PDP CRISIS:Police bar Amaechi from Govt House

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61968

I've no presidential ambition — Lamido 40

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N150

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Ozekhome freed, seeks amnesty for kidnappers

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PDP CRISIS:

Police bar Amaechi from Govt House

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH; CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, JIMITOTA ONOYUME, IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI & EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

•It's not true — Police P •Aborts unveiling of nPDP office in P-Harcourt •Presidency may dump Tukur to win G-7 govs •Court to decide Baraje's fate today

ORT HARCOURT: POLICEMEN, last night, barred Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and his guests mainly former speakers in the country from accessing the governor’s Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

ADISA ADELEYE •P.47

Mr & Mrs

BLOCKED—Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State complaining of the police action, yesterday.

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C M Y K

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C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

when it happened”, she said.

Police aborts unveiling of Rivers nPDP secretariat

AMAECHI WELCOMES JONATHAN—From left: Deputy Governor of Rivers State,

Mr Tele Ikuru; Gov Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan at the Port Harcourt International Airport on the President's arrival, yesterday.

Police bar Amaechi from entering Govt House Continues from page 1 residence through the private gate of the state Government House, Port Harcourt.

Condemning the ac-

tion, the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari told Vanguard on phone that the governor and his guests were forced by

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Money does not answer all questions, it does not always bring you or guarantee you happiness and rest of mind; only your mind can settle your mind.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Holding on to the weight of anger, resentment and hatred will not only hold you back, but also block your present blessings and opportunities.

You’ve just got to drop some things to move forward — Marc and Angel Hack

C

HANGE can be beautiful if we embrace it with an open heart. Sometimes in life, things turn out different than we expect, sad but true, no matter what you do or how much you explain yourself, some people will gradually evolve away from your core values. As time goes on, they will prove over and over again that they are committed to misunderstanding you and clashing with your needs.

But know this too, life is a constant balance, for the challenges that are thrown at us are stepping stones to greater heights. So stop being unhappy with your current circumstances. It’s always better to be struggling at something you love than succeeding diligently at something you despise. Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather realizing that you have changed, and then learning to start over with your new truth. And that what was right for you then is not necessarily right for you now.

Part of letting go and moving on is facing the fears and disappointments of the past that are binding one’s spirit. The mental space you create by letting go of things that are already behind you gives you the ability to fill the space with something more fulfilling and beautiful.

the Police allegedly on the orders of the State Police Commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu to go through the main gate of the Government House.

Describing the action of the state Police boss as an abuse of federalism and political authority, the commissioner said no official explanation was adduced for the action of the state Police command.

Wondering why the governor of the state should be stopped from accessing his residence through the private gate of the Government House, Semenitari said the action of the Police was strange and a violation of the tenets of popular democracy.

“This happened around 8pm this night (last night). The Police stopped the governor and his guests, former Speakers in the country from accessing the governor ’s residence through his private gate.

The governor had to go through the main gate.

This is a clear abuse of federalism, power and rule of law ”, Mrs Semenitari said.

It is not true — Police Meantime, when contacted for comment on the allegation, the state Police Public Relations

Officer, DSP Angela Agabe said it was not true. According to her, the Police only stopped Governor Amaechi's faction of the PDP from setting up their secretariat at 38 Forces Avenue, a building opposite the old GRA Police station.

The Forces Avenue road where the secretariat is located connects the back gate of the Government House, which serves as the private gate of the governor.

Another top security officer, who spoke to Vanguard said the Police had to act on a clear instruction that they should stop any attempt by the Amaechi’s faction to set up a factional secretariat of the PDP in the state because there is only one legitimate PDP in the country.

The source continued that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu had not been in the state for some days so there was no way he could have ordered that the governor be stopped from accessing his residence through the back gate.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Semenitari said a total of 102 former Speakers were with the governor when the incident occurred.

“102 former Speakers were with the governor

The Police in Rivers State, yesterday, aborted the opening of the State Secretariat of the nPDP in Port Harcourt.

Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Government, Mr Tony Okocha was about ending the official opening of secretariat located at 30, Forces Avenue, Old GRA Port Harcourt premises that served as the 2011 Campaign Office of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, when a team of the Rivers State Police Command led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, State’s CID, Sam Ogaola rushed in to stop the hoisting of nPDP’s flag.

Okocha had barely concluded his declaration at 1.30pm and left instructions for hoisting of the party and national flags at the secretariat when the police arrived.

Before the arrival of the police team, Okocha said: “In obedience to the directive of the nPDP national leadership, I hereby, open the office of the nPDP, Rivers State chapter. I hope that this would usher in fresh air and democratic renewal in Rivers and the nation.

“The nPDP is a national response to the impunity and dictatorial tendency typical of the former leadership of our great party. I therefore, urge the executive of the party to immediately commence mobilisation of the party’s men and women to deliver the party from the stranglehold of the tyrants.

“I commend the governors of Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kwara, Adamawa, Niger and our own indefatigable governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Nigeria

Governors' Forum and other adherents for this uncommon display of courage. They are indeed heroes of our democracy.

On Baraje’s national PDP leadership we stand.”

Chief Godspower Ake, Chairman of the Amaechi faction of the Rivers PDP and his secretary were, however, absent at the event, but state Publicity Secretary of the faction, George Ukwoma was present.

Court to decide Baraje’s fate today THE fate of the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will be decided today by the Justice S.E Chukwu presided Federal High Court, Abuja. Yesterday, the court fixed today for a decision on the merit of an application seeking to halt further activities within the camp of the Baraje-led faction known as new PDP (nPDP).

Meanwhile, there were indications, yesterday that the Presidency may dump Tukur to win back the G-7 governors as the Russian chapter of the PDP endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for second term with the presidency tinkering a formidable team to tackle the legal challenge mounted by former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Justice S.E Chukwu of a Federal High Court in Abuja fixed today to decide the merit of an application seeking to halt further activities within the Abubakar Baraje-led nPDP. Tukur made the application before the High Court yesterday.

His application came on a day that four key actors in the nPDPBaraje, Atiku Abubakar, Prince Olagunsoye

Continues on page 49

6—Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

3 docked over N4.4m stolen cars

890 traders displaced as Enugu demolishes Old Park Market

BY IJEOMA NATHANIEL

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AGOS—THREE men, Adedayo Akinronbi, 43; Lukman Akanni, 33; Rotimi Balogun, 43, were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly receiving two stolen Toyota Highlander Jeeps worth N4.4 million.

The suspects, docked before Magistrate Abimbola OshodiMakanju, are facing a three count charge of armed robbery and conspiracy preferred against them by the police.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Sampson Ekikere, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on June 10, at Gowon Estate, Ipaye, Lagos.

Ekikere said that Adebayo Akinronbi and Lukman Akanni intentionally received a stolen unregistered metallic ash-coloured Toyota Highlander Jeep valued N2.2 million.

According to the prosecutor, on the same date, time and place, Rotimi Balogun also intentionally received a stolen unregistered light blue Toyota Highlander Jeep valued N2.2 million.

.. another for N4.56m theft

BY IJEOMA NATHANIEL

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AGOS—A man, J o l o m i Egharegbemi, 38, was, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos, for alleged armed robbery.

He was alleged to have stolen property worth N4.56 million.

The suspect, Jolomi Egharegbemi, docked before Magistrate Abimbola OshodiMakanju, is facing a two-count charge of armed robbery and conspiracy preferred against him by the police.

The defendant was denied bail and is to be remanded in prison custody pending Director of Public Prosecution, DPP’s legal advice.

The case was adjourned till October 4.

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—DESPITE a subsisting order of an Enugu State High Court, restraining Enugu State Government from demolishing stalls at the Old Park Market in Enugu metropolis without first relocating the 890 affected traders, the state government has pulled down stalls in the market.

Apart from the statutory shop owners in the market, no fewer than 2,000 other traders doing business in the market are to be displaced as the state government had served a fresh eviction notice to enable it demolish the entire structures in the market with effect from today.

In the first phase of the demolition exercise carried out under the supervision of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, about 66 stalls were brought down, while the remaining 824 were marked for demolition.

Government had last year indicated interest to relocate the traders in the market to enable it erect a shopping mall in the place and asked the affected traders to move to the new market on Aria Road.

that we are not wanted at the place. This is where we do our business. Many of us have two to three shops here.

“What we are asking for is that they show us alternative places to do our business.”

In a statement on their behalf by their counsel, Tagbo Ike, they condemned the action of the state government as not only dictatorial but barbaric.

He said: “We watch in awe and total amazement the orchestrated demolitions and threats of further demolitions of market stalls of our clients at Old Park, Ogbete Market, Enugu, by the government through the instrumentality of Enugu Capital Territory Devel-

opment Authority despite a subsisting and extant order of the High Court of Enugu State stopping the demolition.

“We find the state government’s posture and attitude as not only dictatorial and draconian, but also barbaric, contemptuous disregard to extant and subsisting court order, affront to rule of law, which forbids parties in a suit in court from compromising same, and flagrant show of lawlessness and arbitrariness.

‘Not civil’

“We live in an age where the rest of humanity is striving to attain the civilised ethos of international best practices and

the Enugu State Government, rather than adhere to this international norm, chooses a descent to the Hobbesian state of impunity, arbitrariness and lawlessness.”

He implored the state government to abide by the rule of law and cease further demolition of the market stalls, and await the outcome of the litigation.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Commissioner in charge of the ECTD, Mr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, on the issue proved abortive as he neither answered calls to his mobile number nor responded to text messages sent to him on the issue, at press time.

The suit

However, when government began to issue quit notices to the affected traders, the traders proceeded to court on the ground that the so-called alternative allocation was not real.

In the suit on their behalf by Ifeanyichukwu Eneh against the state government and Enugu Capital Territory, the traders had sought the protection of their property rights.

The court had, in both interim and interlocutory orders, restrained the state government from demolishing the stalls without providing alternative place to the affected traders.

Some of the affected traders, who spoke on the development, yesterday, said they were shocked to arrive their shop on Friday to discover a notice from the state government, urging them to “park out without an alternative place,” even when there was a subsisting court order barring government from demolishing the stalls.

A victim’s story

Chief Ahara, one of the affected traders, said: “We are not against government doing whatever it wants to do with the place. What we are saying is that many of us have paid rents in advance, running into millions, to the same state government.

“They asked for the rents, collected them and never told us

DEMOLITION: Demolition at Old Park Market in Enugu. INSETS: Traders affected by

DJ in court over BB, shoes, N30,000 theft

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—A 21-year-old Disc Jockey, DJ, Akintokun Tunde, has been dragged before an Osogbo Magistrate Court, Osun State for allegedly stealing a Black-

berry phone, a pair of shoe and N30,000.

He was said to have committed the act while entertaining fun seekers at Angle ’90 Hotel, a popular brothel in Osogbo.

The accused, who was said to have been a regular DJ at

the brothel located at Ajibade Street in Osogbo, Osun State capital, with his friends said to be on run, committed the offence on September 6, at 10:30p.m.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akinlabi Ismail, said the accused and others still on the run

Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—7

2 foreign journalists arrested in Rivers, released

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—TWO journalists working with Guardian of London newspaper, were reportedly arrested, yesterday, in Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, by Policemen for allegedly taking photographs of flames from the Eleme Refinery.

A Niger Delta activist, Mr. Patrick Nagbatoon, who informed of the arrest in a text message to newsmen in Port Harcourt, gave the names of the journalists as Jon Vidal, a correspondent with Guardian of London and his cameraman, Mr. Naoh.

He said: “Two journalists were arrested in Rivers State late afternoon today (yesterday). Jon Vidal, a correspond-

ent with Guardian of London newspapers and his cameraman, Naoh.

“Both British nationals were arrested for taking pictures of a huge flame at the Eleme Re-

finery in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

In a text message later, he said they had been released.

The second text came barely two hours after the first.

Patrick said: “Just to let you know the situation with the journalists is all sorted out now and they have been released.”

Ondo police nab 3 teenagers over attempted kidnap

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—POLICE in Ondo State, yesterday, arrested three teenagers for attempting to kidnap an 11-year-old boy, Precious Kehinde, in Ondo.

The teenagers, whose ages ranged between 13 and 15, were arrested by detectives acting on tip-off at Iparuku Street in Ondo town.

Vanguard learnt from the police that report of the activities of the teenagers in the town was lodged at the Enuowa Divisional Police Station in Ondo town.

Police source said that the report was brought by a youth leader in the community, where the teenagers planned to kidnap the boy.

Grandmother of Kehinde, Mrs. Moronike Akinbinum, said that she was in her house at Iparuku Street, when somebody called and informed her that her child had been kidnapped by two young boys, who were making spirited effort to take him away.

Akinbinu said that she rushed to the scene and saw the two boys dragging Kehinde. She added that she raised alarm at that point, which attracted people, who came to her rescue.

According to her, the suspected kidnappers were later arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

Another suspect, who was said to have a link with the crime was later arrested by the police.

Landlord dupes 100 prospective tenants

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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N Ebutte Metta Magistrate Court in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned the case against a landlord, Alhaji Ishola Salawudeen, of 59, Oriola Street, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos State, who collected rent from over 100 unsuspecting tenants with the promise of giving them a flat in a new building he was erecting on his property.

It turned out that none of the persons, who paid for the said building, which was under construction, was given a flat and in some cases, more than four persons were given the keys to the same flat.

One of the victims, Mrs Ganiyat Bashoru, who was at the court yesterday, lamented that she had just done her introduction after paying N475,000 for a two-bedroom flat to Salawudeen, hoping to

move into the new apartment with her husband.

Mrs Bashorun, who was in court for the hearing of the case, which could not come up as the magistrate was said to be on leave, said she had paid Salawudeen the said sum for 18 months.

She said Salawudeen had promised her and other prospective tenants to come for keys to the flat on July 16, and on getting there, she met others, who were also there to collect keys to their flat.

Bashorun said that the developer duped over 100 prospective tenants to the tune of N34.3 million.

According to her, “since the incident, it has not been easy for us because we have been squatting with family and friends and people have been running around for us.”

Meanwhile, the case was adjourned till November 6.

Navy nabs suspected pirates

BY EVELYN USMAN

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the exercise.

assaulted one Abiola Ipadeola by hitting his eyes with punch, while drinking beer at the brothel.

They were also accused of dispossessing their victim of his Blackberry phone, a pair of shoe and N30,000.

Akinlabi informed the court that the Blackberry was valued at N40,000, while the pair of shoes costs N10,000.

TTEMPTS by some suspected pirates to syphon petroleum products from an oil vessel impounded by Nigerian Navy has been foiled by Naval operatives attached to NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos.

Six suspected members of the gang were arrested at the Elegbeta channel of Apapa, where the impounded vessels were anchored.

The charge read: “That you (Tunde) and others now at large on September 6, 2013 at Angle 90 Hotel at Ajibade Street, Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit assault occasioning harm and stealing the sum of N30,000, one Blackberry handset and one canvass shoe belonging to one Abiola Ipadeola.”

Before handing the suspects over to the Police, yesterday, the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, said that the ships, one of which is MV ARTI, were impounded by naval operatives attached to NNS Andoni, while on patrol two months ago.

He said: “She was arrested close to one of the ships in naval custody, which was also arrested by NNS Andoni.

“At the time of the arrest, the vessel was suspected to have attempted some illegal business transaction with the ships that was earlier arrested. Further investigations revealed that certain documents and IMO compliance were not met by the vessel.”

However, only the suspects were handed over to the Police, while the ships were still under NNS Beecroft custody, owing to what Ezekobe de-

scribed as lack of facility by the Police to detain the ship.

He said that the Police would be allowed to access the seized ships anytime they wanted to in the course of their investigation, adding that they would be released if directed otherwise by Naval headquarters.

Man in court over father's death

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N Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos, yesterday, remanded a 34-year-old carpenter, Olanrewaju Ewebiyi, at Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos over alleged patricide.

Olanrewaju was alleged to have murdered his father, Michael Ewebiyi, at Oworonsoki area of the metropolis.

The Magistrate, Mr. T. J. Adefioye, said the accused should remain in prison custody pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Onaiwu Iyobosa, had told the court that the accused committed the crime on August 17 at 1p.m.

Iyobosa said the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The case was adjourned to November 6.

... 2 over friend's death

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N Ebute Meta Magistrate Court in Lagos, yesterday, remanded two men in prison on their alleged involvement in the death of their friend.

Nicodemus Jeremiah, 23, and Abideen Muniru, 28, are being detained at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos for their alleged roles in the killing of Dike Onyeami.

The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, ordered that the accused be in prison custody, pending legal advice from the office of the state Director of Public Prosecutions.

They are facing a twocount charge of conspiracy and unlawful killing.

The case was adjourned till October 14.

NDLEA nabs 3 over drugs

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CT Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has arrested three suspected drug dealers in Abuja, with 395.4kg of substance suspected to be illicit drugs.

A statement by Mr. Peter Adegbe, Public Relations Officer of the agency, said that operatives of the command arrested one of the suspects, popularly known as Marijuana, with 186.4kg of

banned substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, concealed in a Toyota bus with number plates YA 90 EPE. It said that the command arrested the other two suspects, a man and a woman, with 209 kg of cannabis sativa in a J5 vehicle with number plate XA 892 ABJ. It added that the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of ongoing investigations.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

CJN okays new practice direction

Presidency denies ordering 53 gold-plated iphones for independence celebration

BY BEN AGANDE

zTo expedite trial on terrorism, kidnapping, 419 cases

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, has okayed a new practice direction that will fast track trial of offences involving terrorism, rape, kidnapping, corruption, money laundering and human trafficking.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi, who made the disclosure while addressing newsmen at a workshop on the 'Role of the media in the fight against terrorism', said the CJN has already intimated heads of various courts in Nigeria about the new practice direction.

According to Olorundahunsi, the new model will ensure that terrorism related cases and appeals are heard and dispensed with in matter of weeks.

He said the new practice direction for the Supreme Court has already been signed into law and gazetted, stressing that “the judiciary is not only in the position to protect our democracy from terrorism but must also not fail to protect democracy from the means that the state wants to use to fight terrorism.”

Meantime, in his address at the workshop, the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr Ekpenyong Ita, said the media must collaborate with security agencies in the fight against terrorism.

Ita, who was represented

by Mr Cliff Osagie, said the media remained key stakeholders in the fight against terrorism.

He, however, implored journalists to exercise due diligence and responsibility while reporting terrorism related issues, saying journalists must adhere strictly to their code of ethics in handling sensitive state matters even as he called on them to be more patriotic in reporting national issues.

He said the SSS would continue to do its best to make the country safer for Nigerians.

A

BUJA—THE Presidency has denied media reports that it ordered 53 gold-plated iPhones to celebrate the country’s 53rd independence, saying the report is not only misleading but false and mischievous.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said the report was part of attempts by political opponents to discredit the Jonathan administration.

The statement reads: “We consider the reports in a section of the media claiming that the Nigerian government had ordered customized gold iPhones from a Dubai-based company to mark the country’s 53rd independence anniversary in October as not only false and misleading, but utterly mischievous.

“It is instructive that despite the refutation of the story by the company, which ought to have laid the mischief to rest, a number of politically-minded news media continue to insist on promoting the blatant falsehood. We deplore their antics as yet another attempt to use any trick or means possible to discredit President Jonathan’s wellmeaning, hardworking and focused administration.

“It is certainly a matter of public record and knowledge that since his assumption of office, President Jonathan has ensured that October 1 independence-day anniversaries are low-keyed, without any pomp or pageantry. Ironically, even this prudence generated criticisms from a cynical and opportunistic segment of the public which alleged in 2011, and again in 2012, that the President was either too scared to celebrate or that the government was broke.

“This administration has no intention to depart from its established habit of prudent management of resources and modest celebration of the country’s independence. This year, the public should be assured that the October 1 anniversary will also be lowkeyed. Neither the Federal Government nor its agencies has ordered any gold iPhones to mark the anniversary.

“We do not see any justification for such extravagance either now or at any other time. The Jonathan administration’s gold standard is to continue to provide responsible, committed, and result-oriented leadership, not to engage in the purchase and distribution of party gifts.

“We urge the Dubai-based company, which has since said that the order for the said 53 gold iphones was placed by a private individual and not the Nigerian government, to go ahead and disclose the identity of that individual. We appeal to the public to beware of the increasing

desperation of those with politically vested interests, seeking to pull down this

administration. Their moral will remain focused as it continues to serve the Nigerian people bankruptcy is condemnable.

“The Jonathan administration diligently” he said.

Flag hoisting at the unveiling of nPDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 9

BY GODWIN ORITSE, SIMON EBEGBULEM, GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE, BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE & DANIA ONOZURE

My abduction was the nearest thing to death on earth.

We were about thirteen in all that were kidnapped. On two occasions I took ill while in captivity and on those occasions doctors who wore hoods were brought in to treat me and I was given injections at some point

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AGOS—AFTER spending 21 days in kidnappers’ den, human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, yesterday, wept like a baby as he arrived his Lagos residence upon his release at 1am by his abductors.

News of his release was also greeted with wild jubilation in his Iviukwe community in Agenebode, Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State as members of the community started dancing and singing.

Back in his Lagos residence, the atmosphere was that of celebration as cows and goats were slaughtered to welcome him back home.

Ozekhome who alighted from a black Ford Escalade ran into the arms of his wife, grabbed her and gave her a long kiss after which he started shouting thank you Jesus repeatedly.

My experience

Recounting his ordeal in the hands of his abductors, Chief Ozekhome said the kidnappers asked them to lie down inside the car as policemen were passing and there was an exchange of gun fire before his abductors took them away.

He said that when the kidnappers requested for communication with members of his family over the ransom, two of his children who came to negotiate the ransom were also abducted in the process.

They were all released together early yesterday morning. He noted that the kidnappers operate randomly and have cell units across Nigeria His words: “They asked me who I was, and I replied saying that I am a lawyer. They asked me again for how long I have been practicing, I told them 32 years. The experience was horrific because we were psychologically tortured. It was the nearest thing to death on earth. We were about thirteen in all that were kidnapped. There was even a woman with two of her sons and a daughter as well as her driver. The danger knows no status, religion, occupation etc. The Federal Government should do certain things as a matter of urgency.

“The kidnappers vowed to

HOME, SWEET HOME: From left: Oba Lasisi Gbadebo Gbadamosi, Onigando of Igando land, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, his wife, Josephine and his son Mr. Ilugbehai, during the celebration of Chief Ozekhome's release by kidnappers, at his residence at Igando, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Ozekhome returns home to big celebration zRecounts experience, calls for amnesty for kidnappers make the country ungovernable in 2015 because they said they will show their true colours and that they are ready for the politicians.

They told me that because of what they read about me, I should go and not stop in the fight for the masses. On two occasions I took ill while in captivity and on those occasions doctors who wore hoods were brought in to treat me and I was given injections at some point” He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to grant amnesty to all kidnappers in the country, saying that “they (kidnappers ) said if they are assured of their freedom they will drop their guns.”

Chief Ozekhome also called on the government to immediately declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment, insecurity and amend the constitution to accommodate state policing in the country He said: “We must begin to have a police system like we have in the United States. Sections 214 and 215 of the nation’s constitution are now moribund and antagonistic.

We need each state to control its police force. The Federal Government should call for a national conference for Nigerians to sit down on a round table and engineer a new constitution. Nigeria is not united. Nobody says I am a Nigerian but I am Edo, Yoruba or Ibo person because Nigeria is not a unified country.”

Stressing the need for the definition of the name Nigeria, he said, “Our name was not given by our selves, the lady that formed the name in 1948, got married to a non-Nigerian.

"What describes Nigeria is a geographical expression, we never agreed to come together as one country. There is a devolution of power in a true Federalism, but in Nigeria power flows from the top to below. How many times have we seen President Obama inviting the governors of the states to a meeting. We must tame corruption before it kills us as a people. Corruption is the richest state in Nigeria. We must confront it frontally”.

He also urged the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police to institute a foundation that will cater for the education of the children of the policemen who lost their lives in an effort to rescue him and his driver.

Lauds Jonathan, others

He further commended President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Dr. David Mark and the entire legislature, the government and people of Edo State, President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the Oba of Benin for their concern.

Meanwhile, Chief Ozekhome’s wife, Mrs. Josephine Ozekhome expressed joy at the safe return of her husband saying that sleep and peace eluded the entire family in the last three weeks.

She explained that for two days, she was numb because she did not know what to think considering that four policemen were killed in an effort to rescue her husband.

“Seeing him alive, well and very strong, I give God all the

glory and I am filled with joy”, she added.

Family members of the human rights lawyer described the release as one that cannot be expressed in words as they put a white chalk on his head as a mark of gratitude to God for his safe return.

Explaining what the release means to the family, elder brother to the human rights lawyer, Dr. Francis Ozekhome, said: “Since the kidnap, I have not been myself. I went through hell during that time. I left my house in Ijeshatedo to stay with the wife and children. We received no communication from the kidnappers. I do not know if money was paid for his release because no money passed through me. Mike is a man of the people. We can see that there is no security in the country. So I appeal to the Federal Government that this is the time for them to do something about the nation’s security.”

Another elder brother to the senior advocate, Mr. Okpome Ozekhome, pointed out that words were inadequate to express his gratitude.

His words: “I cannot categorically say anything because the kidnappers were not communicating to me. For his release today, we thank those who played one role or the other to ensure his release. We felt very bad for the kidnap because Mike was a human rights activist. He was detained sixteen times by the Abacha regime when he was fighting for the subsidy issue. Mike fought for

the ordinary man on the street.

The government is trying, but we urge them to increase the security system in Nigeria. For the kidnappers, I pray that they should have God in their heart.”

The Onigando of Igando, Oba Gbadebo Gbadamosi, who paid a visit to Ozekhome told newsmen that he has been praying for the safe return of Mike.

The monarch said: “I visited the wife and asked her certain questions. Based on the answers given to me by Mike’s wife, I went back to my shrine for consultation. I became appeased with myself that Mike will return safely after going to my shrine.”

Jubilation galore

It was dancing, jubilation and backslapping at Iviukwe community in Agenebode, Estako East local government of Edo State as members of the community rejoiced over the release of their illustrious son, Chief Mike Ozekhome Indigenes of the community especially the women and children rubbed on their faces white chalk (Orue) which symbolizes purity and happiness and marched through the streets of Iviukwe to the Ozekhome family House, praying the Almighty God to touch the hearts of the abductors.

At the family house, elders of the community, youths and the women joined his elder brother, Chief Pius Ozekhome to praise God just as Disc Jockey (DJ) rendered Estako music to the admiration of the crowd.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

5 NUBIFIE leaders languish in prison custody

Momoh Braimah dies

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HE ROYAL family of Auchi is bereaved with the passage of Princess Momoh Braimah, aged 81.

She is survived by Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe the 111, the Otaru of Auchi, brothers, sisters and children.

She was buried yesterday according to Islamic rites

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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AGOS — FIVE leaders of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, granted bail on Monday, by an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos, are still languishing at the Ikoyi Prisons, as their perceived harsh bail conditions and bureaucratic processes have kept them in the prison custody.

They were arrested last Friday and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Lagos based on alleged petition by the management of Diamond Bank Plc, accusing them of vandalising its property value at N200 million as well as assaulting its employees during a picketing of the bank by the labour leaders and civil society allies on July 10, 2013.

The union leaders who were executive of the bank’s unit of NUBIFIE are Olalekan Adebambo (Chairman), Eniola Ilesanmi (Vice Chairman), Michael Olajide (Secretary) Benjamin Onyia (Treasurer) and Onyeonoro Favour (auditor), had earlier been sacked by the bank among over 400 workers.

NUBIFIE had faulted the sack, describing it as illegal, unprocedural and without payment of their entitlements.

On Monday, after all efforts by the union to get the police authorities release them on bail failed at the weekend, Igbosere Magistrate court granted them bail.

6 LASTMA impostors arrested

Fashola wants part of revenue generated from Lagos ports

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, demanded from the Federal Government part of the revenue generated from ports formations in the state, especially Apapa and Tin Can ports, saying, “the state bears the brunt of the ports activities.”

Fashola who spoke at the 2013 stakeholders’ forum on Wharf Landing fee collection at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, lamented that despite the huge revenue realized from the ports, Lagos had not been compensated for the hardship caused by ports activities in the state.

The governor while addressing stakeholders at the event, said the stakeholders’ forum should not have been organised if the central government was just in its duties, saying “We shouldn’t be having this kind of debate, if we had the kind of federation that we hope to have in the country.

“Last year alone, between January and June, over N1 trillion was realised from the Apapa ports without a certain share given to the state that owns the larger percent of the roads that were used to haul the goods within and to other states.

“There are only 117 federal roads in Lagos state, while the state owns 3, 028 roads as against 6, 415 local government roads in the state. This shows that the roads used frequently for haulage business belong to the state and the local governments.

“Even the 117 Federal Government roads in

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the state, the state government have spent over N50 billion in their maintenance and no one has paid back. The money was used to fix Apapa-Oshodi and other federal roads in the state.

The entire Funsho Williams Road belongs to the state government.

Ordinarily, the way we rebuilt the road in 2010, it shouldn’t demand repair until 2030.

“But every 2 years, we commission Julius Berger Construction Company to repair the road, for it to serve its

goal.

“If we hadn’t done that, the road would have followed the line of ApapaOshodi expressway that is always un-motorable for residents of the state. “ “Rather, the central government distributed the

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AGOS STATE Government special taskforce, yesterday, arrested six men for impersonating officers of the state’s Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, and special taskforce.

