Parties budget money to bribe INEC, Police— Jega

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61752

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Pressure on Jonathan to implement Ribadu Report •P.7

•Serial on Pgs.36&37

Parties budget money to bribe INEC, Police— Jega •Calls for more electoral reforms ahead of 2015 •Party structures are getting weaker —Ekwueme •There must be no godfathers in parties —Nwodo

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — CHAIR MAN, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, disclosed that political parties in the country provide in their budget estimate money that will be used to bribe officials of his Commission and Security agents.

He also said the finan

Continues on page 5

Oyo after Lam Adesina Tributes on Pgs.33&45

Mr & Mrs

ADAMS AGAIN!—

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole subscribes to relevant oaths during his swearing-in as Governor of Edo State for a second tenure at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, yesterday. Photos: Apkokona Omafuaire

Ifeanyi Uba: Court stops Access Bank, Coscharis •P.7

2— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—3

C M Y K

4— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NO VEMBER 13, 2012—5 TUESDA NOVEMBER

POCKET CARTOON

Parties budget money to bribe INEC, Police — Jega Continues from Page 1 cial and procedural accountability of some parties is deficient with "a predilection to cutting corners.

“Political parties budget to bribe security and INEC officials. This is a very serious challenge to our democracy," he said.

Speaking at a Roundtable Conference on Party Politics in Nigeria and Lobbying the Lobbyist and the Legislature, organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS in Abuja, Jega also said ahead of the 2015 general elections, there was the urgent need for further electoral reforms to be carried out.

Winning at all cost syndrome According to him, the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly should be used as a platform to effect the reforms and warned that politicians must put behind them winning at all cost syndrome.

Jega also told Nigerians and politicians that if the nation’s politics and elections must be

made clean, all stakeholders in the democratic process must work together.

He said political parties must also develop agenda and programmes that would strengthen national unity and development, adding: "We must seize the prevailing circumstances of the constitution amendment to carry out further reforms as we move towards the 2015 general elections.

"Throughout our post independent history, our political parties have muddled through politics and elections. They have essentially undermined rather than added value to the reformation of our electoral politics.

"Since the 2011 elections, we have relative improvements in a few areas but, still, much needs to be done. As we move towards the 2015 general elections and beyond, our political parties need new thinking, new orientation and new principles of engagement in democratic politics and elections. We must all work together to bring about this desired change.

According to him, if political parties must meet up with the future,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The most important thing in any relationship isn’t what you get but what you give. In any case, the giving of love is an education in itself – Eleanor Roosevelt. Owe no man nothing but love.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

T

HOMAS Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, “all our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.” Edison replied very confidently, “oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.”

Steve Goodier, shares uplifting stories that are meaningful to everyday living and these lessons can come from unexpected places. He says that people play better when they are encouraged. It’s true in all of life.

People do better when others cheer them on, rather than criticizing, condemning and judging. My influence as a parent, a leader, a supervisor or a friend is most effective when I encourage those around me. The only way to get better is to practice, on the court and off. In every area of life, the only way to improve is to practice.

Confidence takes practice. Leadership takes practice. Nurturing a mind or a spirit takes practice.

Improving relationships with others takes practice.

Simply learning how to be happy takes practice. And remember, there are always people willing to help.

they must develop capacity for organisation, transparent fund raising and campaign expenditures, adding that as parties, they should pay attention to recruiting and training activist cadres on core democratic values of professional and peaceful conduct, and they should have very well trained agents for electoral duties and poll watching.

a major factor that contributed to flawed electoral process in the country.

Represented at the event by the PDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Tukur also berated the judiciary for the delay in disposing election cases, even as he stressed the need for the entrenchment of party ideology.

Poverty killing electoral process —Tukur

Godfathers in parties

Also in his contribution, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, however, attributed poverty among the voters as

Also contributing, former Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo said if political parties must grow and attract the confidence of the people, there must

be no godfather or godmother in the party hierarchy, adding that members of the party must have unfettered access to contest and to hold any position of their choice in the party.

Nwodo said internal democracy was very crucial in the strengthening of the political structure, adding it also helps in choosing candidates for general elections.

Former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, who chaired one of the sessions, lamented that rather than the structures of the parties getting stronger, they are becoming weaker, adding: "Party structure in the First Republic was stronger than the Second Republic and Second Republic stronger than what we have today," he said.

N32.8BN POLICE PENSION SCAM: Court declines to quash charges against accused persons

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA —SIX civil servants, accused of complicity in the illegal diversion of N32.8 billion from the Nigeria Police Pension funds, yesterday, failed to persuade an Abuja High Court sitting at Gudu to dismiss the 16-count charge of criminal conspiracy preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, E F C C .

This was even as indications emerged, yesterday that the trial of former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, may now begin in earnest following the arrest of his former Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Ogbuku, who is suspected to be armed with a gamut of information relating to the assets of his principal.

EFCC sources told Vanguard that Ogbuku was picked up yesterday at his residence in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos by operatives of the Commission.

However, the six accused persons, including a Permanent Secretary in

the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Atiku Abubakar Kigo; Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, John Yakubu Yusufu, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula and Sani Habila Zira, had in separate preliminary objections they filed before the trial court, adduced reasons the charges against them should be quashed.

They contended that the anti-graft agency, failed to either establish strong prima-facie evidence capable of warranting their prosecution or show the nexus between them and the alleged scam.

EFCC had alleged that the accused persons, conspired and sequentially withdrew monies from Police Pension funds in an account domiciled at First Bank of Nigeria and shared it amongst themselves, adding that the 3 rd accused persons, Inuwa Wada, collected N18million from Unity Bank Plc, as his reward for retaining the Police Pension Account with the bank.

The commission maintained that the fraud was perpetrated between

January 2009 and June 2011.

According to the EFCC, their offence which bothers on conspiracy, fraud and criminal breach of trust, is punishable under sections 97, 315, 115(ii), 119 and 309, of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.

Dismissing the objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try them over the alleged offence as frivolous and grossly lacking in merit, trial Justice Mohammed Abubakar Talba, held that the accused persons, were unable to substantiate their argument with corroborating evidence.

Specifically, the trial court noted that the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th applicants, failed to supply relevant material before the court to warrant the quashing of the case against them, adding that going by totality of the proof of evidence before the court, they each have a case to answer regarding the missing pension funds.

Consequently, the court held that the EFCC had successfully established a prima-facie

criminal case against them, even as it adjourned till January 28, 2013, to hear a fresh application that was filed by two of the accused persons in a bid to thwart their prosecution.

The judge, however, adjourned till January 28, 2013, to hear the argument in respect of the applications filed by the first and third accused persons, Esai Dangabar and Ahmed Inuwa Wada respectively to quash the charges against them.

EFCC had earlier secured an interim order that granted it possession of choice properties belonging to the accused persons.

The order was granted

by Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Lawal H. Gumi, who on July 25, 2012 ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of all the accused persons pending the hearing and final determination of the corruption case against them.

Fifteen of the properties, which were ordered forfeited on interim basis, belong to Dangabar, 11 to Mrs. Onyegbula, six to Wada, five to Kigo and four each to Yusuf and Zira.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

FG committed to revolutionalise housing sector —Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

A

From right: Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ms. Amal Pepple; President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo during the Presidential Stakeholders Retreat on Housing and Urban Development at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Manifestoes: Hold political office holders accountable, Obasanjo tells Nigerians zSays manifestoes mere instruments for political campaign zMany parties exist on paper—Mark zAs Ekweremadu calls for closer party, legislature collaboration

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, took a swipe at political parties in Nigeria, saying many have no manifestoes to operate with. He also charged Nigerians to hold political office holders accountable to their party manifestoes.

Speaking at a Roundtable Conference on Party Politics in Nigeria and Lobbying the Lobbyist and the Legislature, organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, in Abuja, Obasanjo said party manifestoes had suddenly become mere instruments for political campaign in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, who noted that these were normally thrown away by elected political leaders soon after they were elected, asked why political parties or elected officers should not be held accountable to their promises by the public.

He said: “I want to say that there are some areas where political parties need improvement. I am sure and I hope that the discussants and speakers would lay emphasis on these areas. One of them is the issue of manifestoes. What I have come to see and understand in Nigeria is that manifestoes are

prepared for campaigns and after wards, they are thrown away.

“How then can we hold parties and their elected leaders to their promises and manifestoes? Or if they have no manifestoes, what do we hold them for?”

Discipline among political parties

Obasanjo stressed the need for discipline among political parties but warned that no human institution endured for long without discipline and urged politicians to acquire basic ingredients of party politics geared towards ensuring free, fair and transparent elections.

He said: “One point I would want to make is about service. We really see service in party politics. Senator David Mark has said that the only means of going into election in this country is through a political party.

“Political parties are vehicle through which one can participate in elections. What are the ingredients that must be there for political parties to participate the way they should and make elections what they should be— free, fair and transparent in such a way that the outcome would be fairly, generally accepted?”

Many parties exist

on paper—Mark

Meanwhile, Senate President, David Mark, while declaring open the event, also attacked some political parties in the country, describing them as mainly existing on paper and floated to attract financial subventions hitherto guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

He also stressed that lobbying legislators, which is designed to influence, them had been turned into a situation where people in government used it to extract personal favour, mostly political appointments and money from political office holders.

Mark said: "Lobbying targeted at legislators is the act of attempting to influence legislation and resolutions made by parliament. But that is only a theoretical definition.

It is unfortunate that the term, ‘lobbying’, has come to acquire a pejorative connotation, despite its many inherent and positive benefits. This is due largely to the abuse to which it is often liable.

“Even here in our country, it has been turned mostly into a very aggressive and predatory endeavour to extract personal favours, mostly political appointments and money, from political

office holders.

Lobbying is legitimate complement

“Let me state one point clearly: Lobbying is a legitimate and necessary complement of the democratic process. It is natural for individuals and organisations to want to influence decisions that affect them or their environment.

Legislation is enriched in many ways by the knowledge, views and expertise that lobbying brings. The problem, however, is that the line between ethical and unethical lobbying is a very thin one. In this connection, both the lobbyist and legislator who is being lobbied, bear a very heavy moral burden.”

Ekweremadu calls for closer party, legislature collaboration

Earlier in his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, warned that democratic governance and national development would continue to suffer setbacks if the culture of internal democracy was not entrenched in the nation’s political parties.

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said the Federal Government was committed to revolutionalise the Housing sector by translating the National Housing Policy and National Urban Development Policy into a roadmap for housing development in the country.

Speaking at the Presidential Stakeholders Retreat on Housing and Urban Development at the Banquet Hall of State House, President Jonathan said reinvigorating as well as revitalizing the housing and urban development was a core priority of his administration.

According to the President,”these policies are to be translated into action through a roadmap for the Housing and Urban Development Sector. The roadmap will address the challenges of achieving a housing revolution in our nation, within the shortest possible time. It will also provide the pathway for transforming our cities into livable and functional human settlements.”

Emphasising the importance of cooperation of all stakeholders to achieve this objective, Jonathan called for concerted efforts at checking the national housing deficit which he said stood at between 16 and 17 million units.

He said: ”If this deficit is to be bridged, we must continue to seek ways to provide affordable housing, especially to the no-income, low-income, lower-medium income, and the informal, sector worker. A variety of housing delivery schemes, including social housing, rental schemes, regeneration and Housing cooperatives must be evaluated. ”We must also seriously concern ourselves with how we can meet the global benchmarks in housing building standards, proper land use and space standards and institutionalization of a vibrant mortgage system, based on longterm repayment terms. ”In the same manner,

we must focus attention on how to overcome the issues of capacity gaps, poor quality of building materials, inappropriate technology and dearth of technological innovations, in support of mass housing delivery.”

Challenges Earlier in her presentation, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple, said some of the challenges confronting the sector included lack of political will to unleash a housing revolution, policy inconsistencies, institutional inability, undue politicization, piece-meal strategy of housing delivery at the expense of mass housing development, and lack of ownership/title rights partly attributable to challenges associated with the implementation of the Land Use Act, 1978.

Others, she said, were poor land administration, little effort in computerizing state land registries, delay and high cost of processing land titles, cumbersome and slow foreclosure procedures, nonavailability and high cost of constriction materials; low capacity of builders and developers and unprecedented urbanization, etc.

Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, noted that if the majority of Nigerians owned their home, it would considerably reduce the level of corruption in the country.

She said resolving issues in the housing sector did not depend on financing alone as Nigeria needed to add 23 million homes by 2020 to meet the supply gap or another 2.6 million homes a year.

The minister noted that delivering on this housing need would require more forceful action across four key areas, including simplifying the allocation of land title and the registration processes, identifying three to four bankable housing projects to deliver at least 1million houses next year.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 7

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR, OKEY NDIRIBE & HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — PRESSURE from across the country was last night mounting on the presidency to reverse its renunciation of the report of the Mallam Nuhu Ribaduled Petroleum Revenue Task Force with federal legislators, the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and a prominent member of the Ribadu committee insisting on the implementation of the report.

While a member of the panel and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN endorsed the report irrespective of the “procedural challenges” claimed by another committee member, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, the ACN warned that failure to implement the report’s recommendations would finally lay to bare claims that the administration is encouraging graft rather than fighting it.

Similar calls for the implementation of the report also came from the two chambers of the National Assembly, just as Senator Ahmad Zannah confirmed that the Senate was now studying the report.

The report of the Ribaduled committee had lately generated controversies following the public spat by Ribadu, the committee chairman and his deputy, Oronsaye over the procedures and recommendations of the report.

Report should be implemented —Agbakoba In his first public comment on the development, Agbakoba said: “I am very disappointed that the conclusion of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force Report is attracting wrong media interest. Having fully participated in the work of the Committee, I can confirm that the management of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon assets requires radical transformation.

“I also confirm that in the course of our work, we faced procedural challenges that Mr. Steve Oronsaye correctly alluded to.

Nonetheless, it is my view that the report recorded sufficient credible information for a robust review of the oil and gas industry.

“We should focus on substance and request government to take urgent steps to implement the report, subject to any further action that may be necessary.”

Charging the President to implement the report, Agbakoba said: “I recommend President Jonathan’s approach on how to proceed with this matter when he noted that 'if there are errors of calculation or misinformation in the report, that will be filtered out and corrected. Issues of corruption will go to the EFCC.' This is the correct approach. Let’s focus on substance. We need action and not distraction.”

FG acted in bad faith—ACN Accusing the Presidency of acting in bad faith in its actions prior to and following the submission of the report, the ACN said, yesterday, that the government’s action could in future discourage other prominent Nigerians from serving in similar positions.

Noting the actions of Dr. Okupe on the report, the ACN in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “The fact that the Federal Government has not come out to refute Dr. Okupe’s crude comments on the report is a clear indication that the position he enunciated publicly on the report represents that of the government. Saying the task force did not complete its assignment and accusing its chairman of disinformation and politicization amount to preparing the grounds for the dumping of the report.”

The party said the treatment meted out to the task force by Okupe who it described as a selfacclaimed “attack lion” of the Presidency is the worst blow that any government has dealt its own panel.

The ACN said the Presidency ’s actions confirmed the party’s earlier assertion that the administration deliberately set a booby trap for the task force by the suspicious timing of the appointments it gave to two of its members, Steven Oronsaye and Bernard Otti, in the NNPC. “Unfortunately, despite its angry reaction to our earlier statement, the government is yet to convince us otherwise. If anything at all, it has gone ahead to make our statement look prescient.

“We are not even talking here of the merits or

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (middle) presenting flood relief materials to Mallam Abdulmalik Maiyaki, while the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Sa'adu Kawu Haliru (left) watches at Lafiagi in Edu Local Government Area, Kwara State.

Pressure on Jonathan to implement Ribadu report zReport should be implemented —Agbakoba zReps chide Oronsanye zSenate c'ttee studying report —Zannah zPresidency must disown Okupe —ACN demerits of the task force’s report, but of the way the chairman and members of the task force (minus the two dissenting ones) have been savaged. This is a task force that has as members who are Senior Advocates of Nigeria and a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among others.

“Even if government feels the report is inconclusive, could it not have set up a panel to review the findings? Is it not also the prerogative of the government to even leave the report to gather dust, if it does not agree with the findings, instead of coming out so publicly to ridicule its own task force?

“The unprecedented outpouring of public opprobrium on the task force by the same government that set it up makes a mockery of governance, and does no credit to the Jonathan administration, which is always quick to accuse the opposition of insulting its principal. A government earns respect by its actions.

It is futile demanding it.”

Senate c'ttee studying the report —Zannah Meanwhile, the Vice-

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Zannah, yesterday, disclosed that the committee was presently looking into the report.

Speaking with Vanguard against the backdrop of the heat the report is generating, Senator Zannah said: “Actually we are looking at the report and the investigations. It is not yet time to make a comprehensive comment on it until we finish.

“We have our findings, the report is very much okay, we will make corrections and fill where we need to fill.”

The Committee chairman, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu on her part, said she would not make any comment on the report until her committee had fully studied the report.

Reps chide Oronsanye Some members of the House of Representatives, also cautioned the Federal Government against dumping the report of the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Special Task Force.

In his comment on the Presidency’s description of the report as flawed, Mr. Bassey Eko (PDP, Cross River) said: “You don’t throw away the baby with

the bath water. The procedure for compiling a report cannot be sacrosanct.

If members of a committee that was set up by the Federal Government disagree, that should not invalidate their report.

"The fact that the Chairman and deputy chairman of a committee disagreed, does not mean that the report should be discarded.

If the government sets up a committee and gives it terms of reference, then government should consider the content of the report.

“This is because such a committee must have been given public funds to operate. This does not mean that I agree with the content of the report since I haven’t read it yet. Given my position, I can’t say anything yet.

“Can the Federal Government send a copy of the report of that committee to the National Assembly?”

On the controversy, Mr. Abimbola Daramola, ( ACN, Ekiti) said: “We have diagnosed that something is wrong with that industry.

We should then go ahead and look at what is wrong with the industry which was what the committee tried to do.”

“What Steve Oronsaye did was reprehensible. I will take a full page

newspaper advertisement to express my view on what he did. He showed great disrespect to the Office of the President of Nigeria.

What he did was to treat the President as if he was a little boy. We must defend that office, no matter who is occupying it.”

“Although, he behaved the way he did with the intention of ridiculing the Chairman of the Committee, Nuhu Ribadu, he ended up ridiculing President Goodluck Jonathan.

“I will respond to the present scenario with an anecdote. If they say somebody is a thief and they ask you to investigate him.

Then you go to his house and find that he has many items in his house without receipts for them. And when you ask him how he acquired those things, he could not give you a cogent explanation. Then you should come back and tell those who sent you about your findings.”

The House of Representatives came to the conclusion that all was not well with the petroleum industry since last year. Just when we were about to address the situation, came the Farouk Lawan versus Femi Otedola drama. Now they have brought up the Ribadu-Oronsaye drama."

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

NJC vs Aregbesola: Osun to reject CJ's choice

Naira declines 0.1%

BY PETER EGWUATU

T

HE Naira, yester day, fell for a second day as oil companies were said to have refrained from selling dollars in the market.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), upped foreign exchange at the first of its bi-weekly WDAS to $150 million.

Like the last auction where the CBN sold all $50 million on offer, the entire $150 million on offer was sold yesterday as the Naira depreciated marginally by 0.01% to close at N155.75/US$ at the official window.

Foreign exchange sales by the CBN had declined substantially at recent auctions riding on dollar sales by oil majors in the autonomous market. The impact of the thinning dollar supply also reflected in the interbank market with the Naira dropping further by 34 kobo to close at N157.84 per dollar.

Jide Solanke, an analyst at First Securities Discount House Limited has said: Expected dollar sales from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has not come through. The Central Bank has not been selling much.”

Oil-producing companies, which sell dollars to meet domestic expenses, are the second-biggest source of foreign currency after the Central Bank which sells dollars on Mondays and Wednesdays to keep the naira within a 3 per cent band around 155 per dollar.

Furthermore, trading in the T-Bills market was dominated by soft-selling with yields inching higher across most tenors reflecting tighter liquidity after last week’s Open Market Operation (OMO) auctions totaling N200 billion.

The market remains cautious as traders await October Inflation data. “We anticipate an uptick in headline inflation to 11.9 per cent Year on Year ( YoY) from 11.3 per cent YoY in September, reflecting higher food inflation.

Market will likely trade sideways with possible soft selling till the data is published on Friday. We note there are expected TBill maturities of NGN87 billion in the course of week which should bolster market liquidity in the absence of further tightening” Vetiva Capital Management stated.

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

T STAKEHOLDERS FORUM: From left: Mr. Isiaka Aderounmu, Chairman, Ipokia Local Government Area, Ogun State; Mrs. Elizabeth Shokunbi, Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Mrs. Hafsat Abiola Costello, Special Adviser on MDGs to Ogun State Government, at the flagging off of Ogun State Stakeholders Governance Forum for Citizens' Participation, a project of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, being implemented in Ogun State.

FG reviews defence attache mgt zAs Gaidam imposes 12-hrs curfew on Damaturu

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & NDAHI MARAMA

F

EDERAL Government, yesterday, said it would carry out a review of Nigeria’s Defence Attaché’s management and security systems to meet up with contemporary security challenges in the country.

This is coming even as Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has re-imposed a 12-hour curfew on Damaturu, the state capital, and three other towns, following insecurity of lives and property in the state.

The 6pm-7am curfew was re-imposed, following the recent incessant attacks, which led to the killings of 13 people and loss of property worth millions of Naira by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram Islamic sect at Fika, Buni/ Yadi and Gashua towns.

Curfew

Gaidam imposed the curfew after an emergency meeting of the State Security Council, SSC, attended by top officials of the Military Joint Task Force, JTF, and the Police at the Government House, Damaturu.

The four other towns where curfew was imposed include Buni/Yadi, Geidam, Potiskum and Gashua, headquarters of Bade Local Government Area, which had suffered series of attacks in the past one week.

The Federal Government said the review of defence attache system would be in accordance with budgetary regulations.

Defence attache

The country currently has 22 Defence Advisers and Attaché’s made up of sen-

ior military officers, covering over 90 countries and four international organisations like the United Nations, African Union and the Commonwealth.

Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada made this known at the opening of a week-long Defence Advisers’ conference in Abuja, noting that with the present security challenges, the scope of the Attaché responsibilities have increased from mere liaison with allied powers to being the prime movers of defence diplomacy.

She said: “The various efforts of the Federal Government at finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in the country, particularly the increased attacks on innocent citizens and security agents by the Boko Haram sect is a clear indication of our commit-

ment to lasting peace and security in the country.”

Defence Chief speaks

Earlier, Chief of Defence Intelligence, CDI, MajorGeneral Sani Audu had explained that the annual conference served as an opportunity to discuss current significant issues as our collective efforts at contributing our own quota in realisation of the present administration’s transformation agenda.

He said: “In recent times, our country has experienced several security challenges, which necessitated the increased involvement of the Nigerian armed forces in internal security operations.”

Yobe govt

Meanwhile, Yobe State government said the 12hour curfew took effect from

Sunday, November 11, and would not be lifted until the security situation improved in the state.

Governor Gaidam, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego said: “The imposition of the curfew was reached at the security meeting with the military JTF and the Police here at the Government House, because people’s lives and property must be protected from the Boko Haram insurgency.

“This administration is also fully committed to overcoming the security challenges, as government continues to support JTF and other security agencies.

“We urge the people to continue cooperating with the security agencies by providing information on the modus operandi and hideouts of criminals.”

HE crisis over the ap pointment of a new Chief Judge for Osun State appears to be far from over as the State House of Assembly is set to reject the nomination of Justice Bola Ojo, who has already been approved by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The state lawmakers, it was learnt, are meeting tomorrow to consider the letter sent in by the NJC to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, informing him of the choice of Ojo, as the successor to Olaniyi Ojo, who retired from office last Wednesday.

However, the nomination of Ojo, which is reported to have been confirmed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, early this month, appears to be at variance with that of the governor, which is Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Ikeja High Court.

However, when the list was sent by the JSC to the NJC for confirmation last month, the council turned down the list of nominees from the state, and asked the state to select the most senior judge and represent to it.

In a dramatic twist, the NJC wrote another letter to Aregbesola, informing him of the choice of Bola Ojo as the new CJ for the state.

Ifeanyi Uba: Court stops Access Bank, Coscharis

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULLAH

A

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained Access Bank Plc and Coscharis Motors Ltd from interfering with properties belonging to Capital Oil and Gas Ltd and its CEO, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah pending the determination of a suit filed by the plaintiffs.

Ruling on a Motion on Notice filed by Ubah and Capital Oil, Justice Okon Abang ordered that the defendants or their servants, privies and agents are restrained from interfering with the appli-

cants’ properties and business interest pending the final determination of the suit.

The plaintiffs represented by Mr. Lawal Rabana, SAN had approached the court seeking protection from the defendants interfering with the applicants properties or business interest.

Arguing the motion, Rabana claimed that the defendants were duly served the motion papers on Nov. 9, but were not represented in court.

The lawyer argued further that considering the urgency of the matter and for the fact that the motion was not challenged by the defendants, urged

the court to grant their prayers.

After granting the prayers, Justice Abang adjourned the substantive matter till January 21, 2013.

It could be recalled that Justice Abang had on October 22 struck out a bail application filed by Ubah after he was released by the police from the Special Fraud Unit, SFU. He was detained on the order of a magistrate court sitting in Lagos.

Ubah was arrested alongside some senior officials of his company namely, Nsika Usoro, Godfrey Okorie, Chibuzor Ogbuokiri, and Joseph Orji on Oct. 11.

The judge, Justice

Abang who struck out the motion for bail and the prayers asking for a declaration that Uba’s arrest by the police was illegal held that the application was incompetent, defective.

Uba was arrested and detained by the police in connection with a N43 billion fuel subsidy fraud by the order of a Magistrate court sitting in Lagos two weeks ago.

They were said to have committed the offences of economic sabotage, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing of N43.291 billion, property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, money laundering and forgery.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—9

CONSTITUTION REVIEW: Constituency calls for true federalism, others

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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From left: Mr. Gunnar Springfeldt, Senior Advisor, Stampen Group; Mr. Tomas Brunegard, CEO and President; Mr. Wale Aboderin, Chairman, Punch Newspapers; Mino Rehnqvst, Regional Manager, Swedish Trade Council; Chief Olayinka Ogunmekan, President, Nigerian Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Chief Mark Alaba Obu, Deputy President, during a business visit of Stampen Group Chief Executive'to Nigeria, in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

AGOS — RESIDents of Lagos have expressed the need to have a constitution that would allow for the practice of true federalism as well as provide for local governments autonomy in the country.

Also, House of Representatives' Deputy Chairman on Finance,Otunba Yomi Ogunnusi, representing Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, at the weekend, assured citizens that the

1004 flats sealed, re-opened over land use charge L

AGOS — THE Lagos State government yesterday afternoon sealed off 1004 Flats, Victoria Island, over unpaid land use charges by the management of the blocks of flats.

Residents and visitors to the estate were unable to drive into the complex during the period.

One resident was quoted as saying that she was unable to leave

her flat since the lock down.

Vanguard gathered that the shutting down of the premises by the state government through the Ministry of Finance was done after several appeal to the owners of the property in the estate.

Confirming the incident, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba said that the

owners of the structures in the estate defaulted in performing their obligation, which is paying their taxes into the coffers of the state government.

The commissioner did not state the amount owed by the owners of the property in the estate, but said that the levy is a yearly due which every property owner in the state is expected to pay into the

coffers of the state government.

According to him: “What we did was to serve as warning to others who may wish to default in remitting the fund into the coffers of the government.

“We wouldn’t have embarked on such action if the owners of the structures voluntarily complied with the remittance of the Land Use charge.

Justices absent at Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke's appeal

By ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — THE appeal filed by a former Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Prof.

Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, was stalled yesterday, as the justices of the Appeal court, Lagos were absent.

Okereke in her case is challenging the High Court’s assumption of jurisdiction in the N3.3billion alleged theft charge levelled against her by the Lagos State

government.

She was accused of stealing the money from the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Her lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had told the trial judge, Justice Christopher Balogun, that the case was slated for hearing yesterday.

Okereke-Onyiuke had sought to stay proceedings in the matter pending the determination of the appeal.

However, while dismissing her application for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal, the Judge said that he would allow some time to enable the appeal to be heard before further proceedings on December 4.

However, the case did not come up for hearing yesterday as the Court of Appeal justices were said to be absent.

The Lagos State government had filed

two separate charges, claiming that Onyuike, her deputy, Alhaji Lance Musa Elakama and six others were allegedly stole N3, 301, 000,000 theft when she was head of the Stock Exchange.

The other defendants are Creative Financial Services Limited, Mining System Limited, OPDC Properties Limited, OAK Business and Finance Company Limited, Uzoma Henry Onyekuru and Kingdom Securities and Finance Company Limited.

3 arraigned for allegedly assaulting policeman

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AGOS — TWO women and a man were on Monday in Lagos arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate's Court for allegedly assaulting and injuring a police officer.

They are Lydia Enright, 28; A. Eunice, 20; and Happy Edward, 18. They are standing trial on a four-count charge of assault, breach of the

peace, malicious damage and causing bodily injury.

Police prosecutor F. Ifijem told the court that the trio on Nov. 11 at 1 a.m. assaulted one Cpl. Charles Arinze at the Bar Beach Police Station, Victoria Island, Lagos.

“The accused did not only assault Arinze, but also injured him on his

right hand and damaged the counter at the station.

“Initially, the first accused, Enright, was arrested by the police before she called on the other two accused for assistance which led to the assault on the officer,” he said.

Ifijem said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections

170, 172, 185 and 337 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, but the accused pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate A.A. Adefulire granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety each in like sum, and adjourned the case to Dec. 12 for mention.

However, the government was said to have relaxed the seal later yesterday evening.

The deal reached with management around 5.20 p.m. could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this update.

The two gates allowing traffic in and out of the estate were then opened.

1004 Estate is the largest single luxury high-rise estate in Sub Saharan Africa and comprises over 1004 flats, maisonettes, studio apartment on Lagos Island.

proposed review of the nation’s constitution would lay to rest all the problems currently confronting Nigeria as a country.

On the call for true federalism, the residents made the submission at the African Model College, Ogba, in IfakoIjaiye Federal constituency, venue of the public hearing on constitution review held across various constituencies in the federation Most of the participants at the hearing, expressed the dire need for constitution review to address the grey areas that are outdated and considered dragging the country backward in the Nigeria project.

A resident, simply identified as Mr. Jimoh Ajao, in his contribution, noted that the local governments were poorly funded due to the faulty practice of federal system of government.

