Mr.

Kuejubola Onajite Eddington, Hon. Ejiro Etoroma and Hon. Gabriel Okpuno, representing the Central, South and North Senatorial districts respectively, on the Sports Commission were merely asked to take a bow.

It would be recalled that Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has held several positions in the sporting landscape within and outside Delta State at various times.

Paralympians Continues from BP “We felt that they will be secured at the NIS after a reception was held for them at the National Stadium. I’m awarethatsomeofthemwent home, but I cannot say if they protested against what was

offered to them,” said Secretary-general of the Nigeria Paralympics Committee, Dr. Frank Thorpe.

Some of the athletes spoken to submitted that the NIS hostel did not match their status as paralympics heroes.

54— Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 — 55

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

President Jonathan to host Paralympians, Falconets

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja.

P

RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan is to

host the Nigerian delegation to the paralympic games as well as members of the Falconet in

Mikel in Keshi’s mind but …

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

M

IKEL Obi contin uously hangs in Chelsea first team because the system in the London club and the character of his teammates accommodate his style.

Ramires, Lampard and the rest who may have any role in the midfield are good markers.

This covers Mikel’s lapses as a loose marker and at the same time makes his passing game flourish. Mikel is a good passer of the ball. This quality has kept him in Chelsea’s first team for over five years now. But he is not always effective for the Eagles of Nigeria because he is expected to fight to win balls through tight and close marking. And when he puts in his best to do this he burns out early and runs into problem with the pace of the game as Nigerians saw him in the Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea in Abuja where he start-

TODAY'S

Delta State House of Assembly clears Amaju for 2nd term

MIDFIELD DILEMMA.....John Obi Mikel kicks the ball during a past match for the Super Eagles

ed walking on the pitch 30 minutes into the game. Against Argentina in a friendly in Bangladesh he once toyed

PUZZLE

T

with the ball, Lionel Messi dispossessed him and he never gave a chase and that resulted into a goal against NiYESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

geria.

Absolutely aware of his character and style, Eagles coaches are con

HE Delta state House of Assembly yesterday (12/09/12) screened and cleared Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick for another fouryear tenure as Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission.

The screening exercise which was watched by a capacity crowd in the gallery of the hallowed chambers of the House, afforded Mr. Pinnick the opportunity of reeling out his vision for sports development in Delta State and Nigeria.

Earlier, the member representing Warri North constituency in the House, Hon. Mrs. Irene Imilar, had moved that in view of the rich resume of Mr. Pinnick, coupled with his track records, he should be cleared for appointment as the Delta State Sports boss.

Continues on page 53

Continues on page 53

ACROSS 4 Hanker (5) 7 Flinched (6) 9 Sorrow (3) 10 Whelp (3) 12 Wed (5) 13 Image (4) 15 Ethic (5) 17 Stroll (6) 19 Savage (4) 20 Spirit (5) 22 Circuit (3) 24 Uniform (7) 27 Gear (3) 28 Stop (5) 31 Key (4) 33 Ail (6) 35 Player (5) 37 Affectionate (4) 38 Oar (5)

appreciation of their sterling performance.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, told state House correspondents that the superlative performance of members of the Team Nigeria Special athletes

Continues on page 53

Hisses, Sighs as Paralympians reject NSC’s accommodation

BY BEN EFE

N

IGERIAN para lympians Tuesday night rejected the National Institute for Sports hostel accommodation reserved for them after they touched down in Lagos from their triumphant run at the London 2012 Paralympics Games.

The athletes were treated to a mini reception at the National Stadium Lagos. And they were shepherded into the NIS hostels by the National Sports Commission Liaison officer in Lagos, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme, but one by one they sneaked out of the premises preferring to lodge in comfortable hotels on their own, while those who have homes in Lagos went to their abodes.

Continues on page 53

DOWN 1 Coping (6) 2 Innate (6) 3 Vigour (3) 4 Stupor (4) 5 Kingdom (5) 6 Chaste (8) 8 Mute (4) 11 Defilement (9) 14 Den (4) 16 Genuine (4) 18 Mild (4) 21 Definite (8) 23 Wrap (4) 25 Essence (4) 26 Shoal (4) 29 Aneale (6) 30 Last (6) 32 Incorrect (5) 34 Stuff (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Engulf 5, Might 8, Training 9, Foil 10, Beg 12, Shock 15, Set 17, Raw 18, New 19, Lea 20, Ovine 21, Air 22, Duo 23, Avon 24, Eke 26, Plead 29, Key 33, Bowl 34, Gratuity 35, Client 36, Tingle.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Nurse 3, Unit 4, Faith 5, Magic 6, Gift 7, Twine 10, Bulge 11, Grade 12, Swoop 13, Alive 14, Knead 15, Swank 16, Tarry 25, Knoll 27, Light 28, Await 30, Extol 31, Glee 32, Burn.

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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