Ogoni youths protest gun attack on Abe

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62057

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2013

PDP moves to stop change Only a convention can in House leadership P42 remove me — Tukur P9

Ogoni youths protest gun attack on Abe •Senator Abe admitted in London hospital •Senate asks FG to investigate attack

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Highlights of the Senator Femi Okurounmu's 69-page Report on National Dialogue

ORT HARCOURT THE violence that erupted last Sunday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State following the shooting of Senator Magnus Abe, spread to his constituency in the Ogoni part of the state, yesterday morning. His kinsmen took to the streets, damaging vehicles and disrupting traffic. Senator Abe, was on Sunday, wounded by alleged rubContinues on page 8

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OUR soar away Vanguard got a copy of the Senator Okurounmu 13-man Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue yesterday.

The highlights of the committee’s 38-item agenda include: * Conference to have no no-go area * Conference to be managed by 13-member secretariat under Executive secretary with two members from each geo-political zone * Majority of delegates to be elected directly on the principles of universal adult suffrage * Each Senatorial zone to send four elected delegates * Each state government to nominate one delegate * FCT to nominate one delegate * President to nominate delegates for key interest groups *Nominated delegates not to exceed one-third of total number of delegates * Conference to hold for at least three months and not more than six months * Conference should hold between February and July 2014 * President should send a bill to the National Assembly for an enabling law *Alternatively, President can convene conference via provisions of section 5 of 1999 Constitution * Emergence of delegates to be based on any of four options — * Option A (Representation on the basis of equality of geo-political zones. This will give conference size of 349 delegates with each zone having 45 delegates) * Option B (Representation on the basis of senatorial districts, with each district producing three delegates. Total delegates will be 502 with 364 elected through Electoral College made of five electors from each local government area) Option C (Representation on the basis of equality of constituencies of House of Representatives with total delegates being 536) Option D (Equality of senatorial districts with four delegates per senatorial district and total delegates size of 500 with 436 elected).

*See story on Page 5

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, EGUFE YAFUGBORHI & JOSEPH ERUNKE

COLUMNIST:

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Mr & Mrs

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or award for player of the year during the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, yesterday. AFP PHOTO.

Jonathan signs anti-same sex bill

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4—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, OKEY NDIRIBE, SIMON EBEGBULEM & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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ROPOSALS to hold a Nation al Conference next month were yesterday in danger of derailing following disagreements between the two houses of the National Assembly over funding for the conference.

The disagreements between the two chambers came as eminent statesman, Professor Ben Nwabueze took the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference, Senator Femi Okurounmu, to task on the panel’s report, saying it was obvious that he, Okurounmu had neither read it nor understood it.

Professor Nwabueze’s comment came as a member of the Okurounmu panel, Mr. Solomon Asemota, SAN, dismissed the majority report as preconceived and deliberately skewed to promote interests contrary to the genuine interests of Nigerians.

Asemota’s submissions were contained in a letter made available to The Patriots, a group of elder-statesmen.

Disagreements between the two chambers of the National Assembly came in separate comments by the presumptive Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnanya Abaribe.

Gbajabiamila said the new All Progressives Congress, APC, leadership in the House would cut off funding for the conference and flayed the administration’s intentions on the national conference, saying it was meant to serve the interest of one party or one man as against the general interest of Nigerians.

He said: “Some of us in our party have asked for what appellation you want to give: National Dialogue, Sovereign National Dialogue. I think it is the normal thing that we need in this country. But because we asked for it, the timing also has to work.

"How do you organise a national dialogue with an election, with the primaries that are coming within the year? How do you do two major events that also have the capacity of breaking up the country? We said that it should be done immediately after an election so that nobody has the stake that will manipulate the election.

“You don’t do it towards the end of your tenure. Something is not quite right about that picture. So, yes, we support the national dialogue but we don’t support the national dialogue at this time.

And I heard that they are asking for, I cannot remember, N11 billion or something like that. For a country that cannot pay salaries of civil servants, cannot pay ASUU, cannot pay workers left, right and centre, yet you are asking to appropriate N11 billion for a national dialogue that the timing is not right? This is where I think the legislature must come in.”

Senate, Reps disagree over funding of national conference zNwabueze blasts Okurounmu; says he doesn't understand c'ttee's report zConfab report preconceived—Asemota

HANDOVER—Out-going Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment, Brig.-Gen. Taritimiye Gagariga (right), handing over to his successor, Col. Jibrin Fagge, in Onitsha, yesterday.

Reps 'll not appropriate fund for confab — Gbajabiamila

Gbajabiamila who is set to take over as the Majority Leader of the House following the defection of 37 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC said: “I will personally lead that charge that we will not appropriate money for that dialogue unless the President wants to do something illegal in which case, we will have to cross the bridge when we get there. But I will in my own personal opinion encourage our members, at least, in terms of appropriation, not to support a wasteful exercise that it appears to serve the purpose of one party or one man.”

Senate endorses funding

Senator Abaribe on his part in endorsing the conference said: “I am sure that if the President presents a budget proposal for the confab in 2014 Budget estimates, it would surely sail through."

Throwing more light on why the request for a pre-conference legal backing may get the endorsement of the National Assembly, he said the 1999 Constitution as amended which the federal legislature relies on to carry out its functions remains the only document which could guide its activities.

Professor Nwabueze’s assertions follow Senator Okurounmu’s denunciations of Nwabueze’s criticism of the majority report at a press conference last week.

Nwabueze who flayed what he described as Okurounmu’s attack on his person in a riposte made

available to the media said: “The impression one gets from the senator’s outpourings is that either he has not read the report of his committee or he read it without fully understanding it. The report was obviously not written by him but by someone else, by the secretary of his committee apparently, and he as chairman looked it over without fully digesting it.”

Noting what he said were attempts to shut-out Asemota from making contributions to the panel, Nwabueze said: “Report from Chief Asemota, SAN, his colleague in the Presidential Committee indicated that he was deliberately refused a copy of the report while other members were given copies. The report will also be kept away, concealed, from the public until government sees it fit to publish it. But we were nevertheless able to get hold of a copy.

After all, the report is not a classified secret document.”

Flaying Okuruonmu’s assertion that he (Nwabueze) and the Igbo Leaders of Thought were wrong to have criticized the report, Nwabueze said: “If criticising the committee’s report without having seen or read it, as the senator alleged, is “unethical and unprofessional conduct”, is commenting on a letter which he had “neither seen nor read” not equally “unethical and unprofessional?”

The country’s problems are indeed more serious than we appreciate when holders of public positions descend to using this kind of language.

“Okurounmu’s denigration of me as a person is particularly unsavoury,” Nwabueze said as he pledged not to respond to the panel chairman in same words.

“I want to repeat what I said to pressmen who met me this morning at Enugu for my reactions to Okunrounmu’s denigration of me. It is against my principle to make public statements impugning the character of people I do not know. Okurounmu and I have never met. He does not know me. I do not know him.

I had not heard of him before his appointment as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee. I cannot, therefore, in keeping with my principles, make public imputations on his character by way of a resort to his denigration of me. I would be glad if you can also publish this as my response to him.”

Asemota in his letter to members of The Patriots explaining why he had to write a minority report, said that he found out during the proceedings of the committee that “some of us were invited to promote viewpoints that are contrary to my conscience and learning."

He said as a member of The Patriot and National Co-ordinator of the Ethnic Nationalities Movement, he would not betray Nigerians just to please any establishment, just as he urged President Goodluck Jonathan to look into the Minority Report so that Nigerians would have a conference free from manipulations.

Jonathan should look

into the minority report — Asemota

Asemota in his letter to The Patriots said he decided to present the Minority Report because “experts were invited from outside including two SANs and all my attempts to ask members of the committee to listen to my viewpoint failed. The impression I got was that the opinion of members are irrelevant if they are different from those of the experts.

“All attempts to get members to look at my draft bill failed and the chairman never raised it. I was informed that because I handed the draft bill as my personal contribution, the committee refused to table it for discussion. On Thursday November 28, 2013 a member, Professor Funke Adeboye informed the committee that she had changed her position with respect to representation at the conference. She wanted to support the view that delegates should be elected from the senatorial districts but she was shouted down by some members and disallowed from doing so.

“In my case, I also informed the committee that I have changed my position from representation on zonal basis in support of representation from the senatorial districts but was ignored. As a result of these developments, I came to the conclusion that some of us were invited to promote views that are contrary to my conscience and learning. For these reasons, I have written a Minority Report notwithstanding the plea of the chairman that I should not do so.

“When the experts list was being compiled, my nominee Professor Onigu Otite was dropped. I insisted that he must be invited and volunteered to bear the cost. He was subsequently invited at no cost to me, but when he appeared some members tried to downplay his research by asking ridiculous questions such as the number of publications he has to his credit. Otite was Professor of Sociology at our premier University of Ibadan.”

The letter further said that “My insistence to submit a Minority Report has two objectives. To present to the President an alternative view point; to ensure that those who represent or speak for Ethnic Nationalities are true representatives and not agents of any godfather; to stop the violence of the invisible power bloc that asserts authority recklessly without corresponding accountability. We must make invisible, visible.

“To satisfy my conscience and promote the struggle over the years by both the true patriots and the Ethnic Nationalities Movement, any member of these organisations, I want to believe would have reacted the same way had they been in my position."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—5

AIC/FAAN FACE-OFF: FAAN has no regard for court order — Akande

BY DANIEL ETEGHE

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President Goodluck Jonathan with members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue at its inauguration

Confab Panel sets agenda, recommends political restructuring of the country

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, CHARLES KUMOLU & DAPO AKINREFON

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HE Senator Femi Okurounmu led Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference has drafted an agenda to restructure the country along a presidential or parliamentary system of government with a bicameral or unicameral legislature.

The Okurounmu committee which recommended the commencement of the national conference next month before full blown campaigning for the 2015 general elections also proposed the election of one delegate per federal constituency as a way of drawing participation of the grassroots.

“The advantage of electing Delegates on the basis of Federal Constituencies is that it allows for wider participation of the grassroots,” the committee reported.

Besides the 360 delegates to be directly elected by universal suffrage, 185 delegates representing special interest groups are to be nominated including one woman per state, one youth per state, traditional rulers per state. In each of the special interest groups, the Federal Capital Territory would be represented while the Federal Government would make four nominations for each of the groups.

Physically challenged, professional bodies including the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress and the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA are also to be represented. Others are the Organised Private Sector, 3, Faith based organizations, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, 2; Christian Association of Nigeria, 2; and Traditionalists 2. State Governments and FCT, 37; Federal Government (2 Executive, 2 Legislature, 2 Judiciary) Armed Forces and Police 4; and Diaspora Representatives 2.

The Okuruonmu committee nevertheless also suggested the election of direct delegates by senatorial constituencies as an alternative for electing delegates so long as the great majority of delegates are directly elected. The conference is to be managed by a Conference Management Secretariat to be headed by an Executive Secretary who shall be the administrative head of the conference.

Excerpts from the committee report read

thus: After a careful appraisal of the issues involved as well as their apparent complexities for national harmony, the Committee recommends as follows: • That the structure of the National Conference as recommended in Chapter Six shall make provisions for representatives of interest groups through nomination, so their total number compliments the number of the Delegates to be directly elected through universal adult suffrage.

• The President should nominate the representatives from the identified key interest groups in active consultation with them such that, the interest groups themselves do the actual presentation of the names of those the groups want the President to nominate as Delegates to the national conference.

Interest groups • In addition to the interest groups listed earlier namely, Women, Youth, Traditional Rulers, Physically-Challenged, Professional Bodies, Organized Private sector, Faith-Based Organizations, the Diaspora, Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of Government, Armed Forces and the Police, the credibility of the Conference will be enriched by nominating representatives of the main regional socio-political organizations such as the Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle-Belt Forum, South-South Peoples Assembly, etc.

• Every State Government shall nominate one Delegate and the President through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory shall nominate one Delegate for the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

In the event that any State fails to nominate a Delegate, the President shall nominate a delegate for the said state.

• The Committee recommends that the total number of Delegates from the socio-political groups should not exceed 36 at 6 per Geo-Political Zone. The sociopolitical groups invited to nominate the Delegates should decide for themselves who their respective representatives should be.

Recommendations: To advise Govern-

ment on a time-frame for the national conference In view of the above, this committee now recommends as follows: 1: The National Conference should hold for duration of not less the three months and not not more than six months.

• The convening of the National Conference in the year 2014 possibly between the months of February and July, thus concluding the exercise before the onset of the 2015 electioneering campaigns.

The committee recommends that the government should address the following: •The official name of the conference should be the National Conference.

•The National Conference shall hold at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja • The National Conference shall have a chairperson and a deputy chairperson who should be persons of high unimpeachable integrity • The Executive Secretary of the Conference Management Secretariat shall serve as the Secretary to the National Conference and shall be responsible to the Conference for proper record-keeping and all other administrative matters.

• Decision-making at the National Conference shall be by consensus but where that is not achievable, decisions shall be arrived at, by tow-thirds majority.

• In order to ensure a fully democratic and peoples driven Conference, Government should ensure that, the total number of nominated delegates does not exceed one-third of the total size of the National Conference.

• Rules of Procedure: In order to have a smooth and productive conference, the Conference Management Secretariat shall develop Rules of Procedure for the National Conference guided by the Standing Orders of the Federal House of Representatives.

• Election into the National Conference shall be by direct election through universal adult suffrage on non-party basis.

•Qualifications of Candidates for Election as Delegates to the National Conference shall be the same as those stipulated for standing election into the House of Representatives except that, candidates to the National Conference need not be members of any political party.

HE face-off between the A.I.C Hotels Limited and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday, took a new twist as FAAN pulled down the fence on the disputed land between it and hotel.

Vanguard was at the disputed land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Lagos and gathered that the land was being used as a car park by FAAN, despite a subsisting court order that both parties should maintain the status quo until the matter was resolved.

Speaking on the development, Chairman of A.I.C Hotels Limited, Chief Harry Akande, expressed disappointment that an agency of government like FAAN could disobey a court order.

Akande said the hotel had asked its lawyers to file a formal complaint for a breach of the order.

Directive to use disputed land He noted that when informed about FAAN’s action he reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, but stressed that the commissioner asked him to meet the policemen at the court, where the judgment was given to enforce the court order.