Addressing the large crowd at the hearing, Hon. Ogunnusi said the review would address issue of state creation, revenue sharing formula, creation of state police, and other issues of national importance that will determine the nation’s posterity and unity in future.

Prof Adesanmi blames leaders for Nigeria's woes

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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INNER OF the i n a u g u r a l Penguin Prize for African Writing in the non-fiction category, Professor Pius Adesanmi has attributed greed and insatiable appetite for the national cake as the bane of Nigeria’s woes.

Adesanmi, who described the current state of the nation to the historical tortoise folktale, said Nigerian leaders are tortoise who usually stockpile the benefits of others through selfishness.

He said this in a paper entitled: “Reparations: What Nigeria Owes the Tortoise,” at the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) lecture on state of the nation, held at the NECA building in

Lagos.

According to Adesanmi: “The rain of oil falls on Dubai and falls on Nigeria. The rulers of Dubai use their own share of the rain of oil to send their people on the path of sweetness, while their Nigerian counterparts take same rain and condemn their own people to the path of bitterness, lack, and hunger.

"Nigeria’s leaders have been robbing the nation blind with strategies of greed and selfishness.

"Nigeria’s unauthorised use of the Tortoise’s playbook is plagiarism.

Do not be like me; do not touch my intellectual property; do not copy my ways, the Tortoise warned but we did not listen.”

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Ogun PDP protests Obj’s alleged imposition

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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Chief Kemi Alao Akala, wife of former Oyo State Governor, signing the condolence register of late Governor Lam Adesina. Photo: Dare Fasube

CPC challenges Mimiko's victory

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — THE candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Olusoji Ehinlanwo has challenged the declaration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko by INEC as winner of the election.

Ehinlawo in the petition, filed on his behalf by Mr. Segun Ogodo at the state Election Tribunal, had as

respondents: Mimiko, the Labour Party; the Independent National Electoral Commission; the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi and the Returning Officer, Prof. Biyi Daramola.

He claimed that he possesses substantial proofs that there were massive violation of the electoral act and irregularities in respect of the election which would not make CPCC to accept its outcome.

Landlord’s son stabs tenant to death in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — TRAGEDY struck in Onigbedu, a community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State on Sunday when a tenant identified as Akinyemi Oguntula was stabbed to death by his Landlord’s son, Bankole Suderu over a misunderstanding.

The deceased who was popularly called Pastor, was a staff of a cement company before he was allegedly killed in the early hours of last Sunday for complaining against the smoking of Indian hemp by the alleged killer and his friends.

Vanguard learnt that

the killer 's family was trying to conceal the murder, but other tenants alerted the police.

B E O K U TA — MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State yesterday protested the alleged plan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to foist a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to fly the PDP governorship ticket in 2015 contrary to overall interest of the party.

The aggrieved party members numbering about 500 who also accused Obasanjo of surreptitiously grooming his kinsman from Owuland in Abeokuta ahead of the 2015 election, begged exgovernor of the state Gbenga Daniel, the party financier, Chief Buruji Kashamu to rescue the

Ekiti LG workers resume after two months strike Gbenga Ariyibi

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DO EKITI — Council workers in Ekiti State yesterday resumed at their duty desks in all the 16 local governments after more than two months of strike action The workers operating under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Local Government workers (NULGE) had embarked on a strike action for the past two months to press home payment of N19,300 minimum wage and the payment of special allowance for the health workers.

A visit to Ado, Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun , Ekiti Southwest and Gbonyin

council areas, have shown that workers' turn out wás massive, as they did not only report at the local governments, but were seen in their offices busy with routine works that had been abandoned for a couple of months.

Reports from other local governments indicated that "the turn-out was really impressive."

The Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Ekiti Chapter, Hon. Rotimi Ajidara, described the suspension of the strike as a display of patriotism by the council orkers.

He commended Fayemi for hearkening to

the voices of the workers by conceding to their requests, saying this would engender harmonious working relationship between workers and government at all levels.

But the two months strike was suspended on Friday at a meeting attended by NULGE’s leadership and government’s team, comprising of the Commissioners for Information, Labour and Local Government Affairs, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, Mr. Wole Adewumi and Chief Dayo Fadipe respectively.

party from Obasanjo's imposition.

Speaking at Ogun East Senatorial District party meeting held in IjebuOde in protest against Obasanjo manner of handling the party ’s affairs, former state Secretary of the Party, Chief Adepeba Otemolu, said the former President is not only working to undermine the party in the state, but also constituting setbacks in Ogun PDP’s march to a successful 2015.

Obasanjo was also accused of "cornering appointments and other benefits from Aso Rock to his Owu people without extending any to other PDP members outside Owuland in Abeokuta."

Many chieftains of the party who included Kashamu, Senator Mustapha and Chief Agboola Alausa, said it is imperative that the party strives towards peace and unity in the Gateway State.

The aggrieved party members, however, tasked the former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel, Senator Lekan Mustapha and Hon. Dave Salako, as well as billionaire hotelier and chieftain of the party, Buruji Kashamu to chart a “road map” towards returning the party to power in the state.

The three factions which comprise Daniel, Buruji Kashamu and exMinister for Finance, Chief Jubril Martins Kuye respectively gave the reason why they may not work with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his group ahead of the 2015.

Prove your case at the Tribunal, LP tells ACN

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — THE Labour Party (LP) yesterday asked the Action Congress of Nigeria to prove its allegations of irregularities in the Election Petition Tribunal and stop its frivolous remarks in the media over the victory of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in last election.

The ACN's Media Assistant, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku had over the weekend attempted to

rationalise the reasons the party was in court, mentioning allegations bordering on criminal practices against both the LP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which they insisted resulted in the election victory of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

However, the Labour Party in a statement in Akure berated the ACN, saying that once a matter is in court, it becomes prejudicial to make it a subject of media analysis

as the ACN is now doing.

According to the LP’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Femi Okunjemiruwa, “the position of the law is that once a matter is in court, nobody should comment on it in the media.

“If you go to court with weighty allegations as the ones being made by the party, it behoves on you to be ready to prove these allegations rather than resorting to media rigmarole.

"They ought to be aware

of the legal maxim which says he who alleges must prove.”

The LP spokesperson, while stating that even from the tirades of the ACN as enunciated by its media manager, it was obvious that they were a bunch of confused people, merely out to play mischief rather than be serious at the tribunal.

“While we are not going to join issues with those who are, from all intent and purposes, not ready to subject themselves to the rule of the court

considering their posturing in the last few months before, during and after the election, we would like to say that some of the issues raised were pre-election matters and not election matters."

The LP meddia-man ased:“It was this party that had raised the issue of over-voting; snatching of ballot papers, arrests of LP and government officials in their press statement. Pray, what will they say at the Tribunal?"

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—11

Vanguard reporter's wife, geologist kidnapped

BY EMMA AMAIZE & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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KU—SUSPECTED kidnappers, yesterday, at Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, abducted Mrs. Marian Onoyume, wife of Vanguard correspondent in Rivers State, Mr. Jimitota Onoyume.

Also, gunmen in a dawn attack in the coastal settlement of Ekpekiri in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday, reportedly kidnapped a renowned geologist, Chief Betrand Douglas.

Mrs. Onoyume, a teacher, was driving out of her residence between 8.30am and 9.00am with

her two children in a Nissan Quest bus, when four gunmen, who were apparently loitering around the area, seized her.

The gunmen reportedly threatened and chased her two daughters out of the vehicle before whisking her away. The children, aged nine and seven, were being taken to school.

A source said the kidnappers fled, with her blindfolded, through Salubi area of Eku.

‘We're investigating’

Police spokesperson in the state, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard when contacted, that the police were investigating the incident.

Mr. Onoyume said the

kidnappers later called him on phone with a line belonging to his daughter, but did not discuss anything with him.

He pleaded with security agents in the state to trace the kidnappers and ensure the release of his wife.

In a text message forwarded to top security officials, the troubled journalist said: “Good morning. I am Jimitota Onoyume, the Rivers State correspondent of Vanguard newspaper.

“I got a call that my wife, Mrs. Marian Onoyume, was kidnapped minutes ago at our residence in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area, while she was about driving out.

“The kidnappers were

four men and armed.

They drove towards Salubi area. Kindly help please. The vehicle in a Nissan Quest, chassis n u m b e r , 4N2DN11W4RD829149, engine number, VQ992501A and registration number, 988 Benin.”

NUJ Chairman reacts

Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in the state, Mr. Norbert Chiazor, told Vanguard: “Onoyume contacted me about the kidnap of his wife. I contacted the Commissioner of Police and he told me that his men were already working on the matter.

“I pray that they release her soon, we are journalists. We do not

have money to give to any kidnapper, and we are only managing ourselves.”

Geologist abducted

The kidnapped geologist in his sixties, informed sources told Vanguard, owned Sart Nigeria Limited, an oil field laboratory that specialises in pause behaviour and reservoirs management studies in the Niger Delta.

It was also learnt that the victim had been elected to be conferred with a chieftaincy title of Ojoko in Nembe Kingdom.

The armed gunmen, it was gathered, stormed the community through the waters and headed

straight to the home of the victim.

Douglas, a Port Harcourt-based businessman, had reportedly traveled to Nembe for the burial rites of one of his brothers, when he was abducted.

Gunfight

Sources from the area told Vanguard that there was an exchange of gunfire between his security details and the armed men, but it could not be ascertained if anybody was harmed.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the incident. He said men of the anti-kidnapping squad had been deployed to the area.

ASUSS begs Oshiomhole over sacked teachers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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PROMO: From left— Bolanle Adekoya, National Lottery Reg. Commission, Abuja; Mr. Funwa Akinmade, Head of Product, Ecobank; Mr. Famous Ajemrona, Chief Regional Officer, Edo/Delta, and Mrs Nwogu Oragbon, Ecobank Area Manager, Port Harcourt, at the second draws of Ecobank WIN BIG promo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Investment hits $2bn in C-River

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—CROSS River State government has announced that the total volume of investments from different companies in the last five years in the state is in excess of $2 billion, while over 300 companies had visited the state for business.

Special Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke on Investment Promotion, Mr. Gerald Adah, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the Calaro, Ibiae and Biase Oil Palm Plantations in Akamkpa Local Government Area, yesterday, said the plantations will be managed by Wilmar International Limited, in collaboration with PZ Cussons.

ENIN—AS Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State took oath of office for his second term yesterday, secondary school teachers in the state, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Secondary School, ASUSS, have appealed to the governor to recall the teachers recently sacked over alleged neglect of duties.

In a communiqué

Constitution review: C/River elders call for local government autonomy

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—CONCERNED elders and stakeholders in Cross River State have called on the National Assembly to remove the control of local government funds from state governors.

They also called for abrogation of Joint Allocation account between state and local governments.

According to them, state governors have made it impossible to feel the impact of local government administration.

Speaking at the public session on the review of the 1999 Constitution organised by the House of Representatives, elders and

stakeholders from Obubra/ Etung Constituency of the state expressed dismay over the alleged overbearing influence of state governments towards the control of allocations for local governments.

Speaking through Mr. T. Mgban, the elders said local government administration remained the closest to the grassroots but regretted that most states governors had taken total control of council funds.

They called for the enactment of laws that would stop governors from tampering with council funds.

Besides, the stakeholders called for a defined tenure for

elected local government chairmen and councillors in the constitution as well as financial autonomy and independence for state Houses of Assembly as was the case in the National Assembly.

They called for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions, SIEC, which they said had brought more pain than blessing to the Nigerian nation and a threat to democracy as the governors used the platform to install their cronies and stooges in the various council areas.

The issue of creation of additional state in the South-East caused division as many constituencies voted for the creation of additional state.

Obubra/Etung Constituency rejected it, claiming that it would affect their agitation for the creation of Ogoja State.

jointly signed by its Vice President, Bodrick Ighalo, and Administrative Secretary, Monday Anigala, weekend in Benin, the union expressed dismay at the “military approach” in the recent dismissal of some teachers over allegations of “absenteeism and dereliction of duties.”

ASUSS also faulted the decision of the state government to suspend the recruitment of 500 teachers in the state, following allegation of fraud that trailed the recruitment.

It said though the action of the perpetrators was unacceptable, the fraud was caused by staff of the Post-Primary Education Board and not the teachers, who had already been employed.

The union then appealed to the state government to withdraw all sack letters and sanctions issued to teachers in the state.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Hope Harriman, great loss to N-Delta, Nigeria —Evah

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THANKSGIVING: Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ms. Ama Pepple (middle), flanked by the leadership of Young Women Christian Association, during a thanksgiving service to mark the 2013 Women's Harvest at Cathedral Church of the Advent, Gwarimpa, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Uduaghan inaugurates LG caretaker c'ttees BYAUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday inaugurated caretaker committees to run the affairs of local government councils in the state.

But opposition Labour Party kicked against it, insisting on having elected councillors and chairmen in place instead.

The swearing in of the local government caretaker committees came barely four days after the governor forwarded a fresh list of nominees to the State House of Assembly for appointment into the State Independent Electoral Commis-

sion, DSIEC. The new nominees to be headed by Mr. Moses Ogbe, were asked by the State Assembly to report for screening on Thursday this week.

Sworn in were Sunday Young Chukwuedo (Aniocha North); Romanus Mabuogwu (Aniocha South); Ijenwa Okunoke (Ika North East); Andre Obiazi (Ika South); Alex Aniche

(Ndokwa East); Okwaji Emmanuel Egri (Ndokwa West); Chinwe Olarewaju (Oshimili South) and Ochor Ochor (Ukwuani). Others were Sunday Eromedoghene Onoriode (Ethiope East); Precious Ajebitsi Ajaino (Ethiope West); James Augoye (Okpe); Julius Egbedi (Sapele); Friday Akpoyibo (Ughelli North); Raymond Edijala (Udu);

Brigbht Edejehwro (Uvwie).

Also sworn in were Collins Olorogun (Bomadi); Buckman Deinne (Burutu); Samuel Iise (Isoko North); Goodluck Idele (Isoko South); Chris Ekiyor (Patani); David Edun (Warri North); Augustine Uroyi (Warri South) and Ken Kenenagha (Warri South West).

Lori-Ogbebor slams constitution review exercise

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS—PROMI NENT Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has described last weekend's public hearing on the proposed constitution amend-

ment as sham and monumental failure.

According to her, the exercise “was nothing more than a ploy to rubber stamp the selfish agenda of those who organised it.”

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, the Igba of Warri, who maintained that the exercise was designed to fail, lamented: “How on earth do you expect people of my calibre and age to just answer ‘Yes or No’ about a matter that was not previously discussed!”

Faulting the public hearing, Ogbebor said “the first question was about difficulties in Section 8 of the constitution that makeS creation of states difficult. How many of us who are not lawyers know anything about the clause?”

CHANGE OF NAMES MUSA: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ramatu Abdulkarim Musa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ramatu Abdullahi.

All former documents remain valid. Customary Court of Appeal and general public please take note.

She maintained that the one minute slated for every question could never be adequate to address such a document that was like the bible of the country.

Expressing disgust at the way the Warri exercise was conducted, owing to the President’s visit for Pastor Ayo Oritsjefor’s birthday, she said “the event slated for 9 a:m could not commence until 4p:m and because of the wishy-washy manner the programme was handled, people got angry and walked out on the organisers.”

AGOS—THE Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has described the death of elder statesman and one of Nigeria’s foremost chartered surveyors, the late Chief Hope Harriman, as “a great loss to Nigeria and to Niger Delta in particular.

In a condolence message signed by the Coordinator of IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah, the Ijaw stated that the death of Harriman has robbed the Niger Delta of a vibrant voice and bridge builder. ‘’Harriman was a special gift given to us by the Itsekiri nation and the death of this nationalist

has created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill. As a member of The Patriots formed by elder statesmen of his generation to revive our sick nation, Harriman crisscrossed the ethnic divide to save Nigeria from untimely death.’’

The Ijaws stated further: ‘’It is painful that Harriman left us at a time Nigeria’s political and economic journey is still in a mess. ‘’We urge the Federal and Delta State governments to immortalise this great son of the SouthSouth region for his contribution to nation building.’’

Foundation donates to flood victims Resolution Committee in

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ENAGOA—MEM BERS of Abujabased youth and leadership development group, James Jephathah Foundation,has visited hundreds of displaced persons in 23 communities in Bayelsa State,donating cash and relief items worth millions of Nara.

The Foundation, established by a philanthropist and former chairman of the Peace and Conflict

the state,Chief James Jephathah,visited Oluasiri and Ikarama clans of Nembe Local Government Area Council and the state government.

At Oluasiri and Ikarama clans, members of the foundation distributed relief materials and cash to the various camps of displaced persons and promised to add value to lives after the flood recedes.

2015: How Delta North can win, by group BYTOMMYANADUAKA SELE-UKU—TO win the 2015 governorship election, the people of Delta North have been advised to remain focused and committed towards ensuring that a credible Anioma indigene was elected as the next governor.

Director-General of Anioma Progressives, Mr. Alex Odi-Okoh, gave the charge while addressing members during a meeting at IsseleUku. Mr. Odi- Okoh re-

I

marked that it was only through genuine commitment and loyalty, coupled with sense of belonging and love for one another, that the quest for Delta North to produce the governor in 2015 could be achieved.

The Director-General of the group who expressed joy with the large turnout of members, noted it was an indication of the readiness of members towards the objective of the group and urged them to maintain the tempo.

Ugborodo killings: Community calls for prosecution of culprits

BY EMMA ARUBI ARRI—THE entire Ugborodo community, yesterday, called on the security authorities to fish out and prosecute all those involved in the killing of some Ugborodo youths at Otumara near Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Flow Station in the creeks of Warri South-West Council area of Delta State.

Addresing a crowed of elders and youths of the community at a press brief-

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ing in Warri, the Ugbajor of Ugborodo community, Prince Perry Atete, said the "attack was most barbaric, wicked and unwarranted."

Chairman of Ugborodo Community Trust, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, alleged that the attackers were youths that belonged to the camp of his major rival, who he alleged has refused to accept the appeal of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to allow the community's will to prevail, just as he has also defied the ruling of the

Warri monarch-in council that Chief Thomas Ereyitomi as the duly and only authentic chairman of Ugborodo Community Trust.

The Ugborodo community at the conference called on all relevant security agencies to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the killers and their leaders, saying, as law abiding people, they would not take the laws into their hands in their bid to seek justice.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—13

2015: I've not endorsed anybody, by Gov Orji

BY ANAYO OKOLI M UA H I A — G OV ERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has dismissed talks of endorsing a successor to run for 2015 governorship election in the state.

Consequently, the governor urged the people to ignore any person claiming he had been endorsed by him to run for the governorship of the state.

The governor, who made this clarification while addressing an expanded PDP caucus meeting in Umuahia, the state capital, warned

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SWEARING -IN: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (6th left), Mr. Ovuozorie Macauley (5th right) and the newly sworn-in Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen, at Government House, Asaba, yesterday. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Obi never invited me to peace meeting in Awka —APGA chairman •Says "I'm not responsible for Party's woes"

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday, dismissed media reports insinuating that he shunned the peace meeting purportedly summoned by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State on November 6 to seek ways of restoring

peace to the party, saying he was never invited to such a meeting.

He also told reporters in Enugu that he was not responsible for the internal crisis rocking the party since 2011 accusing Governor Obi of being the “instigator and sponsor ” of the dispute engulfing the party.

Some national dailies had last week reported that Umeh and Governor

Rochas Okorocha of Imo State shunned the peace meeting summoned by Governor Obi at Government House, Awka, on November 5 to discuss the APGA issue, claiming that even when text messages were sent to them, none of them deemed it fit to honour the invitation.

But reacting to the reports, Chief Umeh de-

scribed it as cheap blackmail aimed at portraying him and Governor Okorocha as being indifferent to restoring peace in the party, stressing that if there was anybody who wanted peace to return to the party, it was himself and not the sponsors of the crisis.

He said: “I wish to state unequivocally that nobody sent me any text message inviting me to any meeting at the Government House Awka for the purpose of pursuing reconciliation in APGA."

against name dropping by politicians.

According to him, three main factors that would determine who succeeds him are God, party stakeholder and himself.

Governor Orji insisted that as a true democrat, he would not singlehandedly select his successor.

He, however, said it was even too early to talk about 2015, stressing that his main preoccupation was to ensure he completed his legacy projects to help market the party ahead of the 2015 elections.

Constitution review aimed at good governance —Uba

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—THE senator representing Anambra South senatorial zone, Dr. Andy Uba, said yesterday that the on-going effort to review the country’s constitution was aimed at achieving the much-desired goals of good governance and reduction in the cost of running governments in order to have more resources for development.

Speaking at the Anambra South senatorial zone town hall meet-

ing on the review of the 1999 constitution held at the Aguata local government headquarters at Ekwulobia, Uba said the new constitution would also ensure the security of lives and property, as well as welfare of Nigerians.

The session was attended by stakeholders from the seven local government areas that make up the zone, as well as church groups, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, labour unions, market unions, among others.

More facts emerge on Otumara flow station's killings

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ARRI—MORE facts have emerged over the weekend on the killing of three persons during the clash for supremacy between two groups, which are laying claims to the leadership of Ugborodo Trust Board.

The two groups had since last year been laying claims to the leadership of Ugborodo Community Trust Governing Board, and this has resulted into series of litigations with one group being led by a former Chairman of Warri South-West Local Government Council Area, Mr. David Tonwe, while the other is led by Mr. Thomas Ereyitomi, who is seeking a second term.

Mr. Ereyitomi had led the Board between 20082011. What is most intriguing over the recent bloody incident between the alleged supporters of both groups around the Otumara Flow Station is that all the three persons

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reportedly killed during the clash were not of Itsekiri stock which has created a very strong suspicion that those who died in the clash were mercenaries, who had been paid by certain in-

dividuals who are involved in the leadership tussle in Ugborodo.

An unconfirmed report stated that some of those who died actually drowned as they could

not swim and were not used to the terrain. The names of those who reportedly died are Gift Ebo Bazuaya, Stephen Enafe (a.k.a. Kurata) and Andrew Aboguwei.

Constitution: Enugu North LG backs state creation

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BYTONY EDIKE

NUGU—THE people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, yesterday, rose in support of creation of new states in the country.

They also called for total abolition of the Joint Account Committee, JAC, between state and local governments.

At a Town Hall meeting convened by Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu North, to give his constituents the opportunity to harmonise their views ahead of Wednesday’s public hearing on the review of 1999 constitution in South East zone, the participants also endorsed the pro-

posal for the replacement of state of origin with state of residence.

A member of Adada State movement, Chief James Ugwu, who

moved a motion in support of state creation, went further to call for the creation of Adada from the present Enugu State.

Rep donates to orphanage

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AGOS—A member of the House of Representatives, Lanre Odubote, has donated gift items worth thousands of Naira to God’s Grace Orphange, Agbowa, as part of activities to mark his empowerment and poverty alleviation programme for the people of his constituency.

The gift items include bags of rice, kegs of grand nut oil, cartons of

Indomie noodles, Omo detergent, viju milk and others materials.

Oduboted, who represents Epe Federal Constituency, presented the gift items to the founder of the orphanage home, Mrs Bose Boluwajoko, said the gesture was to support the good work of the orphanage which commenced since 1997 in raising less privileged children.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

GOVERNOR ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE'S INAUGURATION IN BENIN Oshiomhole takes oath of office for 2nd term ...calls on Police to fish out Olaitan's killers

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—GOVER NOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, took his oath of office for a second term as governor of the state, with a call on the Inspector General Police, IGP, Muhammed Abubakar, to produce the real killers of his Principal Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

The governor, who expressed disappointment with the manner the police handled the case by allegedly parading innocent citizens as the killers such as the Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, stressed the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to insist that the killers be produced for the interest of Nigerians.

The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, venue of the event, was filled to capacity as indigenes of the state from the three senatorial districts thronged the stadium to express their support and love for the Comrade governor and his Deputy, Dr, Pius Odubu.

The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Cromwell Idahosa.

Tribute Oshiomhole used the occasion to pay tribute to his late wife, Clara Oshiomhole, the three journalists and the INEC and Police officers who lost their lives during the election. He assured that government would continue to stand by the families.

Reacting very angrily over the police investigations of Olaitan’s death, Oshiomhole said: “I want to remember and appreciate one man who left a very prestigious position in Abuja to join us in Edo State. Today, he is not here because some cowards decided to snuff life out of him.

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done their worst, but I am committed that Olaitan’s blood shall not flow for nothing.

“Those who killed him must be brought to justice. And I send message to the Nigeria Police that they have no alternative than to find the killers of Olaitan. If they do not, they will have no peace and I have the capacity to continue to harass them.

President Goodluck Jonathan, on his part, must insist that the Nigeria Police must bring the killers of Olaitan to justice.

“We will sustain this fight, not because he is gone. We will sustain the fight because of the rest of us who are living so that never again should the police conspire to shield those who kill and parade innocent people like they did with David Ugolor. We must trouble them, we must harass them until they submit to the logic of their uniform. He is not here but his spirit is here with us.”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole signs the relevant documents after subscribing to the oaths of office.

Godfathers Recalling the situation of things before he took over office in 2008, Oshiomhole said: “By 2008, Edo State was only referred to in negative terms. Our politics was being manipulated by a handful of godfathers.

The economy of the state was in shambles. Infrastructures were in a state of decay. Our leaders of tomorrow, the children, were in primary schools without roofs. Benin City was a city that was only being referred to as ancient, our people no longer looked forward to raining season.

“In Esanland, there was no water. Afemai people were too far from civilization. Every where we looked at, life was miserable. Pensioners could not get their pay.

And today, I am happy to say that Edo is viable and the dream of our founding fathers must be restored. Our people have the capacity to reposition Edo State and today, all of that have be-

From left: Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State, Governor Oshiomhole's mother, Haija Aishatu Oshiomhole, and Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State. come a reality. We have built our schools that parents now withdraw their children from private to public schools.

We now have street lights across the three senatorial districts. We now have water in Ekpoma, Iruekpen, across the length and breath of the state. Everything they said was impossible we have shown that it is possible. Today, Edo is work in progress. We have not gotten to where we want to go but we have shown that we will get there.”

Dignitaries at the event D

I G N ATA R I E S who graced the occasion, include Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Raji Fashola (Lagos), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and

Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

Others include former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, National leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Chief Bisi

Akande, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Rev. Peter Obadan, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Gen. Godwin Abbe, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Sen. Domingo Obende, Pally Iriase, Rasaq Bello-Osagie, Samson Osagie and host of others.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—15

GOVERNOR ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE'S INAUGURATION IN BENIN

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (left) and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

From left: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.

RIGHT: HRH Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa (left) and Thomas Okosun, Edo State ACN Chairman.

From right: Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, (right) and others.

Governor Oshiomhole and his children, Mrs. Jane Aduku (left) and Mr. Steve Oshiomhole.

Cross section of Edo women.

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16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Chevron renews GMoU with Egbema/Gbaramatu

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SEMINAR: From left— Mr. Anthony Ikem; Mallam Mohammed El-Yakub, both Deputy Directors, Central Bank of Nigeria; Hajia Ummahani Amin, Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Skills Limited, and Sheik Ziyaad Mahomed, Director, Islamic Finance Institute ans Southern Africa, at the seminar on Islamic Investments Reviews and Engineering, organised by Metropolitan and Islamic Finance Institute in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Adamawa set for council polls

BY UMAR YUSUF

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OLA—ADAMAWA State Independent Electoral Commission, ADSIEC, is set to conduct local government election in the state on November 24.

Fourteen political parties will participate in the election, which had been postponed on two occasions due to some rifts between the political parties on one hand and the state government and ADSIEC on the other.

Screening of chairmanship and councillorship aspirants had since been completed, even as the aspirants have started their campaigns.

An official of ADSIEC told Vanguard that the names of cleared and disqualified candidates would be displayed this week.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said all bottlenecks that were responsible for earlier postponements had been addressed.

FourSquare convention

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OURSQUARE Gos pel Church kicks off her 57th Annual Convention The 57th Annual Convention of FourSquare Gospel Church in Nigeria kicked-off, yesterday. It will end Sunday, November 18.

Theme of the convention, holding at the church convention ground in Ajebo Ogun State, is The Fullness of Christ.

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ARRI—CHEV RON Nigeria Limited, CNL, has renewed its Global Memorandum of Understanding, GmoU, with the Egbema/ Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, and the Delta State Government.

Speaking in Warri, Delta State at the signing ceremony of the renewal of the GMoU between NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, EGCDF

50% of Kaduna teachers unqualified— Yakowa

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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ADUNA—GOVERNOR Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, yesterday, said about 50 percent of primary school teachers in the state were unqualified, adding that 2,000 of the teachers secured employment with forged certificates.

Yakowa spoke during the graduation and awards ceremony of the second joint National Teachers’ Institute, NTI, in Kaduna, yesterday.

He said: “The theme of the two-day summit, Enhancing Teacher Education: Quality and Professional Development, by NTI is not only timely but instructive, since it falls alongside the same aggressive effort we are currently making in Kaduna State in improving the quality of our teachers.

“Because we are convinced that the teacher is the key factor in any learning situation, we, therefore, associate ourselves with any effort to develop teacher’s quality.

He added that this was what guided the state

government to evaluate primary school teachers and discovered that “nearly 50 percent” of them “lack the required qualifications to teach” even as “about 2,000 teachers had been employed with fake certificates.”

The governor further said the government also developed a blue-print aimed at addressing

teacher- quality through capacity building, infrastructural development, increasing access and provision of facilities, new quality assurance system and the development of tertiary institutions owned by the state government.

According to him, the development of the roadmap had “paved the way for us to revamp the

sector and improve the system beyond what was on ground.”

He said: “Funds have been injected into the sector for various projects, which include expansion and rehabilitation of government schools and libraries in the three senatorial zones, building of classrooms, supply of science equipment and furniture for use by public schools.”

Wamakko/PHCN face-off: Gov describes NLC President as rude Abdulwaheed Omar that “It is unfortunate that

BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

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OKOTO—THE stand-off between the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, has degenerated with the governor describing NLC’s President Omar’s call for apology as not only misguided but “absolutely disgusting” Wamakko was said to have flogged the Business Manager of PHCN in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state

along with two of his officials last week, leading to a one-week strike by PHCN workers in Sokoto State, which paralysed government and commercial activities, leading to altercations between the state government and labour.

The situation was temporarily resolved following the intervention of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and other prominent natives of the area.

However, the matter was said to have escalated following insistence by NLC President, Mr.

labour would embark on indefinite strike in Sokoto State if Governor Wamakko failed to tender public apology for allegedly assaulting the three PHCN workers.