Also, 13 under age miscreants who, according to the state government, had been snatching bags and hand-sets in Oshodi area revenue across to states of the state were arrested. that have no business with The six fake officers shipping and port opera- were arrested by the offitions in the country. These cials of Lagos State Task are the states that are not Force on Environment bearing the pain of the traf- and Special Unit for exfic and dilapidated roads torting unsuspecting mocaused by the port activi- torists and residents. ties.”

SIGNING: From left, Programme Manager, KFW Development Bank, Germany, Dr. Wolfgang Weth; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, and Executive Secretary, National Primary Health-care Development Agency, Dr. Aado Mohammad, signing an MoU for the fifth phase of KFW Development Bank's 31.5m euros funding for polio eradication in Nigeria, yesterday, in Abuja.

Vanguard FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 11

DELAYED ALLOCATION: States can’t pay salaries, Amosun cries out

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State,, yesterday, raised alarm that many states have not been able to pay salaries because of the failure of the Federal

Government to release allocations to them.

The governor decried the continuous delay in the release of the statutory allocation to the states, warning that if the trend continued, it could slow down government activities and cause un-

told hardship to Nigerians.

Inaugurating the men’s wing of the Mission To Rebuild Ogun State, MITROS, at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, the governor lamented that the development had been on for a couple of months where alloca-

tions meant for states and local governments were not fully released to them.

The governor said, “the situation became critical in August.

“As I speak, we are yet to collect anything from Abuja.

Salaries are currently not be-

PRESENTATION: From left, Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Ekiti State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Integretion and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mr. Alabi Olusesa, representing Governor Kayode Fayemi, and Mr. Tony Iyare, at the public presentation of a book: ‘Work In Progress,’ at the National Centre for Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo, University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday.

ing paid in several states in the country due to this development because many states rely on federal allocation to pay their workers.

“You will agree with me that this is causing untold hardship for Nigerians. I must attribute our survival to the cooperation of the good people of Ogun State who paid their taxes promptly.

“We are one of the few states that have paid the August salary of the workers. I want to thank everyone of you that has been paying his taxes and levies.

“We are very appreciative of your effort and I will enjoin other individuals and companies that are not yet paying to join this patriotic duty.”

Fayemi threatens to sanction parents of children denied education

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO EKITI — GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State yesterday, said no fewer than 10.5 million children of school age had been denied access to education in the country, threatening to sanction parents found to have denied

their children access to education in the state.

The governor spoke in Emure Ekiti during the official flag-off of the registration of primary school pupils for the 2013/2014 academic session.

Fayemi, who expressed worry that despite the free education policy introduced

by the state government and the huge investment on education, some parents still allowed their wards to hawk about, especially during the school hours He reminded parents of the Child Rights Law and Universal Basic Education Law forbidding parents from sending their children or wards to

hawk during school hours.

He said: “Our aim is to achieve 100 per cent of children enrolment, we are not there yet, but we have recorded about 97 per cent.

It is their right to go to school and that is why we do free and qualitative education in the state.”

Stop parading yourself as Oba, Ondo govt tells Yisa Olanipekun

BY Dayo Johnson

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KURE — THE Obaship tussle over the Zaki of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, yesterday, deepened as the state government directed Yisa Olanipekun to stop parading himself as the monarch of the town pending the determination of the suit before the Supreme Court.

The state government in two separate letters issued by the ministries of Justice and Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, ordered the immediate stoppage of all the entitlements being paid to the monarch.

The state government action

came on the heels of a Court of Appeal verdict which sacked the Oba and set aside his appointment.

Court of Appeal sitting in Akure had in June asked him to stop parading self as the traditional ruler of the town.

Ruling on an appeal brought by Olanipekun against the ruling of the state High Court which had earlier ordered him to vacate the seat, the appellate court held that the approval was done in disobedience to an order of the court.

A letter from the ministry of Justice and signed by its Director, Civil Litigation, Olufunmilayo Adejumo, said

there was no valid and subsisting approval of any person as Zaki of Arigidi.

The letter dated August 13

noted that it was illegal for any person to parade himself as the Zaki of Arigidi

Lagos PDP berates Olaoluwa over call for sack of National Sec

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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HE LAGOS State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has berated the Osun State PDP chairman, Gani Olaoluwa, for his recent call for the sack of the party’s acting national secretary, Dr. Remi Akitoye.

Dr. Remi Akitoye, who acts as the party’s scribe at the national level, hails from Lagos State.

Recall that the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the PDP, Gani Olaoluwa, called for the removal of Mr. Akitoye, stating that his retention is a breach of a court order which could lead to contempt proceedings against him and the party.

The Lagos State PDP, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Gani also faulted the assertion that another acting secretary was selected at a purported South west congress saying such claim is “false and unacceptable.”

The party said “this indeed is unbecoming of a supposed neutral umpire who should eschew parochialism and allow good sense of reasoning to prevail.

“Similarly is the erroneous and uninformed assertion that section 13 (5) of the PDP Constitution avails his unilateral call for sake of educating this chairman, we are inclined to inform him that Section 13.5 he has relied on actually presupposes that there must be an elected Substantive National Secretary in office.”

Lagos govt clamps down on illegal abattoirs, arrests 37 butchers

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — LAGOS State Government has made good its threat to clamp down on operators of illegal abattoirs, and arrested 37 butchers at Otto-Awori Abattoir, in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, LCDA. The suspects were arrested by the combined team of state

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives officials, with State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences.

The taskforce, led by the Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, also impounded two vehiclesa Toyota Hilux with registration number: XY 438-AAA and a Mazda 626 with registration number KSF-444 AJ. Vanguard gathered that the

illegal abattoir was top on the list of illegal abattoirs identified by the state government.

However, the leader of the butchers, Mr. Adewunmi Olasheu, said, “ we don’t know that the place is not a legal abattoir because we have been slaughtering cow at the abattoir for over 15 years.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

I secured 22 international positions for Nigeria in 2 years—Amb Ashiru

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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B U J A — OUTGOING Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday, said he secured the appointment of 22 Nigerians into international positions in two years.

He, however, regretted that the performance was two positions short of the 24 he hoped to achieve during his stay in office.

Ashiru, who was sacked alongside eight other ministers by President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, said the appointment of commissioner for political affairs in African Union and commissioner for peace

and security at the ECOWAS commission, came about as a result of his efforts.

He added that under his watch, Nigeria’s Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, hit $8bn in 2012, while Foreign Direct Remittances from Nigerians in Diaspora was $22 billion.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony to Acting Minister and Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs Professor, Viola Onwuliri, in Abuja, Ambassador Ashiru said he and two other ministers decided that all the names of officers of the ministry from level 17 should be submitted for appointment as ambassador in order of

PDP alerts Police over new Bayelsa PDP by Sylva’s loyalists

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA ENAGOA—THE leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State, yesterday, said it had alerted law enforcement agencies over the activities of the loyalists of the former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, on the alleged formation of a faction of the party in the state.

The decision of the leadership of state PDP to notify the security agencies, it was learnt, might not be unconnected with the insistence of Sylva’s loyalists to unveil a parallel secretariat of the Kawu Barajeled PDP in the state capi-

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Flavour, Efya to perform at Glo X Factor finale

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I G E R I A’ s sensational artiste, Chinedum Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, and Ghana’s soul music singer, Efya, are scheduled to perform at the grand finale of Glo X Factor scheduled for next week.

A statement by national telecommunications operator, Globacom, the company that brought X Factor to Africa for the first time, said the performance of the two artistes was part of the highlights of the grand finale at which the winner of Globacom’s N24m and a recording contract with Sony Music will emerge.

The acts left in the chase are Vicky, Eshun, DJ Gha-

tal next week.

State Deputy Chairman of PDP, Chief Nyananyo Tubo-Miela, said that the petition before the police was submitted to check Sylva loyalists.

Tubo-Miela, who led the members of the State Working Committee, SEC and Chairmen of the party from the local government areas in the state, in a solidarity meeting at the state PDP secretariat, said, “The party has set in motion disciplinary machinery to deal with those who are genuine members of the party that have allowed themselves to be used by dissident elements.

seniority.

According to him, this was to further achieve his determination to ensure appointment of more career diplomats as a m b a s s a d o r s .

Speaking with journalists after the hand over, Ashiru said he had the vision of seeing more career diplomats appointed as ambassadors.

He said, “I am leaving foreign ministry as a fulfilled man considering my achievements in just two years,” stressing that his other achievements included signing of diplomatic instruments of bi-national and joint commissions, collaboration and engagements with neighbours, joint border security arrangements, resuscitation of regional seminars for heads of mission, among others.

Ashiru urged staff of the ministry to extend the hand of fellowship and support given to him to his successor and thanked President Jonathan for the opportunity given him to serve the nation.

Earlier, Onwuliri appreciated the outgoing minister for his contribution to the ministry, adding that she would not be surprised to see him in few days serving the nation in another capacity.

She said Ashiru changed the fortunes of the ministry’s staff during his tenure, which they would all live to remember.

How Delta directorate created over 6,000 jobs — Commissioner

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LTA State Commissioner for Special Duties (Special Infrastructure) Mrs. Orezi Esievo, has said that the creation of the directorate, which was necessitated by the need to fast track the completion of key infrastructure in the state, had generated over 6,000 jobs in course of project execution.

Esievo, who took her turn, yesterday, in the ongoing mid-term report by members of the state executive, said, “A key consideration of government in the execution of various projects is the ability of the projects to generate jobs for the teeming population of the state.”

She noted that another key achievement of the directorate was “the initiation of a comprehensive facility management arrangement for vital government facilities such as the New Government House complex and the 10 government model primary schools to ensure that they are maintained and kept in condition over a longer period of time.

She said: “There are vast opportunities by both government and private sector in the upgrading of public infrastructure across the state.

These opportunities include airports and seaports, industrial/business parks, ICT parks, tourism and hospitality facilities among others.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—13

We’re winning war against terrorism —Jonathan

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said that the Federal Government was winning the war against insurgency and other security challenges in some parts of the country.

President Jonathan, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while declaring open the standing committee meeting of the Bishops Conference of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, at the Saint Peter’s Deanery, said that the victory recorded was due to the tireless efforts by the government and the security agencies to ensure that law and order was restored in the North-East.

He said: “Already, as a result of our ongoing actions and measures, the security situation in the country is steadily improving. The gains of the declaration of state of emergency in the North-Eastern part of the country have been tremendous and felt by all.

“From a society that is coping with uncertainty, we are gradually seeing a return to normalcy in most parts of the North

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and other parts of the country.

Indeed, I can say with all humility and gratitude to God, that we are winning the war against terrorism and by His grace we will surely overcome the challenges of terrorism and insecurity in our land.”

Jonathan also condemned the recent kidnap of the Dean,

Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, in Aleto, Eleme, Rivers State, last Friday.

He said that the security agencies were doing their best to ensure the cleric’s release and vowed to bring the per-

petrators to justice.

Earlier in his address, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Archbishop Metropolitan, the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, commended government for the improvements recorded in areas such as road, aviation, railway, power and the Millennium Development Goals.

GCUOBA kicks off annual fund-raising dinner in Abuja

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OVERNMENT College, Ughelli, Delta State, Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, kicked off its 2013 annual fund-raising dinner, in Abuja, yesterday, with a public pre-dinner symposium on education, titled, Framework for Secondary School Education in the 21st Century.

The gathering examined the state of education, universally, and Nigeria’s comparable level, especially of secondary school.

The lead paper was presented by Professor Peter Ikoya, of Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, a graduate of the College. The Discussants were other Old Students, Engr. Godwin Omene, Mr. Esanye George, and

Engr. Ima Kagho. The moderator, Engr. Joseph Akpieyi, is also President-General, Worldwide of the Association.

A communiqué at the end of the discussions, highlighted educational trends, worldwide, and where Nigeria was lagging behind.

Among solutions advanced

for saving the situation was the need to urgently implement the current decentralisation provisions, in accordance with the Nigerian constitution, by a conscientious devolution of education management functions to the building level through the establishment of functional Board of Governors in our secondary schools.

Bayelsa to fly injured female corps member to Italy

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AYELSA State Government has said that the attacked 26 years old National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, member, Miss Folakemi Akinbode, will be flown for foreign medical treatment at a Specialist Hospital in Montsa City in Italy.

Akinbode, a Nursing graduate from Ondo State, was attacked last month while returning to the Corpers Lodge near the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobori, in Bayelsa State, her place of primary assignment.

Works Minister bags Africa Leadership Award

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EW York’s media and public policy think tank, Centre for Media and Peace Initiatives, CMPI, has named Mr. Mike Onolememen, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, as winner of its coveted Africa Leadership Award for 2013.

In a statement announcing the award, the Centre’s Director of International Programmes, Mr. Francisco BozzanoBarnes, outlined Mr. Onolememen’s “outstanding performance in the provision of accessible roads in Nigeria,” and the impact of such accomplishment on the world’s most populous black nation. The statement noted that Africa Leadership Award is bestowed on promising leaders, who offer scalable and proven solutions to some of the world’s most daunting problems.

14—Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

BPE generates N251bn from privatised companies

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BY EMMA UJAH

BUJA—THE Bu reau of Public Enterprises, BPE, generated about N251.5 billion from 122 privatised enterprises from 19992012, Director-General of the privatisation agency, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has revealed.

Receiving a team from Standard and Poors and Fitch Rating Agencies which was on a visit to the Bureau on Wednesday, the BPE boss said of the amount, N147 billion was remitted to the privatisation proceeds account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The team, led by Mr. Richard Fox, was at the Bureau in continuation of this year ’s Nigeria sovereign rating.

Dikki informed the visitors that of the privatised enterprises, 66 percent was doing well, while 34 per cent still had issues to be sorted out.

Ekweremadu seeks more powers for ECOWAS Parliament

BY JOHNBOSCO

AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—SPEAKER of Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called for the enhancement of powers of the parliament to serve the sub-region better.

Senator Ekweremadu, who is also the Deputy President of Nigeria Senate at the meeting of ECOWAS AttorneysGeneral and Ministers of Justice in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, said the body was considering the draft Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of ECOWAS Parliament.

He said the enhancement of powers being sought was in tandem with global best practices, which had seen regional parliaments around the world transformed into full legislative bodies.

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NSCDC arrests 4, impounds 28 drums of adulterated diesel E

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE Nigeria Se curity and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Enugu State Command, has arrested four persons for being in possession of 5,600 litres of adulterated diesel allegedly stolen from the Niger Delta.

The petroleum product, popularly known as Blue Gas, illegally used to power heavy duty machines, was concealed in 28 drums of 200 litres each and loaded into a trailer conveying crates of empty beer bottles from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

Owner of the containers, who identified himself as Nnamdi Onyemelukwe from Imo State, receiver of the product, Chibuzor Nwankwo, from Enugu State, driver of the trailer with number plate Delta – XC 713 ASB, Brown Ajuzie from Abia State and his conductor, Kennth Okpara from Imo State, were arrested while offloading the gas at the Four Corner junction at Ozalla, near Enugu.

Mr. Nathaniel Ubong, the state commandant of the corps, said while parading the suspects that investigations revealed that the Blue gas which is different from AGO (diesel) Petrol or Kerosene, is usually stolen from the Niger Delta and sold to either construction firms using heavy machines and telecommunication firms for

powering generators.

Hsi words: “The suspects were arrested for when conveying 200 litres of adulterated gas which is known as blue gas.

“The arrest was made on September 5, 2013 at about 1300 hours in our efforts to ensure we sanitize the petroleum industry and in line with our mandate to safeguard public infrastructure

and of course ensure that there is no vandalisation of oil pipelines.”

The NSCDC commandant said the corps was determined to eliminate oil theft which had deprived the nation of enough revenue, stressing that the law against oil theft in the country must be reviewed to allow stiffer penalties that would deter the thieves.

He said the suspects had made confessional statements and

would soon be arraigned before the Federal High Court, which had the jurisdiction to look into oil issues.

The principal suspect, Mr. Onyemelukwe, claimed that his unnamed friend gave him the petroleum product in Port Harcourt to sell in Enugu. He said that he was not a petroleum product dealer but a contractor supplying safety materials to companies.

ENDORSEMENT: From left: Messrs Emmanuel Ojukwu and Valentine Uzokwe, representing Senator Chris Ngige and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Anambra Maritime Practitioners Association, AMPA, Chief Peter Obih, during the official endorsement of Sen. Ngige of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Anambra 2013 gubernatorial election.

Insecurity: FCTA repatriates 2,000 illegal immigrants in one year zNiger has highest number of 1,000

BY HENRY UMORU BUJA—WORRIED by the activities of members of Boko Haram, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, yesterday, said that it had repatriated over 2,000 illegal immigrants to four neighbouring countries.

It also blamed the nation’s porous borders for the increasing number of illegal aliens constituting serious security threat.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the FCTA, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, disclosed that the repatriation was carried out in collaboration with Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Police and Deparment of State Services, DSS. He said the countries included Niger, Togo, Ghana, Benin and Cameroon, with Niger having the highest number of immigrants of 1,000.

She said: “1000 of the 2000 illegal immigrants were from Niger Republic, while others came from Togo, Cameroon and Benin Republic. I can say that more than 1,000 of over 2000 illegal immigrants repatriated were from Niger.”

She also disclosed that the administration had concluded arrangements to start the development of a permanent site for National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, at Abaji.

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Onuh, who stated that the present administration inherited 500 lepers resettled at Alheri beggars colony at Yangoji, said the number currently stood at 1014 people.

She added that the social development secretariat stopped paying the N7,000 stipends introduced for beggars by former Minister of FCTA, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, because of corruption.

“We used to pay them some stipends but corruption got in as they started calling their brothers from all over Nigeria. We has to stop. Some were receiving N7,000 before, and the instructor N10,000. ”The beggars were made to understand that they could make more than the money given to them as most of them were given vocational training by the secre-

tariat, while stressing the fact that they were used to collecting money from government, which made them to find it difficult to work and make money on their own.”

Onuh who expressed concern over the daily increase of commercial sex workers in the nation’s capital, pleaded with residents, especially the men to help curb the menace.

NDLEA nabs 400 level undergraduate with 1.250kg of liquid cocaine

BY EVELYN USMAN &

DANIELETEGHE AGOS—OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, arrested a 400 level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with 1.250kg of liquid cocaine at the newly upgraded Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The suspect, Chizoba Anselm Nwabuwa, 32, a Fine and Applied Arts student, was apprehended during the inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines’ flight from Brazil enroute Addis-Ababa.

Head of the NDLEA at the Enugu Airport, Mr. Nsikak-Abasi

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Udoh, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect excreted 25 wraps of a liquid substance which tested positive for cocaine.

He said: ”The suspect excreted 25 wraps of liquid substance which tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.250kg.

“This first arrest and seizure is exciting to us because we just commenced operations.”

Narrating his ordeal, Nwabuwa stated that he had wanted to use the proceeds from the illicit trade to finance his Art Gallery.

His words: “I am a 400 level student of Fine & Applied Arts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. I wanted

to use the half a million naira (N500,000) they promised to pay me in developing my Art Gallery.

“They assured me in Brazil that authorities will not be able to detect liquid cocaine, so I was confident. Unfortunately, things have turned out the other way. I regret my involvement in drug trafficking.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, while expressing satisfaction with the arrest, said the agency would give priority attention to all the airports in order to apprehend drug smugglers across the country.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 15

Army 'll not rest until terrorism, kidnapping are eradicated — IHEJIRIKA

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—CHIEF of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, has vowed that the Nigerian Army will not rest on its oars until terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country were eliminated.

Speaking at the 9th Nigerian Army Finance Corp Biennial training conference 2013 in Umuahia, Ihejirika said: “With the support of Mr. President and the transformation the Nigerian Army is undergoing, challenges of insecurity, including Boko Haram menace, kidnapping, threats of violent crimes will be stopped from rearing their ugly heads in the country.”

Represented by the GOC 82 division, Major General AA Olaniyi, Ihejirika assured that the Nigerian Armed Forces were on top of the security situation in the country, contrary to what it was when the President declared the state of emergency four months ago, adding that the army was winning the war against terrorism.

“The same way the President issued a directive that issues of kidnapping and violent robberies be brought down in Abia State through the ‘Operation Jubilee’, which was achieved, is same way the security challenges we are facing today will be brought down,” he said.

Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, in his remarks, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for the dogged collaboration in blending the necessary force elements that assisted the state banish kidnapping and kidnappers in the state.

Gov Orji hails military He said: “This has led to guarding the peace that has helped our state return to economic prosperity, while laying the foundations for sustainable development of Abia State through our many legacy projects.

“You (military) have through your efforts in Abia State and many other states in the nation, defined new formidable roles for the Nigerian Armed Forces in our democracy.

“As our nation still grapples with the problems of laying the solid and sustainable institutions of democracy, building the economic development to sustain and cater for the needs of our citizens, as well as managing the many conflicts that arise in the process, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to adapt to the growing challenges of

national security and effective deployment of our dwindling available resources to achieve optimal results.

“All these are necessary, if the armed forces will be able to serve the nation better in the provision of the human security required in peace time, while still maintaining the delicate security challenges that we face at all times.”

Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Army, Major General Abdullahi Muraina, in his address,

noted that the NAFC training conference was aimed at reviewing the corps’ past activities in relation to the present, with a view to making projections for the future.

“The theme of this year’s conference ‘Transforming the Nigerian Army towards meeting security challenges and national development: The role of NAFC’, has been chosen to assist our roles as financial managers and custodians of the

Nigerian army funds.

“While increasing demand for funding raises questions of affordability and sustainability, there are equally vociferous criticisms of perceived inadequacies in the Nigerian Army preparedness.

“In order to mainstream these concerns, the Army Finance Corp is organising the training conference to identify various options to overcome this evident paradox,” he said.

VISIT—Mr. George Uriesi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, on a community advocacy visit to the Oba of Benin, HRM Oba Erediauwa, in Benin, yesterday.

Biometric registration of vehicles 'll check terrorism, crimes — POLICE

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA—POLICE authorities have explained that the new biometric registration processes of vehicles, tricycles and auto-bikes were part of new strategies to combat terrorism, prevent crimes, apprehend and prosecute offenders.

The explanation was made even as the Force disclosed that the new policy was backed by law under Section 3, Sub-Section 2 to Subsection 6 of the Road Traffic Act, Cap 548.

Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba, had while throwing light on the new policy, noted that it was an upgrade and modernization from the old analogue CMR to the new Digital Biometric Central Motor Registration, BCMR, system.

Mba said: “The decision informing the introduction of the BCMR comes against the backdrop of contemporary security

challenges bordering on terrorism, high incidence of car theft, kidnappings and other acts of crimes and criminality in our society.

“Unlike our hitherto analogue based procedures, the BCMR operates on smart-

cards and portable hand-held receiver and is a specially developed technological means of attaching automobile owner’s unique traits and personal data to their vehicles for proper identification and protection purposes."

Revamp of education: I'm not afraid to step on toes — Minister

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—THE Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said he was not afraid of stepping on toes to achieve the needed transformation of the education sector.

Wike stated this when the Governing Board of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, paid him a visit in his office.

He also directed the board to enforce the use of standardized textbooks in primary and secondary schools and tasked the council to ensure it asserted its authority as the agency of government charged with approving textbooks to be used in schools.

Wike decried a situation where worthless books were recommended for use in schools because of perceived relationship with the authors.

According to him, “NERDC is responsible for developing the curriculum and should be in the best position to recommend appropriate books, but this is not the case, you must assert your authority and reclaim your mandate.”

In view of dwindling budgetary provision, the minister advised the council to seek ways of generating additional funds internally and prioritize its programmes in line with available resources and objective.

He stressed that resources could hardly be sufficient, even as he observed with dismay that many agencies spend the bulk of their resources on conferences and workshops.

Group asks FG to settle rift with ASUU or else...

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA—AS the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, enters its 10th week, the Anti-Corruption Network, has given the Federal Government one week within which to settle its problems with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, or face nationwide mass protest.

It also advised President Goodluck Jonathan to write to

the National Assembly for virement or seek for loan to settle the demands of university teachers.

The group said it would mobilize Nigerians to the streets and protest to the Ministry of Education, should government fail to do the needful.

Executive Secretary of AntiCorruption Network and former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, said yesterday that government’s attitude showed

it had no interest in the future generation of Nigerians.

Melaye said: “The Federal Government as far back as 2009, went into an agreement with ASUU and signed that agreement.

Why will you agree to what you don’t intend to do?

“A gentleman will go into an agreement and then carry out the agreement to the latter. The agreement was made in 2009; why was there no budgetary provision for that agreement in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013?"

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

OZEKHOME, FAMILY, FRIENDS CELEBRATE AFTER RELEASE Chief Mike Ozekhome, his family members and wellwishers jubilating, at his 1. Mike Ozekhome Lane residence, in Igando, Lagos State, after his release by kidnappers, yesterday.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez From left, Chief Ozekhome and his wife, Josephine, kissing.

Chief Ozekhome prostrates to offer thanks to God.

Chief Ozekhome’s family members and well-wishers celebrating.

2013 DANGOTE CEMENT DISTRIBUTORS AWARDS NIGHT

From left, Mr. Knut Vlmovoen, Director, Dangote Cement, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Umar Tanko Abdullahi, Managing Director, Umar Tank Abdullahi Ventures Limited, as 2nd Distributors of the Year, and Alhaji Sanni Dangote, Vice President of Dangote Group.

From left, Mr. Knut Vlmovoen, Director, Dangote Cement; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; Mr. Gabriel Onwuneme, Managing Director, St. Gabriel Okey Nigeria Limited, as 3rd Distributors of the Year, and Alhaji Sanni Dangote, Vice President of Dangote Group.

From left, Mr. Knut Vlmovoen, Director, Dangote Cement; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group; Alhaji Bala Mohammed Getso, Managing Director, Giwa Dynamic Ventures Limited, as First Distributors of the Year, and Alhaji Sanni Dangote, Vice President, Dangote Group, during the 2013 Dangote Cement Distributors Awards Night: ' Cementing Partnerships,’ at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

From left, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, Director, Dangote Group; Engr. Joe Makoju, Chief of Staff to Dangote President; Chief Olusegun Olusanya, Director, Dangote Cement, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Group.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 17

N

Managing relationships Several Vanguard readers reacted to my remarks about Amaechi/Jonathan tensions and most of the responses were amicable. But some were hostile.

A fellow called Victor W i l l i a m s (arabambiwilliams@gmail.com) sent me the following email (which I’ve summarized): “Donu…I can authoritatively say that you have been bribed

by Amaechi because your writeups are…full of bias”.

This is not the first time that detractors have accused me of zero integrity. I’m often informed that every pro_Amaechi opinion I express in writing must be “sponsored”…and that he must be paying me millions of naira to support him.

I have also been accused of complaining about the Jonathan administration at intervals because I have not C M Y K

Gov Amaechi

President Jonathan

Some Nigerians are honourable! received a substantial slice of the national cake.

These allegations distress me because nothing could be further from the truth.

I HAVE gained benefits from Amaechi because he made me a member of a Rivers State Government Board four years ago. But – trust me! – this

appointment is not hugely lucrative, not least because I live in London and pay for my airline tickets with my own money whenever I fly home to attend Board meetings.

Nigeria is a pathologically corrupt country that is full of scarily soulless, intensely materialistic and unrepentantly

unprincipled individuals who either suck up to VIPs, so they can milk them for cash…or viciously condemn VIPs only because the VIPs in question haven’t provided them with juicy jobs or contracts.

But there are decent Nigerians who don’t have cynically transactional mind-

sets and honest Nigerians who aren’t for sale or entirely motivated by self_interest.

In a nutshell, some of us mean what we say, don’t have to be paid to say it and are simply not willing to praise or attack anyone for morally suspect reasons.

Readers responses to ‘mismanaging relationships’ +2347012643915

Agbaje

Tola

I read your write-up today and it was very ok. You have said it all. Jonathan is surrounded by charlatans who are only interested in what they are stealing everyday at the detriment of others. The truth of the matter is that nobody can tolerate Jonathan again for another four years in office. +2348164070307

Elozonam Iyiegauniwe

Your comment on PDP, Jonathan and his aides…contradicts the reality on ground… Jonathan’s aides are core professionals who know their onions.

Perhaps, your inability to access part of the national cake through these aides made them bad workmen [in your eyes]. South-South presidency is on course for the second term and PDP will not fall apart, at worst disgruntled men like Atiku and codreamers would leave the party for us.

Amaechi has an exaggerated opinion of his

,

OBODY on this earth is perfect, so I don’t always agree with my Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and I’ve criticised him on this page on a few occasions.

But I told you last week that I understand Amaechi’s current annoyance with the Presidency because Presidency officials have treated me shabbily in the past…and have led me to conclude that Dr Goodluck Jonathan should personally take responsibility for the fact that he has chosen to be surrounded by negative folks who don’t bother to make or keep friends on their boss’s behalf.

My thesis was that Amaechi (who went out of his way to ensure that Mr President triumphed in Rivers State during the 2011 election) would not be rebelling against the PDP establishment now – or stressing our Niger Deltan Big Brother Jonathan _ if the Presidency had been better at managing relationships.

South-South presidency is on course for the second term and PDP will not fall apart, at worst disgruntled men like Atiku and co-dreamers would leave the party for us

,

worth. +2348025468781

Eghosa

Daniel

Dear Donu, you got everything right in your analysis titled “Mismanaging Relationships”. This arrogant, crude and myopic politics that President Jonathan’s cronies are engage in is what destroyed PDP in Edo State.