Also speaking on the issue, AIC General Manager, Administration and Business Development, Chief Niyi Akande, alleged that the Chief Security Officer of the airport, Col. Dalub Onalu (rtd) told AIC officials that were at the site that the directive to use the disputed land for car park came from the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

He said, “FAAN pulled down the fence and uses the site as a car park despite court order restraining the two parties from doing anything on the disputed land.”

Efforts by Vanguard to speak with the General Manager Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, proved abortive as he could not be reached at press time.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Chef gets 2 weeks jail for stealing employer’s $50,000

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BUJA — AN Abuja Magistrates’ court, yesterday, sentenced a chef, Yohana Friday, of Durumi, Abuja, to two weeks in prison for stealing $50,000 and 600 Euros belonging to his employer.

The magistrate, Mrs Grace Adebayo-Eisape, sentenced Friday after he pleaded guilty to stealing his boss’ money.

She sentenced the convict without giving him an option of a fine.

Adebayo-Eisape said the punishment was to serve as deterrent to others.

The convict, in his plea, urged the court for mercy, adding that he was an asthmatic patient who needed constant medical care.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Monday Akor, had told the court that Mr Afolabi Ajidohun, of 43, Colorado Street, Maitama, Abuja, reported the case to Maitama Police Station.

Akor said that the complainant returned from work on that day with the foreign currency and the convict stole $50,000 and 600 Euro from the complainant.

Delta youths canvass for Nigeria’s first female gov

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APELE — Scores of youths under the aegis of Delta Progressive Elite in Sapele, yesterday, held a rally, calling on Dr. Ngozi Olejeme to contest the Delta State governorship election next year The secretary general of the youths, Comrade Victor Oghene, who led the protest, said the youths decided to support her candidacy based on the dividends of democracy she attracted to Deltans through the SURE-P. According to him,“Olejeme will bring more democratic dividends to Deltans based on her experience in government at all levels, because she has been tested. She has helped the needy and the general public in the past.”

The group also urged all Deltans to vote for her to ensure she becomes the next governor of Delta State.

Erosion site at Nekede community in Owerri West of Imo State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

Woman burns self, husband to death in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI— Sorrow en gulfed the Umuodo community of Itu, Ezinihitte Local Government Area of Imo State, weekend, when a man and his wife were burnt to death.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the childless couple, Mr. Ngozi Chilekezi and his wife, Patience alias Oil, had lived together as husband and wife for about 12 years before the tragedy.

While some members of the community claimed that cans of fuel stored in the house suddenly went up in flames, others said the woman poured fuel in the house before inviting her husband home for a chat and lit a match that engulfed the duo.

The later story gained currency when it was confirmed that the husband, who was badly burnt at the time he was rushed to a nearby hospital, was able to narrate what hap-

pened to his relations.

Although none of the villagers, who spoke to Vanguard at the scene of the incident wanted their names in print, they were, however, in agreement that it was a well executed murder by the wife.

The villagers quoted late Chilekezi as revealing that he was invited last Saturday into their living room by his wife at about 1.30 p.m. for a chat.

“On entering the room, his wife poured fuel on him, lit a match and held him tightly to ensure that he did no escape from the evil plot,” a villager recounted.

The villager equally told Vanguard that Chilekezi, a relatively

comfortable automobile technician, managed to extricate himself from his wife's grip and ran out of the burning house and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

The dying man also told his relations that his wife was equally trapped in the burning house but before people could get back to the house, the woman was burnt beyond recognition.

Unconfirmed report had it that the late woman allegedly planned to elope with another man but the plot leaked to her husband, who allegedly confronted the strange man said to be a native of Umuezeala, Itu, a

Car dealer shot dead in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — A 47-year-old car dealer, Yusuf Wole Brown, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Akure, the

Ondo State capital.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was found dead inside a pick-up car around Agbogbo area of the state, last weekend, by a passer-by who later in-

Kwara police parade suspects of Ilorin cult war

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN— THE Kwara State Police Commissioner, yesterday, paraded 11 suspects arrested in connection with last week's break down of law and order at Baboko area of Ilorin metropolis where one Babatunde Sulaiman was killed.

The police boss said six cutlasses, one sword, one spear, a gallon of petrol, boxes of matches, unregistered Jetta Volkswagen car, charms and amulets were recovered from the suspects.

neighbouring village.

It was also gathered that because of the development, her husband started making plans to take another wife.

At press time, the charred remains of Mrs. Chilekezi was still in the burnt house, while the husband's body had been deposited in an undisclosed morgue.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mrs. Joy Elemoko, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said a crack team of detectives from the state police headquarters had swung into action.

His words: ”On January 9, 2014 at 12.20 a.m, hoodlums numbering over a 100 were heard by residents of Baboko area of Ilorin shouting “kill them and destroy them,” firing gun shots indiscriminately and before the arrival of policemen, cars, houses and property yet to be evaluated were destroyed.

“One Babtunde Sulaiman, male, 18 years, died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the course of the fracas.

"In the process of investigation, it was discovered that the crisis arose as a result of argument over a girl friend between two opposing groups of miscreants known as Adabata OPC and Baboko

Boys”, he said He added that the case was still under investigation.

The police command also paraded four members of a six-man robbery gang, and recovered exhibits such as three sharp cutlasses, one Toyota Corolla with number plate ABC 76, three motorcycles and two cut to size guns.

He said the robbers had allegedly attacked several houses in Ilorin metropolis and carted away items such as two Tecno handsets, jewelleries, one Toyota Corolla car with number plate LAGOS FE 464 APP, valued at N1,785,000.

formed the police.

His corpse has been moved to the Akure Specialist Hospital morgue.

Police source hinted that the deceased was shot severally by his killers.

It was, however, not clear if his killers were robbers or assassins but Vanguard learnt that they did not remove anything from the car.

Ondo Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, confirmed the death of the car dealer but denied that he was shot by assassins. He said the deceased died as a result of a heart disease.

He told Vanguard that the family of the deceased confirmed that he had been battling with the problem of heart enlargement for a while.

But a police officer in Ijapo police division who also confirmed the incident described the killing of the car dealer as inhuman.

He said detectives had commenced a thorough investigation into the killing.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—7

Police nab mastermind of Lagos airport robberies, 4 others zSays ‘I made N45m in 2012 robbery’

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BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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AGOS — THE police in La gos State, yesterday, said they have arrested a 29-yearold man, Samuel Mayegun, aka, Asiwaju, who masterminded the 2012 and 2013 robberies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

More than N750 million was carted away from Bureau de Change operators by Asiwaju and his gang in the two operations while two policemen were killed.

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, led by Superintendent of Police, SP, Abba Kyari, in March 2013, rounded up eight members of the gang, remaining Asiwaju, who went into hidding.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who paraded Asiwaju and four others before newsmen at the state command headquarters, Ikeja, said he received an intelligent report that Asiwaju and some of his new recruits were about to strike at Ikorodu area of the state and he sent his men to apprehend them.

According to him, “Asiwaju was traced to a location where he was planning a mega-robbery for the next day and the officer in charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, who led a crack team of operatives to Ikorodu apprehended him and four members of his gang, identified as Abiodun Adebayo, Ezekiel Anthony, Ibrahim Sao and Femi Osiyelu.

“One General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG; one AK-47 rifle, 10 fully-loaded GPMG magazines, two double barrel locally made pistols and a Volkswagon Sharon car, with number plate LAGOS BDG 155 AX, were recovered from them.”

2012 and 2013 airport robberies

Meanwhile, Asiwaju, who is from neighbouring Ogun State and a resident of Ijebu-Ode, confessed to the crime and begged for a second chance.

According to him, “I am an armed robber and I started in 2012. My first major operation was at Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, in 2012, which I was the mastermind.

“The informants brought the job to me and I contacted, K Money, Atoba and four others.

I was also the one who was at the airport to survey and monitor the movement of the money.

Asiwaju (left) and his gang members as paraded by the police, yesterday.

“I got N45 million at the end of the operation, this was because, Arab, the guy who brought the guns we used for the operation hijacked the whole money as we were about sharing it.

“He loaded a large sum into a travelling bag and gave each of us N45 million, including the two informants.

“I invested my share of the loot on landed property and I bought some trucks I used for transportation.

“But news of the our exploits went around in Ijebu-Ode because some of the boys who went to the robbery couldn’t control themselves.

“They started talking carelessly and people knew that we made lots of money from the operation. I gave out some of the money to some boys who came asking for their share in order not inform the police.

“I quit robbery minding my business, when in February 2013, some of the boys who went for the 2012 robbery with us became broke and instigated me to organise a second robbery also at the airport.

Failed operation

“The operation was unsuccessful because we encountered traffic on our way to the airport and two policemen who were on escort to the airport foiled the operation.

“They fired at us, killing one of my boys and we brought them down too. The shooting alerted the people carrying the money and they escaped with

it.

“All my gang members except me were arrested after the robbery and my AK-47 rifles were also recovered.

“I went into hiding and I could not contact members of my family because the police had arrested them. Some times I slept in the bush because there was no place I could go.

I also could not secure a job because I was informed that my picture was everywhere.

How they were arrested

“Last month, I bought a new SIM card and contacted one of my brothers, asking him to assist me get out of the country and he promised to assist me.

We were docked for refusing to bribe police —Accused

“I didn’t know that he was with the police. After a while he called and said one of his friends in prison gave him a job and he would want me to execute it.

"I asked how I could get a gun for the job and he linked me up to a man in Abeokuta who gave me an AK-47 rifle.

“On January 9, 2014, I arranged some boys and we went to Ikorodu to execute the job, but unknown to us, it was a set up and the police apprehended us.

“I am begging for a second chance because this is my first time of being arrested. If I am given a second chance I will become an informant for SARS and will help arrest all the robbers in Ogun State.”

KEJA — TWO men, who were charged with robbery, yesterday, told an Ikeja High Court that they were framed up by the police for refusing to offer bribe after their arrest more than five years ago.

The men, Kingsley Ogwunze and Benjamin Nwafor, made the allegation while testifying before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

Led in evidence by their counsel, Mrs Titi Akingbote, the defendants told the court that they were arrested separately at Charity Bus Stop on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway on December 7, 2008.

The men said they never met until February 4, 2009 when they were “paired up” by the police for arraignment first at an Ikeja Magistrates’ court.

According to them, they were remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos, after their arraignment on a fourcount charge bordering on conspiracy and armed robbery.

Ogwunze, who claimed to be an undertaker, said he was arrested by plain-clothes policemen while he was going to collect money from a customer.

He said despite showing the policemen his identity card and driver’s licence, they still bundled him into a commercial bus with some other persons.

The first defendant said:“When we were inside the bus, they told me to cooperate and that I should give them money. But I refused because I had done nothing wrong.

“As we were going, the bus stopped and some persons came and gave the policemen money to release their relatives and friends, who were also in the bus.”

Man machetes rival to death in lover’s house

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — A 35-year-old man, Olusola Akiniwesi, has murdered his rival, Oriola Akinduko, in cold blood while having sex with his lover, Aina Afolabi, in Idanre area of Ondo State.

The incident occurred at Aina's residence located at Opa Street in Idanre about 1 a.m, yesterday.

While Oriola was macheted to death by Olusola while in the act, Aina sustained serious injuries on her head and other parts of her body and was rushed to the hospital.

Vanguard learnt that Olusola and Oriola have been dating Aina for almost a year until the ugly incident that led to the death of one of the lovers, yesterday.

It was gathered that information got to Olusola that Oriola had retired to spend the night with Aina and he waited till late at night to confirm the information.

He was saidto have armed himself with a machete and jumped through a window into the room where he met the two making love at about 1 a.m yesterday.

Police source said he pounced on his rival and macheted him to death and inflicted severe wounds on Aina.

Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, said one Kola Akinduko reported the matter at the ldanre Divisional Police station.

Ogodo said: “Olusola Akiniwesi, 35 years, met his rival, Oriola Akinduko, having sex with one Aina Afolabi inside her room and entered through the window to machete both of them.”

He pointed out that while Aina received injuries on her head, Oriola was confirmed dead in the hospital.

Ogodo added that the suspect is being detained at the police CID.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2013

POCKET CARTOON

Senator Abe by the Police. “Our people came out to protest to the world against what happened to Senator Abe. We lost Ken Saro-wiwa to the Federal Government, we do not want to lose another son,” he said.

One of the cars damaged in Rivers, yesterday. Photo: Jimitota Onoyume.

Protest turns violent

Ogoni youths protest gun attack on Abe Continues from page 1 ber bullet the state government said was fired by members of the Nigeria Police, who had gone to disperse supporters of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area of the state from

holding a rally.

The protesters made of youths, claimed that the shooting of senator Abe was an attempt to stop the Ogoni people from producing a governor for the state in 2015.

Meanwhile, Senator Abe has arrived in Lon-

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You cannot step into the same water twice — Heraclitus

B

EING aware is transcending; an experience is just an experience, it does not define or limit an individual to a fixed state of consciousness. The set of variables that comprises any experience is given much power based on what a person allows to be the reality. People are constantly evolving, so a person may have changed tremendously but one may see them based on a limited understanding from an incidence and deny the chance to see the beauty and love of whom they are constantly becoming.

Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher says it beautifully with this quote, “you cannot step into the same water twice”. For instance, we are not the same person we were a year ago, a day, and even momentarily, thus, it is inappropriate to comprise a set of opinions about a person or group of persons because they acted differently from your expectations or are different from you.

I once had an experience where someone prevented me from having a job that I have earned, after I had passed the interview, although I felt hurt at first, but with much better understanding, was able to be neutral and non judgmental. I never classified the experience as being negative. Eureka! A few weeks later, I got another job offer with far greater significance and benefits that impacted my career most positively.

This much is true, a person may have had a genuine change of heart and even completely forgotten an incidence long after it happened and yet the supposedly injured party is still swimming in a pool of anger and hurt... this is detrimental ...why keep a grudge, it’s so energy draining!

don for further treatment.

His Media aide, Mr Honour Sirawoo told Vanguard that what he could say was that Senator Abe arrived London safely, and had been admitted in a hospital.

Also, the Senate, yesterday, directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar to investigate the attack on Senator Abe, representing Rivers South East.

Similarly, the Save Rivers Movement, has accused the police of telling lies against it, insisting that it notified the Police of the rally in a letter dated January 7, adding that the Police duly acknowledged receipt of the said letter.