In a swift reaction, Governor Wamakko described Omar’s statement as not only mis-guided but “absolutely disgusting” and “lies.”

A statement by Wamakko’s Special Assistant on Media, Sani Umar, yesterday, read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to an unnecessary outbursts and irresponsible statement credited to the president of the NLC.

Kit contract: NYSC rejects 85 contractors' bids

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—NATIONAL Youth Service Corps, NYSC, yesterday, dashed the hopes of about 85 contractors, who bidded for the production and supply of kit items for 2013 Batch ‘A’ Corps members, insisting that only those who quoted

and the Delta State Government, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA, of CNL, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said the GMoU was first signed seven years ago.

He said the signing of the renewal of the GMoU was an affirmation of the advancement Chevron was making to reinforce its commitment to the ideals and objectives of the GMoU. Mr. Haastrup, who was represented by Mr. Tunji Idowu, Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, recalled that at the time the GMoU was introduced in 2005, there were some doubts about its workability and noted with excitement that the vision was being realised.

He said: “During that period, we witnessed significant development of our communities.

“Many projects were executed and many Ijaws, both young and old, benefited from various empowerment programmes executed by EGCDF in collaboration with the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture.”

about five percent lesser or higher than the official prices for each item would be given new jobs.

Director-General of NYSC, Brig-General Okore-Affia, said: “Many of our prospective contractors here are fully aware that the NYSC Scheme does not compromise standards.

“It is with this in mind that we remind you as always that any contractor, who fails to meet our set standards, will have their items rejected out-rightly and such contractor blacklisted.”

Represented by the Director of Procurement, Mr. Gabriel Alonge, Okore-

Affa, the DG added: “It is imperative to draw the attention of all contractors to the need for timely delivery of items.

“Any delayed supply will be viewed seriously by the management and such contractor will no longer enjoy the patronage of the organisation.”

someone holding the position of Nigeria’s number one labour leader could descend so slow as to use gutter language on the person of a governor duly elected by millions of Sokoto people.

“Sokoto people could not have made a mistake by electing Governor Wamakko on three occasions. The governor is of impeccable character and a distinguished gentleman. It is, therefore, very uncharitable for the NLC president to suggest otherwise.

“It is absolutely disgusting that a person entrusted with the leadership of Nigerian workers could decide to throw caution to the winds and be calling an elected governor names. It really shows how indecent and uncouth he is.

“Perhaps he is being deluded by an imaginary power that is illusionary.

How can someone claiming of being reliably informed about something take a hasty decision and still be fit enough to lead Nigerian workers?”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—17

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that says all female Judges must come from their states of origin and they must occupy the slots that have to do with their states of origin” (Vanguard Wednesday 7 November 2012, page 5). If Toyo is right, then the CJN was not to blame. The short sighted chauvinists who made the policy are to blame.

Married but stateless

•Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, Chief Justice of the Federation, Lagosians later descend on the State like locusts and made fortunes in the state and left to pursue higher political careers in their states of origin! And these were men, not married women!

Even Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

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ecall also that when Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala was appointed Minister by President Obasanjo, this same Abia state protested that having been born in Delta state she ought not take the Abia slot. Even Okonjo-Iweala who should be a slot of her own was subjected to this small mindedness! Then, when Mrs. Josephine Anenih was appointed Minister of Women Affairs, Anambra people murmured; was she not married to an Edo man? On Tuesday 7 August 2012, in this column, I deprecated the protest by some people in Osun State against the intention of Comrade Rauf Aregbesola to appoint Justice Oyewole as the Chief Judge of Osun State on the ground that he was from the Lagos State judiciary (Thisday 29 July 2012)! Incidentally Justice Oyewole was reportedly from Ila in Osun State and was made a Judge of Lagos State in May 2001 by Governor Bola Tinubu. So, I asked, why should what was good for Lagos not be good for Osun State?

In several articles I have called attention to the fact that we do not enjoy a common citizenship; that your Nigerian citizenship is diminished once you step out of your local government; that values are allocated in Nigeria not on the basis of our citizenship but on indigeneship; that the Nigerian passport only procures you foreign visas not

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

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HE ripple in the polity is heightening by the day as a result of the latest parley offer by the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic group.

The sect is allegedly set to ceasefire and dialogue with the Federal Government in far away Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The group said it preferred the dialogue to hold there and not in Nigeria.

According to One Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, who claimed to be a leader of the group said “five of our members (Boko Haram) have been mandated by our leader, Imam Abubakar Shekau, to handle the dialogue with some prominent people in the country including the former military leader, General Mohammadu Buhari”.

It also picked Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, Ambassador Gaji Galtimari, Mrs Aisha Alkali Wakil, and her husband, Alkali Wakil and former Yobe State Governor, Senator Abba Bukar Ibrahim as mediators.

Boko Haram had overtime, spurned invitations to negotiate with government officials by dismissing

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common citizenship! Perhaps, when all these examples I have cited happened, they did not strike us as serious. Now the Jombo-Ofo case came with all the drama because of how and where it happened.

The truth is that all married women in Nigeria face this danger! Even if Ifeoma was born in one Local government in Abia and married in another local government, she would have been subjected to discrimination by the local government where she is married once there is a benefit to be shared! My fear is that very soon, if your mother is married from another state, you may be disfranchised by your state on account of that! What is at stake is that opportunities are not enough to satisfy our expectations and we have therefore devised devious ways to short circuit competition! The more opportunities dwindle, the more primitive we become in fighting for what is available!

There are many ironies about the Justice Jombo-Ofo drama. It happened in the highest temple of Justice in the land, where, were she an ordinary citizen discriminated against in disregard to our constitution, she would have gone to seek

,

N Monday, 5 November, 2012, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar refused to administer the oath of office on Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo as a Judge of the Court of Appeal because of a petition that she was not from Abia state. Justice Jombo-Ofo, born in Anambra state, is married in Abia. She subsequently transferred her service to Abia State where she had served for 14 years. Now she cannot enjoy any benefit due Abia, including the fulfillment of her professional dream, just because she married across the state! The irony of it all is that it happened as the world, including Nigeria, celebrated the reelection for a second term as the President of the United States of America, a man born of a father from Kogelo Kenya.

Perhaps, if America was Nigeria, Barack Obama would never be President!

Of course, as usual, Jombo-Ofo’s predicament elicited the right noise. But Abia is not the only problem she has.

Anambra would also have protested and petitioned against her were she to be appointed as an indigene of Anambra State! They would have agued vociferously that she was no longer one of them, having married in Abia. So, effectively Jombo-Ofo is stateless by virtue of marriage and some of the silly policies we put in place. So are all Nigerian women who married across state lines! And this mockery on citizenship is in a country that spends time and good money dishing out ridiculous jingles about being one nation! Now you can understand it when we say that the Nigerian woman does not exist in, and is not protected by our constitution. Forget all the talk about whether her appointment was approved by the National Judicial Council, NJC chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria. All of that may not help her or any other woman in similar predicament. I am sure that Justice Jombo-Ofo must have wept on that sad day! The tears must be for a country that lies to itself! Nigeria can be likened to a man who walks backwards all day just because he found out that he was wearing his pant the other way round!

Recall that when President Olusegun Obasanjo nominated Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu as an ambassador under Lagos state slot, it was met with a huge protest by some people who claimed they owned Lagos. They protested to the then Senate President, Dr Chuba Okadigbo that it was a travesty for her, originally from Ogun State, to take the Lagos slot. These were people who had built their lives mouthing the Awo mantra!

Some were even audacious to ask her to drop the Awolowo from her compound surname! Imagine! The daughter of Awolowo was not even entitled to use her father ’s name, whereas sycophants were making a living with the name! It took Okadigbo’s sagacity to override the protests against Tokunbo. Ironically, non-

As I have often argued, gender is not about women alone, it is more about men. It is about men understanding that gender is not just about women fighting for equality; it is a fight for equity

,

justice! And this pepper was rubbed into her eyes and yonder by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, a fellow woman! If Dr. Okadigbo could trash the petition from Lagos State chauvinists against Mrs. Awolowo-Dosunmu, why could Justice Maryam Mukhtar not protect one of her own? I will tell you why. It was not the CJN’s fault. Remember, Justice Mukhtar had taken office as a Law and Order CJN. According to Hon. Nkoyo Toyo, herself a lawyer and one time civil rights activist with whom we used to interrogate these gender issues, “even within the judiciary itself, there is an extant policy

nother irony about this was that it was reported that the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, wrote the CJN to discountenance the petition against Justice Jombo - Ofo. Poor chap! It appeared that his letter did not cut ice with the CNJ. If I were the CNJ, I too, would rightly have treated the Governor’s letter with ignominy. This was the same Governor who, a few months ago, sent workers in his state’s public service packing from Abia State on the very same obnoxious reason that they were nonindigenes of the State! If those of us who protested the infamy and got insulted by Orji’s lickspittles could not dissuade him from that retrogressive act, why should his crocodile tears over Jombo-Ofo impress anybody?

I took particular hint while Senator Ndoma-Egba was making his contribution during the grandstanding in the Senate. He stressed (indeed stretched) the point that “an Igbo woman married by an Igbo man from another Igbo state….” That was another Nigerian hypocritical way of pigeonholing the issue out of proper understanding. It is not an Igbo problem. It is a Nigerian problem rooted in our mindset. There are many political office contestants who had to carry the burden of their mothers coming from other tribes! In a SouthSouth state, the ethnic origin of the wife of a Governor was made a campaign issue by his opponents. Even in the very cosmopolitan Lagos, a governorship candidate was derided because his running mate was of another ethnic group! What of the parts of Nigeria where women are discriminated and oppressed just for being women? These seemingly innocuous little drops of water ultimately became the flood that flowed uphill to the Supreme Court on Monday 5 November 2012.

I have read legal luminaries quote section 42 of our constitution. Others have cited the verdict in the Augustine Mojekwu v Caroline Mojekwu (1997) 7 NWLR (PT 512) 283. All these are fine.

We may even call for further amendment of the constitution now that the National Assembly is reviewing the constitution.

But this cancer is not in the laws but in our minds. For sure, there are states where the Jombo-Ofo oddity would not play out.

But the place to fix this problem is in the mind, especially in the mind of men. As I have often argued, gender is not about women alone, it is more about men. It is about men understanding that gender is not just about women fighting for equality; it is a fight for equity!

OPINION Before we accept Boko Haram's offer government’s claims of opening communication channels with it and described its supposed representatives in the purported negotiation as “fake negotiators who are pretending that they are in talks with the Federal Government on our behalf. These people are collecting large sums of money from the government under false pretence”.

Butressing this position is the Civil Rights Congress’ National President, Shehu Sani, who organised an earlier ill-fated contact with the group, as he said, “No credible talks are going on. If there is going to be any genuine talks, there should be confirmation from the leadership of the group and not the government”.

On the one hand, the Congress for Progressive Change had already said that Buhari, the national leader of the party, had nothing to do with members.

On the other , Ibrahim, one of the six mediators named, representing Yobe Central in the Senate, had been outspoken on issues of marginalisation of the NorthEast, claiming that the neglect had resulted in the

heightened insecurity in the region.

Just a few days ago, he denied predicting a situation “bigger than Boko Haram” after newspapers quoted him as justifying the sect’s insurgency, for the perceived marginalisation.

While some people believe that the offer should be embraced - to bring about the much desired peace others are of the opinion that it will rather be a wrong move on the part of the government, to descend so low to the whim and caprices of a nefarious group for accepting to host the parley in a foreign land.

To the protagonists, including the Northern Governors’ Forum, which comprises the 19 northern governors believe that the deployment of dialogue rather than the continued use of force, would help find a lasting solution to the worsening insecurity of lives and property in the country. Continues pg.18

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

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 OF all the things in the world, our politicians are bickering over the conduct of American politicians during their elections. They are accusing each other of not following the American way of accepting defeat and congratulating the winner.

“The swift manner of congratulations and the graceful conduct of the defeated candidate is a shining example of patriotism and submission to the overall will of the people,” Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said in a statement that recommended similar conduct to the opposition.

Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in separate statements hit back. “There is no lesson to learn except that if elections are free and fair, the losers will be willing to congratulate the winner,” ACN said.

“Indeed, if elections are fair, we shall imbibe the culture of congratulating winners immediately. Can PDP really learn from this?,” CPC asked.

“President Jonathan also hopes that the millions of people across the world, especially those in developing nations who watched the beauty and strength of democracy unfold in

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI Continued from pg. 17 IMILARLY, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Publicity, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said: “The Senate will support any measure that will bring peace to all parts of Nigeria”.

Supporters of the latest peace initiative believe there is nothing wrong in having dialogue with the sect.

It is argued that dialogue is an essential tool for crisis resolution and peace-making by the warring parties as this will enable the government know the real grievances of the sect, the reasons behind their actions and what can be done to appease the group and elicit from them, possible solutions.

The sect’s spokesperson stated that this time around, government must show sincerity in handling the situation as well as indicate its willingness to compensate the group, so as to resettle many of their members and their families killed and those displaced.

To the antagonist of the parley, the conditions for ceasefire offered by the fundamentalists are unrealistic and they should instead surrender unconditionally since the issue involved is a purely domestic affair that should be handled in the country and not in the Saudi Arabia, as proposed by the sect.

Nigerians believe that acceding to Boko

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What Our Politicians Learnt the United States presidential elections will come to a greater and better appreciation of democracy as the key to building peaceful, stable and progressive societies ,” a presidential statement enthused.

The plaudits awarded the US elections may not be more than a routine of governments and political parties issuing statements to leverage relevance from global matters. How have the four US elections that we have seen from 2000 affected our politics?

If democracy is “the key to building peaceful, stable and progressive societies,” is the President agreeing with those who propose we have had elections since 1999 and not democratic governments? Is he suggesting we

are barred from the benefits of democracy?

The issues are that Nigerians have to believe they have a nation and the authorities need to apply national resources in ways that engender welfare of the people. There must be rights that accrue to Nigerians.

Where the rights are elevated to fundamental issues in the affairs of governments, as Section 14 (2b) of the Constitution intended by stating, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government,” then we would be “building peaceful, stable and progressive societies.”

American politicians understand the importance of the security and welfare of the people. They are the main issues canvassed at elections. Are American politicians perfect?

They are human with all the foibles, but humane. Our politicians are only concerned about power for themselves.

They showed their greed again in their expectation that once opponents concede elections quickly, Nigerian democracy would have attained the same ranking with America’s. They conveniently never noticed the American campaigns centred on the people.

OPINION Before we accept Boko Haram's offer(2) Haram may have further underscored the confusion in high places and timidity of the government, forcing the President to lay a dangerous precedent by holding dialogue with people who act like terrorists in all ramifications.

They have variously cautioned the government against conferring unearned status and inadvertently validating the claims by the sect through dialogue.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had vehemently opposed the conditions given for the ceasefire, particularly, that which seeks the dialogue in Saudi Arabia.

CAN is of the view that the sect should not be dreaded to the extent of giving in to their demands.

Many people also feel that the proposed dialogue with Boko Haram is suspicious and questionable, going by the previous stance by government that it will not dialogue with any faceless group.

Despite the misgivings, the Federal Government had already indicated its desire to commence discussing with Boko Haram as well as considering compensating members of the violent Islamic sect, especially, those alleged to have suffered from the violence and “were seen to have been killed unjustly”.

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier in the year said he will not meet the demands of Boko Haram, demanding that he embraced the Islamic faith and become?

Additionally, the government is to pay compensation, otherwise known as Diyya, to halt further threats and attacks by the sect, which put the compensation to the family of the 24 deceased members at N2m each. In otherwords, for the 24 families, the Diyya to be paid equals to N48m. The sect is also pressing for the release of those unjustly detained and the renovation of allegedly destroyed mosques by government security forces. And who pays the victims of the monumental tragedies?

The sect was said to have identified such dead members whom it claimed were killed unjustly, including its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, killed in 2010 in Maiduguri, after he had been reportedly captured alive by soldiers, then handed over to the police, under whose custody, he later died mysteriously.

B

oko Haram has never hidden its desperation in advancing the course of its brand of Islam in the country through violence and the use of force by engaging in acts of unbridled terrorism and wanton destruction of lives and property, which

Islamic scholars have said to be antithetical to the tenets of the religion.

In 1995, the group was said to be operating under the name Shabaab, Muslim Youth Organisation with Mallam Lawal as its leader. When Lawal left to continue his education, Yusuf took over its affairs, which allegedly opened the group to political influence and popularity.

Yusuf officially founded the group in 2002 in the city of Maiduguri, with the aim of establishing a Shari'a government in Borno State under former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

The centre had ulterior political goals and soon it was also working as a recruiting ground for future Jihads to fight the state.

The group includes members who come from neighbouring Chad and Niger and were known to speak only Arabic.

While some apologists of the group have continually attributed Boko Haram’s mindless acts of terrorism to poverty, unemployment and bad governance, the group itself has held fast to its stated mission of foisting its variant of the Islamic mode of governance on the northern parts of the country, making it complex and difficult to truly understand its philosophy.

Continues tomorrow on pg 17 **Mr. Kupoluyi, wrote from Federal University of Agric., Abeokuta, Ogun State.s.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012— 19

T

HE recent resurgence of demand for state police stems from observed security lapses or deficit at the Federal level. The introduction of this column will consist of appreciation of a sample of opinion advocating or opposing the proposal. Decision by the National Assembly in favour of it will involve an amendment to the present Constitution to make the policing of the society a concurrent responsibility at the state and or local government levels. In assessing arguments for and against this amendment it will be helpful if we remember to differentiate proposals based on security deficit at the Federal level from those made on the basis of systems of government.

The argument made by the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, falls under the second rubric and because of the space I want to devote to the review of his argument, I am limiting my appreciation to his call for state police on statecraft

grounds.

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai’s objection to the proposal does not constitute a third ground for deciding on the proposal. His objection is based on the abuse of the police at the local government level. As attested by him in his Sunday Vanguard, September 9, 2012 interview- he was arrested for his politics 14 times by the local police in Kano.

On the basis of his first hand experience, he predicts that “the introduction of state police will be the harbinger of the destruction of democracy in Nigeria”.

Government at all levels have been oppressive in the experience of determined exercise of rights by some vocal groups. This fact, however, cannot constitute the sole ground of opposition to the institution of government as espoused by anarchists. The cure to governmental abuse is reform and only where reform results in wholesale war waged against dissenters are these driven to

,

resorting to organised protests, insurgency, secessionist or revolutionary. Therefore, while noticing the fact of possible abuse of the police at the Federal level, serious proposals for the introduction of police at the state or local level must depend on the security value of such constitutional change.

The Proposal of Alhadji Sefiu Gbenga Kaka is extracted from his answer to the following question: “Those who are opposed to state police say it could be used by governors to perpetrate political terrorism.

What is your take on that? He answers: “Under Papa Obafemi Awolowo we had constabulary even at the local government and they are the best to police themselves because, a stranger cannot police an area better than the indigenes.

W

e will still continue to emphasize that we must have local government police and a law will be put in place to

Will the 2013 budget lift education out of decadence? (2) Continued from yesterday's viewpoint page

BY HASSAN SOWETO

I

N actual fact, disbursements to each tertiary and non-tertiary institutions as well as departments and agencies may not even increase at all or only marginally given that there are now nine additional responsibilities. Moreso, only N60 billion of this allocation is for capital project. How many modern libraries or science laboratories would this be able to build? How many standard lecture theatres or students’ hostels can it build? This amount will not even be enough to provide adequate infrastructures in the nine new federal universities not to talk of the existing tertiary institutions in the country that are in different state of abject disrepair. So, the big question, therefore is, where exactly is the justification for NANS’ effusive commendation of the President?

Note that 8.7 percent is a marginal and imperceptible increase considering the frightening levels of decay in the sector. A country such as Ghana allocates about 30 percent of its annual budget to education and its economy is not half as big and fast-growing as Nigeria’s. Today, thousands of Nigerian students are studying in Ghana and Benin Republic due to the horrendous collapse of facilities and

quality in our own universities. This is aside many more in Europe.

Meanwhile, less than 50 years ago, the University of Ibadan was adjudged the best on the African continent and among the best in the world. It was a citadel of learning, just as many of the first generation universities were then, to students and academics from all over the world due to its facilities, quality and standard. Today, this same university occupies a shameful 40th position in the comity of unversities in Africa according to the latest Webometric ranking of universities. The only university that made it to the top 20 was the University of Lagos, UNILAG, trailing behind universities from South Africa and Ghana.

It is not possible to turn back the fortunes of our collapsed education sector by mere piece-meal reforms or meagre percentage point increments in allocations. What is needed is a state-funded emergency crash programme that will include massive investment in the education sector, building more schools to expand access, renovation of teaching infrastructures like lecture theatres, classrooms, modern libraries and science laboratories, restoration of research as components of tertiary education, improvement in the pay and condition of staff, an aggressive policy to employ at least 30,000 additional academic staff for universities with similar measures for

control whatever they are doing.

There is no problem without solution. But running away from it is to keep postponing the evil day. And we have postponed it now to the level where quality lives are being lost every day. It is very unfortunate we are where we are but hope is not totally lost for the country”.

To put the Senator’s argument in perspective, it is important to note that it is perception of present security deficit in the Federal security regime that has made the Action Group First Republic practice a relevant proposal. The Second and Third Republics were ushered in by the Military Government’s Transition To Civil Rule Constitutions. Military rule like colonial rule is unitary and it is important to ask why was local and state police not included in the military ’s federal administration regime? We should also ask why the Second, Third and the “Fourth” Republics maintained the unitarist Federal administration of the transition constitutions?

These questions suggest that the rationales for the constitutional changes introduced by the military and the reasonings of the civilian Federal Government to maintain the unitarist structure of the police be reviewed in assessing Senator Kaka’s proposal.

Senator Adokwe’s position on state police as reproduced in the Sunday Vanguard September 16, 2012 interview by Soni Daniel: “Is it not an irony that governors of the 19 Northern states are stoutly opposed to state police at a time they are

,

, The SSttat atee and demand for SSttat atee police

Government has been oppressive in the exercise of rights by some vocal groups; this fact, however, cannot constitute the sole ground of opposition to government

N426.53 billion will not make any noticeable difference in the condition of education over the next one year; at least the sum of N1.28 trillion would be needed annually to turn around the fortunes of public education

,

polytechnics, colleges of education and also primary and secondary schools, cancellation of fees to ensure everyone is able to go to school, etc.

Compared to what needs to be done, N426.53 billion is not just too little, it is completely inadequate and will not make any noticeable difference in the condition of education over the next one year. For the government to get started at all, at least the sum of N1.28 trillion being 26 percent of the proposed budget would be needed annually over the next 10 years at least to begin to turn around the fortunes of public education.

H

owever, while we in the ERC demand adequate funding of education, we also recognise the fact that unless corruption is tackled, more money would not necessarily resolve anything. There are already too many cases of mismanagement and

being confronted with a lot of security challenges?

"It is indeed an irony because I had thought that the governors of the region would be the first to jump at the idea. I don’t really know the agenda behind the rejection of state police. Some of the fears that have been expressed are genuine going by the ugly experiences of the 50s and 60s when the Native Police Authority was in operation… But my argument has always been that we should not be afraid to make laws just because of the unfounded fear that somebody will not implement it properly. In law, we have what is called Presumptive Regularity- that is, any official thing that is done is presumed to be done in accordance with the law until the contrary is proved.

So we should make laws with positive expectations in mind. The fact that certain negative tendencies are being exhibited now should not preclude the fact that the law you are going to enact is aimed at bringing positive effects to the society”.

One issue that is tackled head on by Senator Adokwe is the critique of the security-deficit rationale for the introduction of second and third tier police.

Northern Governors apparently reject such ground for reform.

Why then is the security deficit argument a Southern argument?

Why is threat perception taking the form of regionalist threat appreciation? In the light of the dichotomy in the support and opposition to the proposal of state police can we surmise it as the appreciation of the security challenges facing the nation?

Continues next week

corruption in the education sector with some Vice Chancellors, rectors and provosts practically looting the accounts of their institutions with impunity.

This is why we are always quick to stress the demand that all educational institutions (universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education, primary and secondary schools) must be put under the democratic control and management of elected committees of representatives of management officials, staff and students. In this way, it will be possible to ensure that funds allocated to education are judiciously utilized to carry out the needed turn around. This is also the best way to avoid looting or mismanagement of these resources by a few appointed management officials.

Now, members of Nigeria’s capitalist ruling class and their apologists are always quick to argue that government cannot be solely in charge of the funding of education and that therefore our demands for adequate funding of education is at best impracticable.

However, we in the ERC do not make this demand for nothing, it is because we know that Nigeria has colossal wealth, which, if rescued from the grip of private ownership by the one per cent and looting by political office holders, can have great effect in adequately funding education and also providing free public education at all levels and turning around the horrendous state of public infrastructures and the lives of the vast majority of Nigerians.

Concluded *Mr. Soweto, a social critic, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 21

Stakeholders call for coherent regional trade policy

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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Goodie Ibru, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (middle); Yemi Adeyinka, Regional Manager, Ikeja, Unity Bank, representing Unity Bank’s Chief Executive Officer (left) and Patricia Ahunanya, Regional Manager, Lagos, Unity Bank, at the bank’s Special Day at the just-concluded Lagos International Trade Fair.

Gas, power projects ’ll suffer under PIB — Shell VP

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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AJOR gas projects in the Nigeria’s petroleum industry would soon be abandoned, while the Federal Government’s quest to increase the country ’s power generating capacity will not be achieved unless gray areas in the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, currently before the National Assembly is addressed, said Mr. Bernard Bos, Vice President, Finance, Shell Exploration & Production Africa.

“NNPC and other industry stakeholders are not aligned on the impact of the proposed PIB terms; hence, most gas projects will not go ahead, due to onerous fiscal terms, while the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, objective to triple power generation will not be achieved,” Bos said in Lagos at the KPMG’s Oil and Gas seminar for senior executives — Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officers.

At the seminar which was used by KPMG Nigeria to host Mr. Michiel Soeting, Global Head, Energy and Natural Resources, KPMG, the Shell boss maintained that there is more than enough gas in Nigeria, adding that for the country to benefit from opportunities in the global gas market, the government must put in place the right regulatory framework.

He said the PIB, as it is presently, is ambitious, will lead to additional complexity, uncertainty and time

consuming implementation.

According to Bos, the PIB has a number of implications for the petroleum industry, as it is extremely complex with a seeming objective to transform the entire industry at the same time.

He further maintained that the PIB lacks clarity in implementation, lack transition plan, will engender enormous investor uncertainty and possess an apparent disregard for previous investments and existing contracts.

He said, “The draft PIB raises serious concerns as enablers are insufficient whereby investments in most new oil and gas projects are not viable. The new fiscal regime proposed by the PIB renders all new deepwater and several

onshore projects uneconomic and it will make Nigeria’s oil & gas sector not to be attractive globally.

“Joint Venture funding issues were not resolved and there was vagueness around key terms.

Contract approval challenges were not resolved and this would lower investment, especially as viability declines, while direct and secondary employment will be lower.”

He advised the Federal Government to ensure that the Bill is restructured, taking into consideration key issues raised by stakeholders in the sector.

He said, “Government must balance increased take with project viability. Consideration needs to be given to the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s fiscals and its reputation as an attractive investment destination

Falcon invests $50m in fabrication of home-made gas station

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

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ALCON Petroleum Limited has unfolded plans to launch the first locally fabricated gas station in the country in line with efforts at domesticating gas utilisation by mid December Already, Managing Director of the company, Prof. Joseph Ezigbohe, said the company has been able to fabricate gas stations which cost about N9 million and N15 million each and hopes to start off operations with the collaboration of the company’s partners from India before moving over to fabrication of bigger gas stations.

Ezigbo who who disclosed this in Lagos at an appreciation dinner and celebration of excellence service of the company’s outgoing directors, also said the company was undergoing a restructuring because it needs to grow from strength to strength. .

The event which also marks the closure of the company’s successful business relationship with its Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SME, partnership,

EDIA practitioners, civil society groups and members of private sector in Nigeria, West and Central Africa countries have called for a coherent policy on regional trade, prior for the better positioning of Africa in the multi-lateral trading system.

They made the plea during the just concluded conference on the Current Challenges and Future of the Multilateral Trading System-Perspective in West Africa, organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, FES, and the secretariat of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, in Accra, Ghana.

At the conference, the discussions focused on: the functioning of the multilateral trading system Doha Agenda, the futuremarket access for African countries, agricultural issues in multilateral trade, impact of non-tariff measures for African exports, the need for reform, the preferential trade agreement, the settlement of commercial disputes, as well as the specific roles of civil society, private sector and the complexity of the media to cover the activities of the WTO. According to the representatives of WTO Secretariat and FES, “the dialogue aims to develop a better understanding of the WTO and its role in the international trading system as well as provide a platform for a depth and critical multilateral trading system and its implications for development.”

according to the managing director was a -0.4 151.0 unique opportunity to celebrate and to say thank you to their investors.

2,353.00 +16.00 He noted that the partnership was bumpy at the beginning, but said because they were 18.93 +0.09 determined to pursue what they believed in they were able to carry on as things eventually worked for everyone.

He recalled that Falcon Petroleum as a 107.00 -0.25 company initially started business with N200 85.24 +0.15 million with a share base of N500 million but has since 2005 recorded tremendous growth considering the fact that the company was CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING given N40 million to start up and then a loan DOLLAR 154.74 155.24 155.74 of N160 million by the SME. STERLING 246.6865 247.4836 248.2807 “We are glad that two months ago we have EURO 196.7829 197.4187 198.0546 paid them back about N2.7 billion from 60 FRANC 163.0902 163.6172 164.1442 1.9535 1.9599 1.9662 percent of 620 million they invested which I YEN 235.6235 236.3848 237.1462 think is a good business. The partner has had WAUA 24.7757 24.8562 24.9368 a good time with us as the business we started RENMINBI RIYAL 41.2607 41.394 41.5273 years ago with a hundred million is today worth CFA 0.2814 0.2914 0.3014 close to about three billion. So, we have not KRONA 26.38 26.4653 26.5505 236.3808 237.1446 237.9084 done badly and we thank God that the investors SDR not only invested in the business but also CBN Exchange rate as at 12/11/2012 invested their mental sagacity into it.”

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

BRIEF Reps wants Jonathan to submit revenue formula to NASS

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From left: Dafe Oraka, Director of Publicity; Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN); Mrs Tairat Tijani, Assistant Director Admin; Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Bolaji Balogun, Chairman, AIHN; Victor Ogiemwonyi, Vice Chairman; Mrs Abiola Macaulay, Director, Treasury and Muyiwa Ariyo Director of Admin, at the Annual General Meeting of AIHN in Lagos.