This led to the Grace Group which formed the ACN in Edo State, the platform which

brought Oshiomole to power.

A word is enough for the wise. +2348189807988

Anonymous

Madam, l have just finished another of your forthright piece, “Mismanaging Relationships”. You are a picture of what a 21st century Nigerian should look like. +2348064170508

C.M.A Abeh,

Hon

Chairman, Conference of

State Chairmen of Registered Political Parties in Nigeria Donu, you have said it all because a leader who cannot swallow pride and call his sub for peace talk will always have crisis.

President Jonathan’s victory in the South-South in 2011 was a collective work done by every son and daughter of the South-South. I am afraid he won’t get 60 per cent victory because he failed to carry every tribe and political party in the South-South along, and people are sympathetic to Amaechi too.

Will Governor Amaechi be treated the way he is being treated if he was an Ijaw man?

They should not make Jonathan look like a tribalist.

We long expected the President to have called Amaechi privately to know where both went wrong and find lasting peace to the interest of the South-South.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 or 081 1675 9752 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 BASIC as electricity is to modern living; there is a basic misunderstanding about reflecting this importance in the lives of Nigerians. The people are unimpressed about government trumpeted gains in managing the challenges of electricity supply.

Some time ago, government admitted that only 40 million Nigerians, about a quarter of the population, have access to electricity supply. It was meant to be an indication of progress. Nigerians wonder who the 40 million are and regularity of supplies.

Many have electricity that is useless, even for ordinary lighting, as the supply illuminates below the level of a candle flame, what is technically called a brownout. In the Nigerian experience, a brownout is worse than a black-out, as the sufferers are reckoned among the supplied. Many parts of Abuja are currently under this burden. Government offices are not left out.

Some have resorted to generators, or rationalised their activities to save valuable equipment from ruination.

Since the statistics were about people, did they include heavy users like industries, whose consumption in days could be what a sizeable community would require for

Elevating Electricity To Enigma months.

Are rural Nigerians among the 40 million?

We acknowledge that concrete steps are being taken to ameliorate the deplorable power situation. However, government must understand that Nigerians are not interested in titillating statistics that still leave them in darkness. Their understanding of improved electricity supply is light in every bulb and equipment they switch on, longer presence of electricity and in a quality that serves their needs. With the billions they are spending in generating their own electricity, Nigerians can find the means to pay a little more for better electricity supply.

A chunk of the stupendous revenues of fuel marketing firms can be adduced to the power

situation as virtually everyone buys petrol or diesel to generate power, generate noise, and increase the level of carbon in the environment. High levels of carbon harm the environment.

Concerns for damages to the environment and the clearly stated prospects stable electricity supply holds for Nigeria are enough for government to target practical results in electricity projects.

More challenges lie on the long road to improved electricity. More stable power supply will increase demand as many who run on private power would patronise public electricity. Has this been factored into the demand for electricity?

Nigerians find no comfort in celebrating statistics and approximating them to action.

The number of distribution companies, the length of transmission lines or the megawatts of electricity generated are mere efforts. Nigerians have spent decades listening to these lines. They understand improved electricity to mean uninterrupted power supply.

If government has similar understanding, it would be more sober in assessing its efforts.

OPINION

BY IKE WILLIE NWOBU

J

USTICE, the application of reward for a deed or action of either a positive or negative colouration on the basis of equity and fairness, has always been with man as far back as civilization became an important, or rather popular phenomenon. It has been the hammer which enforces and performs the law, which in its right is the code which governs and restricts human behaviour in a particular locality or country. The most profound form of justice has always been in reward for offences considered antihuman or a departure from the action that should constitute one from an acceptable level of sanity, stretching as far as executions in various modes, ranking next in downward severity to life incarcerations.

On the lighter side of remuneration would be the option of or the imposition of fines for lesser offences, while on the flipside, complainants who have successfully presented their cases and marshalled their evidences well beyond doubt have come off with sound awards of payment, restrictions and whatever forms of balance of justice they have so desired.

The army has stood strong over the years as a symbol and epitome of discipline, astuteness, shrewdness and transparence.

Whether that fact is on the auspices of the daunting task of overseeing the protection and defence of the national territory resting squarely on their shoulders or not, it has never been in doubt the strength of char-

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The military model of justice delivery acter, unity, will and strength the army possesses, anywhere in the world. It is not therefore surprising that they deliver on their mandates seamlessly and execute their duties with astounding precision, for it does not need to be emphasised that success has a father named planning and, of course, diligence.

The Nigerian version of fighting force has never been any different from what obtains in other climes, delivering precision and success in amazing levels, to the level where they have become widely acclaimed in distinct fields and manners of combat. The discipline that also tags along with maintaining a strong bulwark that can stand the test of any form of aggression, both internal and external, is not also lost on the army, as it is one of the most reverred institutions whose simulations, mode of operation, justice dispensation system, general organisation, archiving, documentation, process and system are more than worthy of emulation.

The justice dispensation system obtainable in the army, as a single microcosm of the sterling attributes it possesses, is actually worthy of becoming both a case study and a model for the civilian penal code system. Looking at and comparing both of them, it would not be hard to decipher which one a sane chooser would go for, given the opportunity to do so. It is so glaring that the speed, efficiency, transparency and fair-

ness of the justice dispensation system the army portrays is one that is worthy of emulation. It is, of course, no news in recent times of court cases that have lingered up to ten years with no hope of conclusion in sight, in the civilian clime, while that can never be an issue with the military courts.

Since transparency and balance of judgement are an indispensable tool in justice delivery, the army prides itself as one of the most transparent institutions devoid of the shady and underhand dealings that are so rife around. Its speed of delivery and prosecution is also legendary-- the rape case that involved some soldiers as well as the case of false pretence and fraud involving an orderly of the former security adviser all readily come to mind in this regard.

T

he trial was concluded in an unbelievable ten-hour sitting, which resulted in his summary dismissal from the force as well as the time he would do in jailseven years. It is of course not to say that the military justice system is utopically faultless, in fact there has been the clamour in some quarters that there is some disconnect between the military and Nigerian justice system in the realm of the fact that in the military, appealing a judgement is not done, but due to the peculiar circumstance of a crime, which is considered in the Nigerian justice system, a judgement may be appealed. In the Consti-

tution, the right to life has been clearly spelt out as an in alienable right of a citizen, but the discipline will not tolerate disobedience of any form, even when the order so given constitutes a threat to the life of such an officer. These and many more perceived misgivings and flaws of the army justice system are there for all to see, but that is not meant to lose sight of the fact that there are angles to it that we need to take cue from.

The military justice dispensation system is a model and template that has lots to offer the Nigerian judicial system in terms of efficacy, transparency, speed and process, and the sooner it avails itself of these inimitable qualities, the more it becomes a system to beat in the area of justice delivery.

Speed in justice delivery is reassuring, and legal strength and response reliability enhances and enforces development as national and institutional pride and ethos are preserved and promoted. Assurances of justice enhances support and culture of national resilience, while creating boundaries as judiciary delivers and judgement speaks, and themselves make laws and mend constitution. Therefore, the military model of justice delivery in terms of speed, practicality and smartness may be helpful towards our legal and judicial transformation process.

*Mr Nwobu, a social critic, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013— —19

I

T has been predicted by experts that Nigeria’s oil reserves will go dry within the next century, while some others argue it will dry up by the next half century. It will therefore be safer to assume that our national oil wealth may start dwindling at a point midway between the two extremes, and that is to say that by 2088, 75 years from today, Nigeria may have no oil to export! It is for this and other key reasons that we, as a nation, must go back to agriculture and relentlessly follow agriculture and agribusiness development and expansion plan for the nation. The need for Nigeria to make a quick and serious turn back to agriculture and agribusiness cannot be over emphasized. Agriculture, the oldest profession of humans, cannot be pushed to the back burner if we will avoid critical hunger, poverty and the restiveness that will follow.

Seriousness with agriculture, may start with value chains, as being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, but should not end there. It should be made very clear, though happily, that government’s going back to the value chain approach as it was with ground nuts, cotton, cocoa, oil palm, cassava, rubber and the rest, is no new invention. A whole

lot more need to be taken along to sustain the present tempo, and bring in the required income and benefits to the Nigerian peoples and the farmers.

We had research institutes for each of these crops: The Cereals Research Institute, Root Crops Research Institute, Oil Palm Research Institute,and even the National Fertilizer Centre, whose job includes the coordination of research on the use of fertilizer on our soils.We seem to be carrying on as if the only research institute in Nigeria is the IITA, Ibadan.There is the CRIN and the National Fertilizer Centre also in Ibadan, but nothing is being done in recent times,at least to the knowledge of Nigerians, on crop variety development and improvement research. For our agriculture to be successful there must be a backupwithrobust and adequate research activities to support it.

The privatization of fertilizer, importation and distribution does not remove the need for fertilizer related research.

One really wonders if there is still anything like the National Fertilizer Technical Committee that has the responsibility to coordinate all fertilizer research findings, and application that is required to meet the expected yield of farmers,while keeping the integrity of the soils. The average fertilizer availability to our farmers today is about

Our leadership should please stop paying lips service to agriculture; there is absolute and urgent need to address the reversal of the drift of young persons from villages to the townships

,

100kg, irrespective of the crops and soil types, and this is a risky practice.

It was the National Fertilizer Technical Committee that recommended the changes in the fertilizer regimes and types for various crops across the whole agro-ecological zones of this country since 1986. Should there be no changes since then?

Underutilization of fertilizerundermines productivity which can only be attained and sustained through a complementary research and application of research findings for each crop, soil type, by zone, but research in fertilizer now is completely undermined or ignored.

I

magine how our not-so-poor producers will be, if political leaders were little less selfish, by also making it possible for the small producers to maximize the

Why President Jonathan should bow to opposition forces

BY EKANPOU ENEWARIDIDEKE

E

PAIN tree in Egbesu grove is histori cally revered for its inexhaustible wisdom for countless centuries. Epain tree constantly at war with flood during rainy season always ingeniously outwits flood’s raging surge by submerging like a submarine.

Now that the opposition forces in Nigeria are seemingly ideologically and strategically placed in unceasing dance of superiority, sustained through the media, maybe President Jonathan should bow to them. He could have them dictate his policy thrust as a test of the solidity of their unsolicited ideals even if for a week, eyes not too distant from the submerging strategy of the Epain tree.

Wouldn’t this be an invitation to self-destruction?

Characteristically tempting as the above problem-solving option is, not to be ignored is the proverbial truism that for ages the Ebozo fish has been phenomenally recognised for its capacity to spit out a navigable course for endangered sailors at sea. Down this navigable course demarcated by white foamy markers, endangered sailors characteristically smile home, miles away from tragedy. As a parallel of this Ebozoic humanitarian gesture I have just canoed into River Niger from Akparemo Creek,the navigable course spat out.

When reactionary and ideologically poverty-stricken elements within PDP and APC position themselves as aimless demonic opposition forces, singularly unmoved by chastening touch of transformation from the Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government, the emergence of a third force of truth becomes a natural desideration. This imbecilic dance of opposition forces will only beat a retreat when President Jonathan bows like palm trees to their compass-starved opposi-

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tion – a reality for which Egbesu will demand decapitation from President Jonathan. Indeed the unrepentant detractors of President Jonathan are allegorically endangered sailors in the Atlantic ocean rejected by the Ebozo fish on account of their inherent impurities.

Nothing better dramatises or signals the directionlessness of the neanderthal opposition elements than the repulsion shown then by the fish known for its historic humanity and sensitivity. Blinded by ideological vacuity and myopic projections, the infantile opposition forces have irrationally conditioned themselves to see nothing commendable in the transformation moves of Jonathan. In the face of the increasing intensity in the attack of Boko Haram, the diseased disjointed detractors pretentiously claimed exhortation for the use of military force against the insurgents and when this envisioned position did not come within their conceptual time-frame, Jonathan was derogatorily painted as a weak President.

However, at the President’s appointed time, a state of emergency was declared in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states; now the dividends of this strategy are too radiant to escape the attention of any reasonable person. Sadly it was this infantile and absurd opposition forces who were the first to castigate Mr. President for declaring a state of emergency. Is this the kind of opposition forces the President should kow-tow to for the beginning of a demonic beginning? No, the Egbesu of Egbema will not allow this absurdity.

The dance of the opposition forces daily offend the sensibilities of Nigerians because their steps are not skillfully choreographed to provoke accolade, or may be their feet have grown too feeble to skillfully toe the path of JP Clark’s Agbor dancer. This dearth of suppleness rears its head in the fuel subsi-

sweat of their labour. Is there any convincing explanation why governments are still running and managing processing systems, instead of supporting the farmers to manage their systems?

The growing youth apathy towards farming and farm business need to be reversed, and one way will be to find ways to use the prisons farms to get the youth and deportees into gainful employment upon their return.

The numerous Okada riding youth could be provided with opportunities within the farm sector rather than use them as area boys.Our leadership should please stop paying lips service to agriculture.There is absolute and urgent need to address the reversal of the drift of young persons from villages to the townships.

Our churches have excelled in the establishment of educational institutions. It is therefore time that the church in Nigeria should also show interest in empowering our teeming youths to embrace agriculture to reduce youth unemployment. All should be geared towards takingthe youths back to the farm and keeping them there as proud farmers. Our prison authorities, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs need to fashion a way to use deportees and those who cannot survive overseas to enlist into gainful farming. A group of young deportees from Libya that arrived in 2010 brought themselves together and are running a large farm in Edo State supported by the State government.

Our political leaders must

,

By CLEMENT UDEGBE

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Nigeria must get her agriculture together again

It is time President Jonathan played the deaf to the disgusting verbal imbecilities of the opposition constituted by APC and the isolated confused components of the PDP

,

dy saga. In line with the rhythm of his transformation agenda, President Jonathan made a move towards the removal of fuel subsidy but again the opposition forces seized this as an avenue to demonize Jonathan and ridicule his transformation agenda. Again the perpetually noisy opposition drums have uncharacteristically become silent now that SURE-P, a product of the subsidy removal saga, has begun to yield healthy dividends in Nigeria.

O

f course when opposition forces toe arid path rather than raise healthy critical voice in the direction of a workable ideology bound to guarantee exponential transformation in the secular space, habitation in the land of the deaf, dead to cacophonous rumblings of raving detractors, becomes a healthy alternative route.

It is high time President Jonathan played the deaf so that he would be liberated from the destructive and disgusting verbal imbecilities of the opposition constituted by APC and the isolated confused components of PDP. Opposition forces that fail to applaud the foes when the realities demand it are unarguably political neanderthals which deserve absolutely nothing but consignment to the grove of Egbesu for political incineration.

There is something wrong, absolutely

rethink to re-empower the youth of this country for productivity in agriculture.The Ministry for Niger Delta continues to pour funds into training their youth mostly in only oil-related sectors, ignoring agriculture and agribusiness, as if it is only oil they eat and drink!

The preservation and processing to curb the degree of wastages and the concomitant losses our farmers are currently experiencing should be addressed. Processing depends on funding and availability of funds, and this is where our policy makers need to go beyond rhetorics and cause the banking sector to encourage lending to agriculture and agribusiness.

There has to be a shift in the mentality and psyche of our financial institutions towards encouraging growth in the agriculture sector, to review terms of lending to farming business. We understand that Nigeria aims to be self-sufficient in rice by 2015 after introducing a 100 percent tax on polished rice this year.We cannot claim to be self-sufficient in rice until we are able to produce well over and above 100 percent of our rice import requirements.

Our animal protein production is still dismally below the known national requirement. We surely cannot achieve self-sufficiency in any of these areas by 2015.It will take time, a lot of human efforts and money, and we all know this.No politicking with agriculture please!

*Mr. Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

wrong, with the opposition forces in Nigeria as exemplified by the reality of their growing paranoia and misguided destructive criticism. I think the time has come for the raving Nigerian opposition forces to submit themselves to willing diagnosis as a visible platform for insight into their psychological composition.

Nigerians can see for themselves revolution in the railway and power sectors of the economy; yet the critical eyes of the opposition are turned to another direction, their teleguided conspiracy attributable to the genius of the River State Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the state House of Assembly when the Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government was unceremoniously removed.

The opposition forces do not see any insanity in this conspiracy of suspension or removal. Yet the irrational opposition forces roared like lions when Governor Amaechi legally lost the PDP structure in the state; in the same vein, they roared, in their usual clangorous voices, when the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly was purportedly removed in legislative abracadabra and replaced. Worst still, the opposition forces did not condemn the action that resulted in the hospitalisation of one of the members ideologically opposed to the Governor.

If Atiku Abubakar or Olusegun Obasanjo were President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, would they have allowed this absurd drama enacted by personalities totally at home with the party formation processes?

This is not the kind of opposition forces President Goodluck Jonathan should bow to even in extremist case of accommodation and olive-branch proliferation because the crudity of their strategies alone clogs any burgeoning prospect of meaningful engagement.

*Mr Enewaridideke, a political observer, wrote from Abuja

20 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 21

By PETER EGWUATU

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said that deposits from some government institutions are excluded from the reporting of public sector deposits in line with its circular to banks operating in the country.

The institutions are: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Bank of Industry (BoI), Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM),Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Bank of Agriculture (BoA), ,Bank of Infrastructure, Closed Pension Funds belonging to government institutions, state pension Boards, governments staff associations and cooperative societies.

The CBN states, “Following the issuance of our circular ref: BSD/DIR/GEN/LAB/ 06/034 and dated 25 th July 2013 on the review of the Cash Reserve Requirement for Deposit Money Banks( DMBs), it has become necessary to provide further guidance on the reporting requirements.

“It would be recalled that in our circular under reference, DMBs were required to report government deposits as additional memorandum items in their Monthly Bank Return/Daily Bank Return (MBR 300/DBR 300) on eFASS. Subsequent to the above, all DMBs are requested to note that, for the purposes of reporting in accordance with the provisions of the above circular, public sector deposits should include all Federal

Public sector deposit: CBN exempts AMCON, BoI, others Government MDAs and companies, state government MDAs and companies as well as local government MDAs and their companies. Furthermore, for the avoidance of doubts, deposits from the following institutions should be regarded as public sector for this purpose: NNPC Joint Venture accounts; Sovereign Investment Funds; Government MDAs/ Companies’ Collection Ac-

counts such as: Customs, FIRS, etc; Pilgrim welfare Board; All accounts belonging to Government Universities.”

Also, the CBN have berated banks for not disclosing credit granted to their board members and employees.

The apex bank disclosed this in a circular signed by Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs Tokunbo Martins, titled “Reporting of

All Credit Facilities of N1 million and Above in the Credit of Risk Management System”.

According to her, the Central Bank of Nigeria has observed with dismay that banks do not report the credit facilities availed to their board members and staff in the Credit Risk Management System (CRMS). For the avoidance of doubt, the CRMS, which is a central

database for credit information on borrowers, established by the CBN Act No. 24 of 1991 [Sections 28 and 52] as amended made it mandatory for all banks to render returns to the CRMS in respect of all credit facilities of N1 million and above. Thus, the credit facilities availed to board members and staff of banks are not exempted.”

From left: Mrs.Mary Uriah,Human Resources Director,Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc; Jacques Vauthier,Chief Financial Officer;Paul Gbededo, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc; and Alhaji Olalekan Saliu,company’s secretary,at the Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc 2013 Group Managing Director Press Briefing, held in Lagos, yesterday.

ECOWAS bank to understudy BoI on project financing

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

T

HE leaders of Economic Com munity of West African States, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, EBID, Togo, are to understudy Nigeria’s Bank of Industry’s success on project financing.

The group said it intends to replicate the success of BoI on project financing in member countries after the study.

Speaking during a visit to BoI’s headquarters in Lagos, the Operations Director, EBID, Mr. Isaac Olagunju, said EBID also plans to go into alliance with BoI to finance projects for ECOWAS member states on completion of the study.

Olagunju, who led a delegation comprising of members of African Development Finance Institutions, ADFI, said the need to understudy the workings of BoI, which has become a

success among ADFI, remained imperative for members of his team.

He noted that BoI was at the forefront of the establishment of ADFI, and as such remained a strong member that has been playing leading advocacy role towards the growth of Africa as a whole. Olagunju further explained that Nigeria and BoI remained a major market for other Development and Finance Institutions, especially as it relates to poor country products and cross border integration, maintaining that these are critical areas where development banks in Africa can key into.

He said beyond project financing, there was also the need for EBID to collaborate with BoI in development, cross border project and SMEs financing alongside staff development training strategies.

“Remember that BoI is the single largest bank for EBID and it is in the

light of this that we must liaise with them to get the desired level of funding for project financing, taking into cognisance that that the bank is a success story in itself,” he said.

In response, the General Manager, Operations, BoI, Mr. Joseph Babatunde, while thanking the visiting team for considering it worthy to undertake a study tour of BoI, assured that the bank would look into the request for a funding pact to boost infrastructure growth in the West African sub-region.

Babatunde noted that, “BoI was committed to the growth of the industrial sector in Nigeria and by extension the SMEs , hence, its decision to commit about 80 percent of its resources to SME development,” adding that, “it also has a counterpart funding arrangement with some state governments to grow the small scale sector.”

0.8

112.9

2,478.00

+81.00

16.37

-0.1

115.00

-0.68

107.21

-1.33

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

154.76 241.5494 203.8034 165.0597 1.5555 0.2918 233.2105 25.3268 41.2616 27.3225 234.0745

SELLING

155.26 155.76 242.3298 243.1102 204.4619 205.1203 165.593 166.1263 1.5606 1.5656 0.3018 0.3118 233.9639 234.7174 25.4091 25.4914 41.3949 41.5282 27.4108 27.499 234.8308 235.587

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/09/2013

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

S

TOCKBROKERS in the nation’s capital market have attributed the recent down turn in the market to the review of Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The CBN had about two months ago reviewed the CRR for public sector deposits upward to 50 percent from the initial 12 percent, which means that cash available to the banks for lending has been constricted.

They explained that the decision, which has forced some banks to start seeking for alternative avenue for mobilising deposits, sent wrong signal that banks may not declare profit that would enable them pay dividend at the end of financial year.

According to them, this has

Stockbrokers blame depreciation in shares prices on CRR review forced some investors to off load some of their banks’ shares ahead of the release of third quarter results.

The NSE trading result showed that between July 31 and September 6, 2013, the market has depreciated by N416 billion or 3.464 percent, while the NSE All Share Index, ASI, went down by 1510.37 basis points or 3.98 percent. The result also showed that in the month of August alone, the market capitalisation decreased by N511 billion or 4.3 percent, while ASI dropped by 1665.79 basis points or 4.4 percent.

According to Tola Odukoya, President, Dunn Loren Merrifield, an independent equi-

ty research and analytical company, posited that though some impressive performance has been recorded in the last few months, it would not be sustained due to new CBN’s regulations and guidelines on banks.

A stockbrokers, who preferred anonymity, said that withdrawal of N1 trillion from the banking system by the CBN did not only help to dry liquidity in the system, but forced some investors to dump some of their shares in order to take position other stocks for profit taking.

He stated that with the upward review of the CRR for public sector deposit to 50 percent, some banks have started

working out modalities to revive some of their retail products and make them more attractive to their customers.

Also commenting, Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Limited, Malam Garba Kurfi, said that speculative trading is on the lowest as most company that have December as their year end have already published their results, adding that there is nothing to speculate on.

He maintained that some investors have lost investment appetite since most of the half year results declared by the companies were below their expectation and were not good enough to push the market up.

FROM LEFT: Mr. Kofi Yamoah, Director General, Ghana Stock Exchange; Mr. Adu Anane Antwi, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana; Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Chairman of WACMIC; Dr. Abwaku Englama, DG, WAMI; Mr. Jeremias Pereira, CREPMF; Mr. Edoh Kossi Amenounnve, Vice Chairman, WACMIC/CEO, Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres at the 2nd meeting of WACMIC members.

Nigeria’s economic prospect remains bright — Guinness MD

By PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

T

HE Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu, has expressed his confidence in the nation’s economy, noting that it holds bright prospects for investors and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, in Lagos, the Guinness boss said that the the fundamentals of the nation’s economy looks bright with over 60 percent of her population C M Y K

belonging to the age bracket of 20s.

He noted that the world is witnessing a changing lifestyle, with consumers becoming increasingly choosy and brandled. This he, noted, creates a big challenge for the marketing group since this has made it imperative for them to be innovative to be able to meet the changing tastes of the consumers.

‘Marketers must be ready for a whole lot of challenges; consumers’ lifestyles are changing.

Regulatory framework is getting more intrusive, but a marketer should know how to behave in

this changing world, since marketing is critical to growth.

He must be ready to think out of the box,’ he stated.

The Guinness boss also advised marketers on the need to have a deep knowledge of consumers’ wants and the imperative of adopting new strategies and innovation to enable them make a success of their career.

He argued that one of the ways marketers would be able to unleash the power of marketing is by constantly investing in their growth. This, he added, would enhance their movement to the top of the organisation’s

leader.

‘Gone are the days when marketing professionals were finding it difficult getting their ways to the chief executive seats. Today, the numbers of marketing professionals, who are chief executives, are growing. In Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, 80 percent of its chief executives come from the marketing community,’ he stated.

This, he however added, would not be achievable if marketing professionals failed to invest in their growth and position themselves for such opportunities.

BRIEFS

Nigeria among top frontier markets for investors

A

S money flows out of emerging markets on fears about an end to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s bond-buying program, frontier markets have enjoyed something of a renaissance - but there can be “huge problems” for intrepid investors, analysts told CNBC. According to the Nigerian Stock Exchange , NSE, website, the MSCI frontier markets index - which consists of companies from across 25 frontier markets, including countries such as Argentina, Tunisia and Vietnam - is up around 15 percent (in dollar terms) over the year to date, bucking the trend of emerging and developed markets, which are in the midst of a sell-off.

The executive director of research at global index compiler MSCI told CNBC that frontier markets had escaped this market flight because they were less exposed to global market factors.

“Frontier markets are very much focused on internal demand and they exhibit relatively low correlation to the more global markets… and that probably explains why we see a great performance year-todate on the frontier markets,” Sebastien Lieblich told CNBC Europe’s “Squawk Box”.

A significant number of frontier markets are in the Middle East and four of the most heavily weighted countries in the index - Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, Kuwait and Nigeria - belong to the wealthy Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC. Earlier this year, MSCI upgraded Qatar and the UAE to emerging market status, which will be effective from May 2014.?

Despite this, Lieblich insisted their growth was not dependent on the energy sector and oil exports. “Interestingly in these countries, the oil business… is widely guarded by the government and is not open to public investment. So, in the index, you won’t find any petrol companies,” he said. Rather, the index is skewed towards financials and telecoms, Lieblich added.

Samuel Vecht, Portfolio Manager at Blackrock, told CNBC that each frontier market had its own “peculiarities” and that the people investing in the markets were equally diverse.

“Many of the investors are local. They are very individual segregated markets, which have their own investors’ base which isn’t one, over-lapping investor base that gets worried about tapering or sequestration.,” he added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 23

C M Y K

24— Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

DHL — From left: Managing Director, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Charles Brewer, Managing Director, DHL Nigeria, Country Commercial Manager DHL, Chrys Okereke during a press briefing.

BoI boosts SMEs with N230bn funding

BY DANIEL GUMM

T

HE Bank of Industry (BoI) has disbursed more than N230 billion out of the N250 billion allocated for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The Managing Director, BoI, Ms Evelyn Oputu, explained that the disbursement was apt, considering the vital role SMEs play in economic development.

Oputu, during a meeting with the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), stressed that the disbursement represents more than 92 per cent of the N250 billion budgeted for SME growth.

“More than 92 per cent of the 250 billion have been to small businesses and we have been quite successful in terms of the collection. The collection has improved significantly when compared to the past where

about 70 per cent of the loans given to the SMEs went bad.

We have been able to reduce these bad loans to less than 10 per cent,” she added.

“We have started seeing some kind of improvement because the people are responding and I know it is only going to get better when infrastructure is in place. So far we have disbursed over N230 billion and we have collected some of that and as at today, the loan portfolio is about N160 billion,” she added.

The Managing Director, however, urged SWAN to take advantage of the benefits of the loans being offered by the bank, stressing that women have critical roles to play in economic development.

She pointed out that many women have the talents and potential to contribute their own quota in economic development, but stressed that the average woman in Nigeria is still faced with the problem of

Dufil launches cholesterol-free power oil

D

UFIL Prima Foods Plc, makers of noodles brand, Indomie Instant Noodles, has added another innovation to its growing list of product portfolio with the introduction of Power Oil into the nation’s vegetable oil market.

Deepak Singhal, the Managing Director of Dufil stated that the company’s decision to introduce the product was borne out of observation of the existence of substandard and adulterated oil in the market and which is regularly consumed by unaware consumers.

He regretted that some consumers are unaware of the side effects of the substandard oil in the market such as obesity, hypertension, heart diseases and cancer.

“With the rate of increasing health complications in the society, the need to come up with

a non-fattening, yet hygienic cooking oil became highly necessary, thereby promoting healthier lifestyles among Nigerians”.

Singhal further noted that Power Oil is affordable, non-fattening and available in sachets and bottles, depending on consumers’ preferences. “Our esteemed consumers deserve the best, and that is what we offer them with Power Oil. Our brand of vegetable oil is guaranteed to add value to their cooking,” he assured.