Protesters warn against threat to Abe's life The protesters made up of Ogoni youths, in Eleme, Port Harcourt suburb, gathered under the aegis of Ogoni Youth Council, yesterday, blocked Elelenwo Junction, the Petrochemical and Refinery axis of the East West Road in protest over the shooting of Sen. Abe. A contract staff of Eleme Petrochemicals, resident in neighbouring Akpajo, said: “ The youths gathered as early

as 5am. I thought their intention was to take over the East West Road and walk to the heart of Port Harcourt, to register their anger over the threat to the Senator ’s life.

“Somehow, their kinsmen in Akpajo blocked them at the Slaughter Bridge, insisting that the protest must not get to their community. In anger, they went on rampage and a lot of motorists were caught in the unrest and had their vehicles damaged before the police came to disperse them.”

Mr Friday Needam, who spoke on the protest, said: “We want people to pray that nothing happens to Abe because Ogoni people will no longer allow any Ogoni man slaughtered like Saro-Wiwa and others killed by Federal Government and their agents.”

Another protester, Joseph Barinedam, said that the Police arrested about eight of the protesters and many got injured while running for safety.

“They should be ready to shoot us the way they did to Senator Abe if anything happens to him (Abe),” he added.

A youth leader in the area, who spoke to Vanguard, Mr Isaac Obe, said thousands of women in several communities in Ogoni were pained by the alleged shooting of

The peaceful protest later became violent when Police mobilised to clear the protesters from the road. Some of the youths, who resisted the action of the police hurled stones and other objects at the policemen as they fled. Windscreens of vehicles caught in between the Police and the youths were smashed.

When contacted for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Ahmad Muhammad, who spoke from Abuja, said he was at the airport on his way to Abuja when he got a call that some miscreants were smashing vehicles on the road in the name of protesting. He blamed miscreants among the protesters for the damage done to vehicles.

According to him, the Police only moved in to clear the road for road users.

Although the state Police command had denied allegation of firing any rubber bullet to disperse the rally, Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s aides accused the police of being responsible for the alleged shooting of Abe. The Police had claimed that the pro-Amaechi group did not apply for approval before embarking on the rally, hence, it had to disperse them with tear gas.

Senate seeks probe But worried by the crises that had gripped the state, the leadership of

Senate, yesterday, ordered the IG to immediately arrest the situation and bring to book those behind the violence.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in a statement in Abuja, said that the Senate was disturbed that what should have been a peaceful gathering turned violent, resulting to injuries.

The Senate said it associated itself with the admonition of President Goodluck Jonathan on his pronouncements to mark the armed forces remembrance day, where he warned that no Nigerian blood was worth spilling in the name of politics.

“Consequently, the Senate urges the Inspector General of Police to investigate the latest incident and ensure that it never recurs. In the same vein, the Senate advises politicians and their supporters to exercise greater restraint and avoid acts that will not only overheat the system but also harm the country's democracy.”

Save Rivers Movement, SRM, the group behind the Sunday rally where Senator Magnus Abe, was allegedly shot by the Police has dismissed as untrue allegations by the Police that it did not notify the Police of the rally. Chairman of the group, Mr Wolu Charles, who spoke yesterday, said they notified the Police of the rally in a letter dated January 7, adding that the Police duly acknowledged receipt of the said letter.

"I want to debunk the statement by the Commissioner of Police that there was no communication between the Police and the Save Rivers Movement. The Police stamped our letter written on January 7, for our rally in Obio Akpor and

Continues on page 41

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—9

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—THE National Chair man of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, brushed aside a revolt by the National Working Committee, NWC, members of the party and insisted that only the National Convention of the party can remove him from office.

Tukur said that based on the constitution of the party not even the president could remove him from offfice.

Tukur spoke after majority of the NWC members he summoned for an emergency meeting at the National Secretariat of the party staged a dramatic boycott of the meeting.

The NWC members shunned the chairman against the backdrop of claim that they had lost total confidence on him and would not sit face-to-face with him again.

Tukur however, told newsmen that there was no basis for him to resign as no one has successfully proved any allegation of wrong doing against him.

He also dismissed the allegation that he had been asked to resign by the President, accusing the opposition of peddling rumour to cause disharmony in the party.

According to him, the National Chairman of the party can only be removed by a Convention and not by any other organ.

However, the botched NWC meeting, Vanguard gathered was aimed at resolving the lingering political crisis in the party that led some members of NWC to report Tukur to the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan.

The NWC members told Jonathan that they had lost confidence in Tukur’s leadership, calling for his removal.

Tukur was to use yesterday’s meeting to appeal to members of NWC for forgiveness with a promise to turn a new leaf.

At the party’s secretariat yesterday, Tukur drove in at 11.45 am expecting other members of NWC to arrive for the meeting slated for 12 noon but majority of them did not show up until 2.25 pm.

The only officers who kept the National Chairman company in his office while he waited for the botched meeting were the National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo; National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju and the National Treasurer, Bala Buhari.

Members of NWC who shunned the meeting included the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani; National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwom; National Youth leader, Abdullahi MaiBasira and the deputy National Secretary, Onwe Solomon Onwe.

The absentee NWC members were said to have converged on a separate venue outside the national secretariat of the party

PDP crisis: Only a convention can remove me — TUKUR zAs NWC members insist on his removal

INSPECTION—From left: Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu; The Olupo of Ajase-po, Oba Sikiru Atanda Sanni; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and Managing Director, Duravill Construction Company, Engineer Hamoud Haydar during an inspection of the International Vocational Centre, Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun LGA of the State, yesterday.

where they concluded plans on how to execute the removal of Tukur.

Some of the NWC members who did not attend the meeting at the separate venue stayed in their offices even as Tukur waited for them but refused to see him until the National Chairman drove out of Wadata Plaza at 2.32 pm.

Tukur was forced to leave the sec-

retariat when it dawned on him that the NWC members were not prepared to have any discussion with him.

There are 12 NWC members, according to Article 29(1) of the 2012 amended constitution of PDP, including the National Chairman.

Article 29(3) of the party’s con-

stitution stipulates that “the quorum of NWC shall be two-third of the membership drawn from a least two thirds of the zones in the country and a simple majority shall pass any motion."

Speaking with Vanguard separately, the NWC members said that they had made up their minds that Tukur must go for peace to

return to PDP, as they had passed a vote of no confidence on him.

One of the leaders told Vanguard that, “it is totally unwise for us to hold any meeting with him, especially now; when he had refused to meet with us in the past. Is it because we complained to President Jonathan that we can no longer work with him that he is looking for a soft landing. He cannot fool us; it is too late, decision of BoT and national caucus is binding on everyone in the party.

“Another NWC member who spoke also said, “we refused to attend the meeting because we have made up our minds and there is no going back. Tukur failed to call for meetings and even when he travelled, NWC members would not be informed. We will only hear that he was in China and other countries, and will not instruct his deputy, Prince Uche Secondus to preside while he was absent.

He simply created vacuum in the party, nothing was moving, our proposals were lying on our tables and members were decamping to the opposition APC before our very eyes. We can no longer take that. We are tired of him, he must go. We want to work and win election, especially the 2015 Presidential election.”

....PDP lawyer writes Jonathan; says sacking Tukur 'll be contemptuous

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA—AHEAD of the Na tional Executive Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where the fate of the embattled chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, may be decided, one of the lawyers to the party, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede has written to President Goodluck Jonathan reminding him the position of the court on the purported plan to remove Tukur.

Members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party had last weekend passed a vote of no confidence on Tukur, warning that PDP would lose in 2015 if it allowed the embattled chairman to lead it to the election.

However, Oluyede in his letter to Jonathan dated January 13, 2014, stated that Tukur cannot be removed based on a subsisting valid court order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, that was issued on April 25, 2013.

Oluyede in the letter to the Presi-

dent as the leader of PDP said he filed a suit on behalf of the PDP against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, where Justice Adamu Bello had ordered parties to maintain status quo by not taking actions that would lead to the removal of the then national officers.

The party had gone to the court for a declaration that the tenure of the National Officers elected at the 2012 National Convention could not be truncated.

This was after the INEC alleged irregularity in the election saying that the nominations of the officers who were returned unopposed at the 2012 convention were invalid because they were affirmed by voice votes instead of “open secret ballot.”

According to Oluyede, he wrote the letter to Jonathan because he was the constitutional leader of the PDP and would therefore attended the BoT

meeting where the plan to remove Tukur was hatched.

The letter read in part, “My attention has been drawn to reported proceedings of the BoT of the PDP, which culminated in the decision to remove Dr. Bamanga Tukur from the position of Chairman of the party.

“This removal is to be achieved either by pressurising him to resign or by some vote of lack of confidence to be procured against him at a planned NWC meeting of the PDP. “This letter is addressed to you because you are the constitutional leader of the PDP and it was reported that you were in attendance at the BoT meeting.

“That order is still subsisting, valid and binding on the PDP and INEC till date and especially as at the time the BoT meeting decided to procure the removal of Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

“The position of Nigerian law is that anyone, though not directly bound by an order of court,

who aids or abets the negation of such an order is liable for criminal contempt and all contemptuous actions taken by contemnors are null and void and liable to be set aside by the court.

“In the circumstance, we find that the deliberation by the BoT on a plan to remove the National Chairman of the PDP and the decisions and resolutions reached at that meeting are null and void and anything built on it will be equally null and void.

“More importantly, we must point out that INEC, which is a party to the proceedings in which the order was made, cannot recognize any new appointment or installation of a replacement for Tukur arising from the decision taken at the said BoT meeting or that of any other organ of the party during the subsistence of the order for status quo.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Cynthia’s murder: Judge accuses counsel of stalling trial

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

SIGNING: From left, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Governor; Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and Mr. Ben Akabueze, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, during the signing of the 2014 budget into law, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Lagos'll not be conducive for criminals, CP assures lawmakers

BY EBUN SESSOU

T

HE LAGOS State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko has said that his command will never neglect its duties of ensuring adequate security in the state.

Reacting to questions from lawmakers when he was invited to speak on security issues in the state, Manko stated that, although it might not be possible to have a crime free society, Lagos will not be conducive for criminals.

Manko, who was commended for his pro-active operations since he assumed office two years ago, added that "it is the duty of any police officer to respond to distress calls at any point in time from members of the public."

The commissioner revealed that his command had been dealing with land speculators (Omo Oniles), who "are making life difficult for the residents of the state."

Responding to revelations by some lawmakers that some youths were given para-military

trainings in Lagos and Badagry toll-gates, Manko said that he was not aware of the development, but that he would do his investigations to see what could be done about the issue.

The CP, however, defended officers, operating in mufti at night, saying that it was part of the police strategy of checking crimes.

On the issue of cult activities rampant in Bariga and Yaba areas of the state, Manko blamed politicians for using

Fashola signs N489.69bn 2014 Appropriation Bill into law

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

THE GOVERNOR, yesterday, signed the 2014 N489.69 billion Appropriation Bill into law, saying, it aimed at completing the on-going projects, and consolidate on the previous achievements.

It will be recalled that the state House of Assembly last Thursday, passed the budget.

The Appropriation Bill, as approved by the

state House of Assembly, had a size of N489.69 billion with capital expenditure getting the usual higher allocation than its recurrent counterpart at the ratio of 52 per cent (representing N255.025 billion) to 48 per cent (representing N234.665 billion) The governor appended his signature to the budget at the State House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, and witnessed by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Kolawole Taiwo and the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze.

cult to perpetrate evil.

“In those days, cultists used to operate in institutions of higher learning, but these days you see them in motor-parks.

"Some of the boys used during campaigns by politicians later turn out to be cultists. My duty is to arrest them and take them to court, but some of these criminals still come back into the society after some time,” he said.

Manko stressed that his command was making progress in checking proliferation of small arms in the state and that they were working with an agency of the Federal Government in charge of the issue.

On the police land in Badagry area, where the occupants were chased away, the Commissioner said that the police paid N176 million to acquire the land few years back with Certificate of Occupancy and that the occupants were given notice as far back as 2007.

He, however, said that he would plead with the authorities to compensate the people affected by the acquisition.

Defunct PHCN workers protest delayed entitlements

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

W

ORKERS OF the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, yesterday, embarked on a nationwide protest against the non-payment of their entitlements by the Federal Government.

The protest was led by the National Union of Electricity Employee, NUEE, and other unions

in the power sector.

At exactly 10 minutes past 11a.m. in Lagos, Marina, the aggrieved workers took to the street, chanting solidarity songs and displayed posters with various inscriptions.

During the protest, the workers said their unsettled terminal benefits which included severance payment, r e t i r e m e n t g r a t u i t y,

death benefits, and pension deduction, among others, had not been paid by the Federal Government.

Addressing newsmen at the protest, the Zonal Organising Secretary 1, Lagos, NUEE, Mr. Agyake Anthony said all the collective agreements reached between the union and government in the power sector had been desecrated.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS after the gruesome murder of a post-graduate student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Miss Cynthia Osokogu, by some of her Facebook social media friends, a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, accused the first and second defendants’ counsels, Miss Mosunmola Oladapo and Mr. Michael Ajayi of deliberately stalling the trial.

At the resumed hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, expressed dissatisfaction over both counsels' inability to file their written addresses as ordered by the court.

Both counsels had at the last hearing closed their defences for the trial within which trial was to determine how statements were obtained from the defendants.

Counsel to the first defendant (Oladapo) told the court that she had not been able to file the written address because she could not obtain the record of court proceedings.

The second defendant’s counsel (Ajayi) also gave the same excuse, and the judge held that both counsels were not taking into consideration the fact that their clients were in prison custody.

The judge subsequently ordered that the written addresses be filed and served on the prosecution in the next ten days.

The case was adjourned to February 27 for adoption of written address.

It will be recalled that Osukogu, the only daughter of a retired General was strangled inside a hotel in Festac area of Lagos.

The defendants, Okwumo Nwabufo 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33; and Ezike Nonso, 25, were charged to court by the state on a six-count charge of felony, conspiracy, robbery and murder.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—11

No factions in Ogun APC — Amosun zSays no SIA or Osoba camp

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA — OGUN State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has charged leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, across the state to shun politics of exclusion so that the party can continue to meet aspirations of the citizens.

He said the giant strides recorded so far by the party in Ogun were products of politics of inclusion and accommodation, defence of the rule of law and extraordinary commitment on the part of the government and residents.

Amosun spoke, yesterday, in Abeokuta, during a meeting of party chieftains from the three senatorial districts, 20 local councils and 237 wards of the state at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

He informed the gathering that the conference was not about the second term ambition of any member, but to consolidate and cement relationships among members of the party and give the lie to the rumour of any crisis in the party.