Nigeria's inclusion in JP Morgan index’ll attract foreign investors — DLM

BY PETER EGWUATU & NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HE inclusion of Nigeria in JP Morgan Government Bond index has provided further boost to foreign investors’ presence in the financial sector of the economy, the Global Head of Sales and Trading, Dunn Loren Merrifield (DLM), Mr. Malcolm Gilroy, has said.

Speaking at a forum for Capital Market Correspondents in Lagos last weekend, Gilroy said, “Nigeria had in October 1, joined the JP Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) with the listing of FGN’s bond, becoming the second African country after South Africa to be included in the widely followed index.

He, noted that despite the current conditions of the global financial markets, the inclusion has continued to attract further inflows into the Nigerian bond market.

Gilroy, who spoke on the topic, “Opportunities in the Bond Market,” noted that the market has witnessed increased flow from offshore investors since the announcement in August 2012, and has contributed to the significant decline in average yield to 13 percent, from 15 percent in August.

According to him, “It is estimated that the upward weight review will translate into a total inflow of $1.5bn into the domestic bond market before the end of the year. He said that factors that cause yield/price changes include supply and

demand, issue of new bonds, new investors (as happened when J P Morgan included FGN bonds in their index). He listed others to include change in inflation rates, Gross Domestic Products and Monetary Policy Committee stance.”

He pointed out that there

is also risk in investing in bond, saying that a short term bond is more secured than a long term bond, which is usually done by the Pension Commission and the insurance companies.

He said, There is huge risk in bonds and it changes according to the maturity date

of the bond. It is very risky and needs to be traded by experts.For people to say that there is no risk in bonds market is quite naive.”

Gilroy argued that investment in equity may give more yields, but it is far more risky when compared to investment in bond.

Unity Bank to invest in infrastructure devt in Lagos

BY MICHAEL EBOH

U

NITY Bank Plc has declared its resolve to contribute meaningfully to the positive development of Lagos State by investing in key infrastructural projects that will improve the fortunes of citizens of the state.

Speaking at the bank’s special day at the Lagos International Trade Fair, Mr. Ado Wanka, Managing Director, Unity Bank, represented by Mrs. Yemi Adeyinka, Regional Manager, Ikeja, said the bank is committed to the development of key infrastructural facilities in Lagos State.

According to him, the bank will continue to be part of the positive transformation of Lagos as demonstrated by its participation in the collection of internally generated revenue, IGR, on behalf of the state government, and granting of credit facilities to numerous customers in Lagos for the purpose of infrastructure development.

He stated that the bank is

aware of the challenges faced by the state in the area of transportation, hence its decision to invest N993.81 million in financing the purchase of 100 buses by its clients, HFZ Transport Services.

He disclosed that the bank also financed the acquisition of Nissan Sunny cabs by one of its clients to ease the transport situation in t he country.

He said, “To attract tourism, the bank also stood as a stop gap for Afrexim Bank to fund the building of African Sun Amber Residence at the cost of N250 million. In this way, we are directly participating in the laudable steps being taken by the Lagos State government to reshape Lagos into a model mega city of the 21 st century. We are also involved in the area of providing affordable homes for the people in Lagos.”

Wanka further disclosed that bank is currently involved in alleviating the housing problems of majority of the people in the state, declaring

that the bank has invested N1.5 billion in financing the construction of 112 housing units comprising a 84 units of four bedrooms and 28 units of three bedroom apartments in the Lekki area of Lagos.

Continuing, he said the bank has deployed advanced information technology infrastructure in the its quest towards delivering high quality services, and he urged its customers to take advantage of the improvement in its services by patronising its wide array of products.

He said, “We have several financial products that customers can use, most especially now that the world is going cashless. Customers may be interested in our MasterCard Holy Trip, MasterCard Generic Pre-paid and MasterCard Verve Card.

“Unity Mobile reduces the risk of carrying cash around; customers have access to their account 24 hours of the day; they can do their transactions on their bed or anywhere they are. They can also use it to pay utility bills.”

HE House of Representatives has urged the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to advice President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to submit the revenue formula to the National Assembly.

This resolution followed a motion moved by Rep. Aliyu Madaki (PDP- Kano) which was unanimously adopted in Abuja on Wednesday.

Leading the debate, Madaki noted that Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution provided that the president upon receipt of advice from RMAFC, should table before the National Assembly the proposals for allocation from the federation account.

According to him, the third schedule of the constitution allows for the review of existing revenue formula and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities. He noted that the existing revenue formula in use was the “Allocation on Revenue Federation Account Moderation Order, 2002.

Ally near $4 billion unit sale, GM seen in lead

A

LLY Financial Inc is nearing a deal to sell its auto financing operations in Europe and Latin America for around $4 billion, with General Motors Co emerging as the lead bidder if the company decides to sell those operations as a whole, two sources familiar with the situation said.

Ally is still considering whether to split the business geographically - Europe and Latin America - and sell it to two different parties, the sources said on Friday. A deal could come as soon as next week, they said.

Details of an agreement have not been finalized, and the outcome could change, the sources said. Ally is still talking to a handful of financial institutions that have made separate bids for its European and Latin American assets, they said.

Ally, which is 74 percent owned by the U.S. government after a series of bailouts during the financial crisis, announced in May a plan to sell its international operations in a bid to speed up repayment to taxpayers.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 23

Diamond Bank exposes new logo, refocuses STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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IGNAGES, Logos are widespread.

We hardly notice them. That is until we are looking for one. We do not realise their effect on us, which is one reason they are so effective.

However, it is precisely because they are so commonplace that many businesses take them for granted.

Obviously, most businesses know they

need a sign but think of them as merely a marker identifying their business.

As a result, they are unaware and underutilize its earning potential. For independent business owners to fully realize the profit of signages, they must look at signages not just as a way of marking the business, but also a way of marketing the business. Signages should identify businesses, mark its location, and convey the right image of the company.

But the most important

thing it should do is communicate what the business is selling.

At a minimum, signages should attract new customers, brand the business and create impulse sales.

These are what Diamond Bank Plc just exhibited with the launch of its new logo, now with multiple colours of red, green, blue and orange encrypted on the diamond logo different from the ash coloured logo used before, now the logo is more visible and

brighter.

Invariably, businesses that offer products and services that meet specialised needs like the telcomms, Banks, electronic appliances must develop top of the mind awareness so that customers remember the business when those needs arise.

These businesses must focus on branding their site. To re-enforce this efforts the signage itself must be designed to project the right image for the business and have

that image recalled when a customer walks the corridor.

According to the words of the Managing Director, Dr. Alex Otti, “What we have done with our corporate identity is to refresh elements of our brand look and feel to identify with our growing customer base and usher in a period of renewed focus and commitment to our business.

Continuing, he stated, “Our colours reflect the bright optimistic colours of the Diamond spectrum

using green as a base colour with complimentary colours of red, orange and blue. For us, the green symbolizes growth, red stands for vibrancy, orange illustrates ‘passion’ of our people and the blue symbolizes our commitment to innovation in our products and services.

AAAN commends FirstBank role in 2012 LAIF awards

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XECUTIVE Board of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has commended First Bank Nigeria Plc’s role in the just ended 2012 edition of Lagos Advertisement Ideas and Festival (LAIF) Awards.

Impressed by the Bank’s sponsorship of the event, the President of the Association and the outgoing Chairman of LAIF Awards, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, said the sponsorship will go a long way in the realization of the objectives of the creative awards. She further hoped that the sponsorship will be sustained for the growth of creativity in particular and the nation’s economy in general.

First Bank’s Head Marketing and C o r p o r a t e Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney stated that First Bank Nigeria has remained an institution that held the foremost tradition of best Corporate Social Responsibility since inception in 1894. The Bank’s decision to sponsor LAIF Awards is in keeping with the commitment of promoting excellence in brand strategy development as well as e n c o u r a g i n g craftsmanship in the creative industry.

24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Efficient e-payment thrives on cooperation and competition

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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FFICIENT electronic payment system thrives on cooperation and competition among operators.

Chairman, Committee of Ebanking Industry Heads (CeBIH), Mr Chuma Ezirim stated this at the 2nd annual conference/retreat of the Committee of E-banking Industry Heads (CeBIH) held in Calabar, Cross River State.

“The extent to which efficiency in retail payment system and other important policy objectives are attained in retail payments systems is partly determined by the complex interplay of competition and cooperation among market players”, he said.

Ezirim noted that while cooperation is necessary to set standards and build platforms to reduce transaction cost, it can also undermine product innovations.

He said, transaction costs can be mitigated through cooperation by private sector providers in the establishment and operation of financial infrastructure taking advantage of economies of scale, scope and network economies. Effective cooperation is also crucial for setting standards that will secure compatibility between the various products.

“However, centrally-agreed common features can sometimes hamper product and/or service differentiation and innovation at the individual service provider level. A key question is what factors should the authorities and key stakeholders consider in balancing cooperation and competition in retail payment systems?

“Although the dividing lines among payment services are not always clear, the sequence of payment operations can be divided generally into access services, messaging services, clearing services, and settlement services.

“Some payments services may be more efficiently provided under competitive conditions (access) versus others that may have natural monopoly features (messaging, clearing and settlement).

“Central Banks provide oversight and regulatory functions to deal with conflicts of interest and balance cooperation and competition in order to achieve optimal availability and affordability of payment

instruments.

“We appreciate the role of Central Bank of Nigeria in the formulation and implementation of policies and regulations affecting deployment of electronic banking in the country. We commend specifically the various initiatives by CBN to reduce the volume of cash transactions in the economy through the Cashless Project,

setting up of a National Switch and retail payments transformation policies (which amongst other benefits have reduced the cost of POS terminals by over 30%).

“CBN should however not unduly interfere in the provision of electronic payment access services in the country, which as stated earlier is an area that gives banks the opportunity to

Mr. Aminu Ismail, Executive Director, Enterprise Bank Limited (right) presenting a 2012 Customer Service Award to Miss Nkechi Okeke, one of the winners of the CustomerCentric Staff award in the bank.

compete for product/service differentiation and innovation. Also the input of relevant stakeholders in the industry in the formulation of policies cannot be over emphasized because of the huge impact of a wrong policy on the growth of the Industry”, he said In his keynote address, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr Adebisi Shonubi said harped on the need for increased cooperation among electronic payment operators in Nigeria.

Represented by the Executive Director, Business Development, Mrs Chritabel Onyejekwe, Shonubi said, “Developing a Nigeria payments system that works, requires: Unbiased regulation and oversight over the financial system practitioners by the regulatory authorities; Collaboration between major stakeholders in the epayment value chain.

Specifically, he said there is need for increased collaboration between CeBIH to ensure the success of the various initiatives to improve the electronic payment market. “CeBIH needs to get more involved and should set industry targets with NIBSS which they both should work towards on a recurrent basis”, he said.

He noted that the shared services initiatives introduce by the CBN to drive down cost in the banking industry, offers lots of opportunities for collaboration in the industry and banks should embrace these initiatives to facilitate progress in the electronic payment market.

Experts link investment in Education with inclusive growth E CONOMISTS and top business and academic leaders have stated that education is the surest bet to get all segments of society involved in and benefiting from economic growth and transformation Economist and top business leaders stated this in Rwanda’s capital Kigali last week during the 7th edition of the African Economic Conference that the African Development Bank organized in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

“African countries need not only to invest more resources in their education sectors; they also need to review the systems and curricula they have in order to ensure that they respond to demands in the labour market.

“The one most important thing for inclusion is getting the children of very poor people into quality education because this is how you stop children inheriting living conditions of their parents.

Once you do that, you have stopped that transition,” said Donald Kaberuka, the President of the AfDB. “We are all here in this room from different families, some poor some rich some even with no income at all, because we got quality education. Our children are unlikely to inherit the conditions of their grandfathers and grandmothers.

“So if there is one thing which I strongly believe in it is this idea of ensuring that we don’t transmit poverty from generation to generation.

You can’t do that by oil and gas, tin and minerals. You do

that by getting those resources invested in education,” Kaberuka added.

Education, social capital and effective institutions are the three key factors behind the growing size of the middle class in Africa that a synthesis of data in Demographic Health Surveys of 42 countries covering the 1990s and 2000s concludes has grown from five per cent in the 1990s to 15 per cent in the 2000s.

“If you are an advisor to government, please tell them to pump money in education and health because that will change things,” Abebe Shimeles, the Manager of AfDB’s Development Research Division, said in a paper he co-authored with the AfDB’s Chief Economist, Professor Mthuli Ncube, out of the DHS data.

Stanbic IBTC records N64bn in gross revenue in third quarter

By PETER EGWUATU

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TANBIC IBTC Bank Plc has recorded a gross earnings of N64.0 billion for the 9 months ended September 30, 2012, representing a 35 per cent increase over the N47.4 billion recorded in the comparable period of last year.

According to the bank’s unaudited results for the period under review, which was made available to Vanguard on Monday, profit before tax stood at N9.0 billion, representing an increase of 13 per cent over the N8.0 billion recorded the corresponding period of 2011.

Profit after tax increased 23 per cent to N7.0 billion, compared to N5.7 billion September 2011.

The performance, according to Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Bank, is indicative of continuing improvements in the group’s operations driven by the aggressive branch expansion programme which has continued to propel growth in transactional volumes and activities.

She stated: “We continued to grow our revenues and business operations responsibly as evidenced by a 35% and 23% growth in gross revenue and profitability respectively. Our expanded network ensured the continued growth in transactional volumes and activities and a steady growth in our deposit book. As we continue to leverage on our growing points of representation and pursue our diversified business models, our revenues should continue to witness positive growth. We maintained our traditionally strong capital and liquidity positions throughout the period, and we are focused on maximising the operational efficiency of the group.”

David-Borha noted that the bank’s gross loans and advances grew by 12 per cent year-on-year and three percent year-to-date to N273.9 billion as against N247.2 billion in September 2011 and N266.1 billion in December 2011. Steady growth was recorded in total asset size which increased by 14 percent to N634.2 billion this year as against the N554.5 billion posted in the first nine months of 2011.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY , NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 25

Why I acquired two new mansions — 2Face A

FRICAN Queen crooner, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2face has been explaining why he decided to acquire two multi-million Naira houses last week in addition to his growing fleet of properties scattered in Lagos and Abuja.

According to the acemusician, identifying himself with a very good product that is fully made in Nigeria is a way of life. “I decided to invest with Haven Homes by buying two units from its exquisite stable of very contemporary houses because the company build very beautiful homes that are fast becoming a trend among celebrities. You will marvel at the increasing number of celebrities who are buying and living in their lifestyle homes. I have only identified with a very good product that is fully made in Nigeria,” he said.

However, speaking at the exchange of contracts ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Tayo Sonuga said “ The confidence displayed by 2Face in buying not just one but two units of properties from us is a watershed of our achievement in creating lifestyle homes and

Timi Dakolo drops new video From right: Annie and 2 Face with the CEO Haven Homes after signing the deal

earning our reputation as celebrity developers.”

No sooner than the deeds were sealed, an excited 2face immediately sent a broadcast tweet ‘Just bought two Haven Homes’ and attached a picture of himself signing the deeds.

Showtime gathered that acecomedian, Ayo Makun popularly known as A.Y and his wife, Mabel, are among celebrities who recently

bought their new homes from the developers. We also learnt that the likes of Ini Edo, Funke Akindele, Oge Okoye, Desmond Elliot, Bob Manuel Uduokwu, Aki & Paw-Paw and others who have graced the inauguration of the developers’ homes and visited their various show homes located both on the Island and Mainland of Lagos State.

GUS update Patience, Priscillia and Michael sent packing T

he camp of evicted contenders on Gulder Ultimate Search 9 has swollen by three with the eviction of Patience Bornford, Ogbuefi Michael and PriscilliaEzeh from the reality TV programme.

While Patience failed in the task of Gatekeeper, Michael Nwachukwu, winner of

Gulder Ultimate Search 5, both Michael and Priscillia failed in the challenge of Dominic Mudabai, the third and final Gatekeeper.

Patience Bornford’s eviction from Gulder Ultimate Search was particularly dramatic. The plot for the challenge bore trappings and traits of a Hollywood blockbuster: suspensefilled, actionpacked, diverse cast and v e r y enthralling.

For the task, the Gulder Ultimate Search 9 warriors w e r e required

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he much anticipated video of Timi Dakolo’s soulful ‘Great Nation’ has been released. The song which is being celebrated all over the African continent for its rich depth, strong vocal and aweinspiring delivery has repeatedly left music lovers spell-bound after every rendition.

The song was premiered at the Closing Ceremony of the 2011 National Sports Festival in PortHarcourt and it did make a big impression as it inspires a sense of patriotism and a belief that indeed, greatness is within our grasp. Released by Lone Records/ Now Muzik and directed by the multi-award winning Clarence Peters, the video hit TV platforms

during the week.

“I am delighted that the ‘Great Nation’ video has finally been delivered and the feedback so far has been wonderful. It was a very challenging exercise, believe me. Everyone has a bright idea about how it should be visually interpreted but once we started the shoot, everything progressed fluidly. I am particularly grateful to my friends, the cast, Clarence and his crew, Cobhams Asuquo, Joan Ekpai, Olaitan Dada and everybody that made this a success. This is indeed, watershed moment, ” said Timi who is preparing for ‘The Evening’, a fund-raising concert for people living with disabilities in Nairobi, Kenya on November 17th.

Ruggedman releases collabo album uggedman, born

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to solve a puzzle and whisper the correct answer into the ears of Gatekeeper, Michael Nwachukwu.

They were then directed to cross a river thrice to pick up three pieces of puzzles and to correctly assemble these puzzles on their workstations.

Priscillia was still trying to crack the riddle when Paschal Eronmose had successfully solved his. The 7 remaining warriors had also crossed the river and were at their workstations battling to solve the puzzle. Priscillia soon successfully answered the riddle and had to go through the routine of crossing the river to assemble the puzzles; and correctly arrange them at her workstation.

Adah James soon finished; closely followed by Michael Ogbuefi, Onyinye Udodi and Ifet Iniobong.

•Ruggedman

Michael Stevens has finalised palns to take his ‘Rugged Records’ label to a new height. Months ago when he signed on a new singer, Mbryo, haters went to town that the rapper is just one for show but ‘Ruggedy Baba’ as his fans love to call him, has shut them all up with the release of his ‘’Money Making Music’’ album which was released last Monday, November 5.The 10-track album features stars like Terry G. Fumbi and producers like Blaize Beats, Oga Jojo, Woye Sounds, Reflex Beats, Tee Mode, Popito and Mr. Vine. “Just got word from my marketer “South Side music” that Money Making Music collabo album with Mbryo hits the streets tomorrow” he tweeted on Sunday.

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26—Vanguard , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Mercedes-Benz Actros again!

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STORIES BY STO THEODORE OPARA

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E S T S TA R Associates, authorized general distributor of MercedesBenz in Nigeria is still basking in the euphoria of winning two prestigious awards by the Mercedes-Benz flagship truck, the Actros.

The Actros, which was named truck of the year 2012, added two new awards to its swelling award recently. Following the “Truck of the Year Award and “red dot design awards, the Mercedes-Benz flagship truck recent picked the “German Design Award 2013” in the “Transport and Public Space” category as well as the Focus Gold 2012 award from the Design Centre Stuttgart.

According to Weststar Associates Managing Director, Mr. Mirko Plath, the Actros is a product of Mercedes-Benz engineer ’s hard work and research.

“Never before has a truck been developed and tested extensively in a wind tunnel for 2600 hours like the Actros,” he said. He pointed out that much of the development work focussed on aerodynamics, which resulted in fuel reduction of the Actros.

Among other things, this means that the Actros has undergone 2600 hours of fine-tuning in the wind tunnel, 50 million kilometres of engine testing on test rigs and in real-life operation, and 20 million kilometres on the road. It is the first and, to date, only truck which has been developed rigorously to comply with the Euro VI emissions standard.

H

e further ex plained that here in Nigeria, the Actros has remained a winner on the road and a favourite for Haulage and Construction. The unmistakable design of the new Mercedes-Benz Actros is as exceptional as the truck as a whole. Unarguably the safest truck in its class the Actros is powerful, masculine and dynamic.

The Actros won over the jury with the high quality and ergonomics of its interior and the consist-

Toyota net profit triples

ent exterior design of the various vehicle variants.

Following the “red dot” design award from the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen the Actros has now received three important awards for its design.

Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle design director Kai Sieber said: “We are incredibly proud of how perfectly form fol-

lows function in the Actros. That is why we naturally are very pleased about this special recognition in the form of these coveted international design awards”.

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he German Design Award is conferred by a 30-member jury from the Design Council. This year the panel

of judges evaluated some 1500 submissions in ten categories and declared the Actros the winner in the “Transportation and Public Space” category.

Evaluation criteria were design quality, level of innovation, brand value, functionality, ergonomics and environmental compatibility. The official award ceremony of the

German Design Award will be held at the “Ambiente” trade fair in Frankfurt in February 2013.

The Actros was honoured by the Design Center Stuttgart with the “Focus in Gold 2012” award in the “Vehicles” category. A wide variety of products in 17 categories contended for the International Design Award BadenWürttemberg."

OYOTA recently announced that its net profit more than tripled in the company’s second fiscal quarter, which ended in September, to 257.9 billion yen ($3.2 billion), compared with 80.4 billion yen in the period a year earlier, helped by strong sales in North America, where Toyota has been regaining market share.

Toyota and its group companies sold 7.4 million vehicles in the first nine months of 2012, beating G.M. and Volkswagen. Revenue rose 18 percent, to 5.4 trillion yen ($67.6 billion).

Toyota’s new profit forecast for the full fiscal year through March was 2.6 percent higher than a previous estimate. But reflecting lower sales in China, the automaker pared back its outlook for full-year production to 8.75 million vehicles from 8.8 million.

Toyota’s results show the start of a recovery from years of troubles. Those include a collapse in exports during the economic crisis, natural disasters, a stubbornly strong yen and a mishandling of recalls linked to reports of unintended acceleration.

Encomiums as Innoson boss bags platinum awards A

broad based u m b r e l l a organiastion of “Ndigbo in Lagos” has given a platinum award to Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman and CEO, Innoson Group of companies in recognition of his outstanding visible investments in Igbo land and job creation among Nigerian youths.

Also reconigsed alongside the Innoson boss, were the chairman of A-Z Petroleum Company Limited, Dr. Alex Okafor and Chairman of Orange Drugs Limited, Chief Tony Ezenna.

Delivering the plaque, Igwe Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi) the Obi of Onitsha eulogized Chukwuma’s tenacity and foresight in

establishing industries in Igboland despite the obvious insecurity and lack infrastructure. He also praised him for the courage to invest in an environment that lacks basic amenities, like good roads, electricity and water. He however urge him not to be deterred, saying that his love for the betterment of Igboland is well Known to all.

Earlier in his brief remarks at the occasion Chairman, chief kalu U. Kalu called on Ndigbo to have a rethink over their idea of developing foreign land while neglecting their own. He thanked Chief Chukwuma and other awardees for making Ndigbo proud through their investments at

home. He used the opportunity to call for group interest among Ndigbo as panacea for them to move forward adding that such idea would help the tribe to achieve their desired economic goals.

Also speaking at the occasion, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo expressed delight over the performance of the awardees saying, that the idea of honouring them is heartwarming. “The award will serve as morale boaster to other emerging entrepreneurs.

The awardees are role models in our society today.

They have taken the risk of investing in an area where lot of people are running away from adding that this was the first of his kind coming

from a group that has genuine Igbo interest.”

He recalled the exploits of Ndigbo in Nigeria but quickly lamented over the desolate nature of their land. He pointed out that the tribe has lost

proper economic and developmental focus. “We 0 there yet, it’s time for us to start intensive mobilization of ideas, turnaround mechanisms and regeneration of minds.

•Obi Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi) handing the platinum award to Chief Innocent Chukwuma, CEO, Innoson Group at a dinner in Enugu, recently.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—27

FG tasks FRSC on Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Lokoja expressways

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•Facelifted BMW 7 Series for 2013

Lanre Shittu to unveil Sany Construction Equipment L

ANRE Shittu Motors will on Thursday launch the Sany Construction Equipment products into the Nigerian market.

Disclosing this to Vanguard Motoring recently in his Lagos office, along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, the Group Executive Director, Lanre Shittu Motors, Mr. Taiwo Shittu said “having tested the Sany products in Nigeria over the last one year, we have found it good enough to finally unveil it into the Nigerian market. He described the quality of Sany product as very high and comparable to the very best you can find anywhere in Europe and America. According to him, “Sany is number one equipment manufacturing company in Asia and has gained acceptance in Germany, Brazil, America and India.”

He noted that, Sany

Construction equipment is a combination of Chinese and Germany technology.

The executive director further explained that Sany entered into partnership with Lanre Shittu Group barely a year ago and all efforts were channelled towards training the manpower to effectively handle the world class product in Nigeria.

“Sany is a new dealership we signed last year but we have been concentrating on the training of our technicians both abroad and locally to handle the equipment and guaranty customers investments in the products,” he said.

“All the logistics of having a dealership have been going on in the last one year while well over 50 technicians and engineers have completed training on the maintenance of this product.

•FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka receiving a trophy as the 2nd Most Outstanding Public Institution in Nigeria 2011/2012 from the Publisher, The Road Newspaper, Mallam Mohammed Barkindo in Abuja.

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“With a plant in Germany, America, Brazil and India, there is no doubt that Sany equipment rank among the very best you can think of across the globe,” he said. The Group Executive Director however noted that their desire to offer the Nigerian construction industry the best at affordable price led to their introduction of the product.

“Before we came into contact with Sany Construction Equipment, we discovered that construction equipment were out of reach of many construc-

tion companiesthereby forcing them to go for used equipment that breaks down easily. Secondly they were overpriced, with poor after sales backup. So, what we want to do with Sany products is to offer customers quality products with second to non after sales support.

This he said led to the training of over 50 technicians in our ongoing training programme aimed at ensuring that our customers doesn’t stop work at the site for any reason. In addition to

this, Mr. Shittu said that they will also train technicians for their client at no cost to the customer.

Promising to re-enact what they did with Mack trucks on the Sany products in Nigeria, “Before we ventured into partnership with Mack Trucks, you could hardly see Mack trucks on the road but the story changed when we came into the business. Right now Mack has over 30 per cent share of the Nigerian truck market because of the way we pushed it with good after sales back up," he said.

INISTER of Works, Arc Mike Onolememe has charged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to further extend the frontiers of its operations under the World bank-assisted Safe Corridor projects, to include some notable critical routes on the nation’s highways such as the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Lokoja roads.

Speaking during the formal handing over of 16 patrol vehicles and other operational equipment to the FRSC under World Bank Safe Corridor projects, the Works Minister said “this occasion clearly underlines the Federal Roads Development’s objectives to reduce fatalities on Nigerian roads by 50% in order to improve safety along the selected Safe Road Corridors.

The distribution of these patrol vehicles along the safe corridor will enhance road safety management and increase safe enforcement strategies.

Our determination in this regard cannot and will not in the least, be compromised because the lives of our citizens using these roads is vital for our socio-economic renewal and indeed, national transformation”.

CG Eko 'll sets motion for first made-in-Nigeria car —Coscharis

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OSCHARIS Group Eko LLP, (CG Eko LLP) a Public Private Partnership between Coscharis Group and the Lagos State Government has fully opened for business at its Ikeja premises.

The initiative, which is aimed at establishing a world-class automobile technical training institution, sales and after-sales facilities,was commissioned by the Lagos State governor, Mr. Raji Fashola (SAN) recently.

According to Coscharis, the initiative is aimed at developing local automobile specialists with international repute, establishing local assembly plants (managed by locally trained hands) and setting the motion for the

first Nigerian locally made car. CG Eko has 19 lifts, two spray booths, capacity for 53 work bays, while the after sales facility has capacity to turnout more than 50 cars every day.

However, this dream was buttressed by the deliberate efforts of the democratic government in 1999 to shift to a more public growth private driven sector and was urgently accelerated by the desire of the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola whose drive to incorporate private partisanship in public development is enormous.

According to the Marketing Manager, Coscharis Group, Mr. Ifeanyi Nihe, the

company indulged in the Partnership given its strong belief in Public Private Partnership which it would use to not only prepare people for business, but to help research efforts and allow its products to become deeply involved in creating new technologies.

“This, among other reasons, was why Coscharis Group in alignment to its Corporate Social Responsibility drive and in identifying with the Lagos State’s Public Private Partnership initiative, officially took over the Eko Engineering project for Sales and After Sales Services of all auto brands as well as managing the vocational centre for technical skill acquisition specifically to

provide after sales support for Rapid Response fleet of vehicles,” Mr. Nihe said.

Continue, the Marketing Manager said, Coscharis Group expressed passion for innovation and excellence in the private sector as the current environment demands the Government to draw upon the skills and expertise of the private sector to assist them in solving problems.

Citing the ugly trend of the un-trained roadsided automechanics as a woe to the auto industry, Coscharis Group saw the partnership as a motivated attempt to put our state and nation on the path of job creation and acquisition with the overall intent to develop our future technical entrepreneurs and employees.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard walks for life

BY OLAYINKA LATONA, CHARLYNE IKPE, BUSOLA LIKOLO & GABRIEL OLAWALE

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• Staff of Vanguard Media Ltd. on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway during the 10km “Walk for Life” activity held over the weekend. Photo: Chioma Obinna.

Flood: Scientist warns of looming mosquito-borne diseases

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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SCIENTIST, Dr. Sam Awolola, has warned of imminent high incidence of mosquito borne diseases in flood affected areas in the country if nothing urgent is done to the aftermath of the unfortunate disaster.

Awolola, a Research Fellow and member of the Society for Mosquito Control in Nigeria, SMCN, urged the Federal government to urgently put measures in place to check high breeding of mosquito in the areas with a view to ensuring stagnant water does not become a bigger problem to the country.

His words: “When you have flood in an area, you will never find mosquitoes anywhere near the area until the flood begins to rescind. But when it rescinds you find various types of mosquitoes coming back to lay eggs and when this happens, it becomes a big problem.”

Further, the scientist remarked that while it is good to ensure that residents have food to eat and treatment, said it is more important that those who have return to their homes are protected from mosquitoes.

“There is urgent need for government to ensure that these people sleep under a treated nets or carry out indoor residual spraying in those areas,” he warned.