In her remarks, Abisola Olasumbo Adekoya, Deputy Director, Food Products and Others, NAFDAC, affirmed that Power Oil was safe for consumption, disclosing that “unlike some vegetable oils in the market that cause heart problems, Power Oil is cholesterol-free and therefore ideal for the body.”

preparing an adequate business plan to unleash their business ideas “For you to succeed is not about how bright you are or how fast you can talk but about intelligence and hard work. It is just a little bit of talent and a

lot of work,” she said, and advised that women should take issues of mentoring seriously and avoid spending money on frivolities.

“If you want to succeed in whatever you are doing, it has to start with you. You have to possess what I call self-respect; if you have this, men will not push you around,” she asserted.

She noted that one of the challenges facing women in business is the inability to get adequate finance to start up businesses, saying that it was for this reason that BoI established a gender desk to support women in businesses.

“All you have to do is just walk into one of our offices and ask of the gender desk. This department was set up specifically for you to empower you with the necessary skills and ideas about how to go about your businesses,” she said.

“You have to discover your values and come back to being you. To achieve business growth, you have to play like a man in the business environment and take charge. You must be equitable and take the best decision that affects your life positively and most importantly determine what makes you happy,” she said.

UK, US driving Nigeria’s export — DHL

BY DOTUN IBIWOYE

D

HL has said that the United Kingdom and United States accounts for about 37 per cent of its export from the country and Nigeria is the second largest market in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at a briefing, Managing Director, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Charles Brewer, noted that Nigeria is closely behind South Africa and the sub-Saharan region is currently the fastest developing one globally.

Great Britain has 21 per cent of the export of DHL products from the country, United States 16 per cent, South Africa 5% and Canada 5%.

For the inbound products, United States 28 per cent, Great Britain 21 per cent, Germany 7%, France 6% and Italy 7%.

The products that DHL moves include documents 43 per cent, non-documents 12 per cent - mainly oil tools, aircraft spares and samples; import express 12 per cent - mainly IT equipments, machinery and spare parts; other products - 33 per cent. Brewer stated that Nigeria is seen as strategic business hub for DHL in Africa and the small and medium enterprise (SME) is the engine for growth for Nigeria.

He also affirmed that the take-off point for Africa and its vast potentials lies in the big opportunities in the SMEs and

DHL is ready to assist and empower the SMEs in the country.

According to him: ”Nigeria is an attractive market for us and, with a population of over 160 million and a GDP growth rate of 7% presents a major opportunity. The opportunity is for us is to expand our footprint within the country and service semi-urban and rural areas so that anyone - from a student to a small business - can access our network.

“And the over 220 countries and destinations that we serve.

There are hundreds of SMEs in Nigeria and we need to provide easy access and a team of highly trained Certified International Specialists to lead them to the very obvious opportunities that trading with the world can present.

“Despite the current global economic uncertainty, DHL expects the African region to deliver. As we see the continent ‘surge’ as a result of sector investment, increased consumer spending and economic activity, the future is still bright for the continent. DHL is committed to becoming their provider of choice and as part of that journey we will provide even more access points across Nigeria.

Apart from the expansion of its retail footprint, Brewer ’s other priority is around people development and employee engagement are the key to sustainable development.

Aganga, Sanusi to address leather summit

M

INISTER of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, are among the key speakers to address Leather Industry Revival Summit (LIRIS) in Abuja.

The Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (LAPAN), organizers of the event said the theme of the summit is ‘Supporting the Transformation of the Nigerian Leather Industry.’

A statement from the LAPAN said the summit will highlight industry challenges within the context of the leather transformation plan developed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and signed off by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Tahir Monguno, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina will formally declare the summit open.

“The summit will be deliberating on the following key topics among others: the Evolution of the Nigerian Leather Industry; The Regulatory Environment: Laws and Policies; Human Resources Capacity in the Leather industry; Market for Leather - Penetration and Development; Technological Gaps and Reviews in the Industry; Sector Funding and Financial Options and the Leather Transformation Plan.”

Other key discussants include Mr. Mustafa Bello, Executive Secretary, NIPC, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, Country Representative, UNIDO, Prof.

Paul Lubeck, John Hopkins University, Washington, USA, Prof. Peter Onwuola, D-G, RMRDC, Mr. Ousmane Dore, Resident Rep. AfDB and Mr. Robert Orya, Managing Director, NEXIM. This summit is supported by the Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for a Better Business Environment (ENABLE), a Business Environment Reform programme and GEMS1, a Meat and Leather programme, both DFID supported projects.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 25

C M Y K

26 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Why I love leisure travels to business — Mwichuli

M

s. Sylvia Mwichuli, is a Kenyan national and the Director of Communications and Public Affairs with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a body that brings together governments, private sector, civil society and farmers to develop stable, sustainable growth for Africa’s smallholder farmers.

Before joining AGRA in 2010 from the United Nations Millennium Campaign, she worked as the Chief Corporate Communications Office for Kenya Pipeline Company among other NGOs In the course of working in the media and in senior management positions in international NGOs in Africa, she has travelled far and wide for both work and leisure.

In this chat with JIMOH BABATUNDE, she shares her travelling experience.

Here is an excerpt.

C M Y K

,

On first holiday memory My earliest holiday memory was of me and my five siblings and parents travelling on a train to Mombasa here in Kenya. The trip took a solid 12 hours and by the time we got to Mombasa we were so tired that all we wanted to do was sleep.

When we hit the beach the next day, we discovered the scintillating joy of swimming in the ocean and running around the beautiful white beaches of Mombasa and suddenly the 12 hour journey did not look too bad. All was forgiven!

On favourite place in the world My favourite city in the world is Sydney in Australia for three reasons. First, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, particularly in spring when the trees and flowers are in bloom.

Secondly, there is a very closeknit African community in Sydney which helps one to feel at home no matter where you come from.

And finally, the city has some of the best infrastructure in the world. It is well designed with broad highways and well-lit streets as well as some of the most gorgeous looking houses and parks.

Further, the city is squeaky clean and best of all everyone obeys traffic rules. I love Sydney!

On her take between business or leisure travel I love leisure travel because it does not involve preparations for meetings and quick turn-around times. One can choose to stay at a particular place for a few days if you like it, sleep long hours if you so wish to and wile away the days without worrying about deadlines.

What I love most about leisure travel is the possibility to thoroughly explore the cities that you are visiting, something I hardly ever do when on business travel. I often arrive the day before a

What I love most about leisure travel is the possibility to thoroughly explore the cities that you are visiting, something I hardly ever do when on business travel

meeting and get on the first plane out once my meetings are done.

On her hest holiday My best holiday was in Sydney when I went to attend my brother ’s graduation. I visited several Australian cities and got a chance to experience the unique Australian culture. It was like being in Africa yet enjoying first class services and some of the most efficient systems in the world.

On what she has learnt from her travels There are several tips that guide me when travelling.

One always check the weather before you travel to avoid packing the wrong clothes. I remember almost freezing to death upon arrival in Johannesburg during winter a few years ago.

Secondly, always book flights early to save on airfares and finally if you are a shopaholic like me, be careful to pack only a few clothes and carry an empty suitcase to give you room to bring back plenty of new stuff from your trip.

On her ideal travelling companion My five year old daughter.

I love travelling with her because she is always fascinated by new places and is always bubbly and enthusiastic throughout the trip. My daughter can never get enough of a holiday!

On her holiday reading I always carry a couple of autobiographies as well as some romance novels. During my last holiday I read Bill Clinton’s soul-searching autobiography “My Life”.

I also carry some inspirational Christian books from my favorite authors who

,

include Joel Osteen and T.D Jakes. on where has seduced her My favourite city is Bangkok for three reasons.

First, Thailand has a great cultural history and there are thousands of interesting places to see. Secondly, the food is really amazing.

The Thais cook really healthy but delicious foods with loads of vegetables and white meats on the menu. And finally, the shopping experience is out of this world! Bangkok is one of the few places in the world where 100 dollars can buy you a full suitcase of “designer” clothes.

In addition, they have some of the most efficient tailors in the world. Their tailors can turn-around a formal suit within 6 hours from start to finish! It is a shopaholic’s paradise!

Better to travel or to arrive I prefer arriving. Given that my job includes extensive travel across the continent, I

am constantly jumping in and out of planes. I basically do not enjoy the travel experience and always thankful to God when I arrive.

However, when I get there I always get a new wind, happy to be in a new city savouring new cultures and meeting new people.

On her worst travel experience My worst travel experience was in 2002 to Japan. I spent 13 straight hours on a plane from a plane from Amsterdam to Tokyo and right in the middle of the flight I started freaking out because I was feeling claustrophobic.

For some reason, I could not breath and was sweating profusely. It was like I had been placed inside a pressure cooker! I had to be assisted by a doctor who was a fellow passenger on the flight.

These days when I travel such long distances I take a sleeping pill to avoid panic attacks.

On her best hotel The best hotel I have ever stayed in was the Michelangelo Hotel in South Africa. The hotel architecture is amazing and the internal décor and design is absolutely fabulous.

Though the hotel was built recently, the architect managed to take us back in time with a

very interesting design. The rooms are huge and very well furnished. In addition, the food is really out of this world and the service amazing!

On her favourite drive My favourite drive was in Dallas Texas when I visited my cousin last year. I enjoyed the drive because the roads are incredibly smooth therefore one can drive quite fast.

Dallas has some of the best highways in the US and travelling on them is an incredible experience.

On her best meal abroad My best meal abroad was in a little restaurant in Rome where we ate the most delicious pasta ever! The lunch buffet included an extensive array of pastas, salads and other delicious hot food meat items for which Rome is well known, and the service was incredible! My colleagues and I enjoyed it so much that we went back the next day for lunch.

On her best Airline Between KLM and Emirates Airlines it is hard to say which is better. But forced to make a choice I would go with KLM particularly if travelling business class. The staff are always extremely friendly and the food fantastic. But above all, I love the little Dutch houses that they give away as gifts to business travellers.

SA Tourism launches new marketing campaign

S

outh African Tourism has marked the imminent start of Tourism Month with the launch of a new marketing campaign, combined with various affordable holiday packages, aimed at growing the number of domestic travellers in the country.

Speaking at the official Tourism Month launch at Amazingwe Lodge in the North West province on Wednesday, Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said South Africa was an

exceptional global destination whose tourist arrivals growth consistently tracked higher than the worldwide average.

However, the contribution, and potential for further growth, of domestic tourism were often underestimated.

Speaking at a breakfast hosted by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Johannesburg last week, Van Schalkwyk noted that at any given moment, three-quarters of all tourists in the country were South Africans.

With non-travelling South Africans having indicated that they could not afford to travel or were not aware of accessible offerings, the sector had to work harder to address these information and cost barriers, the minister said.

“Through a partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) we have commissioned a feasibility study for a pilot budget resort chain aimed at an underserved market segment of would-be travellers earning less than $500 a month.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—27

•P-Square

•Timaya

• Terry G •Ice Prince •Wizkid

•May D

O

UR Nigerian showbiz stars are not only in the business of making money and making music, they are also in the business of making babies - some of them out of wedlock. Here are some with children out of wedlock

Ice Prince

S

ometime last year Babatunde Bimbo hit the news after she opened up about carrying the child of the Oleku super star, Ice Prince Zamani. Several denials and rejections trailed her announcement.

Ice Prince blatantly rejected the baby. Bimbo had to quit C M Y K

,

BY KEHINDE AJOSE

Though the Oleku superstar initially denied having a son with Bimbo Babatunde, he has finally accepted paternity of the boy

school in order to keep the pregnancy. The baby was christened Toluwalase. In a sudden twist of events, Mister Zamani embraced

Rita Dominic cries out:

Media killing my relationships

,

his child and later renamed him Jamal. In an interview, he was asked by a reporter how he felt about being a “New dad”, Ice Prince

•Jesse Jagz

didn’t mince words, he hit the nail on the head admitting he is now a dad Even though the Oleku superstar initially denied having a son with Bimbo Babatunde, he has finally accepted t paternity of the boy. These days he proudly flaunts his pictures of him carrying Jamal on the social media.

I N S I D E: Cossy denies Eedris Abdulkareem’s sex allegation

Wizkid

H

e is the chart-topping musical wonder-kid whose meteoric rise to the peak of the music industry has been nothing short of breathtaking. Life as a star boy however does have its downsides. Even though he also initially denied the

Continues on page 28

53 gold plated iPhones for Nigeria’s independence: Who gets one?

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Synopsis

D

on and Ellie were once married and have two children, Lyla and Jared.

They adopted a boy from Colombia, Alejandro. Eventually they divorce, Ellie moves away and Don hooks up with Bebe, Ellie’s best friend. When Alejandro is about to get married, he informs Don And Ellie that he never told his natural mother who is so traditional that they got divorced.

And she is coming for the wedding so he asks them if they can pretend to still be married. Don and Ellie reluctantly agree to it and Bebe moves out who is also upset that Don for some reason doesn’t want to commit

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK TWO GUNS GROWUPS SMURFS WORLD WAR Z

ELYSIUM

Exhibition Schedule from Sept. 6th -12th , 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND The Big Wedding : 11:00am,6:40pm,8:20pm Grown Ups : 12:55pm,2:45pm.

2 Guns : 4:20pm,6:30pm,8:40, Elysium : 6:55pm,9:00pm. World War Z : 8:40pm.

Smurfs : 11:15am,1:10pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA The Big Wedding : 5:25pm,7:15pm,9:05pm. Grown Ups : 3:20pm,9:05pm.

2 Guns : 4:20pm,6:30pm,8:45pm. Elysium : 7:00pm. World War Z : 11:00am,1:10pm Smurfs 2 : 10:50am,2:50pm,4:55pm. Red Hot : 11:15am SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Big Wedding : 12:50pm,2:40pm,4:30pm,6:20pm,8:10pm Grown Ups : 2:30pm,7:00pm,9:00pm. White House Down : 5:55pm,8:30pm 2 Guns : 12:40pm,2:50pm,5:00pm,7:10pm,9:20pm.

Red Hot : 2:20pm Elysium : 4:50pm,7:05pmm,9:15pm World War Z : 12:00pm,2:20pm,4:10pm,6:30pm,8:30pm Smurfs 2 : 11:40am, 1:45pm,3:50pm.

Continues from page 27 paternity of his son, he has finally concurred. Mother of the child, Oluwanishola Ogudugu was a student of the Houdegbe North American University Cotonou, Benin Republic. His son Boluwatife turned two sometime in May this year and Wizkid showered him with lots of birthday gifts. Even though Wizkid is not currently dating his baby’s mum, he has been a good father to his son.

Terry G

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he energetic and restless Terry G also belongs to the league of celebrity daddies. He definitely wasn’t testing the microphone when he did this. He has a baby boy, with his fiancée Mimi Omoregbe, who was delivered sometime last year in the U.K.

Timaya

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he self-confessed Dem Mama Soldier welcomed his baby girl in May 2012. Timaya christened his daughter Emmanuella Perere Timaya. According to him: ‘I’m building my own dynasty which is why my baby and the other ones that would come after her would bear Timaya as their surname, not Odom’.

Timaya’s baby mama is a dark skinned singer and budding actress named Barbara whom Timaya reportedly met in 2010. Reports say Timaya put Barbara and Emmanuella in an apartment in the heart of Ikeja and bought her a GL Fomatic 450 Benz, valued at about N13m.Timaya has managed to stay out of controversy since he became a dad even though the Empress saga still haunts him.

Paul of P-Square

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t is no longer news that Paul of PSquare has a son named Andre with his long time girl friend, Anita.

Earlier, Paul had announced his plans to marry her. Peter amazingly took to twitter when he wrote that Paul and his heart beau, Anita, were expecting their first child. Reports say that Paul started dating Anita even before he became renowned in the entertainment industry. She has always been part of his success story. Andre is a post graduate student of the University of Dundee, Scotland

May-D

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ormer Square Records artiste, Akinmayokun Awodumila a.k.a May D also is part of the ever growing list of celebrity fathers who are not married. His long-time girlfriend, Debola gave birth to a baby boy sometime early this year and the talented May D took to Twitter to announce the birth of his son. In his tweet he says:’ I just had a sure baby boy’ and also tweeted a picture of him carrying his son.

Jesse Jagz

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gohide Ruby Ann Gyanggyan a.k.a Ruby and the fast rising Soul singer Jesse Jagz have been an item for sometime. They met way back in Jos in the choir. They both have a grown daughter named Jade.

Jesse mildly disclosed this in his ’Jagz of all Tradez ‘album in the track titled:’ This jagged life’ featuring Lindsey another J-Town R n B singer. Though they are not dating any more but sources state that they have jointly raised their daughter.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA 2 Guns : 2:30pm,4:40pm,6:50pm,9:00pm. Elysium : 4:30pm,6:40pm,8:50pm.

Smurfs 2 : 12:20pm,2:25pm. Red Hot : 11:00pm,12:45pm,8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Grown Ups : 2:00pm,6:15pm,8:20pm. 2 Guns : 1:55pm,4:20pm,6:30pm,8:40pm Red Hot : 12:50pm,4:50pm. Elysium : 11:45am,4:00pm,8:50pm World War Z : 11:50am. Dead Man Down : 6:35pm,8:45pm.

Smurfs 2 : 12:20pm, 2:25pm,4:30pm. House of Gold : 2:50pm,6:50pm,8:55pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Elysium: 12:20pm, 2:30pm, 4:40pm, 7:00pm White House Down: 1:00pm, 3:45pm, 6:30pm. Red Hot: 12:15pm, 4:35pm.

Dead Man Down :2:05pm,6:40pm.

House of Gold: 12:00pm, 2:20pm.

Smurfs 2: 12:35pm, 4:50pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS The Big Wedding : 1:30pm,7:15pm.

2 Guns : 10:30am,4:25pm,8:25pm.

World War Z : 11:15am,8:55pm.

Grown Ups : 3:50pm,7:45pm Elysium : 5:10pm Smurfs 2 : 11:25am,

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, LAGOS The Big Wedding :10:20am,4:50,6:50. Grown Ups 2: 12:20pm,8:50pm 2 Guns: 1:05pm, 5:40pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 10:20pm Elysium: 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:20pm. Smurfs 2 : 10:15am,2:30pm,3:20pm GENESIS CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Grown Ups 2:11:30am, 2:30pm, 9:35pm. 2 Guns: 9:25am, 1:40pm, 5:55pm.

Elysium: 9:10am, 11:00pm. Smurfs 2: 9:50am, 11:55am, 2:00pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU Grown Ups 2 12:50pm,5:00pm,7:05pm,9:10pm. 2 Guns : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:30pm.

Elysium : 2:20pm,6:40pm. Smurfs 2 : 10:40am,2:45pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, SURULERE Grown Ups 2 : 10:10am,4:20pm,6:15pm,8:15pm. Smurfs 2 : 10:05am,12:10pm 2 Guns : 2:20pm,4:25pm,6:30pm,8:40pm.Elysium : 12:15pm.

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, IBADAN Grown Ups 2: 10:10am, 2:10pm, 6:20pm, 8:20pm. Smurfs 2 : 10:30am Continues on page 28 6:10pm, 8:15pm. Red Hot: 10:15am, 2 Guns: 11:50am, 2:00pm, 4:05pm, 2:10pm.Elysium: 6:00pm, 8:20pm.

FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR 2 Guns: 2; 20pm, 4:25pm, 6:30pm, 8:40pm.Elysium: 2:15pm.Smurfs 2: 10:00am Dead Man Down: 4:25pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm House of Gold: 12:10pm.

•Laide Bakare

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—29

Rita Dominic cries out: Media killing my relationships

BY AYO ONIKOYI

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op Nollywood act, Rita Dominic is known for her easy, pleasant demeanour and can never be regarded as one given to hysterics. But recently, the Nollywood leading lady voiced her frustration with the Nigerian media which she claimed have repeatedly killed her attempt at having a sustainable romantic relation.

In her own words:”I don’t talk about my personal life because some years ago, I was in this relationship that became public, and the press killed it! The relationship didn’t work out because of the press because they put a lot of pressure on it.” True to her

•BasketMouth

Controversy greets list of top ’20 Best StandUp Comedians in Africa’

words, it has been relatively difficult to pin her down to any relationship even though she just celebrated her 38th birthday in July.

What is however unclear is whether she has been able to keep her personal affairs out of the reach of the press or have altogether shut her door from allowing the opposite sex walk through.

As beautiful and vulnerable as she looks, Rita has never cut a picture of a damsel in distress, in fact, she is renowned for her stoic nature and determination which have seen her through becoming one of the most sought-after actresses in Nollywood.

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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Cossy denies Eedris Abdulkareem’s sex allegation

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

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•Cossy

ur dear Nollywood actress cum singer, Cossy is in the news again, and of course, for another bad reason.

In June, there was a show held in Bayelsa where rap act, Eedris Abdulkareem performed and Cossy treated him to a sensual lap dance to the cheering of the crowd as usual.

The dance tale went viral and everyone was on the trail of both, asking questions if anything intimate was going on.

Then there came Cossy’s alleged confession that after the show, Eedris had begged her for sex after she gave him the erotic lap dance.

Well, Eedris then took to Twitter, where he re-affirmed his happily married status, and blasted the bursty actress, calling her an “old bitch”.

Benita Nzeribe bags CAMA award

Benita, who has been a UN Ambassador for a while now was honoured by the magazine as the best outstanding UN Peace AmbassaBY AYO ONIKOYI dor of the year alongside other notable Nollywood names like Iyabo Ojo, Hafiz Oyetoro eautiful a.k.a Saka, Osita Nollywood Iheme and a couple actress, Benita of others.

Nzeribe has Debunking the readded another ports that she has feather to her not been doing movwell-decorated ies of late, Nzeribe cap as she was said she has been honoured last busy shooting. “I Sunday with an•Benita Nzeribe am set to shoot a other award. world class cinema This time, it’s movie for a diabetes foundation the Classic Africa Merit Award, and after that I am off to Abuja for CAMA, organised by Classic magaanother job” she said. zine.

B

•Rita Dominic

nother list has been re leased but this time, not by Forbes but popular comedy site, Officialau-ghs.com(not Nigerian), listing the top 20 best stand up comedians in Africa.

And five Nigerian comedians made the list, with our very own BasketMouth ranked in the 2nd position after Trevor Noah from South Africa.

Trevor Noah (South Africa), Basketmouth (Nigeria), Michael Blackson (Ghana), Riaad Moosa (South Africa), Klint The Drunk (Nigeria), David Kau (South Africa), Daliso Chaponda (Malawi), I Go Dye (Nigeria), Eric Omondi (Kenya), Eddie Kadi (Congo), Loyiso Gola (South Africa), Ali Baba (Nigeria), David Kibuuka (South Africa), Kasambwe Mpulamasaka (Zambia), Nik Rabinowitz (South Africa), Foxy P (Nigeria), John Vlismas (South African), A Dot (Nigeria), Daniel Omara (Uganda), Gbenga Adeyinka (Nigeria).

But in a twist, just like the top 20 most bankable artistes list by Forbes met with controversy last week, Nigerians have also been spitting fire, questioning why some Nigerian comedians made it or didn’t make it to the list.

Henrisoul debuts on BET’s 106&Park

The Abia State-born artiste whose previous single ‘Your love’ was a n a ground breaking massive hit pushes to feat, fast rising Nigerian become a force to reckon Gospel act, Ifeanyi Orji with as he roves side by Henry aka Henrisoul has side with P-Square and become Africa’s first Sound Sultan whose videos alternative gospel music ‘Personally’ and ‘Natural artiste to debut his music Something’ have also been video on Black Entertainment aired on the famous black Television BET’s famous entertainment show. The satellite music show 106 & soft spoken act is signed Park with ‘blow my mind’.

•Henrisoul under the powerhouse The video shot and directed company ‘HHQ by the award winning Management’ and already enjoys camera-god Clarence Peters races favorable reviews from critics with a through a montage of crisp clear shots, good number branding him the dance choreography and scintillating possible next big thing in the Nigerian African beats. music industry.

BY CHARLES MGBOLU

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30 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 31

C M Y K

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

I have always been an initiator of peace among actors...

— Cornel Udofia

BY EBIRIM JULIET IT is not often you come across publicist who has the title ‘Ambassador’ attached to his name. But then Cornel Udofia, celebrity publicist and events coordinator, has managed the biggest names in the industry and that hasn’t happened without having your name writen in gold as Ambassador Udofia’s name has been in several cases.

In this chat with Ebirim Juliet, he talks about his life as a publicist, experiences, challenges and successes.

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OW has life been as a publicist?

It has been fun, great and an eye-opener being a publicist, an image maker and events coordinator.

Have you always wanted to be a publicist or you just stumbled on it by accident?

Right from my school days, I had always wanted to become famous. I engaged in various special activities.

What’s your clientèle like?

For now I don’t have any problem with my client base. I won’t say I am making all the

Being in Nollywood this long, have you ever featured in a movie?

No, I want to correct an impression, I always have this problem with my friends and colleagues, they always put Nollywood first. True, I have a special bias for Nollywood, but I want to set the record straight here that Cornel Entertainment is not all about Nollywood, we are into music, modelling, comedy, fashion, dance and media - all forms of entertainment, so I don’t want to be limited to Nollywood.

So have you featured in any of the movies?

I have actually been called upon on few occasions to feature, but I prefer to remain in the background doing what I am doing, because the truth is acting on its own is very challenging. I’ve been to locations with some of my clients, it is not easy. But what I’m doing is also acting because as a showbiz gladiator, you always act to make things happen. So I

,

I believe that what I’m doing now is part of acting because to package an artiste despite the difficult terrain is challenging and the artists themselves don’t see the need

money right now. But the thing is, after making a name, money must come in. We started with Idris Abdulkareem in 2005 when he released the song ‘Nigeria Jaga-jaga’. Then we were just trying to make a name, we thank God that right now a lot of people are coming to work with us.

You are an ambassador, what informed your being selected as one?

What informed my selection is my consistence in the media and entertainment world and adding positive values to humanity. I have always been an initiator of peace, settling disputes among actors, musicians and even in the media.

So you have been like a mediator?

Yes, you know in the entertainment world, artistes usually have conflicts. In 2009, when I was selected alongside Tuface Idibia, Sammy Okposu, Kefee and others, I was very happy because I know I deserved it and I have worked for it.

Nothing good comes easy and one has to sacrifice a lot to get it.

,

believe I am an actor by my job and what I do.

Dealing with stars is never easy, what has your experience been?

The experience is enormous in the sense that you can’t stand out without actually understanding the people you work with. It has been quite challenging and exciting. I study the artistes because they all have their different styles. So I try to fit into their styles to be able to penetrate.

What has been the most memorable moments of your career?

It was when I received over 20 awards in two years. In 2011, I received 11 awards, in 2012 I received 13 awards, making them 24 awards altogether. I also derive joy seeing people rejected by the society like Nero Sexy who wasn’t given any chance as a dancer, but today, he is a household name and so are many others.

What are some of the awards you’ve won?

Cornel Udofia

My first award was from MITV-Star FM as the Publicist of the year in 2007, organized by Teens Resource Centre after which I won another as the showbiz entertainment Ambassador from the Akwa-Cross Indigenous Film Foundation which comprises of all the artistes from Akwa-Ibom and Cross River, the showbiz man of the year by Exquisite Magazine in South Africa, the Best Publicist of the year by Nigerian Events Awards, the PR/ Publicist of the year by Classic Magazine (2007), Most Outstanding Publicist of the year

by AVC Magazine alongside Tuface, Uti Nwachukwu, Aki & Pawpaw, these are some of the awards I won. I also use this opportunity to thank all those

who made it possible.

Any regrets so far?

I don’t have any. One thing I believe is whatever you are doing in life, do it well and besides people are watching. I feel happy with where I am today and I know I will get better by the grace of God, I have come to stay.

When precisely did you begin this career?

2004 to be precise.

What is the future of entertainment publicists, do you see a bright future for aspiring ones?

First and foremost, to be a good publicist, you don’t have to belong to a particular media house.

Quote me, a journalist cannot make a good publicist, when he has a special bias for a particular newspaper or magazine.

Did you start out as a journalist?

No, I’m a writer. I enjoy writing, promotion and packaging.

Do you see a bright future for publicists?

The future is very bright but we need to put our acts together, because a situation whereby publicists are becoming Personal Assistants (PA’) to artistes is something I don’t support.

You must take a stand and let people know you for what you do, then the job and the respect will come to you.

If you were to choose between being an actor and a publicist, which would you choose?

I believe that what I’m doing now is part of acting because to package an artist despite the difficult terrain is challenging and the artistes themselves don’t see the need. Most of them are their own managers, fashion designers and so on. I tell them “ why don’t you concentrate on your talent and leave the rest for us,- the PR people, publicists and managers. Don’t get it all mixed up”.

So you prefer what you do to being an artiste?

Yes. To be frank, I have gotten a couple of scripts from clients to do some acting job, but I’m still studying the terrain.

What does it take to be a publicist?

It takes determination, enlightenment, talent, having a nose for news and being on top of your game. It requires a lot of talent and guts.

Has your career brought you fulfillment? Yes, for now though I don’t have all the houses and cars, but adding value to humanity, giving a platform for young talents to express themselves and shine is what I enjoy, because as the bible says “what you sow, you will reap. So, I am happy with what I am doing.

Glo partners NBL, Arik on Evergreen series

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igeria’s National Telecoms Operator, Globacom has partnered with reputable brewers, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc as well as Nigeria’s leading airline, Arik Air to package a special music concert in honour of Nigerian Music Legends who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the nation’s music industry for decades.

The synergy between the three giants in the Nigerian corporate space, is expected to give birth to the greatest concerts in honour of Nigeria’s music legends.