He said: “There is no Senator Ibukunle Amosun, SIA, camp, neither Osoba camp in Ogun APC, since Chief Osoba is the acknowledged leader of the party,” and called on party faithful to troop out en masse for the forthcoming party registration exercise.

“APC is a disciplined party that holds aloft the tenets of democracy. No member should participate in disrupting any gathering of the opposition parties. They are in the minority but we must allow them to have their say; this, after all, is the beauty of democracy,” the

governor said.

Amosun, however, warned that he would not condone a situation where opposition parties would take laws into their hands.

“No one should be above the law,” he declared.

He enjoined the press to accord equal coverage to activities of all parties so that the electorate could be well guided.

An APC chieftain from Ogun East Senatorial district, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, echoed other speakers when he noted that the

performance of Senator Amosun had already guaranteed him a second term in 2015.

He however cautioned that the event was not about endorsement but consolidation of the unity within the party.

....Drama as chieftain stalls Amosun’s endorsement THERE WAS a mild drama, during the event when an APC chieftain, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye stalled the move to adopt Governor Amosun for second term, cautioning the governor ’s loyalists against hasty decisions.

Durojaiye, who shocked the audience, declared that time was not yet ripe for the process of adoption, adding that such action could be pre-emptive of the APC constitution.

The stakeholders' meeting was, however, boycotted by former Governor Olusegun Osoba and the party’s National Assembly members, including Senator Adegbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Senator Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central) and Senator Akin Odunsi (Ogun West) as well as seven House of Representatives members elected on the platform of APC. Drama began when the

governor ’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Salisu Shuaib invited a member of the state House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, to move a motion for Amosun’s adoption for a second term.

After Oluomo moved the motion, which was seconded

by Mr. Elias Babatunde Isola from Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Durojaiye was invited to seal the motion and he countered it.

O

SOGBO — MEMBERS of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, yesterday, staged a

KITI STATE Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said that the poultry farms initiated and abandoned by one of his predecessors, Mr. Ayo Fayose, could not be revived because the poultry project was never designed to succeed.

The Governor disclosed this, yesterday, shortly after an inspection of a poultry farm and processing plant established by his administration in Ikere and Ado Ekiti respectively.

He said the poultry project of

O

SOGBO — A 34 year old banker, Adenekan Babatunde was, yesterday, arraigned before a Chief Magistrate's Court sitting in Osogbo, for allegedly defrauding his bank of N15.8million.

The banker, who is an employee of Chrisore Micro finance Bank, Ile Ife, Osun State was said to have diverted the stolen sum to his private account.

According to the Police prosecutor, Babatunde conspired with another member of staff of the bank to perpetrate the crime and that the latter had also been arraigned under a separate charge number MOS/14c/2014 before the state Magistrate's Court in Osogbo Babatunde then pleaded not guilty to the two count charge.

Aluko adjourned the matter till January 21.

T

INSPECTION: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, inspecting the construction of the on-going East Pass road, in Osogbo, the state capital, yesterday.

peaceful protest in Osogbo against alleged violation of agreement between it and the Federal Government.

The trade union had therefore given a 14 days ultimatum within which the

Federal Government should address the issue of alleged human and trade union rights abuses in the power sector or face the wrath of the union.

Speaking with newsmen at the National Control Centre,

Why we can’t revive Fayose’s poultry farms — Fayemi

E

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

US, rights activists condemn signing of anti-gay law

Osun NUEE protests violation of agreement by FG

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

Banker arraigned for defrauding bank of N15.7m

the Fayose led government was not designed as a viable project.

This, he said, explained the reason the present government has not bothered to resuscitate it like it did some other moribund projects and industries established by past administrations.

Governor Fayemi, who was conducted round the poultry farm and processing plant by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Jide Arowosafe, stated that Fayose’s poultry project which

gulped more than a billion naira also did not have a sustainability plan.

He stressed that his administration had put in place a processing plant in Ado Ekiti for farmers under the Youth in Commercial Agriculture Development, YCAD, with less than N20 million while the Fayose led government merely paid lip service to the people of the State having expended a whopping sum on a similar project that never took off.

Powerline area, Osogbo venue of the protest, the Osun State chairman of NUEE, Comrade Adedeji Olajire, who read the address of their National President, Mansir Musa, said all collective agreements entered into by the union with the government in the power sector, had been violated.

He added that over 10,000 workers in the sector have not been paid their severance entitlements.

According to him over 25,000 workers have not received their pension components while over 5,000 workers who retired statutorily were yet to be paid their gratuities, adding that the death benefit of over 1,000 workers who died in active service were yet to be paid to their families.

HE UNITED States and other rights activists, yesterday, condemned the signing into law of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, by President Goodluck Jonathan.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said the US “is deeply concerned” after Jonathan signed the Bill 2013, which proposed up to 14 years in jail for lawbreakers.

He stated that, “beyond even prohibiting same sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly ... and expression for all Nigerians.

“It is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines ... democratic reforms and human rights protections.”

Also, veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell described it as one of the world’s most homophobic laws.

Other advocacy groups called the law tragic, saying it is a backward step in the fight for equality across the globe.

Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati earlier confirmed that the head of state had signed the bill after it was approved by parliament last year.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

A-Ibom PDP elders condemn moves to oust Tukur U

YO Senatorial District Elders Forum of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Akwa Ibom State, has condemned attempts to remove the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, from office without recourse to due process as provided for in the PDP constitution.

The forum, in a statement in Uyo by its chairman, Otuekong Sonny Udo, warned that the aim of those fighting Tukur was to make Jonathan a lame duck president in 2015, by denying him the party's nomination.

He described the “scheming to force Tukur out of office without the mandate of the national convention of the party as illegal, undemocratic and unacceptable to the majority of loyal members of the party,” adding that the forum, was speaking for the silent majority in the PDP. He explained that Tukur was elected at a national convention of the party, and can be removed from office, only by votes of party members at another national convention of the party.

“Removing the national chairman of PDP from office on

bogus charges through a gangup would set a dangerous precedent that could fatally harm the party in the run up to the next national election. Allowing Tukur to be arbitrarily removed from of-

fice would lead to copy cat treatment for future chairmen and other leaders of the party by a few powerful individuals, who may always want to impose their will on the

party through undemocratic means,” the forum said.

The forum sought to know from Tukur’s detractors, what he did against the interest of the party that warrants the gang-up.

DONATION: The Prelate (extreme right), receiving a donation of N200, 000 from the President of the Women wing of Ohafia Improvement Union, Warri branch, Delta State, Mrs. Nkechi Udensi, as other members of the women organisation watch in admiration.

Osagie faults FG's economic policies

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—MINORITY Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, yesterday in Benin, Edo State, faulted the economic policies of the Federal Government, pursued by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

He accused the minister of being insensitive to the country’s development index, insisting that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was fighting an unrealistic war in its bid to control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, even in the face of the defections of some of its members to All Progressives Congress, APC. Fielding questions from journalists, Osagie pointed out that Nigerians would not continue to be moved by the robust developmental statistics government was dishing out, as they were not supported by facts.

He said: “We cannot

continue to get salivating records from government, when majority of our people are living in squalor, poverty and deprivation. The House, through its committee, asked the Coordinating Minister of Finance a set of 50 questions bordering on the country ’s economy. Okonjo-Iweala’s statistics are strange to many of us and we doubt if she lives on this

planet.

“Unemployment has hit the roof and as an individual, I am scared because I feel we are sitting on a keg of gun powder. Other than the SURE-P, I don't see any other attempt by government to assist the private sector grow so as to create employment.

“The PDP has become desperate. Only last week, they went to court

to stop APC from effecting a change of leadership in the House as dictated by law. Even in the Senate, the PDP has been fighting defection threats by some members.

“This has made the PDP to become more desperate, so much so that a leading senator was shot, Monday, in Rivers State and is now critically ill. This is part of the

We won’t interfere with EFCC investigation met with the commit—DELTA GOVT ghost workers contributed he tee of which he is the

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LTA State Government, yesterday, admitted that some of its serving public officers were being investigated by the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission, EFCC, adding that it would not interfere in their matter, but would allow the full weight of the law to take its course.

State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Kenneth Okpara, in Asaba, when he took turn to brief newsmen on the activities of his ministry, lamented that fraud and

to the escalation of the state’s monthly salary profile of N7 billion, which he noted was on the high side and worrisome.

He, however, did not state the number of the officers being investigated.

He said: “Between 2007 to date, our salary profile has been between N6 billion – N7billion on a monthly basis. We believe that it is high and we have carried out a lot of exercise on that and we are still working on it. On the issue of ghost workers you asked, the governor is very much concerned and just last week,

chairman to reduce the wage bill."

impunity and reign of terror that the Goodluck Jonathan government has imposed on the Nigerian people.”

Abductors of 10-yr-old demand N30m ransom

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI—THE abductors of 10year-old Hilary Eyengho, seized on Sunday in the oil-rich Ugborodo community, in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have demanded a ransom of N30 million.

Hilary is a niece to Chief Ayiri Emami, a notable member of the community.

It was gathered that the abductors contacted Hilary's father, Chief Sam Eyengho, who reportedly told him that the kidnap was a fall out of the Ugborodo crisis.

It will be recalled that Hilary was kidnapped by gunmen on Mission Road, Ugborodo, at noon, Sunday, when the car in which she and her family members were returning from a church service was accosted and she was singled out and taken away.

Chief Emami had on Sunday, while reacting to the abduction, expressed dismay at same, despite the peace brokered between the warring factions in the community crisis.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—13

Family raises alarm over Okah’s health

Omo Omoruyi's children contest will in court

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—BARELY two months after the remains of erudite Professor of Political Science and former Director- General of defunct Centre for Democratic Studies, CDS, Prof. Omo Omoruyi, was committed to mother earth, his will has become a subject of litigation, as two of his children have gone to a state High Court sitting in Benin, to contest its contents.

The two children, who are claimants in the suit are Mrs. Amenze OmoruyiOkungbowa and Mrs. Ivie Omoruyi- Idehen, while the defendants include Prof.

Union Edebiri, Mr. Donald Omorodion (Executors of the will of late Prof. Omonhionmwan Omoruyi) and Dr. Imuetiyan Festus.

Others are Mr. Iduoze Nehikhare, Owere Dickson Imansogie, Mr. Sunday Omoruyi, Mr. Eghosa Omoruyi, Mr. Courage Omoruyi and the Probate Registrar.

The claimants, through their counsel, Mr. N. Osifo, want the court to declare that the Will of late Prof. Omoruyi be declared null and void, same being contrary to Bini Native Law and Customs.

They want, in the alternative, a declaration that the 3rd and 4th defendants being witness to the said Will, cannot under the Will’s Act be beneficiaries under same.

They want the court to declare that the concepts of adopted male children are unknown to Bini Native Laws and Customs and therefore, not entitled to inherit properties from their adopted father.

The claimants are praying the court for “A declaration that the signature purported to be signature of the claimants’ father on the Will dated September 28, 2013, is not his signature.

“A declaration that a Will that was lodged with the Probate Section of the High Court after the death of the Testator is not the Will of the Testator.

“A declaration that the Will dated September 28, 2013 which was lodged in November 2013, is open to serious doubt as to its correctness and actual custody particularly when the Testator had died before it was lodged.”

GRIDLOCK: Traffic gridlock on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, after the yuletide holiday, yesterday. Photo. Nwankpa Chijioke.

Appeal Court dismisses Sylva's suit to unseat Dickson

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has dismissed the suit by former governor of Bayalsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, in which he had sought to unseat Governor Seriake Dickson, for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Meanwhile, Dickson has hailed the judiciary for its forthrightness in upholding justice, in his reaction to the Court of Appeal judgment.

Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dan-

iel Iworiso-Markson, lauded the judiciary for not allowing itself to be used as a tool to subvert justice.

The judiciary, the governor, said has remained the last bastion of the common man.

He said “this is about the third or fourth time Sylva would be challenging the candidacy of Governor Dickson as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2012 governorship election in the state.

“In the ruling in the previous case, the trial judge, Justice Lambo Akanbi, had ob-

served that too many courts had entertained the suit in question.

“The recent case is even coming on the heels of Sylva’s defection to All Progressives Congress, APC, along with his few loyalists, who are already engaged in leadership tussle of the party in the state and by so doing, threatening the existing peace and progress in the state.

“This is a clear indication of Sylva’s attempt to grab power at all cost and whose action constitutes an abuse of judicial process.”

....As Bayelsa APC disowns Sylva’s loyalists

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE interim leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa State, has disowned loyalists of the former governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and members of the defunct Karu Baraje-led new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, over claims that they control the party and its new structure in the state.

Though the interim state executive committee of the party said the loyalists of the former governor were welcomed to the party if properly registered during the forthcoming registration exercise, it expressed disgust over what it described as false and misleading actions and statements from the Sylva loyalists for

unveiling a separate secretariat and composition of state executive committee for the party.

In a statement after its meeting in Yenagoa, APC leaders said that the raging storm on the unveiling of parrallel secetariats and composition of interim leadership

by Sylva's loyalists was an embarrassment to the party.

The APC leaders, who met under the aegis of Bayelsa State Interim Executive Committee, formerly known as the State Harmonisation Committee, said though they had examined the claims of the Sylva loyalists and their sponsors, they concluded that “the action is a shock

and embarrassment to the state Interim Committee.”

The statement by Nalaguo Chris Alagoa, Mrs. Esther Joshua Okiowei, the Former Vice Chairman (SouthSouth) of All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Livinus Opuakpa, the former State Chairman of ANPP, Mr. Tuamo Abule, Chief Harrow Zuokumor and Emmanuel Anderson, argued that “it is not true that the national secretariat supports the strange action of these bed fellows as they are alien to the extant APC arrangement on ground, as the state Interim Executive Committee is the only recognised body for that purpose.”

BUJA—THE family of Charles Okah has expressed concern over what it described as the continued inhuman incarceration and the deteriorating health of their son.

Okah was arrested in Angola and deported to Nigeria in February 2008, but was charged to court on a 62count of treason, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and arms trafficking, offences that carried death penalty.

The trial, which began in April 2008, was held in private, because then late President Umaru Yar’Adua said it would “jeopardize national security,” while lawyer for Okah, said a closed trial was an infringement of his rights and had asked a superior court to overturn the decision.