Awolola who regretted that the mosquito was difficult organism which earned it the name moving target said it had developed resistance. Mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism.

Over one million people worldC M Y K

wide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. Not only do mosquitoes carry diseases that afflict humans, they also transmit several diseases and parasites that dogs and horses are very susceptible to.

Mosquito vectored diseases include protozoan diseases, i.e., malaria, filarial diseases such as dog heartworm, and viruses such as dengue, encephalitis and yellow fever.

He said to ensure safety of

S part of measures to promote healthy living among its staff, management of Vanguard Media Limited yesterday held a 10 kilometre walk tagged: "Vanguard Walks for Life". The activity which kicked off from the corporate Head office of Vanguard took participants around Kirikiri area to Mile 2 and ended up at the Organisation's office.

The walk, sponsored by Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nestle Foods, Nigeria and Red Star Express witnessed over 50 participants, including members of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police Force and several others who joined along the way.

Vanguard's Deputy Administrative Manager, Mr.Hassan Balogun described the walk as an initiative of the company's Corporate Affairs Department and also an extension of Vanguard's comprehensive health programme in ensuring that the staff lives healthily.

Balogun observed that the Vanguard Walk for Life exercise is an extension for total wellness among the staff "Covering about 10 kilometers is a way of exercising our body and being an inaugural one, I believe that the subsequent walks will attract more people to participate and it will be a continuous exercise in the company. What we have just done today is an aggregation of added value to what we have been doing in ensuring that our staff lives a healthy lifestyle."

It is Vanguard's own contribution to ensuring a healthy workforce.

You will recall that yesterday we organized an enlightenment programme tagged "National victims to their various homes, Cancer Awareness" but this one there is need for adoption of the that we just did covering about use of Insecticide Treated Bed 10 kilometers, is a way of exernets, ITNs and Indoor Residual cising our body. It is an inauguSpray to keep mosquito borne ral one and we promise that sub diseases at bay in the affected Continues on Page 29 areas.

NAFDAC goes tough on unwholesome products ...Arrests 3 persons, shuts 4 drug outlets

BY CHIOMA OBINNA, BUSOLA LIKOLO & GABRIEL OLAWALE

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC last week clamped down on drug outlets in Ajah area of Lagos, shutting down four shops and arresting three persons in the process for stocking and selling fake unregistered banned drugs.

Officials of the Agency’s Enforcement Directorate led by Mr. Uche Chidi and a team of security operatives including journalists had stormed Ajah area of the state following what they described as “routine enforcement activities” aimed at riding the state of fake and unwholesome regulated products.

During the exercise, pharmaceutical outlets were thoroughly screened with the newly deplored hand-held anti counterfeiting device, TRUSCAN. In some of the shops screened fake, unregistered and banned drug products valued about N1 million were discovered and the owners arrested.

Owner of the fourth shop that was shut evaded arrest but a letter of invitation to the Agency’s office at Apapa was left for him.

McDonald said the recent intro-

duction of the new cutting-edge technologies by the present management had added a boost in that direction. He warned that the enforcement exercise was ongoing.Director in-charge of Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Garba McDonald later told the press,

shortly after the raid, that the Agency was conscious of the dangers pose by fake drugs, and called on consumers to ensure that they purchase only genuine products registered by NAFDAC. Macdonald explained that the Agency was intensifying its ef-

forts to rid the markets of unwholesome products especially as the Yuletide is fast approaching. “We want to ensure that only products that meet up with the minimum international standard are sold in Nigeria.”

Akunyili tasks FG on safe medicines

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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ORMER Minister of Infor mation and one time Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, ProfessorDora Akunyili, has charged the Federal Government to be proactive in its campaign for safe drugs for Nigerians by implementing policies that support the concept of “access to safe medicine”’ in line withrecommendations of World Health Organisation, WHO. Akunyili, a pharmacist, who spoke during the 85th annual national conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, “Ogun 2012”, which opened in Abeokuta, Ogun State, last week, urged Government, health care professionals and all patriotic Nigerians to unite to ensure that Nige-

• Professor Dora Akunyili. rians have access to safe medicines and good health. In her presentation entitled “Safe Medicines for Nigerians – Who Cares?”, she said: “Governments, health professionals and health policy-makers should be aware of the increasing needs of Nigerians for safe medicines. It is in fact a right and should never be

viewed as an act of charity. Government must be proactive.”

Urging pharmacists to take the bull by the horn and lead this campaign, Akunyili said a proactive approach would express and enshrine government values and commitments and will create a supportive environment for promoting and enforcing access to safe drugs for Nigerians.

“When health systems fail and collapse, it constitutes a grave obstacle to increasing access to safe medicines,” she argued. In order to improve access to safe medicines in Nigeria, I would humbly suggest the strengthening of our healthcare system. This includes increased funding and adequate management system.

It has been shown that access to safe medicines depends on effective, integrated, responsive

Continues on Page 29

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—29 TUESDA

Top cancer-forming foods to avoid

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RANS Fatty Acids Trans fats are essentially artifi cial fats that have been chemically altered to resemble saturated fats. Trans fats are typically found in shortening, margarine and the majority of commercially baked goods and snack foods.

Rancid fats Commercial manufacturing creates rancidity, and thus free radicals, in commercial vegetable oils. Free radicals are known to cause cancer.

Omega-6 fatty acids High levels of omega-6 fatty acids are thought to be dangerous and may cause cancer. Although the body requires small amounts of omega-6 fatty

acids today’s overuse of vegetable oils (the main source of omega-6) may have directly contributed to the nation’fs rising cancer rates.

MSG Monosodium glutamate is a highly toxic chemical found in almost all processed foods. In some cases, labeling laws do not require this chemical to be included in the ingredient list but rest assured, the majority of unnatural flavorings, spice mixes and hydrolyzed protein contain MSG. If a product is MSG-free, it must clearly state so. MSG may be directly associated with brain cancer.

Aspartame

Julia Oyefunke Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

Aspartame is an artifi cial sweetener sold under many names including NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and EqualMeasure. Th is chemical is widely used in low-fat products, sodas, candy and gum and most products that claim to be sugarfree. According to the FDA, aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of all reported adverse reactions to food additives. Many of these reactions are serious and include such things as seizures and even death.

Even low doses of aspartame are clearly

Vanguard walks for life Continued from Page 28 sequently it will be more encompassing.

In attendance for the FRSC, Deputy Route Commander, RS2.13 Apapa, Mr. Chigbo Bartholomew who commended the effort of Vanguard in organising such walk, said the FRSC was not only after traffic but also conscious of health alertness of the masses.

He further urged stakeholders, organizations and individuals to organised such walks saying walking is the simplest form of exercise that can be easily done at one's convenience and with a wide range of benefits such as reducing blood pressure, improving the mood, as well as staying strong and fit.

"We appreciate the effort of Vanguard Newspapers in organising this walk and being that Road Safety is always conscious of anything that needs to do with health because without walks like this, an indi-

vidual will not be healthy physically and mentally. For health alertness and maintaining orderliness on our roads there is need to partner with Vanguard Newspapers."

In his contribution, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Lanre Ogunnowo of the

Kirikiri Police Command noted that generally, walking as a form of exercise is good. "As for me, the nature of my job does not give me much time to exercise, but this walk serves as an opportunity for me and I will like to encourage Vanguard not to relent in such initiative."

Akunyili tasks FG Continued from Page 28 and accessible health systems.”

She said: “Pharmacists must be involved in formulating health and drug policies, particularly those on the selection, procurement and distribution of drugs. The regulatory bodies especially Pharmacists Council of Nigeria should step up its inspection and regulatory activities.

In her message, Akunyili traced the con-

cept of safe medicines as one that has been in the fore front of global health concerns for some time now.

“It is a priority for WHO, national medicines regulatory Authorities and other key stakeholders in the health sector. The overall goal of an efficient healthcare delivery system is to ensure a healthy population. This cannot be achieved without the component of safe medicines which is paramount to patient safety.”

linked in studies to numerous cancers including brain and breast cancer as well as lymphoma and leukemia.

The cancer risk from this chemical is so high that authors of one study stated even at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, which is far less than the current acceptable daily intake, can result in cancer. They further added that an immediate revaluation of the present guidelines on the use and consumption of APM is recommended.66 Always read labels and avoid this chemical at all costs.

Pesticides Studies show pesticides and herbicides are associated with numerous cancers among other serious diseases. One recent large study in particular shows a direct link between pancreatic cancer and herbicide use.

With today’s commercial farming, most fruits and vegetables are now sprayed with any number of chemicals.

Unfortunately, most meat also contains pesticides and herbicides simply because animals are fed pesticide-contaminated feed. Th e only alternative is to buy organic produce and meat whenever possible.

Hormones Both artifi cial and excessive natural plant hormones are being introduced into our bodies in several ways. Women, who opt for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for symptoms of menopause, are known to increase their risk for breast cancer according to numerous studies.

Continues next Tuesday

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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S a woman, I understand that the vagina comes with an odour many times. It happens to all women.

But it is still embarrassing. How do I deal with it? During intercourse, I hate it when the whole room smells of vaginal odour. My husband is not complaining, but I hate it – Rose Rose, the male and female genitals have a peculiar sexual scent. In women, this scent gets stronger during perspiration or when they have worn underwear for hours. Women can reduce this odour by wearing lacy underwear or Crotchless underwear which allows greater air circulation. They can also reduce this odour by bathing or cleaning the genitals with wet wipes before intercourse. And finally, if you want to be able to have sex whenever you want and not perceive any kind of genital odour, your best bet is the use of a scented lubricant. 69 Blow Me Vanilla Flavoured Gel is a lubricant with a sweet smelling aroma just like vanilla ice cream. It stops all genital odours during use – Uche I have been using Cockstar Male Performance enhancer for harder erections and better performance and it works well, too well infact. I hope I can still perform without them? Cyril Of course you can perform without it but your natural performance cannot compare to when you are using Cockstar – Uche Good day sir. I value your column and I have gained a lot from your analysis. I am 24 years and still a virgin. But it is awful that anytime I romance or dance with a girl in parties, I ejaculate in no time. I don’t last at all. Although I am not ready for sex, I would really like to be able to keep my woman in the future and I understand that quality romance and good sex is necessary – Lekan Dear Lekan, you will be fine. Such early release when stimulated is common among young men who are not sexually active and is a bit similar to a wet dream. You see, whether or not you are having sex, your testes produces semen which carries the sperm cells. Once semen C M Y K

builds up inside the body with no sexual intercourse for long periods of time, it over flows with sexual stimulation, whether it be in your dreams or while dancing, kissing or touching a female. This is normal and will stop when you eventually become sexually active. It does not mean that you will experience premature ejaculation when you start having sex. But if you do, call us. There are lots of solutions for premature ejaculation – Uche I never have energy for more than one round of sex.

My erection is fine, but no energy – Paul Dear Paul, there are energy boosting supplements that can help you. Ask for Libigrow Libido Shots. It is an energy boosting drink for men that can give you energy for 12 straight hours of intercourse and it starts working 45 minutes after consumption – Uche Please I want another Max Width Instant Penis Enlarger Cream. The one I bought is finished and I really like it. It has been my secret weapon with the ladies.

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30—Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 TUESDA

SCB unveils music school for the blind

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

D

ETERMINED to provide better life for the blind and visually impaired in Nigeria, last week, Standard Chartered Bank commissioned a music school for students of the Vocational School of the Nigerian Society for the Blind, Oshodi, Lagos. About one million Nigerians are blind and three million visually impaired.

The school,first of its kind in the country, is equipped with stateof-the-art equipment tailored for the visually impaired.

Group Finance Director, Standard Chartered and Chairman of the “Seeing is Believing” Project Committee, Mr. Richard Meddings explained that the project is part of the Bank’s Seeing is Believing initiative to help combat avoidable blindness in the country.

“In support of the SIB initia-

tive, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited has held an annual fundraising walk for the last seven years, raising over of $740,000 which has helped to fund successful cataract operations for thousands of people between January 2006 and September 2012.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved with our Walk for Sight initiative in the last seven years in Nigeria. It is quite gratifying to see that the money we have raised from this initiative in has made a positive difference in the activities of our partner NGOs.” With the commissioning of the school, he said: “Children affected by this scourge can now look to other means of improving their lives through the art of music. For Standard Chartered, by pursuing initiatives such as funding corrective cataract surgeries, we are

making a real difference to communities and the environment.

The establishment of the school is just one of the several ways we reinforce our brand promise to our stakeholders that we are indeed here for good’’.

In a response, Chairman, Nigerian Society of the Blind, Mrs. Biola Agbaje said: We are grateful to Standard Chartered Bank for taking their partnership with us to the next level through the establishment of the school. The bank has supported many of our initiatives and continues to be at the forefront of raising awareness on the prevention of visual impairment in Nigeria while providing alternative forms of livelihood for people that have been affected by the scourge. No doubt, many of our students will always be indebted to the bank for this generous gift.’’

•From left: Chairman, Nigerian Society for the Blind, Mrs. Biola Agbaje; music producer, Mr. Cobhams Asuquo; Group Executive Director of Finance and Chairman, “Seeing is Believing” Community, SCB, Mr. Richard Meddings and Executive Director, Finance, SCB Nigeria, Mrs. Yemi Owolabi, during the inauguration of music school for the blind, in Lagos.

Delta govt, Pfizer take PCV 13 immunisation to flood camps

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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O curtail effects of pneumo nia and other pneumococcal disorders in the country, the Delta State government in collaboration with Pfizer Nigeria Ltd, are vaccinating 2,000 children with the pneumococcal vaccine, PCV 13, in the Asaba, Kwale and Isoko camps for flood victims in the

state.

The partnership which is focusing on awareness of preventive interventions to reduce the impact of pneumonia also involves construction of the Integrated Mother and Child Care Centers in various locations of the state, is one of the activities heralding this year's World Pneumonia Day. Speaking on the initiative, Delta

State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan remarked that prevention of millions of avoidable child deaths from pneumonia every year was a serious public health issue.

“Pneumococcal vaccine offers a viable way to combat antibiotic – resistant strains of pneumococcal disease especially in camp environment situation. In addition to

VLS introduces hi-tech water purification device

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

N ultramodern water purification and storage device called “Acqua 1” that utilises the “Biological Solar Technology” is now available in Nigeria, courtesy Value Life Sciences, VLS. According to Chairman VLS, Mr Alfred Spinnler, the introduction of the device to provide good quality water is backed by the company’s drive to add value to lives of Nigerians in totality through scientific approaches and proven technologies.

The high-tech approach which guarantees up to 30 percent

• Spinnler explaining unctions of Acqua1.

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improvement over conventional water purification methods is quite easy to use.

“Simply stick Acqua 1 on a transparent glass container or PET bottle with the inscription acqua1.com visible. Fill water into the container and expose to daylight, not necessarily direct sunlight.

“Approximately 30 minutes afterwards, air bubbles begin to form on the walls of the container indication the beginning of the purification process. One chip purifies 10 litres of water in 30 minutes. Larger volumes require correspondingly higher number of units.”

Arguing that better quality water would guarantee better health in the country, Spinnler said most disease conditions as well as newborn deaths recorded in the country were treaceable to infections.

It was gathered that the solar technology which is backed by years of research is based on a “chip” that consists of the latest scientific knowledge which allows water to regain its original cluster structures.

“Acqua 1 does not kill virus or bacteria, but helps restore the basic structure of water molecules to correspond to natural water quality while increasing the oxygen content,” he stressed.

Also, the minerals become more easily available for absorption.

He said VLS is in the process of introducing more consumer friendly products into the country.

“We will be offering Nigerians useful information and solutions in our core areas of specialisation, using innovative technologies, affordable quality for money and tailor-made products for the Nigerian environment based on long-term practical experience,’’ Spinnler noted.

good sanitary conditions through evacuation of waste to forestall the outbreak of epidemic, immunizing the vulnerable and protection of our citizenry especially our young ones remain paramount and tackling Pneumonia, the forgotten child killer is extremely important,” the Governor noted.

He said Delta state has significantly pioneered innovative health initiatives aimed at reducing under- 5 morbidity and mortality reduction through the free medical programme in the state, charting the course towards the attainment of Millennium Development Goals with a proactive plan to reduce the incidence of morbidity and death at the camps, through the Health Post/clinical and routine immunisation.

“Pfizer’s collaboration with Delta state government through the Ministry of Health on World Pneumonia Day is pertinent at this time to ameliorate the scourge of the pneumonia disease. The vaccination is taking place in Asaba, Kwale and Isoko camps located in areas where the

• Governor Uduaghan impact of the flood disaster was immense and the vaccines will be centrally distributed,” he noted.

In his remark, Country Manager Pfizer Nigeria and East African Region, NEAR, Mr. Enrico Liggeri, stated: “Pfizer remains committed to partnering with host communities towards a healthier World including providing and increasing access to life – saving medicines for vulnerable groups.

Awareness is important but even more valuable is implementation of immunization programs. It is more cost effective ultimately,” he noted.

NHF promotes physical activity for good health

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

A

S cardiovascular diseases continued to ravage communities’ worldwide, appropriate exercise has been identified as key to promoting good health as well as keeping the six major risk factors of heart disease at bay. T owards this end, Nigerians have been cautioned to take exercise seriously with a view to checking unnecessary deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Speaking during a free screening exercise organised as part of activities to mark this year’s World Health Day by the Nigerian Heart Foundation, NHF, in Lagos, Chairman, 2012

Organising Committee, Dr. Funmi Akinloye said regular, moderate rhythmic exercise, such as walking, cycling or dancing help reduce blood pressure in people with the condition.

“Regular physical activity plays important role in achieving or keeping to healthy weight. ‘’The amount of activity you do is as important as the food you eat.

This is because the exercise you do is as important as the food you eat. This means balancing the energy taken into your body (the calories in your food and drink) with the energy you use up (through activity), she noted.

She counseled that individuals who are overweight or are more

likely to have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels and so have a greater risk of coronary heart disease.

“Physical activity can also help prevent people from getting diabetes, which is very important because men who have diabetes are about three times more likely to get coronary heart disease than those without diabetes and women with diabetes are about four times more likely to get the disease,’’ she stressed.

Exercise also helps prevent blood clotting as it helps to raise the protective cholesterol, but it is important to increase physical exercise gradually.” .

Vanguard, TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—31 TUESDA

Doctors prescribe wrong drug doses for heart disease

S

• Founder, Pink Pearl Foundation, Orode Ryan-Okpu (fifth left) with her family and friends, cutting the anniversary cake at the Pink Pearl Foundation 5th anniversary cocktail themed, The Pink Issue in Lagos, last weekend.

Pink Pearl Foundation seeks support against cancer

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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ITH the incidence of cancer constantly on the increase, the role of advocacy has once again been highlighted as a tool to fight the scourge. This call was made last week when Pink Pearl Foundation, a cervical and breast cancer advocacy charity organisation, hosted its supporters and volunteers to a 5th Anniversary cocktail, tagged, “The Pink Issue”.

Founder of the organisation, Orode Ryan-Okpu noted: “We have engendered an understanding amongst women who hitherto knew little or nothing about the disease, by engaging in advocacy activities in rural and urban areas across the country. These advocacy activities have empowered women with life saving information such that most of them now know about cancer and have also been taught how to carry out regular selfexamination.”

Onorode urged need to build more capacity in advocacy, but also very importantly, in treatments.

“We have already started work on the development of cancer diagnostics centres in three states

of the Federation. We intend to have mobile screening centres across Nigeria, and produce a cancer-based movie in pidgin and English Language. There are also plans for the development of a women empowerment centre to provide economic rehabilitation for cancer survivors.”

Onye Ubanatu, Partner, Pink Pearl Foundation, stressed the need for the organization to move

2,000 treated for limb deformity in Lagos

L

BY MONSUR OLOWOPEJO

AGOS state government has conducted surgery for at least 3,000 physically challenged persons through the limb deformity corrective surgery and rehabilitation exercise in the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, who presented of walking aids to the new beneficiaries at the limb deformity corrective surgery programme at the General Hospital, Lagos, said 27 out of the 67 physically challenged persons screened for limb correction have been treated in the ongoing edition of the programme.

Distributing the materials, Fashola said “today, I am putting smiles on the faces of the residents, giving residents of the state new hope is more important to me than constructing bridges and roads.”

He said this was why public infrastructures have ramps and side walk ways constructed to create equal opportunity for both able bodied and physically challenged.” “It is also part of the effort to enhance their Ujah said some researchers do movement and to make them not even know that research pro- live a better life, achieve their and contribute posal must go through ethical goal meaningfully to the clearance, a very important component of any research proposal. development of the society.

Speaking earlier, the He posited that research proposals from Africa are unable to com- Commissioner for Health, Dr. pete effectively with colleagues Jide Idris said the state number from developed countries be- represented those who cause they are usually defective benefitted from the programme in content, budget and justifica- since commencement in 2004. tions.

Nigerian scientists proffer way forward for medical research

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

N

IGERIAN researchers have voted to pursue the ideals of translational research for the benefit of patients in the country.

Expressing this desire to strengthen medical research capacity during the 3rd International Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Yaba, Lagos, with the theme: “Strengthening Health Research Capacity in Africa: The Challenges”.they stressed that focusing on translational research would provide ap-

• From left: Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Nimi Briggs; representative of the Minister of State for Health and Director Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Wapada Ballami and Director-General, NIMR, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Innocent Ujah, at the opening session of the 3rd International Scientific Conference in Lagos.

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to another level in its operations.

He stated, “We have spent the last five years trying to build credibility and a solid reputation.

We believe we have made progress with these by deploying innovative engagement platforms like the Pink Bike Ride, Pink Kitchen, Advocacy and Screening Programmes, to mention a few.

However, Pink Pearl Foundation also understands that we cannot rest on our oars because there are

TARTLING evidence has emerged that millions of peopel with coronary artery disease could be at increased risk for serious problems like uncontrolled bleeding or developing blood clots because the drugs they are taking as prescribed by their doctors are the wrong dose for their bodies.

Findings just released at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012 in Los Angeles, about 75 percent of heart disease patients taking two common blood-thinning drugs appear to be receiving the wrong dosage levels.

The specific drugs in question are clopidogrel (Plavix) and prasugrel (Effient). Both are commonly prescribed to prevent harmful blood clots that can cause a stroke or heart attack. However, at too small of a dose, the drugs don’t prevent clots and come with side effects which can include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea, vision changes and seizures).

At too high levels, they can cause life-threatening internal bleeding.

In fact, the current guidelines recommend that all patients should take the same standardized dose of one of these pills. But in their study researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found the one-size-fits-all dose is not only ineffective for huge numbers of patients, it may be dangerous.

propriate drugs, treatment and ensure better patient outcomes.

In a lecture entitled; “Health Research: From the Bench to the Bedside”, the Guest Lecturer and former Provost, College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University, Prof. Taiwo Adewole, argued that activities in the laboratories should be targeted at addressing the needs of patients to ensure better outcomes.

“What we mean by the bedside is anything that relates to handling patients, anything that relate to taking care of patients.

Whatever we are doing in the laboratory must be such that has the interest of patients. And that is what translational research is all about” Adewole, a former Head of Division of Clinical Sciences, NIMR, opined that the time had come for researchers to prioritise the patient in order to make their findings more useful as well as provide solution at the bedside.

He charged the Federal Government to saddle NIMR with the responsibility of formulating a policy on translational research in collaboration with the universities.

On his part, the Director-General of NIMR, Professor Innocent Ujah, who stressed health research encompasses research capacity at the levels of individuals, research groups, institutions and nations, noted that health research was key to achieving the goals of improving economic development and reducing poverty.

Akintayo emerges 20th PSN President

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HE National Executive Com mittee, NEC, of the National Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, has approved Pharm Olumide Akintayo as the 20th President of the PSN. Akintayo emerged President last week, at the Annual General Meeting of the 85th Annual National Conference of the PSN held in Abeokuta Ogun State.

An alumnus of the University of Ife (Now OAU, Ile-Ife), Akintayo has served on the National Council of the PSN in various capacities and was first elected as a member of the NEC of the PSN in 1997.

He was one of the pioneer students of the West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) and one-time Secretary of the Faculty of Community Pharmacy of the College. He is a full and active member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.

•Pharm. Olumide Akintayo A regular participant at the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) where he has featured in the last 10 years, Akintayo has presented over 60 papers and featured at several Induction Ceremonies for newly graduated pharmacists as a representative of the PSN. Amongst several honours, Akintayo is Fellow of the PSN and WAPCP. In 2011, he was nominated one of 50 Nigerians of integrity, top professionals and merit.

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

*The Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon Justice Cromwell Idahosa presents a copy of the Nigerian constitution to Ggovernor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State after being sworn-in for a second term at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, yesterday.

EDO: THE NEXT FOUR YEARS

OSHIOMHOLE: The

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ITH the euphoria of the election over and ahead of his second inauguration as governor of Edo State, it was tempting to ask Comrade Adams Oshiomhole if he would fall into the trap of second term governors who do nothing in office.

“For me what I have done in the first term is not because I needed a second term, but because I believed that was the right thing to do,” the Edo governor told some newsmen penultimate weekend.

His conviction has no doubt impacted positively on the people of the state and it was not surprising that he was returned to office with a sweeping victory that has sent many of his political rivals to temporary political hibernation.

However, many challenges remain for the governor whose impact in office has lifted him to the admirable height of the best performing governor since the creation of Edo State in 1991.

But many challenges remain for the comrade governor in the second term.

Edo state as at today is faced with numerous challenges. There is an army of unemployed youths roaming the streets of Benin, the state capital and other cities in the state, many dilapidated roads despite the remarkable road reconstructions of the first term, challenges in the health sector especially in the rural and semi urban areas, challenges in the educational sector as a lot of C M Y K

road is still long

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole was inaugurated into office for a second term yesterday. In his speech, he promised to sustain the spectacular steps he initiated in the governance of the state four years ago. The challenges against his efforts, however, remain. The next four years could be as challenging as the last four years especially as the Comrade Governor ponders the difficult question of succession.

political steps to see whether he merely liquidated the previous godfather to assume the position.

There is little doubt that the sustenance of the ACN in Edo State would to a large extent depend on how the incumbent governor manages the process of his succession.

Some point to the situation in Lagos state where the ACN has continued to dominate the politics of Lagos state due to the peaceful transition of power from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who has continued to sustain the ACN legacy in the state. Will Governor Adams Oshiomhole allow this to happen in Edo state after his tenure in office against the backdrop of the avalanche of the hawks lurking around the prescient of government waiting to grab power immediately he completes his tenure of office in 2016?.

However, while former governor John Odigie-Oyegun believes that choosing who succeeds Oshiomhole will not pose a problem as that would be taken care of at the appropriate time, he added that the governor needs to have over ten would be successors to enable him choose among them the best man.

On his part, former Edo NUJ Chairman and also State chairman of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), Comrade Godwin Erhahon said Edo people should not express fear on the would be successor of the governor.

Our expectations high – Senator Uzamere, Senator Ehigie Uzamere (ACN, Edo South) The expectation in Edo and indeed in Nigeria from him is very, very high. Knowing what he has done in his first term, the next four years is like a relay when he would sustain the tempo. I also believe that in the next four years it would be an opportunity for him to correct the mistakes, if any, in the last four years because he is already experienced right now.

•Uzamere: Expectation is still high public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

One notable challenge for the Comrade Governor is the conduct of elections into the local government councils. Since his assumption of office in 2009 the governor has utilised caretaker committees in the running of the local councils.

The recent dissolution of the transition caretaker committee local government by the House of Assembly is a pointer that the people are tired of seeing unelected chairmen at the helm of affairs at the grassroots.

An Ekpoma High Court

•Obende: He won't slow down

presided over by Justice Tinu Akomolafe-Wilson, now a Justice of the Appeal Court had declared Caretaker Transition Committees as illegal.

However, another question that has continued to agitate the minds of most people in the state is what becomes of Edo State and indeed of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the state after the Oshiomhole administration in 2016?

Will the principle of ‘let the people lead’ as enunciated by the Comrade be practiced during the local government election, will he impose candidates at the

expense of other persons who may have worked very hard to bring about his re-election on the party’s platform during the local government election?

Will the election be free and fair now that the State Independent Electoral Commission (ESIEC) is under the ambit of the State Government? Will he listen to the opinion of party leaders and keep to the pact with party leaders that he will not impose candidates for elective positions?

Though Comrade Oshiomhole assured in the interview that godfatherism is dead, many would still be watching his

He won't slow down —Senator Domingo Obende (ACN, Edo North) In the next four years, more is expected of him. If in four years he could transform Edo State, in another four years he would consolidate on the basis of the transformation he has been able to render.

I pray that the good Lord would help him because people say of second term governors are not given to development and they want to steal money, but I know that this governor will not steal money.

I also know that he is a strong governor and the passion that has driven him into governance and that same passion he would use it to complete his assignment and we pray that the good Lord would help him.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—33

Oyo after Lam THE death of former Governor Lam Adesina has been mourned far and near. But the import of the exit of the famed politician on the political landscape of the state would be monumental.

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HEN news of the passage of the former Governor of Oyo State and chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN Alhaji Lamidi Adesina filled the political space early Sunday morning, many of his supporters could not believe that the Great Lam had actually died.

For his political rivals within the ACN, and his foes outside the party in the Peoples Democratic Party, the exit of the famed politician well known as “Lam the Great” was of consequential political importance.

Not because the fallen political giant was immortal, but because of the import of his death on the different political structures in the pacesetter state.

Though Adesina taught the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi in the secondary school, there were reports that the two of them had become partly estranged following their collaboration that helped to unseat the PDP from office in 2011.

That assertion was, however, punctured by unofficial claims of the personal efforts made by the governor and his family towards the former governor in the twilight of his life.

Besides the government paying for the former governor’s treatment at the St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, Governor Ajimobi and his wife paid visits to Adesina in the hospital as recent as last Monday.

In demonstration of its sense of loss, the stage government has already declared a seven day mourning period during which government activities would be brought to a low key while flags are to be flown at half mast.

Adesina it is argued, deserves the outflow of tributes that have been coming his way since his death last Sunday.

He was outspoken and a man of firm principles who stood against tyranny and oppression.

While alive, he was almost always on the side of the people in the fight against repressive rule, especially so before his election as governor of Oyo State in 1999.

Before becoming governor Adesina had earlier been elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct Unity

Party of Nigeria, UPN. His colleague in the House of Representatives, Senator Roland Owie said of him yesterday: “He was down to earth, a loyal person to friendship.

His human relations was superb both within our party UPN and within the National Assembly,” Owie said as he enjoined living members of the 1979 to 1983 set of the House of Representatives to th grace the 40 day prayers of their departed colleague.