“This union of Nigeria’s corporate giants is consummated in order to give a befitting honour to Nigeria’s music legends under the Glo Evergreen Series,” said Globacom in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.

“The special concert takes off with the juju maestro, Commander Ebenezer Obey at Intercontinental Hotels in Lagos on 28th of September, 2013. He will entertain select audience whose profile fits into his evergreen music.

Globacom said the series will be staged in different parts of the country with each edition featuring different music legends collaborating with highly rated contemporary musicians.

“The night will be a celebration of the true values of the legend on parade, showcasing the best songs, as well as taking the people down the memory lane through a specially packaged documentary,” the statement added.

The duo of MI and Yemi Sax will join Commander Obey in the first edition to perform some of his evergreen tunes.

“A fun-filled night awaits the music enthusiasts at Intercontinental Hotels in Lagos on 28th September, 2013,” said the statement

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—

33

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

53 gold plated iPhones for Nigeria’s independence: Who gets one?

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HERE are reports that the Nigerian government has ordered 53 units of gold plated version of the newly launched Apple iPhone 5S, to celebrate the country’s 53rd independence anniversary next month.

The gold plated phones are said to cost approximately £50,000 per unit if it is studded with hundreds of diamonds, including a giant piece that serves as “home” button or £3,000 if it is basic models in gold or rose gold.

These would translate to over twelve million naira (N12.3 million) par unit for the gold with diamond or N738, 000 for the basic models in gold. So, on a rough

estimate, the independence phones could cost Nigeria a whopping N651m (six hundred and fifty one million naira) or N39.11 million, respectively, (depending on which was ordered) at N246 exchange rate with the Pound.

The ordered phones, according to sources would be engraved with the symbols of the country’s coat of arms, a shield and two horses and delivered before the Independence Day. If this story is true, the problem Mr President may face is who gets one of the 53 phones and what qualifies the recipients.

•Gold plated iPhones

Another Nigerian designs road traffic mobile app N

ECESSITY is the mother of invention. That could be is a better way to describe new mobile developments in Nigeria today. Almost in quick successions, we have, for the past one year constantly featured Nigerians who invented innovative mobile applications, gadgets and devices out of the frustrations they have either experienced as Africans or observed being part of this continent.

From social media sites to mobile devices, apps and tabs, the list of Nigerians joining the history books seems to be unending.

Just as we were celebrating a bamboo tablet from a Nigerian inventor on this page last week, we were also awaken, almost immediately after, with the info of another Nigerian, Dele Oluwole who has made good use of the chaotic traffic situation in Africa,particularly Nigeria to create an app.

Why this app Although, Oluwole said he has not been parmanent in the country for the past ten years sourjouning Denmark, Great Britain and New Zealand, traffic reports bachome were however frustrating and im-

Abuja in Nigeria, and also Accra roads in Ghana, Oluwole said JonnyWaka is a FREE mobile app to download. The app is specifically designed to help users avoid incidents like traffic jams, armed robbery, flood, among other road hazards.

Beneficiaries Apart from road users who can use this app to plan their day, it was also said to be designed to help authorities like Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC and the Nigerian police to monitor and report traffic situations, track road crimes and armed robberies.

The app also gives road users who have downloaded it the opportunity to help the administrators upload traffic incidents like accidents, flood and armed robberies on the site.

With this, the Traffic Report screen is then updated automatically in less than 60 seconds for everyone to see and the incidents are then marked on the road, route, and map showing the precise locations.

There is also a provision on the app site, for users to take a shot of accident scenes and upload immediately to help people avoid •JonnyWaka traffic mobile app those roads/routes. mediately evoked the desire to think home. He created a mobile application called JonnyWaka 316, meant to help improve road user experience, safe, efficient road management and reduction of road hazards.

Where it can work Developed for road users in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and

H

UAWEI, last week, unveiled its Ascend P6 new phone, touted to be the world’s slimmest smartphone.

Measuring 6.18mm, the smartphone features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor •Huawei and a sleek metallic Ascend P6 body. With its 4.7-inch high definition in-cell display, 5MP frontfacing camera, and outstanding software, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 looks elegant.

Unveiling the device, Managing Director, Huawei Consumer Business Group, West Africa, Mr Tony Liang, said that “the Ascend P6 is a star among smartphones with its design, highquality camera, and intuitive user interface” The device is ultra slim at 6.18mm and weighs just about 120g and small enough to slip into the tiniest of pockets or clutch bags. It features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.2.2 operating system, 2000mAh battery, 4.7-inch HD in-cell LCD screen technology, and ‘MagicTouch’ for enhanced screen responsiveness even when wearing gloves. Its 8MP rear-facing BSI camera with F2.0 aperture and 4cm macro view also enables 1080P full HD video recording and playback. With Huawei’s proprietary IMAGESmart software, the HUAWEI Ascend P6 turns even the most novice photographer into a professional, with contrast and color enhancement, auto scene recognition, object tracing focus, and instant facial beauty support.

Huawei pushes Ascend P6 into the market

Samsung flaunts Galaxy Gear, Note III

A

FTER introducing the Galaxy Gear and Note III at an Unpacked event at IFA show in Berlin, Germany, last week, Samsung Electronics, having considered Nigeria as one of its prime markets also unveiled the products here. The Galaxy Gear, is a voice-controlled, wrist-mounted device that connects to Samsung smartphones and can make phone calls, take pictures as well as record videos and conversations.

Pre-loaded with over 60 Android apps, the sleek, wristmounted device has a solid touchscreen and can sync with smartphones to display text messages and e-mails and also access the internet. It features a 1.9 megapixel camera and built-in speakers that allow users to make hands-free calls. In addition, the device boasts a battery life of 25 hours on just a single charge.

Samsung also unveiled two new products from its Galaxy Note category, the Galaxy Note III and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, at the event. The Galaxy Note III is Samsung’s thinnest and lightest ‘phablet’ yet. It features a screen larger than that of its predecessor, the Galaxy Note II, while maintaining the same width as the previous Galaxy Note version. The device also features an improved S Pen and enhanced multitasking features.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy Note III and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet will be the first smart devices to work with the Galaxy Gear.

•Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note III

34 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

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Stowaway boy, Daniel

people have seen anything bad in the act that fell short of acceptable behaviour. I wonder what would be running through the minds of other kids and young-adults who have been socially and economically truamatised. I just pray the rewards wont be a stimulant to encourage desperate acts in our society especially under this present condition.

But the Muslims should at this glorious time give glory to God. This is because the storyline surrounding Daniel's reasons for the act realising a dream in America would have changed or better still would not have survived most probably if he was a Muslim.

If his name had been Musa or Yussuf, even without a modicum of knowledge of the five pillars of Islam, he would have been tagged a Islamic terrorist' without any benefit of the doubt, indicting Islam. Nobody would have believe the argument of a mere adventure to realise a dream in America. It would have been insinuated and

Stowaway boy: Hero or villain?

•Apparition in Mosque: An illusory perception widely claimed that the he intended to do something sinister, blow up the plane or something. Security apparatus would have concentrated largely on another planned attack and beaming their search lights on possible links to terrorist groups. In fact, the claim and counter claims would have eroded the idea of scholarships and rewards even if nothing was found. The point here is that Islam has suffered undue bitter contemplation particularly from anachronistic and religious bigots without any justification. If sometimes, the personal idea and belief of an individual overrides the religious beliefs, it is the individual that should be on focus and not the religion simply because that individual has at that point discarded his religious beliefs.

Apparition in Mosque: An illusory perception: Last week, we published a story on the claim of apparition in Dawiz Central

Mosque, Owode-Onirin in Kosofe Local Government area of the State. The report was a clear perspective of

,

P till moment, the misadventure of the Daniel Oikhena has earned him rewards and little or no condemnation. The basis for the reward is clear – Intelligence. The 13-year-old boy stunned everyone including his family members to do what no Nigerian has ever done.

He chose to stowaway to America to realise a dream; in the recess of the wheel compartment of Arik airplane where Daniel had hid himself.

His intelligence however did not tell him that he might not get to America alive or that bodies had been known to fall when the wheels come down before landing; or better still; he chose to ignore all that. The Junior Secondary School II student of Asoro Grammar school, Benin, perfected the act and waltzed down like a hero, unscathed without any mistake from his hiding place.

Even the Austrian-born American former actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger would have carried out several rehearsals before embarking on it in a make-believe adventure. That is the stuff Nigerian child is made off. Thanks to Edo State government and Governor Rauf Aregbesola Foundation splashing scholarships on him. But not many

not see any apparition. We went round the mosque and no image of any scholar was seen as claimed by some wor-

The point here is that Islam has suffered undue bitter contemplation particularly from anachronistic and religious bigots without any justification

those who spoke to us and objective report of what we saw. I chose to comment on it today because of some of our readers who called to ask about the veracity of the claim. Facing the Kaaba did

,

shipers. Yet, those who sell photographs of the apparition in the area claimed it was shot the very first day it appeared including other worshipers who believe the image appear intermittently. We

believe it is the phantasm of the claimers. Almighty Allah knows what no one knows. If there were image of the Prophet (s.a.w), only Allah (SWT) knows what people would have been done with it. In fact, right inside the mosque, in a manner that is antithetical to Islam, people were seen bowing to unseen images on the wall in supplication. Some even had bottled/sachets water in their hands facing the wall where they believe the apparition appeared in supplication.

Remember visual depictions of all the prophets of Islam are particularly not encouraged , that is why the photo of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) is not in existence. Only Allah knows what people like this would have done with such pictures. This is merely because the use of these images can encourage idolatry.

So, those who have bowed for images should seek Allah's forgiveness as that act is tantamount to idolatry. May Allah guide us to do what is right.

Prayer: ‘O Allah, by Your unlimited knowledge and by the greateness of Your power, we seek Your guidance and Your immense favourin all our affairs. Verily, You know while we do not. The Knower of the unseen.

Worshippers supplicating with water before the percieved image on the wall of Dawiz Central Mosque Owode Onirin, Mile 12, Lagos recently.

Quotes Lagos commences airlift of 3,120 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia tomorrow

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BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS state Govern ment yesterday said no fewer than 3,120 intending pilgrims from the state will be airlifted to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia for this year's Haji pilgrimage.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and the Secretary of the Lagos State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sanusi Kamal who both spoke to Vanaguard yesterday in an interview, said that all arrangements had been concluded to commence a hitch-free airlifting of the pilgrims for the yearly hajj rites.

According to Kamal, "The first flight from the state to Mecca is

scheduled for Saturday Sept 14th and it would be concluded on Sept 19th."

He noted that "Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alh. Oyinlomo Danmole would lead them to the holy land, as the Amir Hajj for the state."

The secretary said "the pilgrims had been properly enlightened on how to conduct themselves during the pilgrimage."

On the outbreak of Corrolla virus, Ibirogba said "We have done the right enlightenment on how the pilgrims can properly conduct themselves in Mecca and how they could be safe especially with the outbreak of Corrolla Virus in Saudi Arabia."

Ibirogba explained that "the enlightenment was done in all the

20 Local Governments in the state, to sensitize the intending pilgrims on hygiene."

The commissioner added "We expect that the pilgrims will keep to all they have been told and be good ambassadors of the state."

He appealed to all intending pilgrims to abide by the rules of the country and Saudi Arabia, saying "this is the only way to have an easy exercise."

"Though the policy of the state government is that all intending pilgrims must declare whatever they have with them before leaving the state," he added.

Ibirogba assured the pilgrims saying "The state is ready for this year`s Hajj and Insha Allah, it is going to be a successful one."

“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka`bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence); and whoever disbelieves [i.e., denies Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), then he is a disbeliever of Allah], then Allah stands not in need of any of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).’’ (3:97)

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013— 35

Niger secures 80% of pilgrims’ visa

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HE Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Commission on Wednesday says that it has secured 80 per cent of visas for 3, 249 intending pilgrims for the 2013 Hajj.

Alhaji Sani Awwal, the commission’s spokesman, made this known to newsmen in Minna.

He said that the commission was working toward the timely completion of the visa requirements for all the prospective pilgrims.

Awwal said that the commission had distributed hand luggage bags and uniforms to the intending

Hajj: What you must do in Makkah uslims from dif ferent parts of the world have been heading towards Makkah for the observance of Hajj rites.

While in Makkah, a visitor is expected to observe proper etiquette with the city.

But, sadly, nowadays, many pilgrims in Makkah do not usually observe proper etiquette with the city as they usually violate the sanctity of Haram Sheriff as witnessed by this writer during his Hajj few years ago and also, going by reports gathered from the Hajj Board. Major factors that are responsible for this menace is that many of the Hujajj are not qualified, with some element of carelessness.

High status and great esteem Excellent manners are essential part of Islam.

This etiquette is universal and must be exhibited by every Muslim everywhere at all times and more importantly, in the Holy Land of Makkah. Therefore, on the basis of the high status and great esteem in which Makkah is held by Allah, His Messenger (s.a.w) and all the Muslims, we present below etiquette that is expected of a visitor to Makkah.

DOS OF MAKKAH: A visitor must be a Muslim and must go there with good intention (the intention to worship Allah); must posses basic knowledge of what constitutes halal and haram in Islam including what the Saudi C M Y K

Arabian authorities forbids. Knowledge of Arabic at least all the basic phrases of courtesy and respect will greatly help in relating with people.

Men and women should dress properly and whenever in public places. A visitor must enter Makkah with Ihram but it is allowed to enter without it if the person did not intend for Hajj or Umrah. It is mustahab to take bath before entering Makkah.

On getting to Makkah visitor should hurry to the sacred mosque to perform

,

M

illnesses which could impede their performance of the Hajj rites. He added that the second phase of the screening of the female pilgrims would be carried out at the Hajj Camp shortly before their departure from the country.

Awwal urged the pilgrims to wear their uniforms at all times to facilitate their quick identification both at the camp and during the Hajj rites. He thanked Gov. Babangida Aliyu for approving funds for the provision of accommodation close to the main site of the pilgrimage to ease the pilgrims’ stay in the Holy land.

Islamic cleric lauds Ogun govt on plan to return schools to missionaries

Muslim on tawaf in Makkah

BY HARUN RAZAQ

pilgrims as part of the preparations for the pilgrimage.

He said that the intending pilgrims had been adequately trained on the religious rites which they were expected to perform while in the Holy land.

Awwal said that the commission had completed the first phase of the screening of the female pilgrims for pregnancy test, in adherence to the rules barring pregnant women from performing the Hajj.

He said that all the intending pilgrims were also screened by the medical team for high blood pressure, diabetes and other

commit zinah (adultery or fornication) in Makkah; do not quarrel, abuse or cause other people or visit Makkah with intention of begging.

It is forbidden to harm yourself or others in process of discharging the religious rites such as Tawaf, praying at Maqam Ibrahim, touching the black stone etc. Do not perform your act of worship on the pathway nor hurt people because you want to get to the front row; avoid all sinful acts that can lead to it such as

Excellent manners are essential part of Islam. This etiquette is universal and must be exhibited by every Muslim everywhere at all times

Tawaf Qudum as soon as they deposits their belongings in a safe place.

Pilgrims must observe their religious duties such as Salat, Tawaf, Tilawah, Azkar, Du’a etc. properly at the right time because reward of good deed in Makkah is greater than elsewhere in the world.

A Muslim must be modest at all times especially in Makkah where they were expected to be clean always, dispose garbage properly, respect others, assist others, encourage good deeds and display exceptional behaviour.

DONTS OF MAKKAH: Do not visit Makkah with any of the forbidden things in Islam such as alcoholic beverages, hard drugs, pornographics, tapes, phones, magazines, reading materials etc; do not fight, steal,

,

shaking hands with opposite sex; calling people bad names, wash the motion of your fingers as this may offend him; avoid intimate discussion with opposite sex; do not abuse, insult or assault anyone; never laugh at anything pertaining to their customs or way of life that may appear strange or unusual to you; avoid indulging in loud conversations or boisterous laughter; do not fart in public place, do not cause harm by pushing or moving closer to opposite sex during acts of worship etc.

You must not pick anything that does not belong to you unless you want to give it to the owner or authority; if you must relax or sleep in the Harram, then you must cover your body properly etc.

O

GUN State government has been commended for the plan to return missionary schools in the state back to their owners.

An Islamic Scholar and Chief Imam of Sango Ota Central Mosque, Alhaji Tajudeen Shafi gave this commendation recently while speaking with newsmen.

He noted that among

the benefits inherent in such move are better standard of education when compared with public schools, discipline among students and moral rectitude.

“It is a welcome development, if mission schools are returned to their owners in the state, like what happened in Lagos state during the former governor of the

State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “ On his assessment of Ogun State governor in the last two years, the cleric said government had improved tremendously in area of development, adding that cooperation with the present administration will bring about more dividends of democracy.

Pregnancy: Kano bars 7 female prospective pilgrims from Hajj

K

ANO State Pilgrims Welfare Board Wednesday barred seven female prospective pilgrims from performing the 2013 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Nuhu Badamasi, the Public Relations Officer of Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced Alhaji Badamasi, told newsmen in Kano that the women were discovered to

be pregnant during screening.

He said the decision was part of measures taken by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to prevent pregnant women from travelling for the pilgrimage.

“The measure is aimed at safeguarding the health of female pilgrims in view of the rigorous nature of some of the Hajj rites” “Hajj is a rigorous

exercise which pregnant women and other persons with ill-health cannot withstand,” Badamasi said.

He, however, called for understanding among women as the action was meant to ensure that no female pilgrim suffered unnecessarily during the Hajj operation.

A total of 5,648 prospective pilgrims are expected to perform this year’s Hajj from the state.

L-R: Sheikh Ridwan Suenu; Senator Abdul Ganiy Olarenwaju Solomon and Abdul-Semiu Abdul-Hameed, Deputy Chief Imam Ife, during the 40th Annual Graduation of Daarud-Dawat Wal-Irshaad Arabic Centre, Isolo, Lagos. Photo: AKEEM SALAU.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Delta govt moves to merge schools

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Government is set to embark on the merger of public primary schools operating in the same premises.

Chairman, State Universal Primary Education Board, SUPEB, Mrs Pat Ejeteh, at a meeting of the board and stakeholders in Delta Central

senatorial district at Government College, Ughelli, said the move was to pave way for better administration of the schools.

“There will be no more schools I, II and III, if the schools are on the same compound and there will be no more multiple headmasters,” she said, explaining that the selection of headmaster would be based solely on seniority.

She added that the second and third most senior headmasters would now serve as Assistant Headmaster (Administration) and Assistant Headmaster (Academics).

She said: “We want better administration and that is why we also gave assignment to the other headmasters.”

She stated that a Cluster School Teachers Training pro-

gramme would soon be organised for teachers, adding “it is going to last for 13 weeks and it is going to be on weekends.”

She said that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in addition to making sure that teachers were better taken care of, has embarked on massive renovation and furnishing of schools in the state.

Biz Leadership awardees emerge

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INNERS of the West African round of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label CNBC Africa, All Africa Business Leaders Awards have emerged.

Sim Shagaya, Founder/ CEO of konga.com, won Entrepreneur of the Year award, while Biola Alabi, Managing Director of Mnet Africa, won West Africa’s Businesswoman of the Year.

West Africa Young Business Leader went to CEO/ Co-Founder of iROKO TV, Jason Njoku, while the West Africa Business Leader of the Year award was taken by Jean-Louis Ekra, Chairman and President of the African Export-Import Bank.

Dr. Pascal Dozie, Founder of Diamond Bank Plc, took home the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The West African winners will compete against business innovators from around the continent in the final for the title of Africa’s most respected pioneer in their chosen field on November 8.

BIU's post-UTME

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ENSON Idahosa University, BIU, will be holding its 26th postUnified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and scholarship in Lagos and Ibadan, simultaneously, weekend.

According to BIU’s Liaison Officer, Lagos/West, Mrs. Marylinda Kuforiji, interested candidates and parents could collect their forms on or before the examination date at the institution’s liaison offices in Ilupeju and ECWA Model College, Challenge, in Lagos and Ibadan, respectively.

VISIT: From left— Mr. Richard Amanfoye, Head, Information Technology; Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking; Mr. Kehinde DurosinmiEtti, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, all of Skye Bank Plc; and Mrs. Ginni Rometty, Chairman/CEO, IBM International, during Rometty's courtesy visist to the bank.

... embarks on 150 housing units scheme

BY EMMA AMAIZE

A

SABA—DELTA State Government has embarked on the construction of a ‘workers village,’ made up of 150 housing units, to be occupied on owner-occupier basis by civil servants in the state.

The organised labour in the state, led by the chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress,

NLC, Mr. William Akporeha and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Mr. Mike Arinze, visited the construction site in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area, to ascertain the progress of work.

Akporeha said: “With what we have seen, this project is highly commendable. I have never doubted the ability of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on is-

sues that affect labour in the state. This initiative has further given us the assurance that he will never abandon us.

“Our prayer is that the governor will see to the completion of this project.”

Arinze, on his part, said what he saw was impressive, adding “it is a major step in bringing houses for Deltans and workers in particular.”

... as Delta Assembly advocates devt bills

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ELTA State House of Assembly has reiterated its resolve to intensify efforts at passing new bills that will impact positively on Deltans in line with their constitutional calling of making laws for the good governance of the polity.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, spoke at the resumption of plenary for the third legislative year of the fifth assembly of the House.

Ochei said that for the House to function optimally, and in synergy with the executive in giving hope to the masses, who daily look up to government for succour, “the legislature must continue on its path of robust, painstaking and detailed legislation to ensure that our people continue to derive the benefit of good governance.”

He said that the House will continually synergise with the public, which is the hallmark of participatory democracy,

and to debunk the notion that that legislators know it all.

He appealed to Deltans to

avail themselves of the opportunity provided by public hearings to enrich the laws.

Colleges of Education begin strike

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

C

OLLEGE of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Agbor Chapter, has commenced a one-week warning strike in line with the directive from the national leadership of the union.

This came as the three labour unions in the Delta State Colleges of Education in Agbor, Mosogar and Warri, have served notice of strike action to the state government.

In a statement by Dr. Anthony Ossai and Patrick Kwaja, the union's Chairman and Secretary, respectively, said that the decision to embark on the industrial action was taken at an emergency congress held on Monday at the college premises.

The statement noted that the National Executive Council, NEC, of COEASU, at a meeting held on September 4, in Abuja, frowned at the failure of Federal Government to respect the past agreement it reached with the Union.

It said the agreement bothered on a number of issues plaguing the teachers' education in Nigeria.

Another source of dispute, according to the statement, was the decision of government to remove the staff of demonstration schools from government pay-roll.

Utuama promises selfless leadership

U

GHELLI—DELTA State Deputy Governor, Prof.

Amos Utuama (SAN) has promised not to lead the Urhobo nation astray, as he assured them of purposeful and selfless leadership.

Utuama, receiving the chairmen, vice chairmen and members of the transition committees of the eight Delta Central local government areas, called for unity among the Urhobo.

Utuama, who is the highest political office holder in Urhoboland, lamented that one of the ills of his people had been their disdain for their leaders.

He said: “One of the ills of our people, which you have

come to cure, is their attitude: that the Urhobo do not have leaders and that the Urhobo pull their leaders down.

“You have come to demonstrate that you have a political leader. I want to assure you that I will give you purposeful leadership.

“I want to assure you that I will give you selfless leadership. I will not lead the Urhobo nation astray.”

He said in the past, there had been wrong perception about the Urhobo as “a scattered, unfocused majority.”

He said that the coming byelection for Delta Central senatorial seat had presented the Urhobo “another opportu-

nity to redeem Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “It is another chance to disabuse the minds of our political detractors and assert that Urhobo is a group that is big for something.

“We must translate this political solidarity to political success in the by-election of Delta Central, we must claim what belongs to us back.”

Leader of the delegation and Chairman of Udu Local Government Transition Committee, Raymond Edijala, said their visit was to pledge their loyalty to him, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—37

Chevron commissions N84m projects in Delta

Gov Oshiomhole gets peace award

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BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN CITY—THE British High Commissioner, Mr Andrew Pocock, yesterday, presented a peace award on behalf of African Initiative for World Peace to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to commemorate the September 11 peace tree planting project in Nigeria.

President of African Initiative for World Peace, Bernadette Strebel, said at the award presentation that the award was in recognition of the governor’s support for the environment.

She said “this year, you approved a donation of 50,000 seedlings for our organisation, which we planted to honour Clara Oshiomhole and in memory of the victims of the September 11 disaster.

“Governor Oshiomhole, you suffered a great loss when your dear wife, Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole passed away.

She was a great supporter of you and your policies and was a true environmentalist. We wish to honour her memory by creating an important new trust fund, the Clara Oshiomhole Memorial Forest of Peace Trust Fund to be launched on December 7, 2013."

Ovie of Agbon kingdom instals 'Otota'

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GHELLI—FEW weeks after he was presented with staff of office by the Delta State Government, the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, HRM Ogurimerime Ukori, yesterday, installed former President of Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, DACCIMA, Chief Moses Orogun as the new ‘Otota’ (spokesman) of the kingdom.

Installing the new spokesman, the monarch noted yesterday that Chief Orogun has distinguished himself in business and in service to his people, appealing to him to bring his wealth of experience to bear in his service as ‘Otota’ of the kingdom.

He said: “I am so happy today that the issue of the ‘Otota’ for our kingdom has been laid to rest and we now have ‘Otota’ that we can call ours."

BY FESTUS AHON

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VISIT—Governor Akpabio presenting a souvenir to Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, United States Consul General, Lagos during a courtesy call at Governor's office, Uyo, Wednesday.

Private varsities VCs ask NANS to mediate between FG/ASUU

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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OLLOWING threats by the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to shut down private universities over the protracted strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Vice Chancellors of private universities, yesterday, charged the students’ body to mediate between government and ASUU to return normalcy to the country ’s universities.

Speaking separately in a telephone chat with Vanguard, the Vice Chancellors argued that there was no need for the threat, since private universities were not owned by government and that their owners didn’t enter into any agreement with the striking university lecturers.

They noted that they also have their wards and relations in public

universities, who are affected by the shutdown.

According to Professor Isaac Adeyemi, Vice Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, BELLSTECH, Ota, Ogun State, NANS is made up of matured minds and must, therefore, broker peace between government and the aggrieved lecturers.

He said: “I believe NANS executive is made up of matured individuals. We also have our kids and relations in public universities and we are feeling the pains. Rather than vent their anger on private universities, they should act as mediators to broker peace between government and ASUU. After all, its not a crime to run private universities, because parents are sacrificing so much to send their wards to private universities, where they

can acquire qualitative education. I know they said it out of desperation, but I know too well that normalcy will soon return to our public universities.”

Professor Ayodeji Olukoju, Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Lagos, charged government to avoid wastage in running of the country’s affairs, but to prioritise the funding of education, which is a critical sector of the economy.

Olukoju said: “There was no need for the threat, since private universities’ owners didn’t sign any agreement with ASUU. Education is a free market economy. Its just like a husband and wife’s quarrel which they must settle. NANS should mediate between the warring parties, after all, students have the right to study anywhere they like. Its a matter of choice.”

Abraka PDP leaders allege marginalisation

by Delta govt

T

HREE chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Abraka, Delta State, have called on the state government to stop the marginalisation of people of the area.

The chieftains, Chiefs Anthony Onoharigho, Kesito Oweh and Sapele Atigogo, alleged that the government had left out Abraka in the implementation of its threepoint agenda.

Chief Onoharigho, former National Financial Secretary of Accord Party, before joining PDP, said since he joined the party, he and his supporters have continued

to appeal to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to look in the direction of Abraka, when making appointments into boards of parastatals.

According to him, Abraka as a university town, deserves a full fledged commissioner or special adviser to the governor.

Chief Oweh, appealed to the state government to do something about the long neglect of Abraka since democracy took root in the country, adding that now was the time for the area to witness some developments.

“I am proud to be an indigene of Abraka, so also am proud to be a PDP faithful, I will die as an Abraka man, so also I will die as a PDP man but what we are saying is that we need good roads, electricity, pipe borne water and appointments from the state government,” he said.

Chief Atigogo said the state government should not punish the people of Abraka unnecessarily or unjustly because the leader of the opposition in the state hailed from the area.

GHELLI—THE 10bedroom guest house and two teachers’ quarters’ project worth over N84 million in Ogbinbiri, Egbema Kingdom in Warri North Local Government Area, Delta state has been commissioned by the Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF. Commissioning the projects, Chairman of EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, said that the projects would positively affect the education and social lives of the people, adding that the projects were in “fulfillment of the foundation developmental commitment to the communities.

He said: “I commend my predecessors, who worked diligently to embark on these projects and many others for the good of our people despite limited resources. I promise to build on the good foundation that they had laid. I urge our people to take responsibility and ownership of all completed projects in our communities by maintaining and ensuring that are adequately utilised.

“Our source of funding is Chevron Nigeria Limited/ NNPC joint venture. We want to plead with the federal, state, local governments and interventionist agencies to collaborate with our foundation in the task of developing our oil bearing communities that sustains the economy of the country. I want to inform that the two teachers’ quarters cost N19.8 million, while the 10-room guest house cost N44. 47million.”

Holy Ghost service

T

HE Holy Ghost Church of God (Aladura) will hold its three-day marathon prayer tagged: "Holy Ghost Feast and God Dynamics Mercy" from today with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, September 15, 2013, at 5, Church Street, off Alex Udu Street, Yebade Bus-Stop Ijoko Road, Sango Ota. The shepherd in-charge, Prophet Segun Ajayi said, it will feature salvation, healing, deliverance, anointing and breakthrough. Others invited are Dr. Segun Adegbuyi, Baba Aladura , Dr. Philip Akinbo while preacher is Rev. Nathaniel Olowoyo.