The family in a statement, yesterday, by Felix Okah and Dadiowei Okah, noted that during an earlier visit to Kuje Prison, Abuja made by his wife, Angela, Charles Okah had informed her of his adverse reaction to a certain medication being forcefully administered on him by the Kuje Prisons Clinic despite his complaints.

2015: Uvwie group endorses Oyibode for Delta guber

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HEAD of the 2015 general elections, the Uvwie Grassroot Mobilisers, has endorsed Ambassador Gabriel Oyibode for the position of governor of Delta State.

The decision to endorse the Kwale-born politician was taken at a meeting of the group in Ebrumede, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement by Mr. Julius Okoloba, Chairman, the group noted that Ambassador Oyibode was the best material to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015, adding that he possessed the mental, patriotic and political clout needed to govern a multi-ethnic state such as Delta.

It said: “We are glad to announce to all Deltans that Ambassador Oyibode is our choice as regards who to work for in the 2015 poll.

Although he is from Kwale, we are glad his mother is from Ethiope East, while his grandmother is from Uvwie council. His well-spread roots will definitely be an asset to his ambition.”

14-Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Youths fight over Senator’s gift in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—AT least one person was beaten to a state of coma and several others injured as a cash gift doled out by the senator representing Ebonyi Central senatorial zone, Senator Paulinus Igwenagu, to youths in the area generated a free-forall which turned violent.

But for the timely intervention of mobile policemen attached to the senator, the situation would have been more dire.

The youths, drawn from four local government areas in the senatorial zone, had last weekend paid homage to the senator in his country home at Oriuzor where they were given unspecified amount of money as Christmas and New Year gift.

It was gathered that issues revolving around how the money would be shared caused a heated altercation among the youths who declared war on themselves

Ihejirika promotes 33 soldiers at 302 Artillery Regiment

BY ENYIM ENYIM &

OKONKWO EZE

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N I T SHA— THIRTY- three soldiers in the 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha have been promoted by the chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General, Azubuike Ihejirika.

The out going commander of the Regiment, Brigadier General Taritimiye Gagariga stated this on the occasion of his official handover to the new commander of the regiment, Colonel Auwal Fagge.

The promotion of the officers, which ranged from staff Sergent to lance corporal, also witnessed the decoration of the new commander by Gagariga before the parade of soldiers and officers.

Gagariga thanked the officers for their cooperation while he presided over the affairs of the regiment and urged them to extend same to the new commander.

PRAYER: Enugu State governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime (3rd right), Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi (4th left), Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo (3rd left), SSG, Mr. Amaechi Okolo (2nd left), Chief of Staff, Government House, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo (left) and others, during a prayer session to mark the beginning of a new year at Government House, Enugu.

Electricity workers protest in Enugu over unpaid benefits zVow to down tools E

BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—MORE than 100 members of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, in Enugu Electricity Distribution Zone, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest at Ogui Business Unit, threatening to down tools if their outstanding entitlements and other pending labour issues were not urgently addressed.

The protesters carried placards, some of which read “Complete the payment of Severance Benefit to Staff”, “Pay us our 2013 bonus”, “Reengage the disengaged casuals”, “Anti-Union activities should be discouraged”, “Retirement benefits should be paid to staff who retired before November 2013” and “Pay death benefits to deceased families,

our workers need protection.”

The aggrieved electricity workers also lamented the nonremittance to the union checkoff deductions from the workers” salaries for the months of November and December 2013, amounting to over N2 million by the new owners.

The new management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company was said to have

withheld the check-off for the two months, a development that has reportedly paralyzed the activities of NUEE in the zone.

Besides, the new owners are said to have paid November and December salaries to retained workers without their pay slips, hence the workers didn’t know details of the amount paid as salaries.

Obi inaugurates newly elected LG chairmen

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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WKA—GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday charged newly elected local government chairmen in the state to regard themselves as servants of the people at all times, as he inaugurated the 20 council bosses..

“You must be answerable to them at all time,” the governor told the chairmen.

Obi, while congratulating new council bosses for emerging victorious in the elections, urged them to provide quality service to the people, admonishing that their election was a call to service.

He said his administration respected the Nigerian Constitution which states that local government system should be democratised every two years, but many obstacles delayed it in the state until now.

The governor said the state government worked tirelessly because of its importance to ensure that the local government system in the state was democratised.

“Some reactionaries did everything to stop it and we fought hard to conduct the elections. We have done everything to make local government work.

“Today, the dream of the third

tier of government is on the right path of progress with the completion of many new projects,” he said.

Obi said the election of the new chairmen was an invitation to service, pointing

out that “they are expected to be servants of the people”.

According to him, the mandate you have today is from the people, everything available in your council belong to them, including the

resources.

He urged them to work with the newly elected governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and his Deputy, Dr Nkem Okeke, who would be sworn-in on March 17.

Chieftaincy tussle tears Anambra community apart

BY OKONKWO EZE NITSHA—THE tussle over the vacant throne of the traditional ruler of Umuoba Anam in Anambra state is now taking a more dangerous dimension.

The tussle, which had been lingering for some time now, climaxed recently with a report aired by a local radio station

O

announcing that the state government had issued letter of recognition to one Mr. George Obalim Ekwealor as the new traditional ruler of the community, a situation which did not go down well with a cross section of people in the community.

It will be recalled that the Igweship stool of Umuoba

Anam became vacant, following the death of His Royal Highness, Igwe Raphael Anija, a few years ago, after just two years on the throne.

A source claimed the vacant throne pitched the five quarters that make up the community against one another, including Umuobalichi, Umuoji, Umuoke, Umuezeanya and Umuoche.

Igbo youths task FG on devt of S-East

BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI

L

AGOS—IGBO Youth Congress, IYC, has charged the Federal Government to give priority attention to the development of the South East.

Speaking with the media yesterday, President of the group, Mr. Bright Ezeocha, said the present administration had

marginalized the SouthEastern zone of the country.

According to him, the region may not give its support to the present administration if it continues to marginalise the region.

The group said it they gave the President overwhelming support during his campaign for election.

He noted that the lopsided allocation of federal projects

and inadequate infrastructural development could not support economic activities, especially in the South East.

“I am amazed when people describe President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as being dominated by the South East, and how has that favored the region in the distribution of appointment and projects more especially the common man.?”

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 —15

Amnesty: Presidency pacifies Itsekiri with 52 UK scholarship slots

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL

EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—THE Presidency has taken steps to pacify the Itsekiri ethnic nationality with the award of 52 scholarship slots to the indigenes of the area to pursue graduate and post-graduate studies in the United Kingdom under its capacity building programme.

The 52 students, who left Nigeria last night, are to pursue specialised courses in strategic areas of human endeavour, with a view to returning to impact positively on their community and Nigeria as part of the Special Scholarship Scheme put in place by the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

With the latest deployment of Itsekiri students to the United Kingdom, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta has dispatched no fewer than 595 Niger Delta youths to pursue diverse graduate and postgraduate courses in Britain.

The list of students so far sponsored by the PAC and made available to Vanguard, indicated that Malaysia follows with the second largest number of students with 187 delegates from Nigeria, followed by the

United States of America and South Africa with 71 each.

Ghana also hosts a total of 63 of the Niger Delta youths followed by Belarus and Russia with 53 and 45 delegates respectively.

Addressing the delegates before their departure from

Abuja for London, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who was represented

by Mr. Larry Pepple, disclosed that a total of 2255 Niger Delta youths had so far been sponsored by the office to acquire specialised

training in Nigeria and abroad.

Kuku appealed to them to do Nigeria proud by studying hard and coming out with brilliant results to justify the huge expenditure invested in their future by the Federal Government.

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BRIEFING: From left: Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Zakare Mohammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. James Ojo and Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media, Mr Andrew Otah, during the briefing on the postponement of Plenary Session to January 21, at the National Assembly, Abuja. yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Senate ‘ll endorse fundng of confab —ABARIBE

BY OKEY NDIRIBE BUJA—THERE are indications that the National Assembly may approve funds for the proceedings of the proposed National Conference, if it is contained in Presidency’s 2014 Budget proposal currently before the federal lawmakers.

This was disclosed yesterday

by Senator Enyinna Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs during an exclusive interview he granted to Vanguard in Abuja.

Commenting further on how funds for convening the confab could be provided, he expressed the view that this should be handled by the Presidency which must have included funding for the confab in the proposed Appropriation Act for 2014.

Said he: “I am sure that if the President presents a budget proposal for the confab in 2014 Budget estimates, it would surely sail through”.

However, he said that contrary to the demand of some agitators for the confab that the exercise required a preexisting legal backing for it to take off, the National Assembly might turn down the request if it was ever presented in future.

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Throwing more light on why the request for a preconference legal backing might not get the endorsement of the National Assembly, Abaribe said the 1999 constitution as amended, which the federal legislature relied on to carry out its functions, remained the only document which could guide its

activities.

His words: “ We swore to an oath to abide by the provisions of the constitution. However, due to the agitations of Nigerians for a national conference, we have agreed that we would be ready to incorporate the resolutions of the conference as part of the

contributions to the on-going constitution amendment. “In addition to this, we included a new provision to section nine, in the proposed amendment which empowers the National Assembly to draft an entirely new constitution for the country.”

Civil society groups flay Kwankwaso over comments against Jonathan

BY EMMANUELELEBEKE

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BUJA — A coalition of civil society organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations, Northern Alternative Forum, yesterday lambasted Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for accusing President Jonathan of failing to develop the north.

Chairman of the group, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, who addressed journalists in Abuja, accused Governor Kwankwaso’s stands on federal government’s performance in the North.

It said the governor ’s position was lacking in principle and misleading to the rest of the north by

derailing the foundation laid by revered statesmen, Late Mallam Aminu Kano and Alh. Mohammed Abubakar Rimi.

His words: “The Northern Coalition of Civil Society Organizations is dismayed by the ranting of the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently, as published in several newspapers, attacked the federal government for allegedly failing the North.

“Governor Kwankwaso crass opportunism and lack of principle have almost derailed the foundation laid by revered statesmen, late Mallam Aminu Kano and Abubakar Rimi, is one of those who exploit the name

‘Nigeria produces 300 armoured vehicles annually,

of the North for personal political gain at the expense of the region’s development.

“It is regrettable that in recent times Alhaji Kwankwaso has stridently sought to replace the true traditions of Mallam Aminu Kano’s pro-people, panNigerian politics with a stunted, self-seeking personal mythology called Kwankwasiya.”

Governor Kwankwaso had during a meeting with the leadership of Northern Elders Forum at Government House last week, declared President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as incompetent and incapable of fixing challenges of Nigerian development.

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

B U J A — PROFORCE, an indigenous armoured car maker in Nigeria, currently produces 25 of such vehicles monthly, targeting an annual production of 480.

Managing Director of Proforce, Mr. Ade Ogundeyin, yesterday disclosed at the meeting of Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association, NAMA, in Abuja, that the demand for armoured vehicles had increased from five to 25 monthly and 300 in a year, adding that the company’s plant was built to produce no less than 40 armoured vehicles every month and 480 every year.

He said ministers, g o v e r n o r s , commissioners, paramilitary agencies and wealthy Nigerians patronise the company because of the quality of its armoured cars as well as competitiveness of its prices.

He said: “If you visit our plant, you will appreciate what we have on ground for the manufacturing of armoured vehicles in Nigeria.

“The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, has been there; governors have been there and so many eminent people and they realised that the quality of our products vis-à-vis the quality of vehicles from Dubai and from the US are far better. ”There is no need for government or anybody to import bulletproof or armoured vehicles. It is a waste of resources.

“The number of armoured vehicles we produced per month now has increased from 5 to 25 per month. Our plant is built to produce 40 armoured vehicles per month and we will achieve that target. We re starting up in Port Harcourt and Abuja to produce more armoured vehicles.”

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

We didn't shoot at Ndume's convoy —NAF

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BUJA—FOLLOWING inces sant attacks by Boko Haram in the North East and security reports indicating that more members were being recruited for terrorism acts, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika said yesterday, that the Army has established a Special Operation Command, NASOC, solely to tackle insurgency.

This was even as the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, yesterday, hailed the US and other countries for standing behind Nigerian military in fighting terrorists in the country and the sub-region.

Speaking with newsmen at a workshop on counter insurgency and terrorism in Abuja, Ihejirika,however, said that NASOC was approved by the Army Council as a boost to the transformation effort of the army.

The workshop was organised by the Army and Special Operations Command of the Africa-United States Counter-Insurgency and Terrorism Unit.

Expatiating on the command, Ihejirika said the Army’s role and those of other services were crucial to the overall national strategy to defeat Boko Haram terrorists and curb other security problems such as oil theft in the South-South geo-political zone of the country.

He said: “A lot of the performance of the command will depend on skills and human efforts rather than equipment and what we are doing is creating a unit of highly patriotic Nigerians ready to make sacrifices in the face of extreme danger.

“Having the special operation command will make operations at the long run less cumbersome and expensive. We want a unit that will have the ability to shelve the grains from the chaffs, to be more accurate in their target; therefore reducing the incidence of collateral damages.”

Ihejirika said that the US Government had through its Africa Command, Special Operations Command Africa, and the Office

BY KINGSLEY

OMONOBI BUJA—THE Nigerian Air Force, NAF, yesterday said that contrary to media reports, its fighter jet did not shoot at or target Senator Ali Ndume’s convoy.

A statement by Commodore Yusuf Anas said: “The attention of the NAF has been drawn to reports in some media houses which allegedly said its aircraft targeted and bombed Senator Ali Ndumen’s convoy on Saturday, January 11, 2014.

“The reports misquoted the Director of Information as having said the fighter jets mistakenly fired on the Senator’s convoy. For the avoidance of doubt, NAF aircraft did not target Senator Ndume’s convoy as alleged.

“It is public knowledge that Military Operations in the North East particularly in Borno State are ongoing.

“The NAF is constantly involved with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in a coordinated manner aimed at defeating the Boko Haram terrorists.

NAF has well trained pilots who would not conduct operational missions based on speculation or mistaken identity.”

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Amaechi's NGF meets tomorrow

BY HENRY UMORU

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B U J A — GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, will meet tomorrow, in Abuja to deliberate on some salient issues, with challenges of paucity of funds to states, report on Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, Excess Crude Account, ECA, and feedback from letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, topping the agenda.

The meeting which will be first this year, will also listen to inaugural speeches as well as take decisions on how to move the NGF forward.