In an interview with Vanguard a year ago, Adesina speaking of possible mistakes in his political struggles had said: “I still believe that M.K.O. Abiola might not have died if he had bent over backward.

Those of us in Afenifere and NADECO fighting that battle, it is not always that we must insist that if that does not happen, we are not going to accept this. Anytime I remember the circumstances of Abiola’s death and other people we lost, I always say we are Yoruba people and we know about diplomacy. Had diplomacy forsaken us at that period in time? No. it’s just that everybody thought that you must go the same way like this. We could have deceived these people and saved the life of Abiola and others that were hacked down, that is just an explanation.”

Tributes pour in emarkably, friends and foes agreed that Adesina was a fulfilled politician who left when the ovation was loudest.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi, Dr. Festus Adedayo quoted Governor Ajimobi as describing Adesina as “a dedicated patriot, foremost defender of democracy and human rights, and political war-horse who had always stood on the side of truth”.

In the words of Dr. Olapade Agoro (Aladura Patriarch) Owa’Tapa of Itapa Ijesa land and the National Chairman/ former Presidential Candidate National Action Council (NAC), “Obviously since what has a beginning must have an end, the news therefore of the death of Alhaji Lam Adesina must be seen and accepted as the closing chapter of a story begun lowly but ended on good note of success.

As the Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited and a former Secretary to Oyo

R

*Adesina

,

BY OLA AJAYI

While alive, he was almost always on the side of the people in the fight against repressive rule, especially so before his election as governor of Oyo State in 1999

State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli said: “Baba Lam in his life time was a political icon and we take solace in the fact that he was fulfilled”.

The Deputy Senate Chief Whip and Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Senator Hosea Agboola in his own reaction described the departed former governor as a “’ great man and a leader who used his experience to

,

the benefit of the state.”

For Senator Rashidi Ladoja who succeeded the late Adesina in 2003, the exit of Adesina has opened a new vista in the politics of the state.

A prolific and versatile writer, the former governor was a thorn in the neck of military leaders while he was in the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO. His tough stance on the entrenchment of genuine democratic principles landed

him in prison when he was declared ‘Prisoner of War ’ (POW) by the then Military Administrator in the state, Col. Ahmed Usman.

Oyo without Adesina he vacuum created by the death of Adesina will be felt most by the ACN and especially those aligned to him in the party.

Just like his predecessor, Adebayo Alao-Akala breathed some fresh air after the death of the then apostle of Amala politics and godfather, Lamidi Adedibu, Governor Ajimobi is bound to feel some liberty in the political space within the ruling party. But the omen is equally not good. Without Adedibu Alao-Akala even with all the liberty he had could not win re-election.

T

34— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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EVERAL warnings from KAI Marshal, Rtd. General Danjuma Meigeri, not withstanding, some notorious KAI Brigade officials, have shifted their extortion of erring pedestrians who prefer to dash cross the expressway rather than using overhead bridges from the Ketu-Ojota area to Onipanu in Ikorodu road.

Before the recent shift the unscrupulous officials used to operate from the Ojota and Ketu areas.

Even the amount charged has gone up, with erring pedestrians currently parting with as much as N2000 rather than the N100 or N200 being charged at Ojota..

This indecent act is being perfected by the corrupt KAI officials in a manner void of suspicion as they station their Black Maria on the culvert and effect arrest of erring pedestrians pretending to arraign them at the court for the environmental offence.

In the process, the victims are driven to a secret place to begin negotiation for illegal bail without trial.

At the negotiating point,

Unrepentant KAI of ficials shif t extor tion base to Ikorodu road offenders that are ‘buoyant’ enough to meet up with the negotiation are released while those who could not meet up are taken to KAI office to face the wrath of law.

Investigations revealed that ‘cooperating’ offenders are

charged N2,000 for illegal bail.

Apart from the extortion at Onipanu, the officials are allegedly feeding fat on road side traders and hawkers.

A source at Oshodi who pleaded anonymity informed

that the extortion has become lucrative such that some of the officials now operate outside their officials hours.

A visit to some KAI offices like Ojota (adjacent to the BRT yard), Oshodi, Shitta in Surulere revealed that the

RITUAL KILLINGS:

Police list 4 black spots in Lagos *Ikorodu *The bridge linking Abiola Gardens with Otedola Estate *Isheri Olowo-Ira under bridge *Toyota bus stop on Apapa/Oshodi Expressway among black spots

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HE Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning to the public to watch their movements around certain areas across the country which are regarded as black spots where ritual killers operate.

In the statement posted on the internet, the police identified spots prowled by ritual killers to include Ota, Lambe and Mowe, all in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.

In Lagos State, the police identified Ikorodu, the bridge linking Abiola Gardens with Otedola Estate, Isheri Olowo-Ira under bridge, and C M Y K

Toyota bus stop on Apapa/ Oshodi Expressway.

Other places identified by the police as ritual killers’ haven are: Water front of River Niger in Onitsha, Anambra State and Isiala-Ngwa, Abia

State both in the southeast region of Nigeria as well as Igwurita, Rumuokoro in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in South-south Nigeria.

In the North-central zone, people are warned to beware

of Ikorin/Oro road in Kwara State and Lokoja-Abuja Expressway in Kogi State.

The danger zones in Kaduna State are: Kaduna Eastern ByPass, the bank of River Kaduna, Kaduna/Abuja Expressway, Abuja Motor Park in Kaduna, Kano Motor road in Kaduna and the Railway tracks also in Kaduna. The list is not exhaustive, though these are areas with high incidence of ritual killings.

These are police emergency numbers in Lagos: •POLICE CONTROL ROOM 1 – 07055350249 and 07035068242.

•RRS CONTROL ROOM 2, Alausa – 08065154338 and 07055462708 •CONTROL ROOM 3 SHQ; – 08079279349 and 08063299264 and 767 toll free line.

If you by mistake fall victim quickly send an sms/pre-text message to all or any of these numbers.

Make sure you drive at the middle of express road at all times. If anyone tells you that your car is sparking or there is fire or smoke coming out from your car bonnet, please do not listen just drive on. That is their new tactics.

Kindly advice your loved ones accordingly.

officials have cooking pots, plates and stoves and other seized items from traders only to be shared among themselves having consumed the ones they could, the remaining are taken to their various homes.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 35

BY EBUN SESSOU

R

ESIDENTS in Lekki area of Lagos have been groaning under the continuous traffic jam at the Admiralty Circle Toll at Lekki-Epe Expressway.

They now suffer daily gridlock caused by the toll-gate which wsa initially built to ease traffic. The frustration on residents’ faces especially during rush hours can only be imagined.

And what seems to be a child’s play is gradually becoming uncontrollable for the people in the area.

A recent encounter with some of the people stuck in the traffic for over four hours gave an insight.

A woman simply called Mrs. Adeniyi, who wouldn’t pretend on the challenges she faces daily on the road lamented that, the insanity caused by the toll-gate is posing serious danger.

From the long queues at the toll gate, especially during peak hours in the mornings and evenings, to the breakdown of the computer system, especially on work days, the frustrations on the faces of the road users could only be imagined, especially those who pay cash for their tickets.

As with network problems in the banks, the Lekki toll plaza experiences occasional hitches resulting in arguments with customers who pay toll fare in advance, whenever the computer fail to pick the customer’s details.

These, in most cases, result in undue delays in attending to others who wait endlessly for their turn on the queue.

Another user who lamented his ordeal noted that the management of Lekki Concession Company has not been sincere in their operation.

According to him, “At rush hours, both sides of the expressway are rather frustrating and with the long queues that

Malfunctioning Lekki-Epe tollgate now a nuisance the toll plaza has created, it is difficult for an individual to say the exact time he or she will get home.

“The major complaint is premised on the number of lanes available to motorists who prefer to pay with cash.

Of the five lanes on both sides, road-users revealed that those that opt for cash payments are allocated only two lanes, whereas three lanes are dedicated to those

using the electronic payment option.

He contended that majority of those plying the route use cash and that the management of LCC should have dedicated more lanes to this category of road users.

Another area where users of this road lament on a daily basis is between Ikota first gate and Berger bus stop, some two minutes drive from Ajah roundabout.

Lagos directs property owners along highways to paint them

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

P

ROPERTY owners along major highways, high streets and roads in Lagos State have been advised to commence immediate paintings of such structures/ properties to complement the ongoing state wide

beautification projects and the seasonal decorations in preparation for the yuletide celebrations.

The commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, gave the directive during the monitoring of state projects across the state.

Bello expressed displeasure over the neglect and derelict

Tinubus to get Egba highest titles T

state of most buildings along major Highways and High streets, like Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Isolo Road, Mushin, Oshodi, Victoria Island, Apapa , Ikoyi among others.

He also observed that the other category of neglected buildings noticeable on Lagos roads are those he referred to as “Abandoned Properties” which are prevalent in areas like Ilasamaja, Apapa, Creek Road, Ikoyi, and Victoria Island Axis.

Properties along this corridor were abandoned by their owners, who have relocated and left such properties at the care of their security guards who have converted them to “okada parks” and hideout for miscreants.

Bello, further advised owners of the neglected buildings to come up and take ownership of their buildings, ensure they are put in proper shape and painted to complement the state government effort on its massive environmental

regeneration programmes.

The commissioner noted that task of building a new Lagos that is adorned with beautiful Highways/High streets, recreational parks /gardens and lush green lawns is the ultimate goal of this administration and collective responsibility of all and sundry.

He therefore urged individuals, groups and corporate bodies to join hands with the state government in its current effort and drive to attain a cleaner and sustainable environment in the state.

HE national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be conferred with the traditional title Aare Ago of Egbaland on 19 November. The conferment of the title, which means Field Marshall of Supreme Eminence will be done by Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the ruler of Ake in the Ogun state capital of Abeokuta, as part of activities marking his 7th anniversary on the throne.

Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu will also be decorated with the Erelu Aare Ago of Egbaland.

A statement by Tinubu’s media office said the honors will be bestowed on the couple at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, in the afternoon.

C M Y K

36 —VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

A book you must read

DAY 2:

Advancing macroeconomic reforms

volatile economies in the world on a range of macroeconomic variables, from terms of trade to per capita real GDP; indeed, it ranked in the top five for three of these variables. More important, Nigeria’s volatility was more than twice the median volatility for almost all of these important economic variables.

Why does volatility matter?

Because evidence shows that high volatility slows down productivity growth by a substantial margin, particularly in countries where the financial sector is insufficiently developed. Failure to manage the consequences of oil-price volatility, together with poor fiscal and exchange-rate policy, can lead to Dutch Disease. Nigeria’s non-oil sectors, particularly agriculture, were classic victims of Dutch Disease during the oil booms. The high cost that volatility inflicted on the non-oil economy manifested in a precipitous decline in per capita non-oil real GDP growth from 1970 to 2003. (See figures A2.2 and A2.3.) The effect on social indicators was equally deleterious. (See table A2.2.)

The effect of volatility on GDP growth is shown in table A2.3.

By Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Yesterday...

In her book, Refor ming the Unreformable, the Nigerian Experience, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala provided background of the reforms in Nigeria and how she became the Finance Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo

O

,

I went ahead and wrote my letter of resignation … That evening, several people came to see me and put pressure on me to withdraw my resignation. I refused. At the same time, two important members of the president’s inner circle – Principal Secretary Steve Oransaye and Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar – put pressure on him (Obasanjo) to reconsider and find a way out…

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D

•Ngozi Okonjo Iweala Essentially, our analysis showed that we faced two sets of problems.

First, the economy was highly volatile, with loose fiscal policy and poor management of both the volatility and the fiscal policy. Second, there was no clear and consistent budgetary framework or budget process. The two sets of problems were strongly relatedindeed, as we increasingly discovered, they were intertwined-and solutions had to be found for both.

Nigeria – one of the world’s most volatile economics

S

ince the oil boom of the 1970s, the Nigerian economy has been highly undiversified.

The overwhelming share of exports (96 percent) and government revenues (more than 75 percent) depend on oil.

Oil has two important attributes that demand attention and careful treatment.

First, oil prices are internationally determined, highly volatile, and unpredictable; hence oil revenues in any economy are highly volatile. Second, oil is a depleting natural resource whose benefits must be managed carefully for the good of both current and future generations.

Economic management in Nigeria over the years had paid scant attention to both attributes. Government expenditure in Nigeria was volatile and procyclical: government spending rose in tandem with oil prices and oil revenues, and dropped when prices crashed. The wide fluctuations in government revenues and expenditures from 1971 to 2005 can be seen clearly in figure A2.1. Successive Nigerian governments had gone on a spending and borrowing spree during oil booms in the 1970s, the early 1980s, and the 1990s that often resulted in poorly planned projects of low quality, includ-

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N the morning of July 17, 2003, I sat down at my desk in Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, just after being sworn in with other ministers by President Olusegun Obasanjo as a member of the cabinet. I was overwhelmed when I reviewed the enormity of the problems confronting the country and saw the huge mountain of files already stacked for action on my desk. I wondered where to begin, and whether I had in fact been insane, as many friends and family thought, to leave my comfortable job and recent promotion to vice president at the World Bank to accept this huge challenge.

I had spent the two months between the time President Obasanjo first approached me to serve in May 2003 and the swearing-in ceremony in July working intensely on analyzing the problems of the economy and identifying the bottlenecks. This analysis clearly showed that if we were to make any headway in improving economic and social performance of the country, we had to begin with macroeconomic and budgetary reforms. We had inherited an unstable macroeconomic environment characterised by volatile exchange rates, double-digit inflation (23 percent on an annual basis in 2003), a high fiscal deficit (3.5 percent GDP in 2003), low foreign-exchange reserves ($US7.5 billion in 2003), and low GDP growth (2.3 percent on average for the past decade, including negative GDP growth per capita in those years because of the increase in population).

First, although de-linking government spending from current oil reserves is a big step forward, it is not enough. The composition of spending matters. Oil revenues are generated while a national asset, the country’s oil reserves, is being depleted. That national asset belongs not just to the current generation but also the future ones…

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ing such notable “white elephants” as the Ajaokuta steel mill, on which $US5 billion was spent and which produced virtually no usable steel. Spending sprees also encouraged corruption, the bane of Nigeria’s economy throughout the years.

Oil-price volatility and revenue volatility were made much worse by Nigeria’s loose fiscal policy. As oil prices increased, so did the fiscal revenues that government could collect from oil, and so could government spending; hence volatility in oil prices and oil revenues translated into volatility in public spending, along with volatility in exchange rates - with serious macroeconomic consequences. The Nigerian economy earned the dubious distinction of being rated one of the most world’s volatile. (See World Bank 2003 and table A2.1.) From 1961 to 2000, Nigeria ranked among the ten most

espite its substantial oil earnings - estimated at US$300 billion since the 1970s - Nigeria remains mired in poverty, with high rates of adult illiteracy, maternal mortality, and infant mortality. It is expected to be one of the sub-Saharan African countries that will not meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Infrastructure is poor. In a telling example, per capita consumption of electric power is low (121 kilowatt-hours) compared even to the average of low-income countries (317 kWh) and a fraction of consumption in South Africa (3,800 kWh). The challenge we faced - which may remain Nigeria’s prime economic-management challenge - was managing oil-related volatility and ensuring that oil revenues would be spent to improve the lives of the Nigerian people.

Remember that Nigeria’s oil earnings accounted for the lion’s share of government revenues, and the fluctuations in those earnings were directly transmitted to the domestic economy through fluctuations in public expenditure. The simple way of addressing this problem would have been to de-link public expenditures from current oil revenues by adopting a fiscal rule based on the price of oil.

This is what we did.

The Oil Price-based Fiscal Rule (OPFR) lets Nigeria escape from the tyranny of current oil prices by using a long-run average oil price. Nigeria adopted a reference price that mimics the long-run (10-year) average oil price.

When actual prices rise above the reference price, the government can put away some of the excess revenues in the form of savings. When oil prices fall below the reference price, the government can draw on these savings to maintain its level of spending. This predictability is, in turn, imparted to the non-oil economy.

In 2004, when oil prices averaged US$33 per barrel, Nigeria adopted a reference price of US$25 per barrel to craft the budget. This generated

Continues on page 37

A book you must read

savings of US$8 per barrel at a time when Nigeria was pumping an average of 2.3 million barrels of crude oil per day. In 2005, when prices averaged US$55 per barrel, Nigeria adopted a US$33 per barrel reference price. In 2006, when prices averaged US$60 per barrel, Nigeria boosted the reference price to US$45. A new Excess Crude Oil Account (ECA) was created at the central bank, and savings were held there and managed as part of the country’s reserves. The savings were allocated to the three tiers of government of the Nigerian Federation (federal, state, and local), as stipulated in the constitution.

By the end of 2006, Nigeria had accumulated gross reserves of US$46 billion, of which US$8 billion were savings in the Excess Crude Oil Account in spite of utilising US$12 billion in connection with the settlement of the US$30 billion Nigeria owed to the Paris Club. The OPFR was binding on all tiers of government. Thus it was not without controversy, as the states insisted that this was not constitutional.

Some state governors declared that they did not see the need for this “rainy day fund,” as I had termed it, since, given the development problems of the country and their states, they thought it was raining already - “in fact, the roof was coming down,” as one governor put it. They argued forcefully that the money should be allocated for spending right away. We did a lot of jawboning to try to explain the volatility issue, and President Obasanjo courageously demonstrated the political will to hold the states to this agreement.

S

uccessfully implementing an oilprice-based fiscal rule requires good timing relative to the trajectory of oil prices, and we were lucky. We began implementation of the rule when oil prices were on an upward trajectory, so savings could be built up in the first place. Nevertheless, successful implementation of an oil-price-based fiscal rule does not depend solely on building up savings. There are other factors. Let me make three observations.

First, although de-linking government spending from current oil revenues is a big step forward, it is not enough. The composition of spending also matters.

Oil revenues are generated while a national asset, the country’s oil reserves, is being depleted. That national asset belongs not just to the current generation but also to future ones. Thus, oil revenues should be spent on creating a springboard for stable long-run growth that will benefit future generations. This means spending the money wisely on long-term investments. Two types of investments are ideal: public investments in infrastructure to support

implementing a tough set of selfimproved policies.

We next aimed to institutionalise the OPFR and fiscal discipline through the adoption of a Fiscal Responsibility Act. (See box 2.1.) In view of the controversy surrounding the OPFR and the lack of a budget framework and good budgetary practices at both federal and state levels, it became clear that a binding instrument would be needed to safeguard the macroeconomic reforms and lock in a good set of policies for managing volatility for the long term. A Fiscal Responsibility Act suited to a fiscally decentralised country such as Nigeria seemed to be the right instrument.

For inspiration on how to craft such a bill, we turned to another large fiscally decentralised country: Brazil. There was consensus at the federal government level that such a bill would be helpful.

Nigeria’s vice president at the time, Atiku Abubakar, and several lawmakers traveled to Brazil to learn about their bill. We subsequently adapted the

Implementing an oil price based fiscal rule

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Continues fromPage 36

diversified private investment in the non-oil sectors, and social expenditures in health and education.

Second, transferring oil revenues to the budget at the reference price must be accompanied by spending discipline. There is no point in accumulating savings when oil prices are high if government spending is out of control. This would be akin to a driver ’s putting one foot on the accelerator pedal and the other on the brake pedal. Spending discipline automatically puts a lid on borrowing and on debt accumulation.

Third, a fiscal system is needed that can facilitate and monitor the process whereby oil revenues are transferred to the budget, and can follow the subsequent spending and results. As I shall discuss in detail in the next section, Nigeria lacked a clear and consistent budget process.

Nigeria badly needed a medium-term macroeconomic program and a way of enshrining the OPFR in law to avoid

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 37

The budget process that I encountered in the mid 2000 was ad hoc, opaque and poorly planned.

Budgets tended to just repeat sectoral allocations from the past with some tweaking at the margin, perpetuating a legacy. Programme implementation often deviated from budget with impunity…

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backsliding. We dealt with those challenges by adopting a medium-term macroeconomic program supported by a new nonfinancial instrument the International Monetary Fund had just developed: the Policy Support Instrument (PSI). To instill fiscal discipline and tighten macroeconomic management, we designed a mix of fiscal and monetary policies in order to deliver macroeconomic stability in the medium term. We aimed at a fiscal deficit of 3 percent of GDP and a gradual reduction of the consolidated nonoil primary balance - the difference between the government’s non-interest spending and non-oil revenues - from 41 percent of non-oil GDP in 2005 to 35 percent by 2006. We aimed to boost international reserves to reach US$26 billion by the end of 2005 and US$50 billion by the end of 2006 and to adopt tight monetary policies that would achieve single-digit inflation by the end of 2006. We invited the International Monetary Fund to support this program and monitor our progress through the Policy Support Instrument. This instrument allows the IMF to monitor a country and assist it in implementing a program without the country having to borrow any financial resources. For us, it served as an external restraint that would be an additional support in

Brazilian bill for Nigerian purposes, locking in adherence to the OPFR by all tiers of government and adherence to a fiscal deficit of no more than 3 percent of GDP over a three-year, medium-term expenditure horizon. We also locked in a requirement for an annual budget and for sound and transparent budgetary practices by the federal and state governments. We set limits to external borrowing for all tiers of government, including the terms for such borrowing.

U

nfortunately, by the time the bill was passed and signed into law, near the end of 2007, state governments had watered down some of the provisions they found restrictive, using constitutional-related arguments.

The budget process that I encountered in the mid 2000s was ad hoc, opaque, and poorly planned. There was little coherence in budget formulation. Budgets tended to just repeat sectoral allocations from the past with some tweaking at the margin, perpetuating a legacy. Program implementation often deviated from the budget with impunity. All this meant that the budget cycle created room for corruption and waste. To use a common Nigerian term, there were widespread leakages at various stages of the budget process. It was widely believed that one could bribe senior civil servants preparing the budget in order to get a desired project included. Monitoring and evaluation officials could also be routinely bribed to sign off on a shoddily completed project, or even on incomplete work. For example, a contractor building a road could cut costs by not building drainage systems or sidewalks specified in the project design. The government supervisor could simply ignore this and take his or her share of the “savings” accruing to the contractor. Moreover, because of poor record keeping between the Budget Office and the AccountantGeneral’s office, millions of dollars could be lost when funds were being released to implement a project. addition, the poor record keeping and lack of reconciliation of accounts

routinely resulted in expenditures running ahead of revenues in a cashbased budget; thus, government institutions periodically accessed the Ways and Means account or overdraft facility at the central bank.

I was shocked to find systems in disarray and a very low level of computerisation in both the Budget Office and the office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation (AGF).

Almost everything was handled through Excel spreadsheets. There were few links between the systems and the processes of the two offices.

T

he ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) that implemented the budget took advantage of this lack of coordination in various ways. Monies disbursed to the MDAs for operating expenses were routinely kept in accounts at various commercial banks, where favorable interest rates were negotiated by the senior civil Servants responsible for oversight of these monies. While banks traded with the monies on their own account, top civil servants shared the interest that had accrued. There was no feeling that anything was wrong with this practice as long as the principal was untouched. As a result, monies were often kept in accounts for as long as possible to earn interest, while projects and programs went unexecuted. Sometimes ministers were unaware of what happened to the ministries’ resources and complained in cabinet of a lack of resources for their programs, while the resources were lying idle in commercial bank accounts.

Execution of the capital budget consistently fell below 50 percent and was at 24 percent in 2003. By 2003, the government had also accumulated arrears to domestic contractors amounting to about 150 billion naira (US$1.17 billion at the time).

I also found that there were no proper government records of these debts; they became another source of corrupt transactions that stretched out over the years as contractors were routinely asked by some unscrupulous budget officials for bribes when they brought in their receipts for validation and payment. Our initial attempts to audit and pay off these debts became a protracted negotiation between the Treasury and contractors as to how large the actual debts were. Over the years, pension arrears of parastatals, government agencies, and departments had also accumulated, reaching more than a trillion naira (the equivalent of US$8 billion at the time). Record keeping in this area was just as poor, and all combined to make for a fiscal nightmare.

Finally, there were structural problems with the budget - not least the fact that more than two-thirds of budget resources went for salaries and operating expenditures, leaving less than one-third for capital projects.

Restructuring and reshaping a US$1525 billion budget in the face of so many distortions and needs would prove difficult.

Tomorrow...

Promoting Privatisation, Deregulation, and Liberalisation

38— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 38—Vanguard,

When sex refuses to bind

George, (42), Banker, tells the story of how his first marriage ended.

His story: As the saying goes, different strokes for different folks. This is indeed so for me and I am so sad.

I lost my real love though not through any fault of mine but her ’s and now she wants to come back after realising her folly.

I come from what you might call the middle class back in those good old days in Nigeria.

My parents are Civil Servants and both rose to senior positions, so we

are reasonably comfortable as one would expect of the typical Civil Service, official cars, house, money and some other pecks that go with it.

My parents were very strict Christians being members of the Deeper Life Bible Church so you can have an idea of how

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H

i, a lot have been said about sex.

Its ordained by God for procreation and recreation between a man and his wife.

It has been described as the lubricating oil for a healthy,intimate relationship. Sex has also been ascribed some therapeutic and rejuvinating powers.

The more sex a couple has the better for them and their relationship.

However, this is not always the case in many relationships.

Sex, which ought to be freely given and enjoyed between a man and his wife may sometimes turn them into enemies, eventually destroying their otherwise great marriage and relationship.

In this article, our respondents share with us, their stories and how it affected their lives.

Please, feel free to share your experience or that of someone you know with us too. It might be benefitial to someone out there.

Our address remains: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail a d d r e s s : humananglepage@yahoo.com.

Happy reading!

es, from LASU, to OAU, to UI, UNIBEN, etc, in fact, it was freedom at its b e s t .

Naturally, I had to fit in with the type of crowd I partied with.

This meant I needed to buy the ‘ watzup’ clothes which must not be seen by my parents. I still managed to attend Sun-

The orientation I got from my room mates was that the more girls you date, the better, so there was nothing like commitment in any of the relationships as it were

we were raised.

There was nothing like going out to parties or any unnecessary outings except in the company of other church members.

Thus, we, myself and my other siblings, looked forward to the time we will gain admission to higher institutions of learning and have all the freedom in the world to do as we pleased.

However, this has turned out to be the worst nightmare I ever had in my life.

I was admitted into the University of Lagos to study one of the Engineering courses and my first day on Campus was like freedom for a bird that had been caged for a very long time. I began experiencing all activities both on and off Campus which before now I had always dreamed about and imagined myself at.

I was also opportune to go out and see real girls and what a woman’s body feels like.

But all the while, I never forgot home and where I come from, thus my academics never suffered. I attended parties all over the plac-

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day service even though all the mid-week services never featured in my diary.

It was at one of the Sunday services that my eyes caught sight of the girl who later became my wife and later, my exwife. Before I met Boma, I’d had many flings.

The orientation I got from my room mates was that the more girls you date, the better, so there was nothing like commitment in any of the relationships as it were.

So, when I saw Boma in the church that day, my resolve was that I had to conquer this one too.

However, my instinct told me this would not be as easy as others. But I also told myself that I had to try and succeed if I were to be a man. A man must surmount his challenges. One thing about Boma was her striking beauty. Despite the fact that she wore no make up or jewellery like most girls. Rather than put me off, this only further endeared me to her and strengthen my resolve to have her.

After the service that Sunday, I walked up to her and introduced myself, telling her how I’d been noticing her for

some time and all those stuff.

As I had thought, she was not forthcoming but I did not allow that to discourage me. She refused to give me her room number except that she was studying mathematics.

However, telling her that I came from a Deeper Life attending family seemed to break the ice. This later led to her accepting to go out with me. I became an instant hit among my course and class mates because Boma was something out of this world.

Unfortunately, no sooner had we started the relationship did I realise that there was not going to be any kissing and fondling, not to talk of sex.

Initially, I wasn’t bothered because I was used to hearing girls say that at the beginning of our affairs, only to end up being insatiable in their demands.

But when she told me she had made a covenant with God that her first boyfriend would be her husband, I started feeling uncomfortable.

I thought of calling it off, but I wasn’t one that would quit a challenge.

Besides, I liked the new persona I was creating.

So, I just told myself “boy, go ahead, you’ve handled harder babes, you can do this one too”. Only, I never got it done eventually.

We started seeing each other on a regular basis and because of that, I was forced back into church activities, even on week days. At first, it was just because of what I planned to achieve.

But as time went by, I began having a change of mind. I thought I was nearing the end of my course and my target had started to lose its appeal after two years of being turned down.

Anyhow, as time went

by I started seeing myself marrying her and as fate would have it, we were both posted to the same State for our National Youth Service.

I had to do all I could to To be continued

Asisted by Onozure Dania

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Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

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LEDAP trains Police on domestic violence

BY ONOZURE DANIA

HUMAN right A group, Legal Defence and Assistance

Project LEDAP, has called on the Nigerian Police on the need to handle domestic violence cases with more seriousness. This advice was made during a training session which took place in Lagos to expose over 300 Police men in Lagos and the six divisions on Domestic Violence and how to positively address complaints.

Speaking at the event, a legal practitioner and gender activist, Wanda Oluka, said it has been proven that women and girls are most at risk from men they know to perpetrate domestic violence on them repeatedly, adding that domestic violence is a global issue that cuts across all boundaries of class, education, sexuality, cultures, ethnicity and age.

She also stated that within the family, a male intimate partner is most endemic form of violence against women.

It is abuse directed to women solely due to their role as wife or intimate partners and their resulting societal classification as male property, thus depriving women of their basic human rights.

According to her, Lagos state and three other states in Nigeria has passed the Domestic Violence Law which prohibits violence against women and make such abuse a crime. Section 1 of the protection against domestic violence law, No 15, Laws of Lagos state 2007, prohibits domestic violence. On the role the police are expected to play, Oluka, said a police officer needs to first understand the cycle of violence, because understanding the cycle will enable the Police Officer to be more effective and to help women and men break the pattern of violence. She said “Most victims of domestic violence are women and children and the usual perpetrators are their

husbands or relations of the husband, when there is violence or threat of violence to the woman at home and she takes up any legal remedy, it is likely that she will loose the economic support of her male perpetrator.” She said.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs Ogunshola, Human Right Officer at area H of Ogudu, Ojota Police Station, said women have been outlined since inception, adding that this is why they are usually the victims of domestic violence.

According to her, “because of our culture especially in Africa, men will always be men. They feel intimidated when a woman is performing better than them and before you know it, they would start being violent with the woman”.