38—Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Man arraigned over alleged N5.6m theft

ALLEGED ASSAULT ON DCP IN EBONYI: Police release 9 FRSC operatives

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS—THE police have arraigned a 36year-old man, Karonwi Olaniyi, before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N5.6 million.

Olaniyi, who was arraigned before Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo, Wedenesday, is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, ASP Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the offences between June 2010 and October 2012.

Nwaokoye alleged that the defendant had obtained N5.6 million from one Cynthia Ikpeama, through his Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB account.

He said the money was obtained under the pretext that the defendant would set up a cyber cafe, design a website and purchase android phones for the complainant.

Group lauds FG on Akanu Ibiam airport

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

HANAEZE Youth Council, OYC, has lauded the Federal Government over the opening of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, describing it as a catalyst for business, tourism and investment destination in Eastern Nigeria.

In a statement by the President, Mr. Francis Orji and Secretary, Board of Trustees, Mazi Okwu Okwu, the council also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan over the dredging of River Niger and commissioning of Onitsha River-port and Orient Petroleum Refinery, which made Anambra State the tenth oil producing state in Nigeria.

The group said: “It is a big credit to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah, not from point of favour but appreciating a move aimed at improving the economy by opening of the airport to international flights.”

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State Police Ccommand, said, yesterday, that it had released the nine operatives of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, arrested over alleged involvement in the assault of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Istahifanus Shettima, in Abakaliki.

It will be recalled that the suspects, who were rounded up at Presco roundabout, along EnuguAbakaliki expressway, were also accused of obstructing traffic without adhering strictly to the ethics of their profession.

Those arrested were Agwatu Ifeanyi, Chime Charles, Eugene Ozoamusi, Otu Onyinyechukwu, Chidi Anthony Ude, Okoye Daniel Chidozie, Egede Sunday, Ochiabuto Joseph and Collins Anidiobi.

The incident, which led to the impounding of three vehicles, with number plates AR 609 FKJ Lagos, AA 905 NKE Ebonyi and AO 419 RS, belonging to the corps, attracted a team of policemen who came to the rescue of the DCP. Briefing newsmen on the development, Police Public Rela-

tions Officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, who stated that both agencies were never at loggerheads in the past, revealed that the accident between a tricycle and motorcycle with number plates AKL 041 GD and QB 764 SM respectively, was what led to the conflict.

He said: “The Deputy Commissioner of Police who was in the traffic with his official car and person-

nel, directed the FRSC personnel to accompany the victims of the accident to the Motor Traffic Division, MTD, Abakaliki, to give his statement as a witness and for the treatment of the injured victims but he refused and hauled abuses as well as assaulted him.

“Even when the corps personnel acceded to the directive, while on their way, other per-

sonnel of the corps used their vehicle to double cross the DCP which nearly resulted in an accident.”

Meanwhile, the new sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ebonyi State, Taiwo Eseyin, stated that the matter had been resolved as both agencies were working in the common interest of all Nigerians.

VISIT: A cross section of Supervisory Board members of the Royal FrieslandCampina, The Netherland and its Nigerian counterparts in a group photo during the visit to FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, at Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Standing,7th left, is Managing Director,FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, Mr. Peter Eshikena. Photo: Akintola Joseph, Photo Editor.

Abia Assembly worries over spate of missing persons

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BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA—ABIA State House of Assembly has expressed concern over increasing cases of missing persons in the state, describing it as worrisome.

The House, therefore, passed a resolution calling on security agencies in the state to intensify efforts in securing lives and property of residents of the state.

The resolution of the House followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by the member representing Umuahia Central constituency, Mrs. Grace Uche, on the increase in the number of missing persons in the state.

The House also urged parents to monitor and pay more attention to the movement of their children and wards, especially in the last quarter of the year.

The House further called on the people to always show greater interest and love in matters affecting their neighbours, saying such a gesture would help tackle vices, such as cases of missing persons.

Raising the concern of the House, Mrs. Uche lamented the frequent report of missing persons in the state and stressed the need for urgent steps to be taken to check the trend.

Describing the menace as

worrisome, Uche challenged security agencies in the state to rise to the occasion and

tackle the problem head-on.

Meanwhile, the House has invited all the commissioner

nominees it screened to appear in plenary next Monday.

AHCN wants FG to overhaul Land Use Act

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA WERRI—ASSOCIATION of Housing Corporations of Nigeria, AHCN, has appealed to the Federal Government to overhaul the Land Use Act of 1978 to make land available for housing.

AHCN President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Ifenna E. Chukwujekwu, made the appeal while flagging off the body’s 90th Council meeting in Owerri.

He said: “To all intents and purposes, every barrier towards a sustainable housing delivery and home ownership process must be confronted headlong to concretize the nation’s dream of providing affordable housing for is citizens.”

He expressed concern that though the pension fund was worth over N3 trillion, it was only restricted for investment into equities, government bonds and bank deposits.

“There is sadly, no provision for housing investment. Certainly, workers need to retire to their own houses after a successful working career and service to the nation.”

While noting that there were

O

housing problems in Nigeria, Chukwujekwu also opined that various housing policies evolved to address the problems in the past failed to address the myriads of problems facing the sector.

“The housing need of the people is still very enormous and requires strategic approach. The low income group are the most hit by this dire need of mankind,” he added.

FRSC writes Toyota over safety of Hiace buses

U

BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA—WORRIED by the increasing involvement of Toyota Hiace buses in road accidents, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has written the manufacturing company drawing its attention to the menace, with a view to addressing the problem.

Corps Marshall, FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka, who disclosed this at a sensitisation programme on speed limiting device organized by the commission for owners of transport companies in Umuahia, Abia State.

He lamented that the development had claimed the lives of 1,437 persons and injured 6,831 in the past seven months.

He said the letter written to the managing director of Toyota also recommended that drivers and owners of Toyota Hiace buses be advised to install speed limit devices in their vehicles and obey stipulated speed limits on Nigerian roads.

Represented by Enugu Zonal Commander, Mr. Chike Nwaka, Chidoka lamented that speed violation accounted for about 65 per cent of the causative factors of road crashes and fatalities in the country.

He said the letter to Toyota was prompted by discovery that buses from the company were recalled in Australia between 1990 and 2010 due to incessant involvement in fire incidences during crashes.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 —39

SUMMIT: From left, Faculty Officer, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Dr. Regina Folorunsho; Akran of Badagry, Aholu MenuToyi 1, and Faculty Officer, Dredge Skills & Marine Training Centre Ltd, Mr. Edmund Chilaka, at the 7th Nigerian Dredging Summit and Exhibition, in Badagry.

REPORT: From left, Mr. Richard Mofe-Damijo, Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism; Mr. Chike Ogeah, Commissioner for Information, and Mr. Norbert Chaizor, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Chairman, Delta State, during mid-term report by Delta State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba. Photo: Nath Onojake

CEREMONY: From left, Head, Human Resources, UAC of Nigeria, UACN, Plc, Mrs. Osa Osawa; Managing Director, MDS Logistics Plc, Mr. Solomon Aigbavboa; Chief Education Officer, Guardance and Counselling, Lagos State Ministry of Education District II Headquarters, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Williams; Executive Director, Corporate Services, UACN Plc, Mr. Joseph Dada, and Principal, Lanre Awolokun High School, Mrs. Adams Ibironke, at the closing ceremony of the 2013 UACN Goodness League Free Weekend Classes, as part of UAC’s CSR activities, at Gbagada Senior Grammar School, Gbagada, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

VISIT: From left, Executive Director, Editorial Operations, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Mr. Isaac Ighure, explaining the Agency's operations to the Registrar, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Prof. Anthony Emeribe, who visited NAN headquarters, in Abuja, yesterday. With them is NAN acting Managing Director, Otunba Jide Adebayo.

BIRTHDAY: From left, All Progressives Congress, APC, senator representing Lagos East senatorial district, Senator Gbenga Ashafa with media relations consultant, Aramide Noibi, and an elder statesman, Senator Ayodeji Otegbola, at Senator Adefuye's 69th birthday, in Lagos.

PROMO: From Left, Mr. Ademola Adeosun; Manager, GSK, and Miss Ngozi Emeka, winner of Lucozade, during the Lucozade Sparkling Drink promo, at GSK office, Ilupeju, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

INDUCTION: From left, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barineme Fakae; Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, MLSCN, Prof. Anthony Emeribe and RSUST Registrar, Mrs. Daba Odimabo; former President, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, RSUST Branch Hafsah Badru (right), during 6th and 7th Induction and Oath Taking ceremony for the newly graduated medical laboratory scientists, at the institution’s Amphitheatre, NkpoluOruworukwo, Port Harcourt.

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FORUM: From left, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development FMWASD, Dr. Habiba Lawal; Director, Women Affairs, FMWASD, Dr. Ijeoma Unaogu, and Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Mameh Patience, during the national stakeholders forum on periodic country report, in Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

INVESTITURE: From left, District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, Rotn Olugbemiga Olowu; past President, Rotary Club of Gbagada, Rotn Bayo Windapo; President, Rotn Tayo Adelaja; his wife, Funke and a guest, Dr. Shade Akintunde, during the investiture of Adelaja as President of Rotary Club of Gbagada, in Lagos.

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Reps pledge better funding of NTI

Gunmen attack police station, kill 2 policemen in Adamawa

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BUJA—THE House Committee on Education has pledged to make a case for additional funding for the National Teachers Institute, NTI, following what it described as a commendable work by the Director-General of the organisation, Dr. Aminu Laden Sharehu.

NTI was adjudged the best educational institution by the committee, in terms of academic planning, delivery and prudent financial management, after their oversight visit to educational institutions across the nation.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, who led the delegation, said his team was impressed by the institute’s financial management and was, therefore, prepared to assist it in sourcing more funds.

He said: “Having found satisfaction on what we saw, viz-a-viz activities of the institute as championed by the D.G, the National Assembly has no difficulty in making any further case in additional funding for the institute.”

Suleiman said that if the NTI could do so much with its current level of funding, it should be given more resources with a view to enabling it provide more effective quality enhancement of Nigerian teachers.

In his remarks, the DG, Dr. Aminu Sharehu, said the budgetary provision was too little to fund NTI’s activities, adding that it had to work hard to increase its internally generated revenue and manage its funds.

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CONVOCATION—Professor Victor Wakwe, College President (middle) flanked by Professor Oluwole Atoyebi, College Registrar (left) and Dr. Rasheed Arogundade, Vice President (right) at a briefing on the 31st convocation of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

I've no presidential ambition — Lamido

BY TINA AKANNAM

D

UTSE—GOVERNOR Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has said he has no presidential ambition, but vowed to continue his crusade against injustice, rule of law and fairness for Nigerians, saying even if he goes to jail after his tenure on May 2015 he will have no regret.

The governor spoke when he received members of PDP Justice Team under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje from the 34 local government areas of Katsina State at the government House Dutse.

He said he was not even keen on contesting for presidential

position in 2015.

He said: “I am not bothered about sacking of ministers by President Jonathan. Even if they use EFCC or other agency to come after me at the end of my tenure on May 29, 2015, I will not be perturb because I am used to going to jail.”

Governor Lamido, who lamented that poverty and lack of good political policies were the major challenges facing the nation, said only justice and respect for the rule of law could change the situation.

He said: “I have always said PDP is the symbol of

I've cleared myself with EFCC, but... — Saraki

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN—FORMER governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday in Ilorin, said that he had clarified issues brought before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, even as he claimed he might still be brought under more scrutiny by other security agencies as the battle within Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, continued.

The former governor, who C M Y K

now represents Kwara Central in the National Assembly, said the issue of N17 billion bond obtained by his administration in 2010 was clarified and listed the projects that the obtained bond was expended on.

Saraki, who said he had given sufficient answers to all queries

by EFCC over the issue, stressed that he would not be surprised, given the current scenario in the national polity, if another agency “ wakes up tomorrow” to say it had discovered some other issues he must

answer for.

He said: “Yes, I was with EFCC on Monday and Tuesday to answer queries on the bond issue.

“I made it clear that bond is not money available to any government just like that; that to access it you must go through a rigorous process.

“That we had to submit ourselves to international evaluation before we could be given. I gave them details of how we spent the bond.”

Nigerian politics. Members need to adhered to the manifesto of its founding fathers which is justice, fairness, equity, transparency and rule of law.”

Lamido noted that PDP as a party was built on the ideology of some Nigerians, who wanted the progress of the country, arguing that it would be wrong for few individuals to hijack the nation’s politics for personal gains.

The governor maintained that “no amount of pressure, intimidation, harassment, and threat will deter him from struggling for justice, fairness and rule of law.

He said: “The fight has just begun. The issues of the present struggle in the nations polity is not for North alone but it is the matter that affects every Nigeria.

“The interest of Nigeria is above the interest of any single or few individuals.”

On his alleged presidential ambition, he said: “I am not contesting for the president. Let the person, who wants to contest by hook or crook do it. But it must be through the rule of law and justice.”

He thanked the delegation for the solidarity visit and assured that he and his colleagues would continue with struggle to protect the future of Nigerian youths.

OLA—THE Adamawa Police Command said, yesterday, that two policemen were killed in an attack by gunmen on a police station in Lala, Gombi Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, said in Yola that the gunmen attacked the station at 9:25 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ibrahim said that the attackers fired shots and explosives during the operation.

He said: “The station was burnt because of the explosives used. We lost two of our men and one other sustained injuries.

“The attackers have escaped to Borno State. You know the place is bordering Borno State.”

The attack was the first of its kind since the imposition of a state of emergency on the state by President Goodluck Jonathan in May.

KSM holds vigil on abortion

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AGOS—THE Knights of Saint Mulumba, KSM, Lagos Metropolitan Council and the Marriage, Family and Human Life Unit of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, will today host the 2013 edition of the Annual Vigil in Reparation for Abortion.

The event will take place at the Lagos Archdiocesan Marian Shrine inside the grounds of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos.

This was contained in a statement by Mr. Egbert Imomoh, Deputy Metropolitan Grand Knight, KSM, Lagos Metropolitan Council and Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, Cocoordinator, Abstinence and Chastity Campaigns of the Family and Human Life Unit of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

It said the vigil, which will last from 8.00pm to 6.00am the next day, will have as its theme Professing Our Faith through Defence of Human Life.

The vigil will entail the recitation of the Rosary, Candle Light Stations of the Cross, Holy Mass, Songs of Praise and Worship, among others.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—41

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42—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 13 , 2013

The ‘abortion law’ in Imo RIGHT OF REPLY

By EMMANUEL UGOJI

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N August 27, 2013, Vanguard cor respondent, Mr. Chidi Nkwopara publsied a story titled “Okorocha, Catholic Doctors at war over abortion law”. In the second paragraph of the story he wrote: “The law, among others, permits women to procure abortion at will”. This is not correct. Section 40 (i) of the law states “Every woman shall have the right to enjoy reproductive rights including the right to medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the continued pregnancy endangers the life of the physical, mental, psychological or emotional health of the mother”. What this section has done is to expand the choices of women who find themselves in such a fix.

There is no way that this section connotes abortion on demand as presented

by Nkwopara although he ended up confusing his readers by quoting the relevant section of the law in subsequent paragraph.

Map of Imo State

that he signed the law on April 10, this year.

He also used the word “obnoxious law” thereby condemning the whole 50-paged document which seeks to protect women in Imo State against any form of violence.The whole thing is still about the Catholic church in Imo State. On the same date, Nkwopara went sensational and wrote: Abortion saga: “Rochas Okorocha bows” and the intro read “Gov. Rochas Okorocha, Tuesday, bowed to the superiViolence against or fire power of the fiery Catholic Archpersons prohibition bishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, DR. Anthony J.V. Obinna over From the reports he did, one can easily the obnoxious abortion law. Vanguard conclude that Nkwopara did not read this does better than this. law or that he read it and did not underIn the same story he said that the law stand its contents. In the first place, there was signed on May 29, 2012. This is is nothing like abortion law. What exists wrong because the law was back-dated to is titled: “Imo State of Nigeria Violence that day. The actual signing was April 18, Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Law. 2013. He even knew when the ArchbishI will suggest that Mr Nkwopara ex- op strategized with his priests on how to plains why he had to smuggle such state- go about getting the law repealed. Now ment in his story because that is the para- that the women of Imo State are strategizgraph that is still generating tension in ing on what to do with the law and the Imo State. I want to state that the state- lawmakers are reading in-between the ment is misleading, damaging and un- lines to see if the so-called controversial professional. The women whose bodies section is worth removing, I hope Nkwothe decisions are being taken about are para will report on this latest development. already protesting and reaching out to the He has also done a story linking the lawmakers and even the Government planned repeal of his abortion law to the House as we speak. I hope Nkwopara will decision of Imo State government to demolish the property of one Dr. Njemanze, Nigeria has an abortion law. The only who he said was the person that found out snag is that it is restrictive because it that the law had been only allows the procedure when the secretly signed. All I am asking for is for woman’s life is in danger Vanguard to maintain the objectivity of regive them the same coverage as he has ports which it has been doing for years and to always monitor what their reportdone for his Catholic Church.

By the way, I know that Nigeria has an ers do to know when they are carried away abortion law. The only snag is that it is by emotions or religious sentiments.

In Nigeria, 34,000 women die from comrestrictive because it only allows the procedure when the woman’s life is in dan- plications of unsafe abortion every year, ger. The law is on section 297 of the Crim- while many more are maimed for life. All inal Code. At this juncture, I wish to state these have been documented. I will not that I know three Catholic countries that mind sending a copy of the Imo State law have the same kind of laws if religion to Vanguard and to arrange a lecture on should be the way towards its repeal. Ita- the reproductive health situation of Nigely has a 1978 voluntary termination of preg- rian women. In June last year, Lagos State nancy law. It can be googled. Ireland government disseminated findings on the passed its abortion bill this year, while The cause of maternal death in the state and Philippines passed a similar bill into law unsafe abortion accounted for 46 per cent.

That is why the state government last year.

On September 3, 2013, Nkwopara pub- launched a child and maternal reduction lished another story entitled “We’ve not project in the state.

In all honesty, I feel that the issue of legalized abortion in Imo - Okorocha”. In the intro, he said that the governor was unsafe abortion deaths in Nigeria is some“engaged in a double speak, saying abor- thing that should be swept under the cartion has not been legalized in Imo State.” pet based on religious sentiments, instead I find this very unfortunate. To make mat- of empirical evidence.

•Ugoji is Member of Network of Reproters worse, he indicated that Okorocha signed the law in August when it is clear ductive Health Cluster

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—43

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44—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Court upholds Andy Uba as PDP candidate T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still has a high hurdle to scale ahead the November 16, 2013 Anambra gubernatorial election. A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

yesterday ruled that Senator Andy Uba remains the PDP candidate for the Anambra gubernatorial race. It ordered the Ken Emeakayi-led PDP in Anambra state to maintain the status quo pending the final

decision of the court. It also ordered that the PDP should recognize the Ejike Oguebegoled faction of the party – as the authentic faction.

In the ruling handed

by Justice H.A Nganjiwa, the

court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify with the Ejike group that produced Uba as the authentic governorship candidate of the PDP.

It’s season of endorsements for candidates

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, VINCENT UJUMADU, GODFREY BIVBERE, OKE & SHABI SEGUN

S

IXTY-FOUR days to the November 16 governorship election, the Anambra polity is awash with endorsements for the various candidates running the race. It is a season of endorsements, as it were, from hordes of groups cutting across all strata of the polity.

Physically challenged endorse Ifeanyi Ubah: THE Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disability, ASCEND, in Anambra State has endorsed Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for the governorship of the state. The 100,000-member ASCEND took the decision in Awka yesterday during a meeting attended by physically challenged persons from all parts of the state.

President of the association, Chief Cosmas Okoli, who announced the endorsement, said Ifeanyi Ubah was the only

•Uba

Moghalu tasks INEC on credible polls

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•Ngige gubernatorial election and we thus opened our doors to all the aspirants to engage with us in the process of endorsing a candidate for the election.

"We make bold to say that no aspirant responded to this overture, except Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, who promptly reached out to us to find out what the

,

We make bold to say that no aspirant responded to this overture, except Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, who promptly reached out to us to find out what the issues are and to tell us that even before we announced our intentions, he had sought after our members and invited them to join his campaign organization

candidate that has spelt out in clear terms what he would do for physically challenged people and the entire people of the state if he wins the November 16 election.

He said: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of persons with disability in Nigeria as we take the first decisive step in the politics of Nigeria, with the endorsement of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah for governor of Anambra State come 2014.

“We started this journey by announcing our intention to endorse a candidate for the C M Y K

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issues are and to tell us that even before we announced our intentions, he had sought after our members and invited them to join his campaign organization. “He sought to know the needs of persons with disability and he promptly included them in his manifesto and also pledged to run a transparent and inclusive government that will take Anambra State to the next level.

He came across to us as someone who could be trusted, but because we want to make sure that we endorsed the best candidate, we went ahead to

•Ubah assess all the gubernatorial aspirants to know those who have the capacity to deliver good governance to the people of Anambra State and can ensure that no group or section of the society is left out.”

Anambra technocrats thumbs up Ngige: IN like manner, Shipping, freightforwarding and allied logistics operators under the auspices of Anambra Maritime Practitioners Association (AMPA) have endorsed Senator Chris Ngige for the position. AMPA National President, Dominic Obi alongside other executives in Lagos, voiced their zeal and financial commitment to the return of the Ngige construction and rehabilitation era, during the official presentation of campaign flagoff materials to the senator.

Obi disclosed that though the group is non-partisan, AMPA’s support in politics is “earned by individuals whose records, antecedents and pedigree show that they will serve the people and perform well,” more so with the state’s slogan change from “Home for All” to “Light of the Nation.”

The AMPA boss decried the deteriorating state of insecurity, infrastructural and institutional decay, which he said puts the people at risk of losing their

identity and roots as more people stay away from new yam festivals and other cultural/ religious programmes including conducting traditional marriages for their children in Lagos and other secured cities.

“The government that did not give its people security has lost it all. We must not get used to this imprisonment of locking ourselves inside prison-like houses, moving with troops of armed policemen and military, like prisoners being escorted to court for trial or those condemned to death being escorted for execution.

“Dr Chris Ngige had it in his blueprint to commence developing freight and transport infrastructure to stimulate the economy of Anambra state and also create employment.

We know that not only will he restore all sectors that have gone to the doldrums since he left office, but he will move fast to continue implementing his people-oriented plan,” he concluded. Senator Chris, who was represented by Messrs Emmanuel Ojukwu and Valentine Uzokwe, stated that the richest man is not found in the graveyard but among the living and pledged to fight insecurity through provision of jobs.

BY GBENGA OKE

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief George Moghalu, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a credible, free and fair election on November 16.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, the former All Nigeria Peoples Party national secretary also boasted that the APC is the party to beat in the governorship election because it has the best candidate that will deliver dividends of democracy to Anambra citizens.

Moghalu said, Senator Chris Ngige, the candidate of the party parades the best credentials out of all the candidates running for the office.

His words: “I believe strongly and I am very confident that we are going to win the forthcoming gubernatorial race in Anambra State because our candidate, Senator Chris Ngige is widely accepted. He is tested, experienced and can be trusted”.

He also cautioned the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to be up and doing at the forthcoming polls.

“INEC should give Anambrians a free, fair and credible election in November because anything below standard will be unacceptable” he added.

He however maintained that the party is battle ready to confront the other parties at the polls saying “I can tell you precisely that we in the APC are ready for this election and we are not going for anything less than to win the elections”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 45

Jonathan:

The internal war in the North

IN the midst of the ensuing battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , is the unfolding rancour in the North over the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan for another term in office.

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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HIEFTAIN of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi was trenchant in dubbing President Goodluck Jonathan a good student of former President Olusegun Obasanjo especially on matters concerning agreements in a recent radio interview. Speaking on a Liberty Radio, Kaduna interview, the emerging champion of a northern presidency, however, failed to buttress his argument with the facts of the alleged agreement that has been the subject of much controversy.

“When Obasanjo wanted an extension of tenure for a second term under the zoning arrangement, he had to come to an extended caucus of the PDP. I remember how people opposed the idea. The late Abubakar Rimi was one of them and he was supported by about three others that Obasanjo should not be given an extension and that the Presidency should come to the North for four years before going back to the South,” he said of the PDP caucus where the then president was adopted for a second term in late 2002.

Continuing, Abdullahi said:“Eventually, about 37 people out of the about 41 present voted for the extension for Obasanjo to have a second term. Now coming to why we should not trust people who renege on promises,

•Jonathan: Battle ready? nonetheless, a cross section of Northern leaders have come out to differ with him on the eligibility or otherwise of the incumbent president running for another term in 2015. The internal debate within the North has raised speculations of a possible irreversible split in the once formidable political hegemony in the North.

Among those who have differed

,

So when one person representing a few people being funded by the governors and holding press conferences virtually every day is putting up his own ideas, you cannot say that the ideas are the thoughts of everybody within the North

Obasanjo was the first to deny that there was a zoning that brought him to power. He did that and kept doing it and it is most likely it was from him that they learnt what they are doing because he was instrumental to Jonathan becoming Vice President.

“So, Jonathan must be Obasanjo’s student on matters of zoning because he himself kept saying, when we were arguing that Jonathan rightly became the President of the country when Yar’Adua died, this is what the constitution allows’ and in fact insisted on it and nobody begrudged that.”

Prof. Abdullahi’s assertions

,

with Ango Abdulahi on the issue are former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Abba-Gana; former president of the Senate, Senator Ameh Ebute; Dr. Jalili Tafawa Balewa, a son of the country’s first and only prime minister, Alhaji Tafewa Balewa; Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, PDP, Taraba; Gen. Lawrence Onoja among others. The division in the North is reinforced by the support the president is equally having in some sections of the Southhis support base in that section of the country.

Asserting that the North as a body is not against the president running for another term of

office, Abba-Gana in an interview with newsmen in Lagos said: “It is not true. The North is not against President Jonathan because there are several well respected northern leaders the media may not know who are supporting him.”

Remarkably, the Jonathan 2015 project is also helping to further sharpen the divide in the once united North. While elements from the core North like Prof.

Abdullahi have been sharp in demanding the return of the presidency to the North, a subset of the North representing mostly the Christian non-HausaFulanis has been largely unmindful in the emerging debate. Indeed, some from that section otherwise dubbed as the northern minority have come forward to plead for a second term for Dr. Jonathan.

Many of the leaders from that section of the country have also affirmed that Prof. Abdullahi does not speak for them. “There is a misconception. The North of the sixties when Sarduana was alive is no longer the same today,” Gen. Onoja, who served as governor of Katsina and Plateau States during the military dictatorships said.

“Let me correct that misconception, I am from Middle Belt which is a geographical reality today. I am an active member of Congress for Equality and Change which is a non

political association. I am also a member of Middle Belt Forum.

So, if you say I am from the North, and you are referring to the old North yes, I am from the North, but now, the Middle Belt is a geographical reality and I am a member of the Middle Belt. I am not from the core North,” he added.

Senator Ebute who is from Benue State and was president of the Senate in 1993 at the time Gen. Sani Abacha usurped the powers of the fledgling Third Republic democratic institutions was even more cutting, saying: “My advice to them is that they should wait until President Goodluck Jonathan completes his second term since by divine providence; the zoning has automatically fallen on the SouthSouth. God zoned the presidency to the South- South.”

Continuing, he said: “The North whose definition I am not too sure includes the Middle Belt, should wait until the person whom God has given the presidency completes his tenure and as soon as he completes his second term one can now argue that the turn should now come to the North.”

In a seeming indication of the internal political battle that would arise in the North in the future when the presidency eventually returns to that section of the country, Ebute chipped in, “and that North should include all the

zones in the North, not only the North-West. We have other zones in the North, but some people are now arguing or defining North as if it means only the NorthWest.”

That point was also reiterated

by Senator Bwacha thus: “These are individual opinions. But irrespective of whatever anybody is saying, I am a Northerner and I can tell you the preponderance of opinions, that an average Northern minority wants Jonathan to continue in 2015. If those Northerners, who were saying Mr. President cannot continue, like Ango Abdullahi are expressing our opinions, I wouldn’t be saying something different.”

Dr. Abduljhalil Tafawa-Balewa from the core north in Bauchi State asked of his own inclinations towards a second term for Dr. Jonathan said: “You can count on me. I will vote for him. There has never been any Nigerian President since independence until now, that has done so well in appointing women who constitute half of our population to (positions) in ministries and embassies across the world. Terrorism as many people don’t seem to notice often takes a long time before it is calmed down.”

Stride of comments Senator Ebute finally dismisses assertions that the stride of comments from Prof. Abdullahi is representative of the whole north. He said: “I am not a member of the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders’ Forum, whether he is speaking for the members of the Arewa Consultative Forum or Arewa Elders Forum it is left for Ango Abdullahi.”

“I don’t know anything that is happening in those organizations but I assure you that apart from the members of the Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elder’s Forum there are millions of other Northerners that believe in the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. So when one person representing a few people being funded by the governors and holding press conferences virtually every day is putting up his own ideas, you cannot say that the ideas are the thoughts of everybody within the North.”