It will furthermore, adopt strategic plans for 2014 as part of the agenda.

From left, Mrs. Oluwaloni Adefioye, Mrs. Ajibade Owoyemi, Mrs. Temilade Adegbaye and Prince Oye Adegbaye, all children of the late Madam Alice Ayanfisayo Adegbaye, during the funeral service, at St John's Anglican Church, Ikija Ifetedo, Osun State on Saturday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Army establishes special command to fight terrorists zAs CDS hails US, others of Security Operations of the United State Embassy approved some training equipment for the command.

He said the US government was also providing training assistance towards the quick realization of the NASOC objectives.

Earlier the Chief of Transfor-

Suntai, Jonathan's meeting deadlocked

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA —TARABA State governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai’s meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan might have ended on a deadlock.

The pro-Suntai politicians, who flew him to Abuja to meet with Jonathan on Sunday morning left Abuja with the governor to Jalingo later in the day in a private jet, without achieving their goal: getting Jonathan to ask Suntai to resume work immediately.

Competent sources confirmed to Vanguard

that Suntai, who formally met with Jonathan since returning from oversea's medical treatment, sought the President’s intervention in the political crisis in his state, which has prevented him from taking over the reins of power from his deputy, Garba Umar.

Although, Jonathan did not make a public statement after the visit, which was facilitated by a former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma, it was learnt that the President used the visit to assess the fitness of Suntai to resume work.

mation and Innovation, Maj.Gen. Ibrahim Sani said there was need for the creation of a specialized outfit that can fit into the current and unexpected challenges.

He said this became necessary as clearly stated in the Chief of Army Staff's vision which

is to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to meet contemporary challenges.

“One of such transformation is the establishment of NASOC which is a low density high level strategic utility force capable of conducting direct action at low visibility operations."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 17

I

HAVE never voted in a Nigerian election. I have only ever voted once, but it was in Britain and not in Nigeria.

As a Commonwealth student in England in the 1970s, I was allowed to vote for the reelection of Harold Wilson’s Labour party. However, I am seriously thinking of casting my vote, for whatever it is worth, in Nigeria’s forthcoming elections in 2015. There is only one reason for this. I am determined that a “Northerner” must not be the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Cry-babies

I have nothing against the North per se, but I have reached the conclusion that it would be unhealthy for Nigeria’s next president to come from the North. To accede to the insistence of certain loud Northern politicians that the North must produce the next president, is to send a wrong signal to the North. The North has become the spoilt-child of Nigerian politics. It always has a grudge when it is not in power.

This must be discouraged.

When Moshood Abiola, a Southerner, won the election in 1993, the Northern elite conspired to scuttle it. When they finally succumbed to a Southern presidency in 1999, some of them nevertheless sought to make trouble by politicising sharia. When Jonathan won in 2011, there

Forum) says: “President Jonathan should not even contemplate making any move to contest the 2015 election because such will be catastrophic.” I am curious as to what the catastrophe would be.

Junaid Mohammed says there will be mayhem in Nigeria should President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP rig the 2015 election. Junaid is a Second Republic politician.

When Northern Shehu Shagari rigged the election in 1983 and won by a “moonslide,” Junaid did not declare mayhem on Nigeria at the time. When the election was massively rigged for Northern Yar’Adua in 2007, we did not hear of mayhem from the likes of Junaid. But with the probable re-election of a

The North has become the spoilt-child of Nigerian politics.

It always has a grudge when it is not in power

,

was instigated rioting in the North. Some of the elite even decided to sponsor terrorist activities in disgruntlement.

This terrorism has now backfired, to the extent that it is now beyond the control of its initial sponsors.

The North has to learn to live without political power at the centre. The rest of the country has learnt to do this over the years, as the Northern elite have monopolised power.

But Northern politicians seem to believe political power is their entitlement. As a result, the “Northern” blackmail is now in full swing. Certain spokesmen of the so-called North are threatening to hold the country to ransom come 2015, if a Northerner is not elected the president of Nigeria. They are saying: “It’s either our way or no way. If we don’t get the presidency, then Nigeria cannot continue.” This is poppycock!

Vain threats Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, says: “ we must stop President Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt to go for second term, as that will lead to civil war.”

Who exactly are the “we” Nyako is talking to here and who is going to start this civil war?

Senator Joseph Waku of the ACF (Arewa Consultative C M Y K

The ‘Northern' blackmail of Nigeria

,

non-Northerner, Junaid is threatening violence. Well, the violence will consume no one but Junaid himself.

Precisely because of these bombastic threats, it will be impolitic for Jonathan to decide not to run in 2015. The entire nation must call the bluff of these power-hungry Northerners. Let us see what they will do if Jonathan not only runs, but is re-elected. These threats are irritating and vain.

Southerners do not throw these tantrums when Northerners are in power. The Igbo are a major ethnic group in Nigeria. They have been denied the presidency for virtually all of Nigeria’s 53 year history. Yet, they are not crying wolf. They are not threatening fire and brimstone. But those who have monopolised the presidency for 38 out of 53 years are the ones shouting till they are blue in the face. What cheek!

It is not the birthright of Northerners to rule Nigeria. It is the prerogative of all Nigerians to decide who will be our president. The ethnic chauvinists of the ACF have no right to determine who Nigeria’s president should be or where he or she should come from. If the president of Nigeria does not come from the North for the next 20 years, there is nothing the ACF or anybody else can do about it.

the bargain, if it ever existed, was a waste of time.

It is disrespectful to Nigerians for Nyako to have the audacity to say that, in a democracy, a group of Northern governors reached a private agreement on who should be the president of Nigeria. That is balderdash.

Perhaps, we should just cancel elections altogether and have Nyako and his friends decide every four years who should fill what posts. These people are just fooling themselves. The fact that Jonathan subsequently became president should not obscure the fact that their presumptiveness was shown to be false. The governors could not deliver the North to him.

Obviously, they had no control over Northern voters.

One-term agreements

F

Junaid Mohammed: "There would be mayhem if...."

Smoke and mirrors

T

he ACF position is just so much smoke and mirrors.

The body does not speak for the North. It is simply the mouthpiece of certain Northern politicians who are indolent and are craving another opportunity to loot the treasury at the centre. The fact of the matter is that the North no longer exists if it ever did.

It is hardly a homogeneous political entity. More than any other part of Nigeria, the North is deeply divided between the haves and the have-nots. After 38 years of deception and betrayal by Northern politicians, the Northern poor do not need to be told that such mouthorgans as the ACF and NEF (Northern Elders’ Forum) have little or no interest in their plight.

The North is currently at war with itself. The Boko Haram has become an instrument for further Northern division and impoverishment. It has started an intercinine war where some Northern Moslems have been killing Northern Christians.

Undoubtedly, the effect of this scourge in dividing the North politically along religious lines will be evident in future elections.

Moreover, as was evident in the 2011 elections, the far North no longer shares traditional affinity with the Middle belt or with the North Central. The far North voted en bloc for Buhari, while the Middle Belt and the North Central voted en bloc for Goodluck Jonathan. Abuka Onalo, president UMYC (United Middle-Belt Youth Congress) insists the people of the Middle Belt are not Northerners and have never been treated as Northerners

by the Hausa/Fulani. He says they are: “now remorseful of their roles in past actions of spearheading Northern interests that did not benefit their people.”

Back-room deals Nyako maintains Jonathan signed an agreement with some northern governors in 2011 to serve for a single term of four years. This position raises a number of annoying questions. Who exactly are these northern leaders and what special place do they have in the selection of a Nigerian president that anybody needs to make an agreement with them? Nyako and his colleagues are dreamers. Whatever role they presume to arrogate to themselves in Nigerian politics is a result of their delusion.

Goodluck Jonathan did not need them in order to win the last election.

In 2011, Jonathan lost to Buhari in all the far northern states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Nevertheless, he still went on to win the election at the centre with a plurality of over 10 million votes. Therefore, it is immaterial whether or not he made an agreement with these Northern jokers. Those he is alleged to have made the agreement with could not even deliver their side of the bargain.

Nevertheless, Jonathan went on to win the election. That should tell these pretend power-brokers that they are actually irrelevant in the Nigerian political equation.

Under the circumstances, it is preposterous to now insist Jonathan must keep his part of the alleged bargain. Clearly,

or 38 years, when Northerners ruled Nigeria, there was no talk of any agreement with anybody to serve for a delimited period.

Balewa signed no agreement for six years.

Gowon entertained none for nine years.

Murtala did not deem it necessary to put any pen to paper. Shagari ran for a second term without making a treaty with the South-South. Buhari succeeded Shagari without thinking it was high time a Southerner became head of state. Babangida replaced Buhari for nine years without signing an agreement with anybody. Rather than entertain Southern rule, Abacha truncated it. After five years, he reached an agreement with himself to succeed himself.

After Abacha came Abdulsalaam; yet another Northerner.

But once Obasanjo, a Southerner, became president; the Northerners started talking about an agreement that he should only be president for one-term. The same irritating noises are being made again now that, for once in the history of Nigeria, a South-South man is president. For this very reason, under no circumstances should the next president of Nigeria come from the North.

In the interest of national unity, these cry-baby Northern leaders need to be taught a lesson. I repeat: the presidency of Nigeria is not their birthright.

If these characters don’t know this by now, 2015 is the time for them to know it.

People like Professor Ango Abdullahi of the NEF claim to be against President Jonathan on the grounds that his government has not performed.

Pull another leg! The North is not known to produce good presidents. Yar ’Adua was a remarkably lousy president. He was also the most tribalistic president in Nigeria’s history.

He ignored federal character and filled the government with Northerners. For example, under him, the Minister of Finance, Minister of National Planning and the Governor of the Central Bank were all from Kano. The NEF kept mum even when a sick Yar ’Adua was holed up in a Saudi Arabian hospital, while his Northern acolytes went on a looting spree of the treasury, forging cheques in his name.

18 Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 ELECTIONS next year without the tumultuous crisis-ridden six North-East States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe will bear grave consequences for the constitutional directions of the country.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega had at a presentation to the Senate last year made the remarks that have been creating doubts about the chances of elections holding in the States.

The key challenge is security, too obvious that it should be tackled, and thoroughly too, if the elections are to hold. Security is not under Jega’s portfolio. He is concerned about the safety of election personnel and voters.

Yobe State has provided some of the answers to the questions about security. Though Yobe is one of the most volatile states, it held its local government election last month. It passed without security challenges. The same federal security for the 2015 elections is what Yobe State used successfully in its local election.

We, however, have to admit that Prof Jega had a point in raising the matter early enough.

Elections Ev er ywhere, Ever erywhere, Please In 2011, when the security situation was not at this level, INEC staff, including members of the National Youth Service Corps, were killed on election duties. Assurances that security would improve in those States have been mere promises.

The North East is not the only part of the country with pre-election security concerns.

Attacks in Kano, Kaduna, Kogi and Niger States put them under the same radar with areas where elections could be problematic.

The concerns are serious enough that the authorities should start tackling them immediately.

Prof Jega spoke without considering the

implications of the possibility he mentioned.

Without the six States, would the elections then be restricted to 30 States and Abuja?

There are constitutional implications of excluding some States from the elections.

Would the States run without governors and Houses of Assembly? How would they produce their representatives in the National Assembly?

If elections are not held in some States, it would be the best way to escalate the insecurity in those places. Residents of the States are Nigerians and have the same constitutional rights to choose their leaders as other Nigerians.

A decision to exclude any part of Nigeria from participation in the elections is a constitutional breach with vast implications for the results of the elections. The Constitution expects the President to win 25 per cent votes cast in at least two-third of the 36 States, that is 30 States.

It is imperative for the elections to hold nationwide. The security challenges should be managed to achieve this, otherwise Nigeria would be the country to agents of terror, it is a position too dangerous to contemplate

OPINION

BY SUFUYAN OJEIFO

W

HEN the news item about the reappointment of Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Botwev Orhii, was announced on the network news of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), my instant reaction was a shout of “Thank You Mr. President!” The announcement of Orhii’s reappointment was sudden, coming at the time it did: the last day of the year! In fact, it was a wonderful way of rounding off an eventful year of innovative campaign against counterfeit medicine and stepping into the New Year. I had thought that, given the fact that his first tenure would end on January 13, 2014, his reappointment or otherwise should have come about January 13. But President Goodluck Jonathan thought differently.

By the announcement two weeks to the expiry of his first tenure, the President succeeded in putting paid to the shenanigans that had been created around the tenure renewal and taking the wind off the sails of forces opposed to Orhii’s reappointment. One of the undisguised forces was the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), which had sponsored reports and articles in the media attacking the eligibility of Orhii, a medical doctor, pharmacologist and lawyer, for the position of NAFDAC's director general. The falsehood of the line of argument by the pharmacists was self evident in the very provision of Section 9(2) of the NAFDAC Establishment Act upon which they hinged it.

The crux of the provision is that anybody for appointment as DG of NAFDAC must

For Or hii, Thank yyou ou Mr Orhii, Mr.. President possess a good knowledge of pharmacy, foods and drugs. The pharmacists had conveniently downplayed the aspect that pertained to foods and drugs, the fortes of food technologists and pharmacologists/ medical doctors respectively, in their adversarial campaigns to truncate Orhii’s tenure. Having failed to coerce the President through sheer fallacy and mendacity into dumping Orhii, I sincerely do not want to know how the pharmacists, whose desire has been to lay exclusive claim to the position, would be feeling as of now.

I am once more pleased to say: “Thank you Mr. President for reappointing Orhii,” the apolitical technocrat, who brought his wealth of experience and professional exposure in Russia and United States of America coupled with intense passion, into the fight against counterfeit medicine in Nigeria through his novel cutting-edge technologies: TRUSCAN, Mobile Authentication Service (SMS), Black Eye, Mini-Lab, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System.

With the transformational leadership and evidential achievements by the agency since Orhii stepped in the saddle in 2009, it is quite easy to conclude that Jonathan must have been swayed by the scorecard of the leadership of the Agency. And, besides, this is the burgeoning tradition of recognition of performance by the Jonathan administration. Orhii did not have to lobby to be retained or reappointed; if he lobbied, he must have done so with his impressive performance. This is the disposition that the President expects to see in all his team

members in government to be able to effectively drive his Transformation Agenda.