Also speaking, the Executive Programmes Manager of LEDAP, Mrs Adaobi Egboka said, the term violence against women, violates, impairs and nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedom. She added that the long standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedom has been a matter of concern to all state and societies.

To a greater or lesser degree, women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture.

Egboka, noted that while both men and women experience violence, evidence indicates that women experience it in greater patterns than men.“Domestic violence remains an increasing heavy burden to the Nigerian woman especially the poor and vulnerable.

According to her, LEDAP, in a bid to reduce the incidence of domestic violence, has designed a programme, aimed at creating awareness to those that have been victimized.

resides in Benin, needs a mature and beautiful lady, for relationship, that will lead to marriage.

08166028719 •Henry, 30, 5.2ft tall, dark in complexion, hairy, a businessman, from Delta state, but resides in Lagos, needs a lady, for a relationship.08083448014 •Chukwudi, 36, needs a beautiful lady, who is a graduate and employed, for a relationship.

08178007487 •Anthony, 35, needs plumbly, busty, fair in complexion, sexually active and a romantic lady, aged 3646, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage.08035475200 •Mike, 35, needs a lonely and single mum, who resides in Benin, for an intimate relationship, aged 45-60.07064424247 •Daddy, 40s, tall, handsome, educated, employed and needs a big, beautiful, tall and matured lady, aged 35-52, for a serious relationship.

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Vanguard Vanguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

LIBRA; The more ambitious you are today the better for your cause. And here is a good day to plan for the future but you must do away with whatever can not be placed above board. Yong-at-heart among you may be in for a romantic day.

SCORPIO; Even if you are tempted to gamble by whoever and/or whatsoever reason you must resist it or else you would be the loser. Being aggressive may help SAGITTARIUS; Provided you are willing to cooperate with other poople things will not go out of hands but exhibition of inordinate ambition can earn you avoidable trouble.

— 39

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

VIRGO; As Saturn enters your Star Sign today it is important you are more practical and seek all important supports of the influential people around you. Be more loving.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

W

ILL you answer such a child affirmatively? Will you just ignore him? Will you be happy that your child has no faith in your ability to cater for him? Will you be hurt?

God will provide If we want to be frank with ourselves, the truth is that we cannot be happy when our children lose faith in us. It is the same God feels when we

TERROR MUDA

do not trust His ability to provide for us.

He feels hurt that in spite of His provision for us, we do not appreciate Him. Many of us behave like the son who the

in “Never say goodbye”

father married for and he still wants the father to consumate the marriage for him. This is not healthy. The father will not perform the role of the son for him.

By Lanre Kehinde

CAPRICORN; Element of luck will assist you. Those of you who are more hard working will have more positive things to show for your efforts. Take care of your health.

AQUARIUS; Many natives of this Zodiac sign will be excited either because of romantic interest within your working arena or practical advancement at work.

PISCES; Reason with those you can take as veterans within your base of operation because if you want to force your way without carrying necessary and more experienced people along it would back-fire now or soonest ARIES; The more creative you are the better for your cause. However is typical day when too much expectation can bring disappointment. Be more family minded.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; If your priority is financial success you may not be disappointed provided you prepare for a few challenges. For now both your mental energy and physical attributes are enough to win you love not MONEY. Be more receptive.

GEMINI; This is your day when both good luck and your personal efforts will bring you success. Try to be as caring as possible to those within your base.

CANCER; Although there will be challenges at the end of it all you will have genuine cause to smile. The more secretive you are the better for your cause. This is not the right time to ignore your sex life. Do away with unnecessary argument.

LEO; This is not the right time for you to either gamble with money or take friends for granted. Secret lovers may be in for an exciting day.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

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

Should I remain hopeful?

Dear Joshua I want your in-depth analysis and tell me about my social life, and the time I am likely to have my much desired break-through in life. I am hopeful though Anonymous Nigeria.

Dear Anonymous, Yes be very hopeful. And what you will find hereunder will answer your questions Social life will always bring you attention good luck envy opposition and possibly fame. The best way for you not to be constant loser in the social world is to always study situation practically and know that your finance will not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from the setting before taking responsibility.

As for influential friends you will have them but never always take them for granted.

Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your 46th year on earth and will serve as a break-through year you can build great foundation of endless success on. But the same 46th year will bring love related challenges you must manage with all maturity or else it will linger till after your 48th year on earth.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

C M Y K

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

From left: Engr. Abdul Kareem, Senior Manager, Distribution, Ikeja Zonal Office; Mr. Olumide Akinjo, Director, Institute of Industrial Technology (IIT); Mr. Marcel Hochet, Country President, Schneider Electric and Mrs. Anne Ezeh, Communications Manager, Schneider Electric, at the commissioning of a 300kva tranformer donated to IIT by Schneider Electric. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Abia govt to rehabilitate 16 roads in Aba

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA— ABIA State has selected 16 roads in Aba, its commercial city, for immediate reconstruction.

The roads, according to the governor, Chief Theodore Orji, include Azikiwe, Jubillee, Cemetery, Millerton Avenue, Eziukwu/Okigwe Roundabout, Ama Ogbonna, Nwala by Faulks Road to Brass Junction at Aba Owerri Road.

Others are Ngwa Road, Ohanku which is on-going, Emelogu Road com-

pleted but to be given drainage, Ehere, Omoba Road, Umuola Road, Ikot Ekpene Road from Opobo junction to Bata, Amaogbonna/Omuma by ACCN, Nwigwe by Nwagba Avenue and Geometric access roads.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, said a taskforce set up to take a look at critical roads in bad shape in the commercial city, recommended that the roads required immediate attention as "they are very strategic in the city."

I have no anointed successor —Gov Orji

U

MUAHIA— Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has said that he has not annointed any person to succeed him in 2015 when he would complete his two terms in office.

Orji therefore urged the people to ignore any person claiming that he has been endorsed by him to run for the forthcoming governorship election in the state, as he has not done anything like that.

The Governor spoke during an expanded caucus meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, weekend in Umuahia, the state capital, warning against name dropping by politicians.

According to Orji, three main factors including God, the party stakeholders and himself, would determine who would succeed him even as he he insisted that as a true

democrat he would not single-handedly select his successor.

He, however, said even at that, it was too early to talk about 2015 now.

From Left: Charlotte Onimiya, Key Account Manager, Dansa Foods Limited; Abdulrazzaq Sulaiman Bola, Area Sales Manager, Dangote Sugar Refinery plc, Ibadan and Omagbe Ejiro, Area Sales Manager, Dangote Pasta Ltd, during the 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair, at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.

COMMITTEE REPORT:

South-South Youth Vanguard slams Ribadu

BY EMEKA MAMAH with agency report

A

S THE report of Mallam Huhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force continues to generate controversies, with The Presidency dis-

owning it, the SouthSouth Youth Vanguard, SSYV, has blamed the problems on Ribadu’s alleged attempt to hijack the proceedings of the committee.

President of SSYV, Chief Gabriel Funudu, said that Ribadu,

OFAAC donates to Delta State flood victims

A

SABA —THE cul tural umbrella body of Anioma nation, the Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture, OFAAC, has donated relief materials to the state government for victims of the recent flood disaster in Delta

State.

Bags of rice, bags of beans, cartons of noodles, gallons of oil, soaps of different types as well as toiletries were among items given to the victims sheltered in different relief camps.

Navy seeks improvement in human capital development

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

L

AGOS—FORMER naval director of information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore David Nabaida (rtd), has identified defective strategy, lopsided recruitment among others as factors militating against the capacity development in the Navy .

Delivering a paper titled: Building Capacity to Support Nigerian Navy Professional Training, at the

assumed that he was greater than other members of the committee and as such had little value for their contributions towards achieving a positive goal of sanitizing the petroleum industry.

This is even as an

Directorate of Naval Education conference/ book fair, he said that it has become imperative that these lapses be addressed to enable the department to key into the NN’s transformation agenda for a more effective service delivery.

Speaking, the Director of Naval Education, Commodore Issac Mankilik, noted that the conference was an annual affair in the directorate designed to ensure that their personnels were well equipped for future

challenges noted that the time is ripe for the NN’s to address the shift in focus so as to continue to stamp its presence and consolidate its relevance in the country and globally.

The Chief of Naval Staff was represented by Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Adimral A. Ikioda at the event which was well attended by the who is who in the Nigerian Navy and also featured a book fair exhibition.

Presenting the materials to the state government at St. Patrick College camp in Asaba, a member of OFAAC Board of Trustees, Mr. Emeka Madu, said OFAAC was moved by the degree of devastation caused by the flood.

OFAAC President Arc. Kester, Madu, said in a statement read by Emeka madu: “We are touched by the pain and grief the victims are passing through, more so the loss of lives, property and other challenges which the flood caused.”

He expressed confidence that the donation would help ease the hardships of the victims as the government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of bringing relief to the victims.

He called on relevant government agencies to put measures in place to check global warming as the consequences of climate change could not be wished away.

Italian oil firm, ENI said it had declared force majeure on Brass River oil loadings from Nigeria due to floods.

According to the statement, Ribadu allegedly had uterior motives as well as acted a script in order to nail the Petroleum Minister, Dizeani Allison-Madueke. “ For instance Ribadu had affirmed that Oransaye who is the Deputy Chairman of the committee had not been part of deliberation of proceedings of the committee. His utterances showed that he did not take members of the committee along during proceedings,” Funudu further noted.

Also, blaming Ribadu over the leakage of the draft report of the committee, Reuters, an international media organisation, described the action as “a betrayal of trust," adding that ‘’If President Jonathan did not mean well for Nigeria he would not have asked Ribadu to head the Committee to checkmate corruption. ’’Although Ribadu denied not being responsible for the leakage, the action is a revelation that things were not in order within the committee.”

The group however, exonerated Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. AllisonMadueke from the list of ministers accused by the leaked report among ministers

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—41

C M Y K

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

•Mr. Emaka Eleh, NIESV president ( third left) with other members at the summit.

Stakeholders brainstorm on new national housing policy ...say political will is key to its implementation KINGSLEYADEGBOYE

S

takeholders in the housing sub-sector of the nation’s economy who gathered in Lagos at the weekend to brainstorm on the new national housing policy say political will and sustained commitment at all levels in the public and private sectors will bring about its full implementation, thereby bringing the country’s incurable housing deficit to an end.

The one-day National Housing Summit with the theme: “The New National Housing Policy-An Effective Framework For its Implementation” which was organised by the Faculty of Housing of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, had speakers as well as participants drawn from the sub-sector.

In his paper entitled, “The New National Housing PolicyAn Insight", Mr. Fortune Ebie, past president and foundation fellow of NIESV, past president and life member, Association of Housing Corporation of Nigeria, AHCN, noted that political will and sustained commitment at all levels in the public and private sectors would bring about the desired implementation of the new policy.

The pioneer General Manager, Federal Housing Authority, FHA, and Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, added that C M Y K

political will is imperative, and in Nigeria, that is what is needed along with properly harnessed knowledge, finance, manpower, resources or building materials, appropriate technology and others to achieve a quantum leap in the provision of housing for Nigerians.

According to him: “How can we become one of the leading economies in the global society when we are not paying serious attention to housing delivery with its attendant backward and forward linkages that would accelerate the country’s economic growth in real terms? The main reason why we have failed in housing our people and still retain our no housing status is the inability of our leaders as well as the followership to develop and sustain determined will to rise to our responsibilities and

challenges in the provision of mass housing for Nigerians.

We are unable to consistently and constantly pursue in a determined, sustained and orderly productive manner, available solutions for mass housing for Nigerians”.

He stressed the need for adequate funding for the new policy to achieve its aim. ‘’In 2011, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, gave N620 billion loan to distressed banks. Other sectors have intervention funds from CBN. What has CBN done for the mortgage banks?

How much has CBN pumped into the housing sector?’’ he queried.

Speaking on ‘’Private Sector Role in Provision of Housing For the Masses Under the New National Housing Policy’’, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye, Chairman, Real Estate Devel-

opers’s Association of Nigeria, REDAN, South West Zone, stated that the policy, without mincing words, is a product of hard work, research and sound understanding of the Nigeria housing sector. He added that: ‘’We know that there is no magic bullet solution to the housing debacles, but the policy if well implemented may take us to the next level in housing delivery in Nigeria. The housing problem is huge and it requires the determination and partnership of all stakeholders to puncture the balloon’’.

According to him, honest implementation of the policy as articulated without minding who takes the glory, if possible, may make the masses smile, stressing that ‘’we all should know that it is godly and African to make others smile’’.

The President, Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria, Ifenna Chukwujekwu in his paper entitled "Access to Land at Affordable Prices’’, said the goal of the new hous“ policy states that the ing thrust of government’s land policy is to make serviced land with secure tenure, easily available, accessible, transferable and affordable price for housing development.

Chukwujekwu added that to achieve the goal of the new policy, government has said it will ament the Land Use Act and enact supplementary or amend legislation to facilitate the effective and efficient implementation of the Act, control the use of urban and rural lands through effective physical planning and facilitate availability of serviced lands. He pointed out, however, that a clear study of the policy thrust shows that there is no clear-cut direction on how to address the issue of accessibility and affordability of land. ‘’When lands are made available without corresponding infrastructure provision to make them attractive, this will slow down development. This is what we witness today across the country where so called estates are created and developed without access road, light and water. This is, of course, the reason why we have uneven development around as serviced plots that are supposed to be well planned by government with provision of social amenities are totally neglected leaving the people to individually provide social services by themselves’’, the AHCN president said.

In her keynote address, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple noted that the task of addressing the national housing deficit should not be left for government alone, neither can the private sector do it alone, pointing out that she was glad about the collaborative and partnership efforts being put in place as demonstrated by the one-day summit.

How to build a book case

F

irst, choose a location for your bookcase and determine the size that best fits your needs. It may help to make a simple diagram of the book case you are about to make, noting the dimensions for each part.

Secondly, with your dimensions in hand, you are ready to cut the top, sides, and interior shelves out of 3/4'’ birch plywood. Since the birch plywood comes in 4'’ x 8'’ sheets, it will be easiest to use a table saw to rip down the lumber to your desired width. Don’t concern yourself

with cutting the lumber to the proper height or length yet. That will be done in the next step.

Next, take your top, side panels and interior shelves to a miter saw and cut them down to the appropriate length. The miter saw will make a cleaner, more controlled cut than the table saw, and is a better choice for smaller pieces of lumber.

If your dimensions are too large to be cut using your miter saw, the cuts can be made on the table saw, but take great care to make the cuts as clean as possible.

Start by affixing the top to the two side panels using wood glue and finish nails. Then, install the shelves by putting glue in the rabbit joints and sliding the shelves into the joints, one shelf at a time .

With the shelves in place, add finish nails through the outside of the unit to hold the shelves in place.

If you intend to hang the unit on the wall, you will want to glue and nail a 2” strip of wood across the back top edge to use as a cleat.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—43

2Face joins league of property owners at Haven Homes

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•A road in the estate yet to be completed

Beechwood Estate: R Residents decryy esidents decr non-fulfillment of contractual agreement by developers STORIES BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

R

ESIDENTS of Beechwood Estate located along Lagos-Epe Expressway and developers of the estate, Beechwood Property Development Company Limited, a subsidiary of Assets & Resource Management Co. Ltd. may be heading for a major showdown following alleged non-compliance with terms of contractual agreement on the part of the promoters of the residential estate.

The residents of the estate have alleged that the real estate development arm of ARM has not fulfilled its obligations as specified in the sales agreement entered into between them and the company.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman, Beechwood Estate Residents Association, Mr. Nduka Dabgue and made available to Vanguard Homes & Property, the residents had alleged that contrary to the impression created by the developers of the estate that the provision of infrastructure in the estate would be completed in 2006, six years after, none of the facilities to be provided in the estate is yet to be completed.

According to the residents, the company has failed to complete the perimeter fence of the estate meant to ensure

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security of properties and lives of the home owners, adding that the completion and delivery of electricity and water supply within the estate as stated in the agreement signed with the company were yet to be fulfilled.

They further alleged that the “delivery of the approved lay out plan of the estate to enable our clients complete the processing of their building approval plans is presently stalled by the non-availability of an approved layout plan.

There is no appropriate beautification of the front of the estate and the other green areas in the estate, while the construction of road network and drainage channels has not been completed.

“By this breach of contractual obligation and failure in service delivery on the part of ARM, the residents of Beech Wood Estate now live in fear and perpetual

darkness, as the haphazard work on the said facilities to be provided by ARM was abandoned halfway after money had been collected from the unsuspecting purchasers or subscribers to the scheme without any actual plans or intention to complete the said work.

“The residents of Beech Wood Estate are disgruntled as a consequence of living without all the promised amenities and now seek the intervention of Lagos State Government, well meaning stakeholders and the general public”.

However, all efforts to get the response of the developers on the allegations by the residents proved abortive, as Aminat Gbajabiamila, Head, Branding and Communications Unit of Assets & Resource Management, ARM failed to respond to our Correspondent’s message through her email.

HE multiple award winning musical act, Inno cent Idibia, popularly called 2Face and his wife, Annie have joined the league of property owners at Heven Homes Estate following the purchase of two new properties from the renowned developer of lifestyle living.

In a ceremony which followed the exchange of contracts papers that took place at the Magodo Office of Haven Homes, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Tayo Sonuga said: “There is little need restating the fact that we build for celebrities and high society people. They are in the best position to appreciate our alluring designs and beautiful homes because they are widely traveled.

“They have the tastes and the means to acquire what they desire. The confidence displayed by 2Face in buying not just one but two units of properties from us is a watershed of our achievement in creating lifestyle homes and earning our reputation as celebrity developers,” Sonuga noted.

On why he decided to invest with Haven Homes by buying two units from its exquisite stable of very contemporary houses, 2Face explained thus: “Haven Homes builds very beautiful homes that are fast becoming a trend among celebrities. You will marvel at the increasing number of celebrities who are buying and living in their lifestyle homes. I have only identified with a very good product that is fully made in Nigeria and as its ambassador, I will promote the company and take the brand to other celebrities”.

Ayo Makun, a comedian popularly known as AY and his wife, Mabel, are also celebrities who have recently bought their new home from the celebrity developers, Haven Homes. Haven Homes already enjoys relationship with other celebrities such as Ini Edo, Funke Akindele, Oge Okoye, Desmond Elliot, Bob Manuel Uduokwu, Aki and Paw-Paw, among several others, who have graced the inauguration of their homes and visited their various show homes located both on the Island and Mainland of Lagos State, according to a statement from the company.

The company recently delivered some units of its Sandringham Terrace, a project located in Lekki Phase 1. Work is also in progress to complete the first phase in another Lekki project called Richmond Gate comprising 18 units and work has just commenced on the Second Phase comprising 32 units.

Landlords’ Association petitions CJN over Lagos failure to comply with S/Court judgment F OR failing to comply with the Su preme Court judgment of February 10, 2012, in the case with suit No. SC/ 112/2002 between Lagos State Government and four others, and Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and six others on the part of the state government, Shangisha Landlords Association has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Murktar.

The substantive action in this case was instituted in the High Court of Lagos State in Ikeja Judicial Division in 1988 by the respondents in a representative capacity for themselves and on behalf of other members of Shangisha Landlords Association claiming against the 1 to 4 appellants specific relieves as contained in the writ of summons. Leave to sue in a representative capacity was sought and obtained from the court.

According to Chief Adebayo Adeyiga, Chairman, Shangisha Landlords Association, while briefing the press on

the petition to the CJN at the weekend: “After the Supreme Court judgment, in accordance with advice of the five Justices that delivered the judgment at the Supreme Court that we, the judgment creditors, should cooperate with our lawyers to work out amicable settlement with the judgment debtors, our lawyers forwarded a letter to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and a meeting was held on April 1, 2012 in order to enforce the judgment.

“All efforts to get the government comply with the Supreme Court judgement have failed. One would wonder to hear from the Attorney General that he has not familiarised himself with the file of the judgement after several years of his stay in the Ministry. Having waited for a long time and hearing nothing from judgement debtors, we filed a judgement summon for a warrant for possession to be issued for 549 plots of land,” Adeyiga said.

Continuing, he noted thus: “The judgement summon and the case file have remained in the Chambers of Justice Kayode Ogunmekan for two and half months before he decided to send it back to the present Chief Justice of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Philips. Justice Ogunmekan strategically hid the file from Justice Inumidun Akande knowing she was retiring. The refusal of Justice Philips to sign the Possession Order is not only amazing, but she is just violating one of the fundamental principles that put her in office.

"As a result of foot dragging on the part of the Chief Justice of the state, we have now filed an application for Judicial Review Order of Mandamus in which Chief Judge of Nigeria has not responded, because Justices Ayotunde Philips and Kayode Ogunmekan have failed to perform their statutory and judicial responsibilities”, Adeyiga said.

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

FoI Act ants coalition Act:: Cour Courtt gr grants leave to sue PHCN

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

BUJA — A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has granted leave to the Nigerian Contract Monitoring Coalition to apply for an order to compel the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to disclose to it details of a World Banksupported contract for the supply and installation of high voltage distribution systems in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan.

Justice A.F. Ademola granted the coalition leave following a suit instituted on September 21, 2012 on its behalf by one of its members, the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), which is the National Convener of the coalition monitoring the award and implementation of the contract for the Federal Government project funded with a credit facility obtained from the World Bank.

Other members of the coalition include the Nigerian Society of

C M Y K

Engineers (NSE), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Centre for Organisational and Professional Ethics (COPE-AFRICA) and the Initiative for Environmental and Health Society (IFEHS).

In a motion ex parte filed by its lawyer, Mr. Godwin Chigbu, the coalition sought an order granting it leave to apply for the prerogative order of mandamus to compel PHCN, its General Manager in the Project Management Unit, Mr. B.C. Nwozor; and the Attorney-General of the Federation to furnish the coalition with copies of procurement documents and information relating to Bid No NGP-D2 for the supply of 300 units of 11 KV, 500A On-Load Sectionalizers for installation at the High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) networks at Karu in Abuja; at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), in Ogba and in Agege, all in Lagos as well as Challenge in

Ibadan.

In a 12-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Ms Seember Nyager, Procurement Administrator at the PPDC, explained that the Federal Government obtained the credit facility from the World Bank/International Development Agency (IDA) towards the improvement of the Nigerian Electricity and Gas Project.

Nyager said PHCN published Invitation for Bid in several national newspapers, including page 41 of The Guardian of May 6, 2011 calling for bidders to undertake the supply and installation of the equipment.

She deposed that the contracts had been awarded and that on August 30 and 31, the coalition applied to both the PHCN and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, one of the beneficiaries of the project, for the contract documents and information but that PHCN refused to furnish the coalition with the information.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012— 45

Adesina, firm believer in democracy — Daniel

F

*Pix shows right wife of the deceased Alhaja Sarat Adesina being condole by sympathizers.Pix by Dare Fasube.

TRIBUTES TO LAM ADESINA (1939-2012)

A loss to progressives — Osun ACN

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SUN State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Osun State has commiserated with members of the party in Oyo state on the death of a leader of the party in the state and former Oyo state Governor, Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina.

Acting Chairman of the party

in the state, Mr Adelowo Adebiyi who expressed shock on the death of Lam Adesina, described the death of the frontline politician as a great loss to the progressive folk in the country.

In a statement issued by the Party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the ACN chairman said a great vacuum has been created in the party with the death of the former Oyo state Governor.

An iconic crusader

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ondo State condoles with the family of Late Lam Adesina, the Oyo State ACN, the government and people of Oyo state over his death which has come as a rude shock to the nation at a time when the struggle for the enthronement of true democracy in Yoruba land and Nigeria has reached a crescendo.

A statement by Idowu Ajanaku the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of the ACN, Ondo State, he described late Lam Adesina as an iconic crusader and a veteran of the democratic struggle.

“It would be recalled that the late activist was one of the leaders who led the massive protest against the Pro-Abacha march in Ibadan, when the nation was under siege by the military despot. He alongside

— Ondo ACN

the late Bola Ige were later paraded as “prisoners of war ” by the then military administrator of Oyo State, Colonel Ahmed Usman who was doing the bidding of his master, Abacha at that time.

He recalled the contributions of the deceased politician to the development of Oyo state when he was Governor of the state between 1999 and 2003, saying that the former Governor used his God’s given wisdom to transform Oyo state.

He also described the late Lam Adesina as a committed Awoist and a progressive Politician to the core who lived a life worthy of emulation for upcoming Politicians in the country.

The ACN boss who sympathized with Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, the family of the deceased, members of the ACN in Oyo state and all progressive politicians in the country urged the family of the deceased to take solace in the good deeds of the former Governor.

He was a man of truth — Owei

I

N a tribute by Senator Rowland Owei; “Hon Lam Adesina was a man of truth.

He was down to earth a loyal person to friendship.

“We were colleagues in the House of Representatives between 1979 and 1983. We served together on the House Committee on Public Accounts. His human relations was superb both within our party then – the Unity Party of Nigeria and within the

National Assembly.

“I call on all our living colleagues of the Honorable House 1979 to 1983 to ensure they attend the 40th.day prayers. I pray the Almighty God through Our Lord Jesus Christ and the intercession of Our Blessed Virgin Mary, The Gate Heaven to lead his Soul into Heaven and grant peace to those he left behind in Jesus Name.

ORMER governor of Ogun State Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has said that in the death of Alhaji Lam Adesina, Nigeria has lost a forthright politician and tireless fighter for a better and equitable society.

He stated this while reacting to the demise of the former governor of Oyo State who passed on at the age of 73 last Sunday.

In a statement by his media assistant, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, Otunba Daniel said Alhaji Adesina was a detribalized Nigerian who was committed to the development of the nation in all capabilities that he had the opportunity to serve his people and country during his sojourn on earth.

He said as governor of Oyo State Alhaji Adesina walked his talk by serving with commitment and his contributions to the development of the state would remain indelible.

“We have lost a patriot and peace builder who was also an advocate

of good governance and democracy. He was one of those in the forefront of getting a better deal for the people of Nigeria and he was also a firm believer and advocate of deepening democracy through fiscal federalism.

“He was a tenacious believer in the fine ideals of democracy and good governance and he remained committed to these ideals until the very end. This is certainly an irreparable loss. I enjoin his family, friends and the government and people of Oyo State to take solace in the fact that he left behind a worthy legacy worthy of emulation,” Otunba Daniel said.

S/West PDP commiserates with Oyo govt, ACN

A committed T leader — Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi has expressed shock at the death of former Governor Lam Adesina, saying that Nigeria and indeed, the people of Oyo State have lost a committed and trusted leader who spent the greater part of his life fighting for the emancipation of the downtrodden.

In a statement in Awka yesterday, Obi said: “Lam was honest to his beliefs and fought the cause of democracy with unusual fervor uncommon among his peers.”

While condoling with his family, the government and people of Oyo State, Obi enjoined them to take solace in the fact that he lived a worthy life and prayed Almighty God to grant his soul peaceful repose.

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the SouthWest has commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State, as well as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) over the death of former governor of the State, Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina, describing the death as a loss to the state.

In a release signed by the Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Kayode Babade, the PDP prayed that the Almighty Allah will give the family of Lam Adesina, the people and government of Oyo State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“We commiserate with the entire Adesina family, the people and government of Oyo State as well as all members of the ACN party on the death of His Excellency, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina.

An epitome of peace and unity — Bafarawa

BY ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

F

ORMER Governor of Sokoto state and DPP presidential candidate in the 2007 general elections, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa has described the death of former Governor of Oyo state Chief Lam Adesina as a tragic loss to the political development of Nigeria.

A statement signed by Yusuf Dingyadi, Bafarawa said that late Lam Adesina lived an “excellent life of peace, humbleness and trust among all his people, colleagues and political associates in the South west and Nigeria in general; such that Nigerians will miss

his greatness and positive advise toward sustaining our nascent democracy.”

He added that as an epitome of trust, peace, unity and honesty, Adesina would be missed by Nigerians for his frankness, doggedness and quiet life of respect and religion.

“He was a good man of peace and practical believer of his faith. Despite all the administrative challenges and political intimidation from top over his administration, Adesina was actively involved in many positive development of his dear state by providing them with essential services to better their life,” Bafarawa said.

46— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—47

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48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

More Gaza rockets hit Israel despite truce efforts S

PORADIC missile fire from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Monday for a fourth straight day, with Egypt trying to secure a truce and Israel warning it was poised to toughen its response.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened foreign ambassadors in what appeared to be an attempt to pre-empt international censure should Israel, whose 2008-2009 Gaza offensive exacted a costly civilian toll, again go in hard.

Netanyahu briefed the envoys in Ashkelon, a port city within range of some Palestinian rockets.

“None of their governments would accept a situation like this,” he said.

Environment Minister Gilad Erdan, an influential member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, said the briefing was meant to prepare world opinion for “what is about to happen”, adding there might be a major Israeli escalation within a few hours.

“Hamas bears responsibility. The heads of Hamas should pay the price and not sleep at night. I expect to see not just a return to targeted killings, but also to very wide activity by (the army),” he told Israel Radio.

Gaza is governed by the Islamist movement Hamas, which does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. While it took part in missile launches at the

weekend, it did not claim responsibility for Monday ’s attacks, suggesting it was looking to step back.

The Israeli military said Palestinians had fired 11 rockets in the morning, after more than 110 in the preceding 72 hours.

Netanyahu said a million Israelis - around one-eighth of the population - were in danger. Israel has been deploying its Iron Dome rocket interceptor, air raid sirens and blast shelters, but eight people have still been wounded by the salvoes.

Six Palestinians, including four civilians, have been killed by Israeli

shells fired on Gaza since Saturday, and 40 wounded.

A Palestinian official who declined to be named said Egypt had been trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants and that, although no formal truce was in place, Hamas understood the need for calm.

Monday ’s launches were claimed by smaller groups, including a radical Salafi organization that rejects Hamas’s authority.

Hamas was due to convene other Palestinian factions at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) to discuss the situation.

Merkel visits Lisbon, hails austerity drive T

HE Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel visited Lisbon on Monday, where she delivered German endorsement of a government austerity drive designed to honor a bailout loan but which critics fear may only deepen the slump.

“The situation is difficult but what Portugal is doing, it is for the future,” the chancellor told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, who has seen popular patience and political consensus begin to fray in recent weeks.

Speaking for both himself and his fellow conservative, the

way forward.”

Though at least one of the few hundred demonstrators in Lisbon carried a placard showing Merkel with a Hitler moustache and the slogan “Not again!”, there was little violence

•Angela Merkel Portuguese premier dismissed criticism such as that in a leading business newspaper which accused the chancellor of pursuing “Frankenstein experiments” with Portugal’s economy; Passos Coelho insisted: “We think this is the only

Spain promises to spare needy from eviction after suicides

S

PANISH Economy Minister Luis de Guindos promised on Monday that no needy family would go homeless over mortgage arrears, responding to public fury at a homeowner’s suicide as she was being evicted.