“So I don’t know whether Ango Abdullahi is speaking on behalf of the people he has been speaking for. I am not in the position to say that.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Jonathan’s second term ambition behind PDP’s crisis — Rep Dike Hon. Fort Ifeanyi Dike, who represents Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State in the House of Representatives, is the House Committee chairman on Inter and Intra Party Relations. An engineer by profession, he is also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Unlike some of his colleagues who had pitched their tent with the “new PDP” following the crisis in the ruling party, he has not yet taken position. He however told Vanguard in this interview that President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition is the cause of the crisis in the party. Excerpts:

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU No one expected that the PDP crisis would assume the dimension it assumed in the House of Representatives. Do you think that your colleagues made the right call in joining the new PDP? One will be politically naïve not to expect what is happening. You know in most states whether we like it or not; and that is one of the distortions in our current democratic dispensation, most of the people who came to the National Assembly came with the goodwill of the governors.

The governors were dominant in giving them tickets in the parties.

Lack of internal party democracy is one of the things my committee is fighting. So, you found out that the governors were instrumental in getting them to the National Assembly.

So, in return, most members of the National Assembly owe allegiance to the governors

system, people have so many ways of fighting for their right.

And what they did is within their right in a democratic system.

Do you see the Speaker taking side in the new development?

I am an observant member of the House of Representatives and based on that I want to tell you something. All the clamour or speculation about the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal is because of his direction, his understanding of the issues of leadership in this country.

Tambuwal is not out to merely promote the party, PDP that he belongs rather he is concerned about the welfare of the Nigerian masses.

So, what drives him is the improvement in the condition of the masses of Nigeria. In doing that, he now finds critical those acts of omission or commission by the ruling party.

So, as far as I understand Tambuwal, he is not pro this person or anti this party. He is not pro-APC or Pro-new PDP or anti-PDP.

,

In a scenario where the governors are taking sides or joining a particular faction, you would naturally expect that they will take as many members of the National Assembly from their state

who helped them. So, in a scenario where the governors are taking sides or joining a particular faction, you would naturally expect that they will take as many members of the National Assembly from their state as possible except those who were helped by the Presidency or who have developed rapport with the Presidency or the national PDP, otherwise.

Don’t you think staging a walkout on the President on a day of a ruling party’s national is an affront on the office and person of the President?

Ethnically and conventionally, it wasn’t the right thing to do. One may be pushed to term it as disrespect to the President. But you also know that we are in a democratic dispensation. So, it depends on how the people were pushed to the wall. It depends on all the efforts they had made previously to get these issues resolved whether those efforts they made were recognized or addressed and so on. So, in a democratic

,

Where do you belong, new or old PDP? Personally, I am an agent of change. Without necessary being of new PDP or old PDP, I am not a member of the new PDP yet. And it may not be on my cap to join immediately. I will prefer to stay in the old PDP. But I must make this observation.

Nigeria requires change. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Inter and Intra Party Relations, I recognize that political parties in Nigeria including the PDP need to undergo radical changes and reforms.

The way they are going about their affairs are not in consonance with the ethic, spirit and modalities of an ideal democratic system.

Do you think the centre will still hold for PDP? To me, it is clearly an issue of 2015. People have interest, both the current President and other people; they have interest to become President. That is the issue. Each group, each faction, each person will try to put in

•Dike: Tambuwal is concerned about the welfare Nigerians place condition that will suit and advance his own ambition.

In spite of reconciliation efforts, unless certain issues are addressed, they will come to nothing.

The issues that need to be addressed are: Is the President going for a second term? If the President is not going for a second term, all these issues will not arise. If the President deems it right to go for a second term, naturally, he will now

have the interest to retain a Chairman that will promote his interest in the party primary.

So, it is expected that he will try to retain the present chairman or have in place, a chairman that will be loyal to him when the presidential primaries come.

Now, if he makes the mistake of removing the chairman or in the pursuit of peace, give away the party’s structure to other people who also want to be

President, he will be doing himself in.

So, he will never give up if he is politically wise. He will now try to hold the old PDP as much as possible and the only condition he will yield to will be to now try to make cosmetic efforts but ensuring that nothing will affect his presidential ambition in 2015.

On the other hand, the other people too who want to be President know that if they don’t fight and remain in PDP and PDP doesn’t have a crisis, they cannot emerge on the platform of the party and they will not emerge on the platform of any other alternative viable platform because they may find that in spirit or under certain condition, they may not able to make it in the APC or the APC may not by their opinion be able to secure as much votes in the North.

So, they will be bent on creating a division in the PDP in order to afford them a platform to run for the Presidency.

This is natural. They will be doing it in such a way that if they want to desert the PDP, they will cause a lot of havoc and of course create a lot of factions in the PDP to allow National and state assembly members to be able to follow them to the new party. So, what is happening is a normal scenario that is expected in politics. So, if PDP is indeed, serious about solving this problem, they will go back to basics.

What are the basics? Did the President promise not to run a second term in 2015? Was there any such agreement? If there was such agreement, what are we going to do about it?

Delta Central by-election:

Intrigues, re-alignments trail contest

BY FESTUS AHON

T

HE political landscape in Delta Central Senatorial District is being charged with the caliber of persons aspiring to replace late Senator Pius Akpor Ewherido in the Senate. Until his death on June 30, 2013, Ewherido, a charismatic and well-endowed politician represented the senatorial district under the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP. As a matter of fact, he was the only DPP senator in a 109member House. For the two years

he spent in the Senate before his painful and unexpected demise, Senator Ewherido made the Urhobo ethnic nationality proud with the quality of representation he gave to them, which in appreciation, the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU organized a valedictory session for him.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is busy putting necessary machineries in motion to guide against losing the seat to the opposition for the second time. While the DPP is working round the clock to clinch the position, the All Progressives

Congress, APC on its part is not leaving any stone unturned to pick the slot.

The aspirants: Top on the PDP list are Chief Ighoyota Amori, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief Fred Majemite, Mr. Solomon Edoja, Mr. Andrew Oru and Chief Maxmiller Orido.

The DPP has the likes of Mr. Ede Definone, Chief Richard Odibo and Chief Napoleon Gbinije.

Aspiring on the platform of the

Continues on page 48

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 47

A

FTER the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, his successor General Olusegun Obasanjo handed over the responsibility of government to a civilian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the victorious National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979. The change of baton which did not happen until after the Supreme Court has ruled, also witnessed the end of army rule since the military coup of 1966.

The NPN of those days was led by that unassuming but intelligent leader, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a Fulani from Sokoto.

During his political days, he was remarkable for his humility, simplicity and respectability. Some political opponents saw him as a weak leader who allowed the growth of corruption among his lieutenants. Some political pundits, though of doubtful credentials, attributed the origin of political corruption in the country to his era of free politics and unbridled opportunism.

His progressive economic policy was betrayed by high spending on free imports, featuring luxuries and supported by inflow of oil money. The value of the Naira was high as to encourage free flow of cheap imports to aid development in the Housing Industry. Many private luscious estates sprang up during that era of cheap money.

As I have noted before, former President Alhaji Shagari was clear and categorical in his 1983 Budget speech when he said “I have followed with keen interest in the on-going debate on the devaluation of the Naira, I am convinced that given the present structure of the Nigerian economy which depends largely on one export commodity on one hand, and places heavy reliance on imports of capital goods and raw materials on the other, devaluation will not be in the best interest of the country.

I, therefore, wish to state without any equivocation, that under the present circumstance, this administration has no intention of devaluing the Naira”.

Nigeria operated a fixed foreign exchange system at the time. That was bold and exhibition of quality leadership.

07059197616

There was a party and there is a party Apart from bold economic determination on the part of Shagari and his government, the drastic fall in the price of crude oil played havoc on the mood of political leadership which did not take seriously the diversification of the economy when the going was good. The economic crisis of the early 1980s was partly responsible for the fall of NPN government in 1983. The military adventurers hid under the canopy of the ravaging economic woes of the period to strike.

However, the greatness of former President Shagari could be found in the strategy of managing successfully the diverse ethnic and religious differences in the country. In spite of belonging to the class of ‘Vandals‘ (Biafran epithet), the NPN was able to garner enough votes from the Ibo speaking area to win handsomely the presidential contest (his deputy was the respected Dr Alex Ekwueme).

The Shagari victories in 1979 and 1983 elections were more remarkable because his main opponents were the old and experienced political Southern politicians – Dr Azikiwe and Chief Awolowo.

At last, the great Party, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) fell, first by the pride of many of its leaders who boasted that their party would rule Nigeria forever. Though the NPN was believed to have won fairly (as proclaimed by the Supreme Court) in

1979, the party‘s victory of 1983 was adjudged to be heavily rigged by many Nigerians.

The UPN States of Oyo and Bendel (now Edo and Delta) were successfully ‘annexed‘ while Dt Azikiwe‘s home State (Anambra) fell to NPN to warn Nigerians of the intention of the party to be the only party in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the party, Chief Adisa Akinloye once warned his party leadership of the existence of the ‘The Third Party‘ besides the combined opposition of UPN of Chief Awolowo and APP of Dr Azikiwe.

The military adventurers returned in 1983 and that signified the political end of ‘gentleman‘ Shagari and his flamboyant and proud NPN. And so, the dream of ruling Nigeria for ever became an empty boast.

The new party The allusion to the old NPN is to introduce the new party called and registered as Peoples‘ Democratic Party (PDP). It was mistakenly believed that the NPN had the blessing of the ruling military regime until the Buhari coup.

Some analysts explained that unexpected putsch to that fear by the Northern military elites of the emergence soon of a Southern President under the NPN Scheme - Dr Alex Ekwueme as Vice President and Chief Adisa Akinloye as Chairman of the party – after Shagari‘s tenure.

That APGA primary

BY STAN OKEKE

C

ONTRARY to widespread expectations from the opposition and detractors of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Chief (Sir) Victor Umeh –led party, on August 26, 2013, held the most credible and peaceful party primary in the country that threw up Chief Willy Obiano as the APGA flag bearer for the November 16, 2013 gubernatorial election in Anambra state.

Speculations were rift that it was going to be the most bitterly contested primary and a direct confrontation between the APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, and the Anambra state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, as both gladiators were alleged to have their favoured candidates.

For such armchair critics and political analysts, the party primary would expose and bring to the fore, the cosmetic nature of the reconciliation between the two gladiators. However, these doomsday analysts were proved wrong and as these speculations were going on, Gov. Obi and his national chairman, Chief Victor

Umeh, along with other major stakeholders and members of the party, were busy all through the preceding week of the primary, putting heads together in a series of meetings, to ensure a peaceful and well co-ordinated primary that would produce an acceptable candidate for APGA in the November election.

What actually led to these unfortunate speculations, was the assumption that a particular candidate who was disqualified by the party ’s Screening Committee, was the anointed candidate to win the governorship election for APGA. Having been disqualified alongside other candidates by a very credible and well constituted Screening Committee, all hell was let loss and all propaganda set in motion to discredit the APGA leadership.

Granted, a few of the disqualified candidates were eminently qualified to be the standard bearers of APGA but only if they played by the rules.

Judging by the rules guiding APGA and going by its constitution, were they qualified to contest the primary? Should party rules, constitution and

•Umeh guidelines be flouted for a particular candidate simply because he is perceived to possess the credentials to run?

Has the same scenario played out before in the case of the same candidate? Why the hue and cry about this candidate?

For the records, one of these disqualified candidates, submitted to the Screening Committee, a membership card signed by Chief Maxi Okwu. On

The new Party, the PDP is widely believed to be sponsored by the old military leadership to make one of their ranks in civilian attires, the President, Chief Obasanjo was alleged chosen to appease the Yoruba after the annulment of Abiola‘s victory. There is no doubt that Chief Obasanjo, a retired army general without obvious political experience, was given indirect help – a friendly election umpire and other formidable logistics to emerge victorious in two subsequent elections.

If the present leadership of the PDP is not aware of this salient fact, the present ‘involvement‘ of the former powerful rulers of the country, Generals Obasanjo and Babangida in attempts to broker peace, is a reminder of the fact that PDP is still being regarded as a favorite party of the past military elites. The position of the President of Nigeria is therefore regarded as special to the North – the home of former powerful military elites.

The unfolding drama to me as a layman is this: If Northern soldiers could topple Shagari (a Northerner), what stops the Northern civilians (governors) from shaking the Southern President (Dr Jonathan) politically, especially now that the PDP is generally judged to be performing below expectation.

This time, it appears that the old tested and returned military elites and emirs are being joined by active young civilians (governors) to force President Jonathan to look back into past history for guidance.

Unfortunately, the President is being served by a cortore of self-seekers and sycophants. The President has many political foes including the new APC (made of North-West and South-West and other experienced political foxes).

However, there is a way out for visionary leadership playing sensible politics.

A consensus on Power, Unemployment and Security policies could turn the table against kidnappings, armed robberies, ritual killings and insurrection.

Can Nigerians discuss now on how to live in peace and prosperity in a stable polity?

two very critical grounds- Not possessing a voters card and bearing an invalid APGA membership card- was disqualified. The same candidate appealed his disqualification, even as he knew that he at least, had an invalid membership card.

Also expected is that a party member must have been a member of that political party for an agreed number of years, before qualifying to contest any elective post in the said party.

Nobody should be above the guidelines or rules that guide an association or political party.

In concluding their assignment, the Screening Appeal Panel, headed by Chief Tony Ojielo with Barr. Bala Bako as secretary, submitted that having considered the appeal of the aspirants who failed the screening test, the panel having touched on all the relevant aspects of the party’s electoral guidelines, affirmed the submissions of all the aspirants that met the requirements of those guidelines.

They thereafter dismissed the appeals of the contending contestants as lacking in merit.

In passing this judgment, there was no minority report in favour of the disqualified candidates.

At the APGA primary that later

saw Willy Obiano coming out victorious, it was obvious that the APGA national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, played a very significant and noble role in the conduct of that successful primary. Umeh, true to character, ensured that whosoever that emerged as the APGA candidate, would be acceptable to all stakeholders and members of the party, even as it was perceived that Obiano was the anointed candidate of Gov. Peter Obi. Even the shinning amazon of APGA, Iyom Uche Ekwunife, who came second at the primary, exhibited the spirit of a team player when the result was announced.

Umeh, in his reaction after the successful primary, urged all the contestants to close ranks and embrace Obiano and work as one family to ensure victory for APGA in the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state.

A leader with exceptional qualities, the APGA national chairman confirmed that his reconciliation with Gov. Obi, contrary to speculations, was real and for the wellbeing and continued electoral successes for APGA. *Okeke is the Special Assistant (Media) to the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Delta Central by-election:

Intrigues, re-alignments trail contest Continues from page 46 APC are Chief O’tega Emerho and Barrister Festus Keyamo.

For Chief Ighoyota Amori, it was an opportunity for him to reclaim the senatorial mandate allegedly given to him in 2011 by his people. Amori is the Senior Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and National Chairman of the Urhobo Political Congress, UPC. He was the Delta State Commissioner for Education from 1999 to 2007 under the Chief James Ibori administration.

He was a major political player during the Chief James Ibori’s government; many people saw him as a king-maker then. Today, Chief Amori is aspiring to be a Senator at least to join his peers in the political field such as Senators Ifeanyi Okowa and James Manager.

For those supporting Chief Amori, they are of the view that the Urhobos should compensate him for his contribution to the Urhobo land and very many persons are garnering support for him across the eight local councils of Delta Central.

However, the leadership of the UPC has advised Chief Ighoyota Amori, who was candidate of the PDP in the 2011 senatorial election not to contest the forthcoming bye-election. But Amori has insisted that he would participate in the election.

Amori in a text message said: “I am in the race; the opinion of one man cannot deter me from running: Withdraw for who? All interested UPC members were

•Keyamo

•Amori

•Omo-Agege

•Emerhor

•Aguariavwodo

•Majemite

•Odibo

•Oru

present their credentials for UPC to take a position on who to support.

Egbo, who is the National Youth Leader of the group said: “We are of the opinion that considering what have been said and written about Chief Amori in

Top politicians in the area are dragging him into the senatorial race, arguing that he has all it takes to go to the Senate.

He was also a Commissioner for Special Duties (Government House) and Secretary to the State Government, SSG. He was appointed SSG after he lost the PDP governorship primary to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2007.

In the last few weeks, over three political pressure groups have been urging him to join the senatorial race. They believed that it is time to appreciate him and his father, Justice James Omo-Agege (rtd) for their contribution to the political development of the district.

They said he and his father were instrumental to the creation of new wards in Urhobo land.

Beyond that, they said Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, who was a member of the Chief James Ibori kitchen cabinet, influenced many projects among other things to the district.

Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and former member of the Federal House of Representatives is also reaching out to political leaders and getting support of the people.

His supporters see him as one politician that has attracted

development to the urhobo nation when he was NDDC boss and they are of the view that it was time to pay him back.

Another strong contender is Chief Fred Majemite, Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta Central) and one-time commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development in the State.

He ran for the Senate in 2003 but lost in the PDP primary to Olorogun Felix Ibru. His ambition stemmed from his desire to be voice of his people in the Senate.

Odibo, a grassroots politician and mobilizer.

Chief Odibo has lived all his life in Udu; so he is well known and grounded in Delta politics.

Chief Napoleon Gbinije, a former member of the House of Representative under the platform of the PDP, left the PDP in 2007 after losing the House of Representatives primary to Mr. Joyce Overah and joined the DPP in protest. The business mogul and politician is working hard to clinch the Senate position.

Chief O’tega Emerhor of the APC is moving day and night to solicit the support of the electorate. Emerhor, a guru in the insurance and banking industry is a force to reckon with in the senatorial race.

Another contender that cannot be over looked is Barrister Festus Keyamo, a human rights lawyer and activist.

With this caliber of persons in the Delta Central Senatorial byelection, the electorate may have a tough nut to crack in picking the best man to represent them in the Upper Chamber.

The underlying truth is that, the Urhobo nation is blessed with patriotic and high profile politicians who are committed to the well being of their people.

None of this array of politicians can be wished away as far as the senatorial race is concerned.

,

PDP, is busy putting necessary machineries in motion to guide against losing the seat to the opposition for the second time, while the DPP is working round the clock to clinch the position

requested to come and present themselves for assessment before we can choose who is more qualified electorally.

“So, the personal opinion of one individual who does not like my face from the beginning of politics is irrelevant to our collective resolve. I can assure you I will win as we have been asked to face the party primaries of the PDP.” Leadership of the group based its insistence on Chief Amori’s withdrawal from the race on the need for PDP and UPC to present a more acceptable candidate to reclaim the senatorial seat from the DPP. Olorogun Jaro Egbo said the group’s effort to prevail on Amori would not yield the desired result, adding that members of the group who are interested in the senatorial seat were asked to

,

recent times, it may be difficult for us to market him. And we are not prepared for another loss at the polls. So we have started shopping for Amori’s possible replacement within and outside the UPC. “Our concern is the consequence of allowing over five aspirants from the UPC to go for the PDP primaries and the possibility of the group losing out or throwing up an unpopular candidate that may not be acceptable to the Urhobo nation, which may lead to another defeat of the PDP by the new APC or DPP.” Even though he has not declared his intention for the senatorial seat, one-time Executive Assistant to former Governor James Ibori, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege is garnering support across the district.

Strong force in the race Also in the race is Mr Solomon Edoja, a member of the Federal House of Representatives. Edoja, a one-time Special Adviser to the Governor on Inter Party Relations and Commissioner for Special Duties to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, is also a strong force in the race and Urhobo politics.

His campaign is being championed by market women and okada riders.

Mr. Ede Definone of the DPP, an accomplished Accountant, lost his party primary to late Senator Pius Ewherido in 2011.

He is spreading out his dragnet to woe all supporters of the party to his side. Also struggling for the DPP ticket is Chief Richard

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—49

Police bar Amaechi from entering Govt House Continues from page 5 Oyinlola and Dr Sam Jaja, adduced reasons why the court should strike out the suit entered against them by a faction of the PDP loyal to Tukur.

Tukur and 11 national officers of the PDP had in an ex parte motion they filed before the court last Friday, sought for an order of interim injunction restraining the four respondents from parading themselves as national executives of the party.

The plaintiffs had also prayed the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising, dealing and relating with the Barajeled faction, as well as restrain them from operating or opening a parallel national, state, local government area and ward secretariat under the appellation of “New PDP”, pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Besides, Tukur and his group urged the court to stop the splinter group from interfering with the duties and functions of the newly elected Executives of the party.

Nevertheless, Justice Chukwu declined to grant the ex-parte application, even as he directed counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Tochukwu Onwugbufor, SAN, to go and put all the respondents on notice.

While adjourning the matter, the court ordered the warring factions to maintain their statusquo, pending the determination of the suit.

Meantime, at the resumed sitting on the case yesterday, counsel to the Baraje group, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court that they filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

In the preliminary objection, the Baraje group maintained that the subject matter of the suit had to do with domestic affairs of the PDP, contending that the suit ought to have been filed before a state or Federal Capital Territory High Court, instead of the FHC. An attempt by Raji to persuade the court to hear and determine the issue of jurisdiction be-

fore delving into the substantive matter was vehemently opposed by counsel to the Tukur led faction, Chief Tochukwu Onwugbufor, SAN, who pleaded the court to grant an interim order directing the two parties to maintain the status quo.

After listening to the parties, Justice Chukwu adjourned the matter till today to rule on whether or not to grant application for an interim order of status quo as prayed for by the Tukur-led PDP.

Presidency may dump Tukur The aggrieved governors of the PDP appeared to have made substantial progress in their ongoing dialogue with the Presidency and key stakeholders of the party. They met for hours on Tuesday night and agreed on some grey areas while another meeting is being slated for Sunday in Abuja.

Vanguard investigations showed that President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted many of the positions being canvassed by G-7 governors in an apparent move to end the political crisis that has jolted the party and threatened its 2015 victory.

A top source, who was at the meeting with the President last Tuesday, said that Jonathan had acquiesced to the demands of many of the PDP governors that the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, should be dropped as a condition for peace.

But the source who is a governor of one of the northern states said that the President had pleaded for time to enable the embattled chairman to disengage honourably from the top post.

“The President has accepted the dissenting governors’ demand that Tukur should go but he does not want him to be shoved out in a disgraceful manner. What the President wants is that Tukur should be allowed two to three months’ grace period to be able to disengage from the post,” the source said.

But Tukur, who believes he enjoys the support of

President Jonathan, has rebuffed claims that he was on his way out, insisting that he remains the chairman. It was also learnt that the Presidency had agreed that the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi, be lifted on condition that he withdraws all the suits he had instituted against the party for suspending him.

According to the source, the President noted that it was illegal to continue to suspend Amaechi after the initial 30 days stipulated in the constitution of the party without further justification. But the insistence of the Presidency on the withdrawal of cases filed against the party by the governor as a condition for recalling him was rejected by the other governors, who feared that the demand was a subtle ploy to further rein in Amaechi for more humiliation by hawks in the party, who do not like him.

It was gathered that the Presidency had expressed concern over the rising profile of the Atiku’s group in the party and had therefore decided to take on the former Vice President legally. A source said that in a bid to frustrate Atiku and his group from having their way in the 2015 election, the Presidency had opted to assemble what sources describe as a ‘formidable’ legal team to tackle the former number two man in the country and whittle his rising political influence.

One of the governors at the meeting said: “The grievances of the governors were tabled and revisited one by one by all those at the meeting.

When the issue of party structure in each of the affected states came up, the overriding interest of PDP was put into the consideration and the President and his team agreed that the authentic party structures should be restored in Adamawa and Kano states.

“As for Rivers State, the President and his team advised all the parties to withdraw their suits in court to resolve the matter. Although the President admitted that the suspension of Amaechi

was illegal and the required 30 days had elapsed, everything was predicated on the resolution of disputes in court.

“There was suspicion by the G-7 governors that the presidency came with a mind set to resolve issues except the crisis in Rivers. They are trying to isolate Amaechi to deal with him. Everybody has been wondering why the President’s

body language was different on Rivers State.

Jonathan was non-committal on the solutions to Rivers crisis,” the governor said.

PDP Russia backs Jonathan for 2015 Ahead of the 2015 general elections, PDP (Russian Chapter), under the

chairmanship of Dr Mauris Okoli, after a crucial meeting, adopted President Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the polls.

Okoli, who is also the Coordinator of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme in Russia, said that the decision to support President Jonathan’s second term bid is based on the fact that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, allows him a second term tenure.

Ogiame saga: More Itsekiri leaders denounce alleged sanction plan

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, Southsouth & EMMA ARUBI

W

ARRI— MORE Itsekri leaders and chiefs rose, yesterday, in strong condemnation of the surreptitious move by some opinion leaders to mobilize the people to impose sanction on the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, for allegedly embarrassing the Itsekiri nationality in the just ended kingship appellation face-off.

However, the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, led by Pa J.O.S Ayomike, said, yesterday, it was holding critical consultations with various stakeholders to determine the next line of action over the matter. Pa Ayomike told Vanguard in Warri that he would speak on the matter after consultations. Meetings were going on at his residence when Vanguard visited.

But Itsekiri leaders, who spoke to Vanguard, warned those mobilizing for sanction against the revered monarch to discontinue forthwith in their own interest, saying it was a wicked plot.

The monarch had on September 4, announced a controversial “New Order in Iwere Kingdom” in which he denounced the name and title of Ogiame, the more than 500 year-old Itsekiri kingship appellation, worship of the person of the monarch by the people through their national anthem, “Area Lorire” and veneration of deities, including Umalokun and other gods of sea, land and sky.

Chief Thomas Ereyitomi told Vanguard in Warri, “They cannot sanction Olu of Warri, they cannot do it because what they consider to be an embarrassment on his part, he had come back to say the status quo prevails. If somebody says he has intent to do something and people come out to say that they heard he was going to do this and that and they are not happy with it. If the person now says that since the people do not like what he has in mind, he will suspend it and hold more consultation, where is the reason for the sanction.”

Chief Ereyitomi added, “If there is no ulterior motive involved on the part of the concerned leaders, I do not see what they are saying about sanction for a matter that had been concluded.”

Rev. Dr. Stephen Gbejero of the Hour of Truth Ministry, Warri, told Vanguard, ‘As far as I am concerned, the provocation that led to the protest of September 6-10 is all over, the storm is over. No sensible Itsekiri man and woman can sit down to contemplate imposing sanction on the king. The king is so sacred and dear to them, in fact, after God; it is the king to an Itsekiri person. No Itsekiri man, no matter where he comes from can even sanction the Olu.” He added, “As the king actually and truly embarrassed the Itsekiri nation with the so-called September 4 edict/proclamation, so we the Itsekiris also embarrassed the king, along with different

dangerous deity and colored masquerades. And so, it was vice versa, no victor, no vanquished. No sanction, Hebrews 12:14.

As long as the Olu has humbled himself and changed his proclamation, as a servant of God, I tell you, ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He wishes’, Prov. 21:1. It is only God in whose hand his heart is that knows what He is doing with the king, no man can challenge God.” He warned that judgment of false accusers would come against anybody that lays false charges against the monarch, saying, the Bible says, “Set a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand, when he is judged, let him be found guilty, And let his prayer become sin.” Psalm 109: 6-10.

Former Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Mr. Solomon Areyenka, said, “I do not think it is necessary for anybody to sanction our monarch.

To me, there was a misconception by the people, even by those who interpreted the Bible and those who earlier interpreted the meaning of Ogiame to him. If there is conflict and it has been resolved, why should there be sanction.

“I do not know whether you are following me, there is no need to impose sanction on anybody, it un-called for, there was a misunderstanding and the cause of disagreement had been sorted out, except there are more than meet the eyes.”

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

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OLORUNMOLU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Itunuoluwa Ruth Olorunmolu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Itunuoluwa Ruth Uremure. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AJUONU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajuonu Amarachi Ugonna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eze Amarachi Ugonna. All former documents remain valid. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigerian Law School and general public please take note.

CHUKWUNEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chukwuneke Chinyelu Jane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Njoku Chinyelu Jane.

All former documents remain valid. Obafemi Awolowo University and general public please take note.

NNABUGWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinenyem Immaculate Nnabugwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinenyem Immaculate Ezidinma. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MUSENDIKU—I, formerly known and addressed as Olukunle Olukorede Adele Musendiku Obiana, now wish to be known and addressed as Olukunle Olukorede Adele. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKAFOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor Augustina Virginia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okwu Augustina Virginia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CAESER—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Orji Cyprian Caeser, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Orji Cyprian Chinedu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IDOLOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Idolor Onoriode Martina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Egbuwalo Onoriode Martina. All former documents remain valid. United Bank for Africa (UBA) and general public please take note.

SUNDAY—I, formerly known and addressed as Jonah Adukwu, now wish to known and addressed as Jonah Adukwu Sunday. All former documents remained valid. The general public especially the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja should please take note.

ONIAWA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Clare Ngozi Oniawa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Clare Ngozi Amechi-Nwanze. All formal documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKPOGUMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akpoguma Omoghene, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abenabe Omoghene.

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

ONAJOVWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onajovwe Ochuko Maryjane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onodjefemue Ochuko Maryjane.

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

AKPOGHALINO —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akpoghalino Efeghale Genevive, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okpro Efeghale Genevive. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGHENEGOMA —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eva Oghenegoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eva Omorodion.

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

ALEGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alege Muyiwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dibia Muyiwa Blessing. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute and general public please take note.

OGHEGHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogheghe Oghenekome Rachael, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alenosi Rachael. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBOTE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Obote Oghenekaro Erume, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekomekido Oghenekaro Erume.