To be sure, NAFDAC is a microcosmic manifestation of the bigger Transformation picture evident in the political economy under Jonathan’s watch. The Agency has succeeded, to a large extent, in curbing the influx of substandard regulated products into the country, thus living up to the billing of its motto of safeguarding the health of the nation. A number of actions, activities and programmes have gone into the mix that has produced a revitalised NAFDAC that is geared towards achieving zero tolerance to fake drugs.

O

n food regulatory activities, the Agency, among other things, created a Food and Applied Nutrition Directorate in line with President Jonathan’s agriculture transformation and food security programme; collaborated with Federal Ministry of Agriculture in promoting production and export of value-added agricultural products like cocoa, cashew and cassava; collaborated with the Ministry in achieving the 20 percent cassava flour content for baking of bread and confectionaries as a deliberate policy of Jonathan’s transformation agenda and diversification of the Nigeria economy from over-dependence on oil export.

For regulation of packed/table water, NAFDAC registered over 18,010 water products from 2009 to 2013; and provided guidance in the form of training, laboratory analysis, advisory inspections and consultative meetings with this sector; while

in 2012, the Agency carried out a recertification of all registered packaged water in the country and trained all the producers.

In the sphere of safe and responsible use of agrochemicals, guidelines and standard operating procedure for chemical regulation and control, according to the Agency, had been reviewed to address emerging trends while risk assessment and field trials of fertilizer have been introduced for effective control and management of agrochemicals.

Under Orhii’s watch, the Agency, among others, completed and got the President to commission the multi-million naira ultra modern state-of-the-art Regional Laboratory Complex in Agulu, Anambra State in 2010; completed the Kaduna Area Laboratory which was gutted in 2004, preparatory to commissioning; acquired new multi-million naira building for Lagos administrative office; structurally facelifted, refurbished and upgraded its (Agency’s) headquarters in Abuja and laboratories in Yaba, Oshodi and Maiduguri.

Some of the innovations included an established web presence where activities and information on the Agency are available on the website; a corporate portal which allows for in-house sharing of information; a Laboratory Information Management System to support quality laboratory procedure and data processes.

The innovations also included an EClearance Portal which allows for online electronic clearance of goods at the ports, among others..

*Mr. Ojeifo, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 19

,

BY ERIC JAMES

S

OME decades ago, Warri and Effurun in Delta State were tiny urban areas separated by a huge forest through which a snaky road linked both settlements.

Only few cars owned by the social elite and oil company officials in addition to taxi-cabs and bicycles plied the available narrow streets.

With the impact of urbanization, the two towns kissed each other and eventually fused into what is now a bursting commercial metropolis. As business began to thrive through contracts from oil companies, real estate, port operations and retail trade, many of the citizens began to wallow in affluence, resulting in the acquisition of various types of automobile.

Suddenly, Warri and Effurun began to suffocate under intense socio-economic pressure accentuated by increased economic activities with the attendant consequences on transportation, housing, security and environmental management.

But one area where the rapid urban growth has had more troubling effects on the populace is in transportation.

Today, Warri and Effurun are gasping under the burden of a sprawling mass of vehicles on the streets.

Driving in Warri and Effurun metropolis has become a nightmare because of numerous factors that have conspired to make motoring a hellish experience for the citizens.

The reckless manner with which motorists, private and commercial

alike drive their vehicles in this densely populated metropolis paints the picture of a notoriously lawless environment.

Driving against traffic even on dualised streets particularly by commercial buses and tanker drivers has become the norm.

Law enforcement agents and politicians who move under gunwielding mobile police escorts have not helped matters either.

They can bump into the traffic from any angle, blaring their siren as they shove other motorists from the road.

Where those who are supposed to enforce the law encourage its violation, it can only lead to unbridled lawlessness. To worsen matters, broken down vehicles are abandoned on the road by their owners without concern about the obstruction and danger they constitute to other road users.

The daily man-made traffic holdups that keep motorists panting in their vehicles for hours have become unbearable.

Impatience, recklessness and utter disregard for other road users are major causes of irritation among the citizens.

Worst days are weekends when social activities peak.

Most residents of Warri and Effurun dread moving out particularly on Fridays and Saturdays as they may get trapped in a nauseating traffic hold-up from which they may not be freed until late in the night.

In Warri and Effurun, virtually every motorist is a law to himself as the audacity to break traffic rules with impunity has become part of

,

the social culture.

It is in Warri, a city of all possibilities that nursing mothers breast-feed their babies strapped on their laps as they drive their vehicles on the chaotic traffic.

It is not an uncommon scene for two motorists to block the road and engage in a verbal duel of superiority while other helpless motorists watch in despair. They would bark at each other, “Do you know me. Who are you? Go and ask about me in this town and people will tell you who I am”. f medical examination were to be conducted on motorists in Warri and Effurun, it will inevitably reveal a high degree of hypertension and most probably mental disorder arising from the trauma that irresponsible motoring has inflicted on the people’s psyche. Apart from verbal insults from impatient motorists, the frequent manoevering to save one’s vehicle from being battered by rampaging commercial buses and other articulated vehicles worsens one’s frustration.

Tanker drivers in their characteristic defiant attitude have constituted the greatest nuisance by turning the highly busy Effurun-NPA express-way into parking lots after abandoning the park constructed for

I

2015: Jonathan, PDP and North-West politics

BY MUSTAPHA ABDULLAHI

P

ERCEPTION, especially when it is erroneous, if not quickly checked, redressed and rebutted, could become reality and people who are fed on it would relate with it in their minds as the truth. That rebuttal was what the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Northwest zone of the country did on Thursday, January 9, this year, when they mobilised themselves in their numbers and stormed Aso Rock Presidential Villa on a solidarity visit to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Following the dramatic defection by two governors in the zone, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and Magatarkada Wamakko of Sokoto State, from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the stage was set for more defections, despite the fact that there was and is still no division in the leadership of the PDP as ruled by a Federal High Court in Abuja and admitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which monitored the congresses at which the party ’s National Working Committee (NWC) emerged.

Kwankwaso and Wamakko had acted in concert with Governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa in Northeast zone, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State in North-Central zone and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the South-south zone to dump the PDP. The governors, who were instrumental to the nomination and election of their states’ legislators in the House of Representatives, had either directed or piled pressure on them to follow their footsteps. In all, 37 Federal Legislators moved from the PDP to the APC. But national attention has been on Northwest zone, for two reasons: it is the zone of Vice President Namadi Sambo and it

accounts for the highest voters’ population figure, which hovers, around 18 million. The purport of the opposition elements’ presentation of the defections as having caused a collateral damage to the PDP was, perhaps, two-folds: to portray the Vice president as having lost control of his zone, which is not correct; and secondly, for them (opposition elements) to begin to position themselves to scoop the vast majority votes, of the about 18 million voters, in the zone in the 2015 presidential election.

The APC has, therefore, understandably invested so much energy, so much hype and unconscionable propaganda into the celebration and reportage of the defections. It has successfully created the impression that all the people who mattered in the ruling party had flocked into its fold; whereas, that is wrong, as the visit to Jonathan, led by a former PDP National Chair, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, has now proved. What was particularly instructive about the visit was the calibre of leaders who were on the delegation.

All the seven states that make up Northwest zone were represented by star-studded delegations. Three out of the remaining four governors that the PDP has in the aftermath of the defection were on their states’ delegations, to wit: Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Muktar Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi). Although Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal were not on the delegation, their absence did not diminish the quality of the visit.

Nevertheless, their presence would have bolstered the rating of the solidarity and cast a pall on the optimism of the Opposition camp that is warming up to receive the like of Lamido, Tambuwal and Governor Babangida Muazu Aliyu of the North central state of Niger, into its fold. While ideologically, Lamido has maintained that he would remain in the PDP

them by the state government.

Often-times, motorists who are supposed to have a smooth ride on the expressway are held up for hours by the tanker drivers who arrogantly display their disdain for law and order.

Besides, it is inconceivable that in the full glare of local government officials, dualised streets are taken over by wares on Effurun and Ekpan market days in Uvwie local government area, making it almost practically impossible for motorists to drive through.

Painfully, mann-hours lost daily in traffic melee are irrecoverable.

A public enlightenment programme titled “Safety Corner” on Delta Broadcasting service (DBS) Fm radio, Warri every Thursday, broadcast in partnership with the Special Marshals Unit of the FRSC has provided avenue for members of the public to vent their anger about the ordeal they are daily subjected to by the unchecked recklessness of motorists.

Even, making phone call while driving which is an offence, has now become a fashion in Warri and Effurun.

Furthermore, to save motorists in Warri and Effurun from their present ordeal, the authorities must begin a reassessment of the desirability of the numerous military checkpoints mounted on virtually every exit route from the metropolis which have contributed largely to compounding the traffic chaos in the area.

Admittedly, while the objectives for erecting the checkpoints were quite compelling - to check kidnapping, robbery and by extension terrorism, the pains they have inflicted on the citizens can hardly be mitigated.

The agony and frustration of motorists while passing through these checkpoints are evident from the long queues of vehicles stretching several kilometres.

The

,

Driving in Warri, a nightmare

The government should, as a matter of responsibility, urgently rehabilitate all the failed portions of major streets in the metropolis to ensure easy traffic flow

The shape and texture of the impeding battle for the soul of the critical 18 million votes in the North-West zone, which, according to oppositions’ permutations, is a potential game changer, are already emerging

,

as he could not abandon the house he helped to build, Aliyu appears stuck in the PDP because he wants to secure his political future and install his successor in Niger State on the PDP platform.

Perhaps, Lamido would have been part of the delegation to Jonathan, but the Jigawa State Secretary of the party, Alhaji Aliyu Tukur Gantsa, was reported to have said that they were not invited for the Villa meeting and wondered why the governor who is a committed leader of the party in the zone was not invited.

F

or Tambuwal, his politics and manouvres even before he became Speaker have tended to thrive on Opposition’s support. With the support of the Opposition in the House, he had clinched the Speakership position against the run of PDP’s approved zoning arrangement, which ceded the position to the Southwest zone. He has since then demonstrated proclivity towards the interests of the Opposition elements in the House. But only time will tell how his political future will crystallize from the miasma of the unfolding shenanigans and brinkmanship.

Back to the delegation, which Mohammed, leader of the delegation, said was mobilized, at a very short notice, by Vice President Sambo.

Osubi-Effurun road, Effurun-Sapele route and Ebremede-Ughelli road checkpoints constitute the most harrowing experience for motorists.

For instance, a journey from Osubi to Effurun which in the past took about ten minutes now takes up to an hour and more during peak periods.

The operational modalities at these checkpoints need to be reviewed to ease traffic flow now that kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes have drastically reduced in Warri and other parts of the state through the combined efforts of the state government and the law enforcement agencies.

However, recent measures embarked upon by the Delta state government to confront the traffic situation frontally have raised hope of relief for motorists.

The reconstruction of the once notorious Enerhen junction which now has several lanes for vehicles, tricycles (Keke) and pedestrians has helped to restore some sanity to that particular spot.

In addition, the commencement of work on a fly-over bridge at Effurun Round-About will decongest the heavy traffic build-up recorded there daily when completed.

The government should as a matter of responsibility, urgently rehabilitate all the failed portions of major streets in the metropolis to ensure easy traffic flow.

Perhaps, the most laudable administrative measure by the government to deal with the problematic traffic situation in Warri and Effurun is the proposed launching of a Road Traffic Task Force for which seven hundred and fifty youths have been recruited.

*Mr. James, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Its assurance of solidarity and support for Jonathan’s effort at moving Nigeria forward away from the era of dashed hopes and wastage of natural resources was quite uplifting. But what was more heartening was the presence of the deputy governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari who has declared that he would remain in the PDP. Shagari has remained a constant figure of loyalty in the PDP. Even when he won the PDP governorship primaries in 2007 and was asked to strategically give it up for Wamakko who, as deputy governor to Attahiru Bafarawa in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), was being traumatised by Bafarawa, he (Shagari) obeyed the party and settled for the Vice ticket. Today, he remains a shining example of how to be consistently disciplined within the party.

Apart from him, many other PDP juggernauts were in attendance. It was a show of the strength of the men and women who have decided to remain steadfast as the party works round the clock to resolve contending issues buffeting it. These people, including former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Aba, former Governor of old Sokoto State, Dr Garba Nadama, Nigeria’s Ambassador to China, Aminu Wali, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, Special Advisers to the Vice President, Mallam Abba Dabo and Senator Isaiah Balat, former Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Alhaji Hussaini Jallo, Senator Hamisu Musa and Alhaji Dauda Dan Galan, among many others, are poised to galvanise the people of the zone massively behind Jonathan and Sambo in the 2015 presidential poll.

The shape and texture of the impeding battle for the soul of the critical 18 million votes in the Northwest zone, which, according to oppositions’ permutations, is a potential game changer, are already emerging with the ruling party appearing determined to alter current permutations by performing better in the zone than it did in 2011. *Mr. Abdullahi, apolitical analyst, wrote from Abuja, Federal Capital Terrority.

20— Vanguard, FRIDAY,

JANUARY 14 , 2014

Day Archbishop Obinna wept over state of Owerri Prisons ... Describes condition of inmates as despicable and inhuman

By CHIDI NKWOPARA

S

OON after some over ambitious Nigerian military personnel sacked second republic politicians from office, they were all hounded into various prisons across the nation. It did no matter to the khaki boys if all the politicians were guilty or not. They were all forced to taste the bitter pill of incarceration. But after regaining his freedom, the late first civilian governor of Imo State, Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, in his usual hilarious but sincere disposition, did not waste time to talk about his prison experience to anybody who cared to listen.

He confessed that if he knew that the prison environment was as bad as he saw and experienced it and not good enough for human habitation, he would have done everything to make it better, while in office. Mbakwe was not joking about his findings. The truth is that he never had an opportunity to reshape the prison before his death.

Speaking to Vanguard Metro in a recent chat, the Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, Rt. Rev. David C. O. Onuoha, equally lamented what he termed “the deteriorating prison condition in the country”.

Inhuman conditions The fiery Anglican cleric noted that some of the inmates of these prisons may come out of it worse than what they were before their incarceration, due the inhuman conditions they found themselves. His words: “The inmates of Nigerian prisons are human beings.

They should be treated with some measure of respect and indeed, reformed while in lawful custody. Some of them are incarcerated for true fault of theirs. They should not be hardened but reformed to become good citizens of Nigeria”.