Facing accusations that politicians and banks were complicit in de facto “murder ”, Spain’s banking association said its members would suspend eviction orders for two years for those borrowers worst hit by

Israelis look at the damage to a house after a rocket fired by militants in Gaza landed in the southern town of Netivot yesterday.

economic crisis and record unemployment.

Banks have repossessed close to 400,000 homes in Spain since a property bubble burst in 2008 and the nation subsequently sank into recession, throwing millions out of work and unable to keep up mortgage payments to the banks.

Last Friday’s suicide of 53-year-old Amaia Egana has inflamed a public already angered by what they see as a lack of compassion among

Spanish banks, many of which have benefited from taxpayer-funded bailouts organized by the political elite.

Egana, a former Socialist councilor in northern Spain, jumped to her death from her fourth-floor flat as bailiffs were trying to evict her under foreclosure laws.

Speaking in Brussels, de Guindos said action was vital to avoid evictions at a time when huge numbers of homes, built during a frenetic property boom before 2008, lie unoccupied.

and much less antiGerman fury than when she visited Athens a month ago. Passos Coelho is anxious to mark out Portugal’s difference from troubled debtor Greece and is clearly pleased Merkel

and German business leaders have hailed Portugal as model for the kind of deficit cuts and economic reforms they see as necessary to restore investment, revive growth and repay creditors.

Ukraine election marred by delays, irregularities, says EU

T

HE recently concluded Ukraine’s parliamentary election was marred by a delayed vote count and other irregularities, the European Union said yesterday.

The criticism by the bloc swhich has frozen a trade deal with Ukraine because of concerns over the country’s political and justice systems - came a day after final election results showed the ruling party would likely keep its grip on parliament.

President Viktor Yanukovich’s Party of the Regions remained the biggest party in the 450seat parliament, gaining an overall 185 seats, but was thought likely to retain control with support from communists and independents.

“We express our concern about the conduct of the post electoral process, which was marred by irregularities, delays in the vote count and lack of transparency in the

Members of a local electoral commission empty a ballot box at a polling station after voting day in Kiev recently. electoral commissions,” EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and e n l a r g e m e n t commissioner Stefan Fule said in a statement.

The EU comments came on top of earlier criticism of the build-up to the election and the vote itself.

Other problems already identified in a report by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ranged from biased media coverage to a lack of transparency in financing.

The European Union and Ukraine initialed an agreement in March on greater political and economic integration, including trade, investment and movement of capital.

But the 27 EU governments and the European Parliament have yet to sign the accord because of concern over the former Soviet country’s elections, judicial system and arrest of opposition leaders.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 49

Petraeus Affair: Military can prosecute adulterers R

ETIRED Gen. David Petraeus, who resigned as CIA director last week after admitting an extramarital relationship, could possibly face military prosecution for adultery if officials turn up any evidence to counter his apparent claims that the affair began after he left the military.

The affair between

Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell, both of whom are married, began several months after his retirement from the Army in August 2011 and ended four months ago, retired U.S. Army Col. Steve Boylan, a former Petraeus spokesman, told ABC News.

Broadwell, 40, had extraordinary access to

the 60-year-old general during six trips she took to Afghanistan as his official biographer, a plum assignment for a novice writer.

“For him to allow the very first biography to be written about him, to be written by someone who had never written a book before, seemed very odd to me,” former Petraeus aide Peter Mansoor told

ABC News. The timeline of the relationship, according to Patraeus, would mean that he was carrying on the affair for the majority of his tenure at the CIA, where he began as director Sept. 6, 2011. If he carried on the affair while serving in the Army, however, Patraeus could face charges, according to Article 134 of the Uniform Code of

Military Justice, which reprimands conduct “of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.”

Whether the military would pursue such action, whatever evidence it accumulates, is unclear.

As the details of the investigation launched by the FBI unraveled this weekend, it became clear that the woman at the

heart of the inquiry that led to Petraeus’ downfall had been identified as Jill Kelley, a Florida woman who volunteers to help the military.

32 Kenya police dead in cattle raid ambush

A

RMED cattle raiders killed at least 32 Kenyan police officers in a military-style ambush, officials said yesterday, describing it as the worst attack on police in Kenya’s history.

Officers hunting down the cattle thieves in a remote northern region on Saturday came under machinegun fire and rocket-propelled grenades in an ambush the police said was conducted with “military precision”.

“We have recovered more bodies, we now have 32 in total. They were ambushed by attackers bearing sophisticated weapons, including machine guns,” Osman Warfa, provincial commissioner of the vast Rift Valley province, told Reuters.

The police were pursuing raiders from the ethnic Turkana community who had stolen cattle from the Samburu tribe, authorities said. The two groups frequently raid cattle from each other and fight over grazing land and watering points.

The violence has created security concerns ahead of a presidential election scheduled for March next year - the first since a disputed election in 2007 fuelled ethnic slaughter that killed more than 1,200 people and forced about 300,000 from their homes.

Warfa said some of the raiders were suspected of being former members of the security forces, now working as mercenaries.

Authorities were searching for more bodies in the bushy escarpments where the raiders hide stolen cattle, he said.

50— Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 , 2012

Greed, impatience made me go into robbery —Suspect

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

According to him; “I came to Lagos last year and I reside at Okokomaiko, I work at Maza-Maza Bus Park as Agbero and I have been struggling for a long time without making enough money.

F

I

was no longer comfortable with my statues so, I joined the robbery gang. Ndubisi is the leader of our gang and I met him at MazaMaza where I work. He usually buy drinks and food. And he promised to get me a better job. One day, he said he was going to introduce me to some of his friends and they would tell me the kind of job he has for me.

When I met him and his friends at a hotel in Maza-Maza, he told me they were into armed robbery and they wanted me to be part of them.

Initially, I was scarred when he told me they were into robbery but one of them, Uche, told me not to be that he can prepare a charm for me that could prevent my getting arrested.

So, my mind got settled and I accepted to join them. Our first robbery was at Okota, we robbed a man in a car wash stand • The suspect Obasi

Civil Defence Corps to dismiss officers that misuse arms — Commandant

,

OR Emmanuel Obasi, his decision to join a notorious robbery gang that operate within Maza-Maza and it’s environ in Lagos State, may not have been the best for him, following his recent arrest.

The 28-year-old man who is now a guest at the State Special Anti-Robbery-Squad, SARS, is currently bemoaning the decision which almost cost him his life.

He met his waterloo when he and three other members of his gang stormed Victory Estate at Iba Town, Lagos, to unleash terror on the residents. They, however, ran out of luck when they entered the home of a man said to be a victim of multiple robbery simply identified as Charles.

Crime Alert gathered that Charles, a businessman at the popular Trade fair complex, resides with two of his cousins in his two bed room apartment and following the incessant robbery activities in the estate, he armed himself with some light weapons, like machete, axe and bar to enable him fend off further attack by armed robbers.

However, unknown to Obasi and other members of his gang who chose to raid Charlse home before others, they were in for a shock of their life.

Police sources intimated Crime Alert that the moment the bandits tried to force their way into Charles’s apartment, he and his cousins were alerted and they stood at strategic locations waiting for them. Obasi who was armed with a locally-made gun cut to size rushed into the apartment, but he was gripped from behind by one of Charle’s cousins, who swiftly threw him to the ground forcing him to lose hold of his gun.

That singular move terrified other members of his gang who took to their heels. The source added that Charles went after them and in their bid to escape, one of the robbers dropped another gun.

“Charles and his brave cousins tied up the bandit and alerted a vigilant group in the area and by dawn, the vigilante group handed over the bandit to the police with the two locally-made guns and two cartridges recovered

of his N200, 000. It was Ndubisi who told us to rob the man.

We were successful and I got N60, 000 as my share.

We also had series of other successful robberies at Maza-Maza, Mile 2, Festac Town areas, but the one at Victory Estate at Iba Town, gave me out. When we stormed the area, our plan was to rob from house to house. We got to a twostorey building and we decided to start from the ground floor.

Those people didn’t lock their outside burglary door, so we got easy entry.

But when we tried to enter into the apartment, I didn’t know that the inhabitants were waiting for us, the moment I got in, someone gripped me from behind and wrestled with me.

When Ndubisi and others saw this, they took to their heels abandoning the gun they were holding.

The boys tied me up and handed me over to some vigilante men who handed me over to the police.

I regret my decision of joining this gang. I didn’t know it was going to end up this way.

I made little money working at Maza-Maza as a loader, its greed and impatience that got me into this mess,” he lamented.

Initially, I was scarred when he told me they were into armed robbery but one of them, Uche, told me not to be that he would prepare a charm for me that could prevent my getting arrested

,

from the bandit.

We interrogated him and he confessed that he and other members of his gang who he identified as Ndubisi, Uche and Oke, have been terrorizing inhabitants of that Estate for a long time. He also confessed that his gang had carried out robbery operations at Mile 2,

Festac and Maza-Maza areas of the state,” the source stated.

W

hen Crime Alert interacted with the suspect, Obasi, he hinged his involvement in robbery on greed and impatience, asking for a second chance.

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has handed over arms to over 100 officers of its special squad. Speaking at the handing over ceremony last weekend,in Ikeja, the Assistant Commandant-General of the Command, Mr Sam Onyenachi, said the items were procured by the government to further strengthen the capacity of the corps in the discharge its duties more efficiently.

He emphasized that the officers were selected across different formations in the state.

Onyenachi said the corps had the mandate to secure critical infrastructure in the country,stating that the arms was to enable his men confront the dangerous activities of vandals. “Initially, it was very easy for us to arrest vandals with our bare hands.

We could see them,chase them and before we knew it,they would surrender. But as time went on ,we discovered that they came up with other dangerous arrangement. We discovered each time we visited them, they were armed to the teeth.

“And the Federal Government,having seen that it was very hazardous chasing the vandals with bare hands, decided to amend the act establishing the corps to incorporate possession of arms. We are happy today that the arms have been delivered and this would, no doubt, enhance the capacity of our men to secure the country’s assets,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—51

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52—Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

combine public and private investment to upgrade the infrastructure of the estate.

Anambra state is a rich state with the potential to improve the standard of living for its citizens

How to achieve MDGs by 2015

T

HE question of achieving MDGs by the year 2015 is the collective responsibility of everyone. Programmes and projects located by MDGs office across the states of the federation must be made to function by the immediate benefiting community. Travelling across the country, one would note MDGs projects such as dam, boreholes, health care centre, primary schools, skill acquisition centres, etc serving the needs of the Nigerian citizenry but for minor fault and no genuine reason are abandoned due to lack of ownership, poor maintenance and other sundry reasons.

We could therefore say, we have all failed in our duty to communicate MDGs to the people especially the rural communities in form of sensitisation and advocacy on the need to own the projects and the need for all and sundry to be an active participant in the process of achieving MDGs. Every Nigerian is a stakeholder in the challenge of meeting MDGs target by the year 2015. Similarly, if we are to achieve MDGs by the target

Taraba Gov, Dambata Suntai and others in plane crash

I

NJURED Tabara State governor, Dambata Suntai was flown to Germany, accompanied with security agencies. Is it that the governor ’s life is more important than others who were involved in the crash which prompt him been flown abroad? How did he come about the jet he was test flying? Shame to our leaders for not equipping our health centres and hospitals properly.

Anonymous F.C.T, Abuja.

Still on Suntai's plane crash

Where did the Governor of Taraba State get the money to purchase the jet he was test flying? Without been told it is State fund. He should be probe and if found guilty should be prosecuted, Nigerians should set a standard and put a stop to corrupt practises among our leaders.

Segun, Kaduna

Nigeria@ 52 and

year, we must take a bold step by committing more resources towards actualising MDGs projects and programmes.

Beside above, our institutional framework needs to be strengthened and supported to encourage the participation of MDGs stakeholders who genuinely desired to be involved in the process of actualising MDGs. In the same vein, people in position of authority, community and traditional rulers as well as executors of MDGs projects and programmes need to imbibe the culture of transparency, accountability and sincere intention in planning, executing and monitoring of the projects and programmes.

Strengthening existing institutional framework for achieving MDGs in Nigeria must be complemented and supported by all stakeholders irrespective of socio status and callings.

The 2015 target would be real if we collectively work hard else 2015 will remain an illusion.

Tunde Oyasanya Federal Ministry Information Radio House, Area 10,

of

Presidential broadcast

It is unfortunate that Nigeria leaders are taking undue advantage of the political naivety of the Nigerian people. The Presidential broadcast on independence day on the fight against corruption was a calculated attempt by Mr. President to pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians. This is a wake up

,

Dear Sir,

Cletus Okereke 08033780968.

Garki-Abuja 0802361024 akintundeoyasanya@yahoo.com

Anambra's growing housing need Dear Sir,

T

HERE is a housing shortage in Anambra State which requires public sector attention. More than two million people arrived the state from the Northern parts of the country in search of safety (those escaping Boko Haram attacks. Banned Okada operators from neighbouring states, in addition to flood victims).

These new entrants have swelled the growing figure of homelessness in the state.

The onus is now on the State government to rise to the occasion of providing cheap report provides details on Nigeria’s long history of corruption in the oil sector, which enriched its elite and provided the oil major with hefty profits while the people live in poverty. The Ribadu reports concluded that Shell, Total and Eni made bumper profits from cut price of gas, while Nigerian oil ministers handed out licences at their own discretion. Why is it that Nigerian leaders are not accountable to those who voted them into office? What a shame that hundreds of million dollars in signature bonuses on those deals were missing. Yet, no one has been prosecuted. Ni-

The report provides details on Nigeria’s long history of corruption in the oil sector, which enriched its elite and provided the oil major with hefty profits while the people live in poverty

,

call on Nigeria masses to extinct their political naiveness so to experience pragmatic dividend of democracy.

Obire Elvis 08120493322

gerians are living below a dollar a day and in abject poverty. The relevant agencies should act fast and accordingly. Enough of all these.

Francis 08027521109

Ribadu report on oil industry fraud

2012 budget

The former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, produced a 146 page study on oil ministry. The

Funds budgeted for travelling and all sort of allowances, feeding and refreshment of senior government officials are released by 100 percent by the ministry of finance with-

accommodation to the teeming number of people in dare need of shelter. It would be a disservice to the people of the state if the government housing estates at Nkwelle Ezunaka are pursued and completed considering millions of Naira that had been put in the estate.

To shun the housing project at Nkwelle is now is not in the interest of the people.

Allowing the estate that had gulped over five hundred million to rot away is not only reprehensive but out of tune with justice and fair play.

Openness, to ideas for improving people’s lives is the hall mark of good leadership.

Measures to increase home ownership such as easy ownership as was practiced in Britain would be particularly attractive to poorer families.

Government should encourage building trusts, community housing trusts.

Government should come up with schemes which would out delay but funds for infrastructural development are sometimes never released, either diverted or released below 40 percent. This is heartbreaking. Nigeria has more than enough to meet our needs as a nation but may not be enough at al due to our leaders’ greed.

Kelly 07057006736

Zoning and 2015 elections

We shall move forward when we stand in brotherhood, though tribes and tongues differ. Until we achieve that , arising as compatriots and obeying Nigeria’s call will remain as it were, a fluke.

Come 2015, let us vote for credible candidates not zone.

Ugonwanne 08064091428

Starving Isokos Dear Sir,

N

O amount of relief funds from the State or Federal governments can prevent the high profile starvation which the flood disaster has caused in Isoko land. The two local governments Isoko South and Isoko North have been submerged by the flood. The fear of living in Isoko region is the beginning of people evacuating for being cut off by the flood. Most of the Isoko people are farmers and fisher men who are now idle. The fear now is the increase in the crime rate if the various government agencies in charge of flood management do not properly control the situation.

Godday Odidi, 20 Oro street Ajegunle Apapa Lagos.O8058124798, 08063458693, lenges . We must keep the issue of 2015 aside and tackle the security challenges facing most northern parts of the country today. Northerners should unite and wipe out terrorism competely from the north.

Shehu Almajiri 07068095692

Still on 2015 elections

Elections is about majority and choice. So, whoever Nigerians choose and vote for that can lead us. The electorate should stop making bad choices from the grass root and start searching for honest people who want to serve rather than those who do not care about the people.

Romanus Ndehigwo 08057123287

Still on 2015 election and insecurity

Northern leaders should forget about 2015 for now and face the current security chal-

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.If you do not want lizards to visit you, do not bring home firewood that contain ants.

Francis Uzoaru(07025716475), Nitel Headquarter, Abuja, FCT Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012—53

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54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Cristiano scores with a cut above

Arsenal still in title race — Wenger

C

RISTIANO RONALDO is so good he can score goals with one eye The Real Madrid superstar suffered a horror cut above his left eye in last night’s 2-1 victory at Mallorca which saw blood stream down his face. The exManchester United star required lengthy treatment to stem the flow and bandage the wound up, but soon enough he was back terrorising the hosts’ defence again.

And it did not take the £80million man long to

A

RSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has refused to rule his side out of the Premier League title race, despite their recent poor form.

The Gunners have won only one of their past four league outings and their dramatic 3-3 draw with Fulham on Saturday leaves them languishing in eighth position with 16 points from 11 games, 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester United.

“I feel yes, of course (we are still in the title race).

Yes why not? It is a concern, because we looked quite solid defensively until now, and against Fulham we looked very fragile. If we had scored the penalty, nobody speaks about it.

We were close to doing it and have to do it next game.”

•Lampard.

Lampard close to China switch THE Chinese claim they are closing in on Frank Lampard.

Reports from China last night confirmed our SunSport exclusives dating back to March that the Chelsea and England

•Wenger

fire home the opener, never taking his (one) eye off the ball to control it superbly before sending a volleyed finish past the goalkeeper.

Van Persie breaks down M

ANCHESTER UNITED are sweating over the fitness of Robin van Persie after he withdrew from the Holland squad with a thigh injury.

The in-form striker — who has 11 goals already this season — was expected to start up front in Wednesday ’s friendly clash with Germany in Amsterdam.

But United’s leading scorer will now miss the game after picking up the knock, despite playing the full 90 minutes of the club’s 32 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.

Van Persie now faces a race against time to be fit for United’s visit to Norwich on Saturday.

•Persie

e night Drogba: Mourinho sends me lat late text messages

Shevchenko Ukraine job

EAL Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been texting former Chelsea star Didier Drogba in the middle of the night.

Everyone knows Mourinho and the Ivorian striker had a close relationship while they were both at Chelsea but it seems the Portuguese coach may have crossed the line with his texting.

To be fair to the former Inter Milan boss he has been getting caught out by the time difference after Drogba’s move to Shanghai Shenhua in

ETIRED Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko is being considered by the country’s FA as the next head coach of the national team. ”A few years ago, Pep Guardiola achieved incredible results (with Barcelona),” the football chief said on the Ukrainian FA’s website. ”I’m sure Shevchenko will also be able to conquer football as a mentor of the national team, he has enough experience and character. In return, the federation will ensure

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midfielder is the number one priority for Super League side Guizhou Rehne.

Lampard, who is out with a calf injury at the moment, has been offered £250,000 a week to move to the Far East and Guizhou want him in January. Lamps, 34, is not dismissing the approach and has listened to what the Chinese have to offer.

Earlier this year, Guizhou chairman Wang Guolin told SunSport: “I want the best team in China and we are prepared to invest a lot of money to bring Lampard to us.”

The move is being masterminded by super agent Pini Zahavi who is brokering a number of deals in China.

But although talks are continuing with Lampard no deal has yet been agreed.

•Ronaldo

China.

‘But the problem with Jose is he still doesn’t understand there is a time difference and he keeps sending them when I’m asleep,’ Drogba told The Sun. The Blues legend admitted despite the late night messages he was still friends with his former boss, as well as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

‘Obviously with him and Abramovich, it’s for life,’ the 34-year-old added.

Drogba could be reunited with his

•Mourinho and Drogba Chelsea teammates this winter if he gets his way and is allowed to train

with them to gain fitness for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

R

offered

any necessary assistance is given.”

•Shevchenko

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012 — 55

Football club sign up Messi’s baby Continues from B/P Baby Thiago, who was signed by his grandfather, is eight years younger than when his old man joined them in 1995.

The tot was born on November 2 which is one part of a bizarre riddle involving the current two best players in the world.

Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo is 869

days older than his great rival Messi.

But astonishingly, Ronaldo’s son — Cristiano Ronaldo Junior — is ALSO 869 days older than Messi’s lad.

Goal-getter Messi smashed another record last night as he reached 76 goals for the year after a brace in Barca’s 4-2 win at Mallorca — surpassing Pele’s previous record of 75.

Ikhana’s job is over Continues from B/P resignation and went on to tinker the team to another 1-0 loss to Cameroon in the classification match.

And speaking yesterday, Bassey, said that the members of the Technical Committee were in support of the decision to sack Ikhana., given that he failed to meet his contractual agreement of winning the AWC. ”As I speak with you, majority members of the technical committee have put up their hands for Ikhana to be sacked.

That’s their recommendation. He has shown that he does not know how to handle women and the end game is over”, he said.

Bassey, said the Falcons coach “technically has no job” with Nigeria.

Bassey said in his column in Vanguard that the federation made a mistake by not firing him when they found out that he was not good for female football.

He added that the troubled coach should have resigned immediately after the Falcons 1-0 loss to South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2012 AWC. ”He should have just resigned after losing in the semi-finals (to South Africa) rather than wait till the team’s loss to Cameroon in the third place. It is clear that he cannot do the job.”

Eagles arrive Miami, begin training

T

EN home based u p e r Eagles players on Monday arrived Miami, Florida, United States for the international friendly against Venezuela scheduled for Wednesday in the American city. The team which was led by NFF President Aminu Maigari and included Technical Committee Chairman, Barrister Chris Green, left Nigeria on Sunday and arrived Miami yesterday. They were

Ikhana throws in the towel

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•Keshi billed to play last night for tomorrow's game

Trac kS 1 rack Sttar ar,, Omagbemi dies at 8 81

O

NE of Nigeria’s foremost track and field star and administrator, Jimmy Omagbemi, died yesterday, aged 81 years.

Omagbemi who has been living in the United States of America for several years now since retiring from the National Sports Commission (NSC), was confirmed dead from protracted illness by his former athlete son, Victor.

Although details of his burial arrangements remain sketchy yesterday, there were speculations last night that the former track & field coach may be buried in America today.

Omagbemi had podium finish at several major athletics

championships. He placed second in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Game’s 4×110 yards Relay (with the likes of Smart Akraka, Thomas Obi, and Victor

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Odofin). He was fifth in the 100 yards.

Omagbemi’s daughter in law, Mary OnyaliOmagbemi was too much in a shock to speak on the athletics’ icon.

WMRA officials arrive for Obudu

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FOUR-MAN technical officials led by World Mountain Running Association council mem-ber,Erhan Basoglu has arrived for Saturday’s 8th Obudu interna-tional mountain race and the fourth African mountain running championships scheduled to hold at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu,Cross River state.

The officials,all from Turkey arrived at the

W

EEK END, I read some funny stories credited to Coach Jossy Lad “blaming the NFF for Falcons poor showing in Equatorial Guinea” Going through the story I did not see any substance relating to what the NFF could have done that it did not do.

If any one is to be blamed for Falcons ouster that person is Coach Kadiri Ikhana. There is nothing the NFF did not do to guarantee the success of the Falcons at the African Women Championships, including the appointment of a top coach, Training tour of South Africa, enough time for the scouting and camping of the players and the increased bonuses. When they got to Bata and the accommodation reserved for them was not considered good enough NFF acted promptly, not sparing a dime to relocate them.

However, if any blame should go to the NFF it should be for not relieving Coach Ikhana of the appointment when it was discovered before the Championship that a mistake had been made employing him.

There is no doubt that coaching the women is miles apart from coaching men and the credible credentials of coach Ikhana were not enough to see him through this assignment.

I was not in a position to rate the Falcons in their first match against Cameroun because rain and a soaked pitch hid whatever attributes the Falcons must have taken into the match.

By the time we played our second match, I called Chairman Green to tell him that I was not impressed with what I saw. I also spoke to the Coordinator of the Female National teams Aisha Falode and predicted that there was no way we were going to get to the final not to talk of wining the cup with what I had

scheduled for 8 p.m. in Florida.

Blame Ikhana for Falcons w oes woes This, was not a Falcons team that I had known since the Women World Cup in China several years ago seen that day. This is also a view I voiced on Godwin Enakhena’s programme, Sports Splash on Lagos Television.

For coach Ladipo to say “ The team played well …..” in this competition makes me wonder. This, was certainly not a Falcons team that I had known since I first covered the Women World Cup in China several years ago. They lacked everything, not even the basic

weekend and were received at the Murtala Mohammed international airport in Lagos by Sir William Archibong, chairman of the local organising committee for the race who later led them to Obudu via Calabar where they were received by other members of the LOC who were at the Obudu ranch to put finishing touches to the arrangements for hosting another world class competition.

ADIRI Ikhana has quit as coach of Nigeria after they failed to retain their African Women’s championship in Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria Super Falcons finished a disappointing fourth at the 2012 AWC after they lost 1-0 to Cameroon in a thirdplaced playoff on Sunday.

Ikhana, who quit his post on the team’s return to the country on Monday, said though the target set for him in his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation was achieved at the tournament, but he resigned for his failure to meet his own personal target of lifting the trophy.

The former Enyimba and Kano Pillars tactician, while expressing his apology to the nation for the outcome of the team’s performance, noted that he accepted full responsibility for the results at the championship.

Kadiri was mandated in his contract signed on April 1 to among other things qualify the team for the 2012 AWC and ensure the team reach at least the semi-finals of the competition.

urgency of rushing to take free kicks and throw ins when time was running out on them.

A technical crew that decamps the captain of the U20 female team, Gloria Ofoegbu among others is suspect. Not only is that girl a natural footballer, she is a bundle of energy and a born leader who leads by example.

The moment South Africa ousted us and Coach Ikhana got the enviable tag of being the coach when South Africa beat us for the first time ever, I had expected him to resign and hop into the next available plane back to Nigeria. As I am writing this I have not heard that Coach Ikhana has taken responsibility for the failure. Or is he also blaming the NFF? I repeat, when we found out at the Technical Committee level that we had made a mistake appointing Coach Ikhana we should not have allowed him to proceed to the Championship and for this we owe the country an apology.

Coach Ikhana’s case cannot be treated in isolation.

The Technical Committee of the NFF believes that the Flamingoes and the Falconets would have done better than they did at world stage if not for some indiscipline, tactical and technical faux pas, internal wranglings and unnecessary distractions…, that is why we have requested that all those who had one function or the other as team secretaries, coaches, leaders of delegations and so on should submit their independent reports that will enable us redress the anomalies and prepare for a sound future.

It is unfortunate that the Falcons have come to nearly rubbish as it were, the sterling and commendable progress made by the NFF currently.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012

Ikhana’s job is over — Bassey •Page 54

•Paul Bassey writes on page 55

Messi better than Pele!

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HANDS-OFF — Ikhana

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MEMBER of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Association, Paul Bassey has said that Coach Kadiri Ikhana job as the coach of the Super Falcons was no longer tenable after the team’s disastrous display at the 8 th African Women’s Championship in Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria finished in fourth place, their worst outing since the inception of the t o u r n a m e n t .

Ikhana, a former soldier and CAF Champions League winner with TODAY'S

Enyimba, had prior to the tournament, said that he would not wait to be fired if he failed at the AWC. “There is a contract and the contract is clear.

I am a principled person. If I fail to win the AWC I will not wait for the NFF, I know what to do,” Ikahna had said before the tournament started..

But after failing to reach the final, he did not tender his Continues on page 55

IONEL MESSI is BETTER than Pele — and that’s official.

Barcelona’s Argentine ace has surpassed Brazilian hero Pele’s goals record for club and country in a calendar year.

Messi hit two against Mallorca in a 4-2 win to take his 2012 tally to 76, nine behind German Gerd Muller ’s all-time mark.

Pele’s best yearly return was 75 with Santos and Brazil in 1958.

Barca coach Tito Vilanova said: “Leo’s records are spectacular.

“It’s spectacular when you think that he scores so many goals.

“Some players reach these numbers in seven

Football club sign up Messi’s baby

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•Messi or eight seasons, he does it in one. And most of his goals are great goals.”

Messi’s seventh double

•Pele of the season increased his league-leading tally to 15 goals. He has 20 in all competitions this term.

Eagles arriv e Miami, begin training — P .55 arrive P.55

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Additional (5) 7 Eager (4) 8 Icy (6) 9 Thick (5) 11 Pasty (3) 13 Intelligence (3) 15 Repose (4) 16 Lettuce (3) 18 Row (4) 19 Tanned (7) 20 Tight (4) 22 Pitch (4) 23 Harsh (7) 25 Grain (4) 27 Sheep (3) 28 Forbid (4) 30 Attempt (3) 31 Lair (3) 33 Muscle (5) 36 Purify (6) 37 Otherwise (4) 38 Hurl (5)

IONEL MESSI’S two-week-old baby has already signed for a football club!

Argentina outfit Newell’s — where football god Messi played at youth level before joining Barcelona — have snapped up infant Thiago as a member.

Newell’s will be hoping their decision to beat the competition early pays off by Messi’s powers of soccer genius passing down through his genes to the little lad.

Continues on page 55

CROSS 1 Weird (5) 2 Finish (3) 3 Can (3) 4 Wonder (3) 5 Tavern (3) 6Coach(5) 10 Begone (4) 11 Defend (7) 12 River mouth (7) 13 Bereaved (7) 14 Stress (7) 16 Case (5) 17 Trap (5) 18 Permit (3) 21 Cask (3) 24 Pitcher (4) 26 Command (5) 29 Taut (5) 32 Mine (3) 33 Gamble (3) 34 Tune (3) 35 Novel (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Strap 5, Suffer 8, Verge 10, Revere 11, Epic 14, Malice 15, Popular 18, Wet 19, Tap 21, Deal 23, Repel 24, Clad 27, Din 29, Job 31, Daunted 32, Sealed 34, Rota 35, Client 38, Freed 39, Turret 40, Tempt.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Tie 3, Avenue 4, Per 5, Seem 6, Foiled 7, Reveal 9, Related 12, Paw 13, Cite 16, Oval 17, Rapid 20, Penance 22, Able 24, Casket 25, Ajar 26, Dolour 28, Inside 30, Bet 33, Daft 36, Let 37, Nip.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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