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

THOMAS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Thomas Rebecca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rebecca Ejairu. All former documents remain valid. Post Primary Education Board, Asaba, Delta State and general public please take note.

USIAPHRE—I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Usiaphre Edward Onosigho, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Siavbre Edward Onosigho. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KURU — I formerly known and addressed as Miss Kuru Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbeta Eunice. All former documents remain valid.

National Orthopaedic Hospital Dala, Kano and general public please take note.

OKOPIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jeannifred Okopie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jeannifred Edore Hackwell. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UKPONU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omogho Candy Ukponu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omogho Ukponu Alpheus. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A D O G H O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adogho Jubilee, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oniovosa Jubilee. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOKOROKU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Judith Chikamara Nwokoroku, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alilonu Judith C h i k a m a r a Nwokoroku.

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

AFOLABI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolabi Omoladun Mayokun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ejesu Omoladun Mayokun. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

UKONU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezinwa Ihuoma Ukonu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezinwa Ihuoma Joseph-Etukudo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IGWEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Igweh Oroma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Joe Love Oroma.

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

EKEFRE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekefre Patience Ufot, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gordon Patience Ebukmfon. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UZOAMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nonye Frances Uzoama, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nonye Frances Nweke.

All documents bearing the former names remain valid. General public please take note.

MONEY—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Money Patricia Demarefa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patricia Demarefa Waibode. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekah Onajite, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osarumen Onajite.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Poly, Oko and general public please take note.

ABUBAKAR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nurat Abubakar, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Favour Nurat Anetekhai. All former documents remain valid. University of Ilorin and general public please take note.

EZEALA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeala Ekpereamaka Scholastica, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. K e s i e m e Ekpereamaka Scholastica. All former documents remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and general public please take note.

OSEMEKA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jane Nwando Osemeka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emodi Nwando Jane.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

N N AT U A N YA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnatuanya Blessing, now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs. Niteh Chizoba Blessing. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

SHUNAMMITE—I, formerly known and addressed as Shunammite Nma Onwubo, now wish to be known and addressed as Shunammite Nma Destiny Onwubo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMEDE —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eki Omede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eki Nwankwor Chukson. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public please take note.

DASH—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Dash Samuel Benson, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Jude Dominic Esogibe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

V anguard AY SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 51 Vanguard anguard,, FRID FRIDA

Vanguard CLASSIFIED Confirmation of Names This is to inform First Bank of Nigeria Plc that Mrs. Anyanwutaku Elizabeth Ojiugo and Mrs. Anyanwutaku Ojiugo is the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NKWOCHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dorathy Onyinyechi Nkwocha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Dorathy Onyinyechi Iwuji. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

TONBOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tonbor Powei Happy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Miekpo Powei Happy.

All former documents remain valid. Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and general public please take note.

OGBODO— I , formerly known and addressed as Andrew Ogbodo, now wish to be known and addressed as Andrew Ochiba. All former documents remain valid. The Nigerian Army and general public please take note.

WILBERTH—I, formerly known and addressed as Wilberth Adjerata, now wish to be known and addressed as Gilbert Adjerata. All former documents remain valid. Delta State University, Abraka and general public please take note.

AGADAGIDI —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Emily Braveman Agadagidi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emily Olanrewaju Ajayi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ijeoma Maryann Ekeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ijeoma Maryann Izuchukwu Muomalu.

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

ODION —I, formerly known and addressed as Barr (Miss) Theresa Emileomo Odion, now wish to be known and addressed as Barr (Mrs.) Theresa E m i l e o m o Onuwavgbagbe. All former documents remain valid. The authorities of the University of Benin, Benin City and general public should take note.

ADEGUNLOLA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fausat Ayo Adegunlola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fausat Ayo Olakulehin. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

STEPHEN OKON— I, formerly known and addressed as James Stephen Okon, now wish to be known and addressed As James Akpan James. All former documents remain valid.

Government Day Secondary School ( G . D . S . S ) Gwagwalada and general public please take note.

ISMAILA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Maimunatu Ismaila, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maimunatu Kasimu Halidu. All former documents remain valid. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and general public please take note.

AZUBUOGU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Azubuogu Joy Maryann, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoye Joy Maryann.

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

JIBRIN SEIDU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sadia Jibrin Seidu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sadia Jibrin Mamman. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and general public please take note.

A D E B AYO — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Folake E. Adebayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Folake A. Ajayi. All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State and general public please take note.

FASAMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fasami Comfort Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awode Comfort Titilayo. All former documents remain valid. The Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, Public C o m p l a i n t Commission and general public please take note.

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Kerry meets with Russian counterpart

•as Assad provide Data on Chemical Weapons

U

S Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to sit down together to discuss details of the plan in Geneva.

Kerry arrived in Geneva yesterday for talks with Russia about Syria’s chemical weapons and was met by a statement from the Syrian president that he was not surrendering the arsenal because of any U.S. threats.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told the Russian state-run news channel Rossiya-24 that his regime decided to hand over his massive cache of sarin, VX and mustard gas at Russia’s suggestion.

“Syria is handing over its chemical weapons under international supervision because of Russia.

The U.S. threats did not influence the decision,” Assad told the Russian TV. He said his government is preparing to send the U.N. documents to prepare to implement the chemical weapon transfer agreement.

Meanwhile, President Bashar Assad says Syria will start submitting data on its chemical weapons

stockpile a month after signing the convention banning such weapons.

Assad says this is the “standard process” and his country will follow it.

He made the comment in an interview with Russia’s Rossiya-24 TV. Assad also said that the process is “two-sided” and suggested it will only work if the U.S. halts its threats of military action against Syria. Assad says his government has agreed to surrender its

chemical weapons in response to Russia’s initiative and not because of the U.S. threat of attack.

Assad told Russia’s state Rossiya 24 news channel in an interview that is set to be broadcast fully later Thursday that “Syria is transferring chemical weapons under international control because of Russia.”

He added that “the U.S. threats hadn’t influenced” his government’s decision.

UN receives Syria chemical treaty papers

T

HE UN has con firmed it has received documents from Syria on joining the Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws their production and use.

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad earlier told Russian TV the papers were being sent and that it would submit weapons data one month after signing.

US and Russian foreign ministers met in Geneva to discuss the plan, proposed by Moscow this week. The US accuses the Syrian regime of killing hundreds in a chemical

attack. The government denies the allegation, blaming rebels for the attack in the Ghouta area of the capital, Damascus, on 21 August.

Russia announced its proposal for dealing with the escalating chemical weapons crisis on Monday, as the US Congress was preparing to vote on whether to back President Barack Obama’s moves towards military action against Syria.

UN associate spokesman Farhan Haq said the Syrian documents were in the process of being translated.

Burkina Faso increases pay amid growing unrest

B

URKINA Faso’s government announced yesterday it is lowering taxes for civil servants and increasing student loans amid growing unrest over the high cost of education and living in the landlocked West African country.

Under the new plan, the

government is boosting student loans each month by about $50. Civil servants’ salaries are expected to go up by about 5 percent as a result of the tax changes.

The new measures were being taken to provide “an adequate response to the concerns of different groups,” according to a gov-

Guinea opposition mulls new protests

O

PPOSITION spokesman Aboubacar Sylla said the country ’s election commission had given them the electoral list on a thumb drive — but that is not what they sought.

He said his coalition had demanded that the body publish the electoral list nationwide, so that voters could check if their names appear in their respective polling stations ahead of the Sept. 24 legislative election.

Sylla said the electronic list they were given bears more than 5 million names, making it virtually impossible for them to check its veracity.

“It’s over 250,000 pages,” he said of the electronic list. “How are we supposed to check this? It’s not in Conakry at our headquarters that we can check if the names are right. It needs

to be published in each locality so that people can go and see if their photo matches their name.”

ernment statement yesterday.

Burkina Faso, a deeply impoverished nation of some 17 million people, has battled a growing cost of living and is struggling to educate its youth.

The move appeared aimed at placating a growing sense of unrest in Burkina Faso, where the president has been in power since 1987. Earlier this year students in the capital led violent protests stemming from disputes over their university accommodation.

Tuareg rebels clash with Malian soldiers

T

HREE Malian sol diers have been wounded in the first clashes with Tuareg rebels since the two sides signed a ceasefire deal in June, the army has said, A Malian capitain warned the clash could endanger the truce.

The fighting took place near the western town of Lere and comes a week after President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was sworn in, highlighting simmering tensions as he seeks to secure an end to cycles of uprisings by northern rebels.

The Tuareg rebels have picked up arms thrice since independence in

1960, but it was only last year that they succeeded in making significant gains. They were temporarily sidelined by radicals operating in the area, though they have grown in strength again since French-led forces drove out the al-Qaeda linked fighters from the region.

A UN peacekeeping mission is now rolling out to ensure stability as French troops gradually withdraw.

“An army patrol came across some gunmen in four-wheel drives. They refused to follow the army’s orders and opened fire on the troops,” said army spokesman Captain Modibo Naman Traore.

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS

TREBLE CHANCE Everton Fulham Hull Stoke Bolton Ipswich Millwall Coventry Crewe.

v Chelsea v West Brom v Cardiff v Man City v Leeds v Middlesbro v Derby v Gillingham v Walsall

SOCCER TIPS

Ozil: Arsenal can win the title RECORD Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil has said that he believes the club can challenge for the English Premier League title this season.

Ozil arrived from Real Madrid for a reported fee of £42.4 million ($66 million, •50 million) on transfer deadline day in a deal that shattered the Gunners’ transfer record.

Arsene Wenger’s side have not won the league title since 2004 and last finished in the top two in 2005 but when asked if Arsenal could finish top next May, Ozil replied: “Of course. I know the team, I know that talent we have here and I think every player wants to be successful. It will be difficult because this is the strongest league in the world.”

Ozil, 24, was officially presented to the media as an Arsenal player on Thursday and could make his debut at Sunderland on Saturday.

“I have watched a lot of Premier League games,” he said. “It is very physical here but I am really glad to play in the best league in the world. I want to prove myself in England and I look forward to playing here. I know I will prove myself here.”

He added: “We want to play offensive and good football, to keep clean sheets and play attractive football. I can’t promise to win trophies but I can promise as a team we will give our all to achieve this.” .

...As Cape V erde is sanctioned Verde

Tunisia through tto o final FIF A FIFA World Cup qualifying round

BY means of a telephone conference, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has today taken a decision to sanction the Cape Verdean Football AssoLATE ciation (FCF) for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition TIPS match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ between Tunisia and the Cape Verde Islands on 7 September 2013.

The match has been declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Tunisia, meaning that the Cape Verde Islands will not progress to round three of the FIFA World Cup™ African zone qualifiers having dropped to second place in Group B with nine points while Tunisia finish first with 14 points and will now advance.

The FCF has also received a fine of CHF 6,000 after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considered the FCF liable for having breached art. 55 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil ReguEXCELLENT lations.

The sanction relates to the Cape Verde player Fernando Varela failing to serve Everton.

7 the full four-match suspension imposed Hull 7 on him after receiving a red card for unsporting conduct towards a match ofBolton 7 ficial during a FIFA World Cup™ qualiIpswich 5 fier on 24 March 2013.

The draw for round three of the FIFA Coventry 5 World Cup qualifiers in the African zone Crewe 5 will be conducted next Monday, 16 SepPreston 5 tember. The five best-placed sides in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, will be Chsterfield 5 seeded in the draw.

FOUR HOMES

1`X 8 X 13 X PAIR 16 42 FOUR AWAYS X 20 X 21 X 22 43 X 30 AVOID PERMUTATION 8 2 X 4 X 9 X RISKY 12 X 23 X 25 15 TIPS 28 X 37 X 40 CREDIT Stoke Millwall .

Forest Grn Barnet York Plymouth North'pton Hartlepool

2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3

WEEK 09 Barclays Premier League 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Aston V Everton Fulham Hull South'pton Stoke Sunderland Tottenham

v v v v v v v v

Newcastle Chelsea West Brom Cardiff West Ham Man City Arsenal Norwich

1 XX XX XX X1 XX XX 1

Sky Bet Championship 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Bolton Bournemouth Huddlesfield Ipswich Leicester Millwall Nottm For Q.P.R. Reading Sheff Wed Watford

v v v v v v v v v v v

Leeds Blackpool Doncaster Middlesbro Wigan Derby Barnsley Birmingham Brighton Yeovil Charlton

XX X1 X1 XX 1 XX 1 1 1X X1 1X

Sky Bet League One 20 Bradford C. 21 Bristol C. 22 Carlisle 23 Coventry 24 Crawley 25 Crewe.

26 Leyton O. 27 Milton KD 28 Preston 29 Rotherham 30 Tranmere 31 Wolves

v Colchester v Peterboro v Sheff Utd v Gillingham v Shrewsbury v Walsall v Port Vale v Notts Co. v Stevenage v Oldham v Brentford v Swindon

2 X1 2 XX 1 XX 1 1 XX 1 2 1

Sky Be wo Bett League TTw 32 Burton A. 33 Cheltenham 34 Chesterfield 35 Dagenham

v Portsmouth 1X v Oxford 2 v AFC Wimbldon XX v Bristol R. 2

36 Fleetwood 37.Hartlepool 38 Newport Co 39 North'pton 40 Plymouth 41 Rochdale 42 York

v Bury v Accrington S v Morecambe v Exeter v Wycombe v Torquay v Mansfield

1 XX 1 XX XX 1 XX

4 9 28 37

Skrill Conference Premier 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

Barnet v Lincoln Cambridge Uv Gateshead Dartford v Nuneaton Forest Green v Halifax Grimsby v Braintree Hereford v Aldershot Kidderminster v Hyde

XX 1 2 XX 1X 1 1

Revised P air Pair airss 2 x 4, 9 x 12 37x 40, 43 x 46

Vanguard, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — 53

S

P

RESIDENT Jonathan has demanded gold med als at the Rio Olympics in 2016. For now, it’s a dream. And it’s good to dream well. President Jonathan should set the ball rolling for his dream to be realised. He can do this by not only showing interest in sports but also supporting performance mechanism that will win Nigeria more laurels. His government does not fund sports well and he could influence a change. He should not only be seen celebrating achievements. He should inspire them. Funding sports will help. Why should the sports ministry be about the least funded ministry and we want win gold medals at the Olympics? The current vote for capital expenditure for the ministry is N1bn and their total budget is always about N2.5bn. Sometimes, it is less.

Sports cannot develop this way. Mr. President was at the sports summit and he heard of the billions of money

08053068728

Just one more step, Mr President countries like China, Japan, USA, UK and even some lesser countries invest in sports. Can we begin to implement the report of the summit? Can the Presidency begin to fund the implementation of that report?

I was expecting someone to tell Mr. President that we are late for the Rio Games. What have we done after the Abuja Sports Summit? And what can we do with the kind of budget the sports ministry receives?

Nigeria could invest more in sports. It pains me that we have not been able to make the government or the

,

,

PORTS minister Bolaji Abdullahi cannot be at ease.

Why? Aside his own concern, President Goodluck Jonathan has interest in sports.

Many will agree with me that the President has demonstrated this.

He visited the Super Eagles while they were in camp for the last Nations Cup which Nigeria eventually won in South Africa. He made it clear to Sports Minister that it was time Nigeria won the cup again. That accounted for the pressure that caused Abdullahi nightmares before and during the Nations Cup. President Jonathan has equally shown interest in other sports. Few weeks ago, he honoured the relay team that won Nigeria the silver that turned gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games after one athlete in the USA team that won the gold tested positive to doping.

When Nigeria returned from the London Olympics without a medal, the Presidency was outraged. They quickly held a sports summit to find solutions to our problems in sports.

Only on Wednesday, the President hosted Blessing Okagbare for her two medals at the Moscow World Championships. What he did for the Super Eagles after the Nations Cup victory in South Africa is still news to many. Money, Abuja land and National Honours.

I want to, from the bottom of my heart, commend President Jonathan for these and many that I have not recounted here. I don’t think that any Nigerian President has shown the kind of concern President Jonathan has demonstrated in sports in the past two decades. General Sani Abacha did well but those managing other sports other than football would not readily agree. Again, Nigeria was a pariah state at the time and only sports could give us succour. And Abacha embraced soccer. It paid off.

When Nigeria returned from the London Olympics without a medal, the Presidency was outraged

Presidency realise that aside the good image that achievements in sports can earn the country, sports is a huge industry that contributes to the economies of the countries that invest in it. Has anybody told Mr. President how many people Kanu Nwankwo, for example, employs today in his hotels, Kanu Foundation and other businesses? So it is with Jay Jay Okocha etc. Do we need to tell government about the foreign exchange our footballers in Europe and some other athletes bring home to invest or those who depend on them for their daily bread? Those are at the individual level. What makes FIFA, IOC and other international bodies rake in billions of money every year? It’s all about sports business. Cant we begin to develop a strong culture of sports business here?

Some will say government must not be the sole funder of sports. I agree. But those countries that are now enjoying support from the corporate world really fund-

Bale ready to start against E Villarreal T

HERE’S no stop ping Gareth Bale, who wants to feature at Villarreal tomorrow. The first thing he did after arriving from Cardiff was to meet Carlo Ancelotti for a chat: “I’m at your service for whatever you want. I’m eager to start.

I’m very motivated and very excited”, Bale told him.

After Bale’s first training session at Valdebebas on Wednesday, he will now train for the second time where he will be assessed to see if he could be ready for an appearance at El Madrigal.

The Welshman wants to play as soon as he can after his never-ending transfer saga to reach Real Madrid. It seems at the very least he will travel with the squad to face Villarreal, so he can begin to adapt to life in his new club.

•Bale

Toure ready to fight

R

EDS defender Kolo Toure will be fit to return against Swansea City and is excited by the

increased competition for places...

Toure, a revelation at Anfield since arriving on

a free transfer from Manchester City, has given Liverpool a boost by overcoming a recent groin problem.

VERTON could be come just the third side in Premier League history to draw their opening four matches when they meet Chelsea tomorrow.

Roberto Martinez’s side have been held by Norwich City, West Brom and Cardiff City so far this season, and they have also drawn against Chelsea in all competitions more times (52) than they have beaten them (51).

With just one goal conceded in that time, Chelsea are showing many of the hallmarks that they demonstrated in the Portuguese boss’ first campaign at the helm.

In 2004-05, Mourinho’s Chelsea conceded just 15 goals - the fewest in Premier League history - on their way to securing their first top-flight title in 50 years.

Samuel Eto’o and Willian will boost Chelsea’s attacking options, having both joined from Anzhi Makhachkala in the transfer window, although Fernando Torres will hope to continue up front, having scored in the UEFA Super Cup success against Bayern Munich at the end of August.

Eden Hazard (Achilles)

ed sports, developed their products before the corporate world came in. And that’s the most important message I want to pass to the government today. The corporate world mostly identifies with finished products than a raw materials. This is because they are also in business and they expect mileage from their investments. Stars can endorse their products, not beginners or amateurs. When the standard of sports is high and we have world beaters in many sports, it will be easier to attract the corporate world. It could be difficult when we have no Olympic or World Championships gold medallists. It is not when you lose in the first round of World Cups, not when in a country of over 160 million the biggest star we have in football is Mikel Obi and we go to the Olympics and depend on only one athlete to win us a medal that we expect manner from the corporate world. The few companies which support sports here do so as their social responsibility and not largely for business gains. Their input will, therefore, be minimal. Government will have to provide the enabling environment, provide the funds and manage them well to produce many stars and create a sports culture that will be the envy of many including the corporate world. When it is so, when they have such solid foundation, sports will grow in such a way that would attract sponsorship from the corporate world and this will drastically reduce the burden on government. Until then, government has a strong responsibility to grow sports. That will not happen the way they fund sports right now. So, I beg Mr. President to just take one more step. Invest in sports for Nigeria shall reap bountifully from it. Don’t only celebrate victory, inspire it. I pray that Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala will understand and stop giving “envelops” to the sports ministry even when their budget is reasonable.

Raji Babatunde Fashola

I

was out of town when the controversy on the ‘de portation’ of some Igbo ‘destitutes’ raged.

I have read many accounts and opinions on the incident and I do not intend to add to the demerits or otherwise of the action of Lagos State. I only want to tell those who accused Governor Babatunde Fashola of tribalism to tell their story to the marines. They do not know the man. Fashola is humane. He is a patriot, an organiser, a detribalised achiever and one who means well for all. An Igbo man is a commissioner in his cabinet. His government has touched the lives of many people including Igbos that it will amount to ignorance to accuse him of tribalism. He is among the few governors trying to lift sports in Nigeria. I have never met him but someday I’ll tell his story my own way.

Fireworks as Everton battle Chelsea has also been passed fit to play despite being withdrawn from Bel-

•Mikel

gium’s FIFA World Cup qualifying victory over Scotland last Friday

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Eagles make World Cup playoffs top seeds N

IGERIA are one of the five top seeds for next week’s draw for the final World Cup playoffs after they ranked in the top five African teams still in the competition.

The African champions are ranked fourth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA Rankings released yesterday by the world football governing body.

They have recorded 707 points and dropped to 36th place on the global ranking.

Cote d’Ivoire remain the top African team as they are the 18th best team in the world, while Ghana are second as they are rated 24th in the world.

Mali are fifth best African team as they are 38th, but TUSSLE . . . Super Eagles striker Nnamdi Oduamadi (L) vies with unfortunately they did not Malawian Peter Wadabwa for the ball during the FIFA World Cup qualify for the final playoffs. qualification match in Calabar on September 7, 2013. Nigeria defeated Malawi 2-0. Photo: AFP Following the disqualification of 44th ranked Cape Verde for using an ineligible player against Tunisia in their final qualifier, Tunisia,

BY TONY UBANI who are 46th, are thus the fifth and last top seed as HE desperation of they are ranked higher Nigerian sports than the likes of Cameroon and Burkina officials in seeking international office made Faso in the world.

The second pot for the country a laughing Monday ’s draw will stock in Cairo, Egypt therefore be Cameroon, where the General Burkina Faso, Egypt, Assembly of the African Taekwondo Union, Ethiopia and Senegal.

AFTU, held on September 9.

Former President of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Dr Jonathan Nnaji sought re-election as Vice President of the continental body but was Newly elected Vice President of the African ICTOR Anichebe says shocked to learn that his Taekwondo Union, Dr. Jonathan Nnaji (l) during he joined West country did not vote for the Korean Taekwondo Championships in Lagos.

Bromwich Albion because him. Instead, a letter of when proxy letters from he felt in need of a change proxy was given to an Nigeria were upheld for NSC and they told him he should route his Egyptian and a Ugandan and wanted a boost. them to vote for Nigeria. request through his to vote for a candidate of The 25-year-old striker I thank God that I was remade the move from their choice for Nigeria. elected but the shock still Federation. He did not.

The DG of NSC, Tunde “I was shcoked to learn Everton, where he had remains because I served Elegbeleye is aware of that the President of spent his whole career to as President of Nigerian that point, on transfer Nigerian Taekwondo Taekwondo Federation for this. I did not go for the deadline day in Federation, George eight years”, Nnaji who election because of the visit of the Kukkiwon Ashiru, gave an September. was in office when Chika Demonstration team in Egyptian and a Ugadan And after a decade and Chukwumerije won a a half with Everton, a proxy letter to vote for bronze medal at the Nigeria and the Korean A m b a s s a d o r Anichebe believes the time Nigeria since he was not Beijing Olympics said.

Championships which was right for a new coming to Egypt because However when coincided with the of Taekwondo duties in challenge. contacted, President of “I felt like a change Nigeria”, Nnaji who was Nigeria Taekwondo election date”, Ashiru could give me an added still shocked after getting Federation, George said.

And because of this ratboost,” Anichebe told BBC re-elected said yesterday Ashiru confirmed that race, Ashiru’s ambition to at the sportscity, Lagos.

Sport.

Nnaji told him he was be a member of the ‘’I told Ashiru that I was “I had a great time at going for election in- African Taekwondo Everton, I was there for 15 going for the election and formally.

Union hit the rocks since he wished me well before years. Of course there “He told me informally two members from a I left.

I was shocked when were ups and there was but did not make it official downs, but that is all part other officials asked if by writing. He sought region could not be truly I was a Nigerian elected in the executive. of life . financial help from the

Shame! Taekwondo officials ridicule Nigeria in Egypt

T

No regrets leaving Everton — Anichebe

V

Cape Verde out of World Cup qualifying

C

APE Verde have been disqualified from the African play-offs for the 2014 World Cup for fielding an ineligible player in Saturday’s group qualifier against Tunisia.

The Carthage Eagles will now be in the draw on 16 September instead of the Blue Sharks.

Fifa ruled that Fernando Verela should not have played in his side’s 2-0 win as he had not completed a suspension.

Football’s world governing body instead awarded Tunisia a 3-0 victory.

The decision means Tunisia finish top of Group B with 14 points, with Cape Verde second on nine points.

Fifa said Verela “failed to serve a four-match suspension imposed on him after receiving a red

card for unsporting conduct towards a match official during a World Cup qualifier on 24 March”.

Cape Verde Football Association has also been fined $6,400.

The Blue Sharks had caused a major upset with their victory in Rades on Saturday to edge ahead of Tunisia, who had only needed a draw to advance.

Ironically, Cape Verde were awarded the points from the match in March, when Varela was sent off, after Fifa ruled opponents Equatorial Guinea had used an ineligible player.

Equatorial Guinea originally won the match 43 only for the result to be overturned when Fifa decided Emilio Nsue Lopez did not meet eligibility rules on nationality.

Ozil: Arsenal can win the title

R

ECORD Arsenal signing Mesut Ozil has said that he believes the club can challenge for the English Premier League title this season.

Ozil arrived from Real Madrid for a reported fee of £42.4 million ($66 million, •50 million) on transfer deadline day in a deal that shattered the Gunners’ transfer record.

Arsene Wenger’s side have not won the league title since 2004 and last

finished in the top two in 2005 but when asked if Arsenal could finish top next May, Ozil replied: “Of course. I know the team, I know that talent we have here and I think every player wants to be successful. It will be difficult because this is the strongest league in the world.”

Ozil, 24, was officially presented to the media as an Arsenal player on Thursday and could make his debut at Sunderland on Saturday.

Sofoluwe Continues from BP confront Nigeria.

As a seeded team, the Eagles are condemned to facing any of Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia and Senegal but have the advantage of playing the second leg at home and in a chat with Sports Vanguard yesterday, Sofoluwe said that the coach Stephen Keshitutored side have improved a lot and stand in good stead to secure a place in the 2014 soccer showpiece “There is no reason to worry over the country that Nigeria will face.

Under Keshi, it is clear

that we have improved a lot and given the players’ determination and our pedigree in this type of situation, I am sure that we will qualify for Brazil 2014.

“We are the team to beat and going by the facts on ground, I see us playing our way to the tournament. Other teams are afraid to face because of our quality.

The fear factor is already there and the fact that we are playing the second leg at home has already given us ample advantage over our opponent”, added Sofoluwe.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013—55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 , 2013

PULL-OUT— INSIDE

Eagles make World Cup playoffs top seeds •Ranked 4th in Africa, 36th in the World •To face either Cameroun, Burkina Faso Senegal •Know opponents on Monday

Egypt, Ethiopia or

Shocker! Cape Verde out of World Cup qualifying

Eagles have pedigree to qualify — Sofoluwe

Shame! Taekwondo officials ridicule Nigeria in Egypt

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

A

S Nigerians wait with baited breath for the playoffs draw of the 2014 World Cup, a former Eagles defender, Yisa Sofoluwe has said that Nigeria have the pedigree to qualify for the finals in Brazil.

The draw will be made

Ozil: Arsenal can win the title

Details on P.54

•Keshi

next Monday and with yesterday ’s confirmation that the Eagles are amongst the seeded teams for the two-legged playoffs matches holding between October and November, Sofoluwe has said that he was not worried over the team that will

Continues on Page 54

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Corner (5) 7 Nimble (5) 8 Suit (5) 10 Coach (5) 12 Doze (3) 13 Generate (5) 15 Falcon (7) 17 Bred (6) 19 Pelt (3) 20 Withdraw (7) 23 Pay (4) 25 Solitary (4) 26 State (7) 30 Beverage (3) 31 Devotion (6) 34 Recant (7) 37 True (5) 38 Fish-eggs (3) 39 Sum (5) 40 Fragrance (5) 41 Carp (5) 42 Guide (5)

DOWN 1 Concur (5) 2 Change (5) 3 Sexless (6) 4 Appear (4) 5 Middle (7) 6 Adder (5) 9 Distant (3) 11 Invigorate (7) 13 Muscle (5) 14 Measure (5) 16 Prosecute (3) 18 Diminish (7) 21 Now (5) 22 Gem (5) 24 Outermost (7) 27 Vegetable (3) 28 Comfort (6) 29 Gay (5) 32 Tooth (5) 33 Urchin (5) 35 Also (3) 36 Tipster (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 2, Ample 7, Claw 8, Engulf 9, Legal 11, Orb 13, Vim 15, Belt 16, Tug 18, Wary 19, Shelter 20, Rash 22, Tilt 23, Hearsay 25, Deem 27, Nut 28, Ruff 30, End 31, Say 33, Split 36, Morose 37, Rock 38, Toady.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 1, Glare 2, Awl 3, Peg 4, Eel 5, Age 6, Flair 10, Ague 11, Obtrude 12, Blushed 13, Various 14, Mystify 16, Thorn 17, Gloat 18, Wet 21, Hem 24, Sump 26, Enjoy 29, Fancy 32, Coy 33, Set 34, Lea 35, Try.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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