Although he recalled with grief how the vehicle in which he was traveling was hit several times by bullets fired by a gang of rampaging hoodlums near Orlu, Imo State, Bishop Onuoha however said that as a priest of God, he had a responsibility to cater for all creatures of God. ”I have since forgiven the boys, especially as they were crest-fallen as soon as they noticed that they were attacking a harmless bishop”, Onuoha said.

He passionately appealed to the Federal Government to move its transformation agenda to the prisons, stressing that inmates ought to be transformed and not hardened. Whether his periodic appeals ever hit the right chord remains any person’s guess. For the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, whose Cathedral is not too far away from Owerri Federal

•Archbishop Obinna

Prisons, he prefers to pay them periodic pastoral visits. Apart from establishing a Catholic Chaplaincy to take care of the spiritual needs of the inmates, Archbishop Obinna has continued to plead their cause at every opportunity. He paid another pastoral visit to Owerri Prisons during the last Christmas festivities to celebrate with the inmates. His findings remained almost the same, “despicable and inhuman”.

The first thing that badly hit Archbishop Obinna’s sensibility was the very poor sanitary situation in and around the prison yard, and he did not hide his feelings about it. ”What one notices on arrival is the malignant odour oozing out from the sewage that terribly polluted the whole area”, Obinna said.

While expressing dismay over what

he termed “this unpleasant condition that poses a major threat to the health and lives of the inmates”, Archbishop Obinna equally pleaded with the prison officials to “report this matter” to the appropriate quarters. ”Government should please come to the rescue of these helpless inmates and the entire people residing around this federal establishment. The environment is despicable and inhuman”, Archbishop Obinna said.

He called on the inmates to give their lives to Christ, despite the debilitating situation they found themselves, stressing that it was only Jesus Christ that can set them free. ”This is why I have come to you, my dear friends, to share with you the Good News of Christ’s birth and urge you to welcome Him into your lives. That is the only way you can be saved. You may be a sinner but the love of God can save you if you welcome Him”, Obinna told the inmates.

The Catholic cleric said he was aware that some of the people walking the streets as free men, ought to be behind bars, while a number of those inside the prisons should not be in prison. ”If you are in Christ, you are free, even as you may be physically in prison”, Archbishop Obinna encouraged the inmates.

Tales from inmates: Some of them

said they spend several months without being taken to court to stand trial, even when they had lawyers who were in court waiting for them. The inmates, in an address, pleaded with government to provide vehicles to the prison authorities, which they said would be used to move them to about 56 courts spread across the state. ”We are sad that we are yet to see the Governor of Imo State since his promise to visit the prison in 2011. A personal visit would have enabled him to see for himself the plight of the inmates”, the y reasoned.

They opined that the situation in the prison was worsened by the number of people awaiting trial. The population of the inmates as at December 2011 was 1,754, adding that today, the figure was hovering around 1,850 in a prison that was built to accommodate only 548 inmates!

Introduction of in-house courts The inmates called for he liberalisation of bail conditions, as well as the reintroduction of in-house courts to speed up the dispensation of minor cases instead of making the prison a dumping ground for inmates awaiting trial.

They alleged that indigenes of the state constituted the greater percentage of condemned criminals and pleaded for amnesty for convicted persons of all categories. Another area of concern for the inmates is the provision of lawyers for indigent suspects that are currently awaiting trial but can’t afford legal fees.

This would mitigate, to a large extent, the long stay of inmates in prison.

They also appealed to government to seriously look into what they termed, “the recklessness of the police and state counsels”.

Responding to their address, Archbishop Obinna promised to make their voices heard. He also fed the prison inmates. Other highlights of the pastoral visit included a pontifical sung mass, rendition of songs by the inmates, football match, visitation of the cells by the Archbishop and administration of the sacrament of confirmation on 13 inmates of the prison.

NSCDC warns against hoarding of petrol January. The Commandant -General of the Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin gave the warning while reacting to speculations that the Federal Government intends to increase the price of petroleum product this month.

Abolurin who stated that the F e d e r a l Government has already assured Nigerians that it does not intend to increase the prices of petroleum products, noted that it would therefore be unfair for any person Federal Prisons Owerri

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps NSCDC, has warned petroleum marketers and the general public to desist from hoarding petroleum products, especially this

or group of individuals to make life difficult for the people.

The Government, he said, is mindful of the well-being of the people and is determined to deliver to them the dividends of democracy and not to make life difficult for them.

Abolurin noted that hoarding of the product would impact negatively on the economy because it would promote the activities of black marketers and illegal stock piling of the product which in most cases, leads to fire outbreaks.

Against this backdrop, the commandant has directed NSCDC personnel nationwide to be on red alert and ensure that any station discovered to be hoarding petroleum products or found selling above the approved pump price, is sanctioned appropriately.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 21

Irregular power: Labour faults FG on ultimatum to private sector electricity companies

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

N

ATIONAL Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has faulted the June deadline given to the private sector electricity companies by the Federal Government to stabilise power supply in the country, saying it is not feasible.

Giving reason while it believes it is unrealistic, General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the union was surprised by the ultimatum given by the Minister of Power, insisting the Minister had earlier said, “The problem of the power situation was gas supply.”

“If he knew the problem was gas, why did he hand over the sector to the private sector operators? He should have addressed the gas supply problem. Even within six months, will the gas problem be over especially with the political sitting of power stations in Nigeria? Where you site a power station at 200 or 300 kilometres from the source of gas because you are a minister, you want a power station to be sited in your state. Rather than site the station close to the source of gas, they site it in their states and you then construct a pipeline from the gas source to where the power plant is situated. From now and then, you will say the pipeline has been vandalized or sabotaged. So long as the distance between the stations and gas source are far, so long as we depend on gas, the

From left: Executive Director, Maritime Safety & Shipping Development, NIMASA, Capt. Bala Agaba; Country Manager, ABS, Mr. Timothy Coolden & representative of FOC Western Naval Command, Apapa, Capt. T. AImam at a stakeholders forum, in Lagos. mandate the minister has given them will remain a mirage. It will not be actualized.”

“The same minister had equally said before that he was afraid whether some of the investors have the capacity to revive the sector or change some of the facilities sold to them. This has raised the question whether there was due diligence or whether they knew the capacity of these investors before selling the plants to them. Never the less, it is too late for all these. We have to live with these investors. We have applied a drug on a patient, we have to wait and watch the

effect. I want to appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience and see the effect of this drug.”

Lamenting on the plight of workers in the sector, Ajaero said “As we speak, the issue of disengagement is happening daily. The kind of private sector you have in Nigeria is such that operators ask workers to go orally. It is a terrible private sector and we have tried to condone them for the first, two and three months because Nigerians would say we disrupted their activities that is why they are not performing.

The poor power situation in the country would have been

blamed on the union if we had engaged them immediately they started all these antilabour practices. But we are going to engage them from now.

Wherever they are, from today, they should be aware that for every anti-labour policy they take, we are going to engage them.” “Some of them have the pedigree of being anti-labour inside out. With such people, you know that it is going to be very interesting. In the next few months, some of the stations would be very hot. Those of them that refuse to recognize union rights, we are going to engage them and they will

engage us. Whether that brings any effect on power situation in the country will not be our business. We have given them time to stabilize, but not to distabilise the workers or them to enslave the workers.”

“However, in some places because of the number of workers sacked, they are equally re-engaging. In very many places they are reengaging. They have discovered that the job cannot go on because of the magnitude of staff disengaged. It is a question of disengaging and reengaging with a whole lot of issues coming up.”

Five Dangote’s cement plants to be completed in 2014

By PETER EGWUATU

D

angote Group has disclosed that not less than five of its cement plants spread across five countries in Africa will be completed this year.

The Group President and Chief Executive, Aliko Dangote said that the company will add about 13.5mmt of cement per annum to the existing capacity, when completed.

The on-going plant projects are Zambia, 1.5mmtpa; Tanzania, 1.5mmtpa; South-Africa 3mmtpa; Republic of Congo, 1.5mmtpa; and Gabon 1.5mmtpa.

Information available to Vanguard revealed that Dangote Cement is already working on additional third and fourth production lines to the existing 6mmtpa in Ibese, Ogun state to bring the total capacity to

12mmtpa and another 3mmtpa line currently being added to the Obajana cement plant in Kogi state.

Addressing a group of African businessmen in his office at the weekend, Dangote said the Group’s core business focus is to provide local, value-added products and services that meet the basic needs of the populace through construction and operation of large scale manufacturing facilities across Africa.

According to him, the Group is focused on building local manufacturing to generate employment, prevent capital flight and provide locally produced goods for the people.He disclosed that presently, Obajana is the largest cement plant in sub-saharan Africa with a current capacity of 10.25mmtpa and an additional 3mmpa planned before the end of this year.

Dangote stated that the Group would continue to lead other investors to ensure Nigeria becomes an industrial giant nation that is selfsufficient in production rather than being a leader in importations.

Stressing on the need for investments in the real sector, he said “This indeed, shows that Africa is gradually taking its destiny in its own hands rather than wait for investors from outside Africa. Investment in the real sector of the economy is the only way that our continent can achieve the much desired accelerated growth and development that we have yearned for. “The developmental challenges of Africa are quite tremendous. According to a report by the McKinsey Global Institute issued in June 2010, Africa requires at least $46 billion in spending annually to meet infrastructural needs.

119.65

-1.0

2,688.00

-24.00

15.48

-0.09

106.89 92.02 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.72 254.0812 10.4811 170.0407 1.4756 0.3017 236.3162 25.3402 41.2488 28.2048 237.0775

155.22 254.9023 211.1613 170.5902 1.4804 0.3117 237.0799 25.4225 41.3821 28.2959 237.8436

-0.36 -0.70 SELLING 155.72 255.7234 211.8415 171.1397 1.4852 0.3217 237.8436 25.5049 41.5154 28.387 238.6098

CBN Exchange rate as at 13/01/2014

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

IST Ruling: Lessons from Eze vs Fidelity Securities & Others

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

A

S an investor in the Ni gerian capital market, you must know about the Investment and Securities Tribunal.

This is because you may one day need the services and authority of the Tribunal to resolve your investment problem. It is also important to be familiar with the rulings (judgements) of the Tribunal.

They are rich in lessons for investors and also for capital market operators. They are particularly helpful in preparing and protecting your investment from any tendency for foul play by market operators.

A classical example is the ruling of the Tribunal in the case of Eze A. Eze vs Fidelity Securities Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and First Registrars Limited.

Before we highlight the lessons from this ruling, a brief history of the IST is necessary.

The IST is an independent specialized judicial body. It was established to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority, to interpret the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) and

adjudicate on disputes and controversies in capital market transactions.

In a statement posted on its website, the Tribunal explained the nature of its existence as follows: “The Tribunal combines

the rule of law applicable in traditional law courts with the responsiveness, flexibility, speed and cost effectiveness associated with specialized courts and alternative disputes resolution (ADR)

systems.

Another fundamental difference between the Tribunal and other traditional law courts is that each party could represent himself or appoint a representative who is not a

Top 10 performing stocks

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

n the top 10 performing stocks last week were IHS Plc, Royal Exchange Assurance Plc, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Learn Africa Plc, John Holt Plc and Union Dicon Salt plc.

The rest were C & I Leasing Plc, Red Star Express Plc, U A C N property Development Co and Associated Bus Company Plc.

I

HS list ed on the telecommunication services sector of the Nigerian Stock exchange, NSE, led the top performers with 20 percent or N0.53 price appreciation to close at N3.18 from N2.65 per share. IHS is presently finalising arrangement for share cancellation and delisting from the NSE having published and made the Scheme of Arrangement for that purpose available to its shareholders. IHS cited cumbersomeness of raising fresh capital from the Nigerian capital market and inability of

the NSE to provide adequate platform for fresh capital raising to support its operation as key considerations for the planned share cancellation and subsequent delisting from the market. The company, according to the Scheme of Arrangement also proposes payment of N3.70 for each cancelled, a proposition, which some shareholders of the company are vehemently opposing. For the opponents of the action being mulled by HIS, the company has enjoyed so much good will from domestic investors and such should not delist without making adequate compensation for the their years of support for the company. The company’s audited 2013 financial statement showed that cash and cash equivalent for the period rose to N6.73 billion from N810.225 million in 2012; cash generated from operation stood

at N15.334 billion as against N36.235 million in 2012, while net cash flow rose to N15.295 billion from negative N823.845

million in the corresponding period of 2012. Year-to-date, the share price has risen by 107.84 percent from N1.53 at the beginning of the year to the present market price.

R

oyal Exchange Assurance followed with 14.55 percent or N0.08 increase to close at N0.63 from N0.55. Last year, the firm outlined a two year plan to capture insurance market and repossess its lead position in the marketplace by 2015. Part of the strategies put in place, according to the company, include sponsorship of insurance centric programme on Naija FM, 102.7 with the brand name; “Wetin Insurance dey do sef ”, Sponsorship of programmes such as leadership seminar for secondary school prefects in Lagos and connecting emotionally with immediate community. It also said that a trending technology platform has been deployed to drive operation even in the grassroots. The audited financial statement for the ended December 31, 2012 showed gross premium income of N7.124 billion as against N623.935 million in 2011; underwriting

income rose to N5.564 billion from N5.077 billion, while profit

after tax for the period stood at N623.935 million as against negative N49.467 million in 2011. eimeth, which led the gainers penultimate week, appreciated by 11.11 percent or N0.16 to close at N1.60 from N1.44 per share. Neimeth recently released its third quarter financials for the period ended 30th June, 2013with revenue increasing by 26.2 percent to N1.33 billion from N1.05 billion in the previous year.

Though the cost of sales and distribution, administrative & other expenses rose by 45.2 per cent to N696.197 million and 19.2 percent to N543.68 million respectively, the company was able to record appreciable increase in both profit before tax and post tax profit. While the profit before tax increased to N38.703 million from N27.355 million in 2012, profit after tax went up to N26.318 million as against n18.600 million in the

N

legal practitioner.

Procedure before the Tribunal is regulated by the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007 and the Investments and Securities Tribunal (Procedure) Rules 2003.”

The IST was established to ensure speedy resolution of disputes in the capital market.

When there is a dispute, be it between an investor and an operator, or investor and another investor, or operator and another operator, instead of going to the traditional courts, where it could take years before the dispute is resolved, the parties should go to the IST. In fact you can take the Nigeria Stock Exchange or SEC itself to the IST. That is what Mr. Eze Anoke Eze did. In 2012, he instituted a case of negligence against Fidelity Securities Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and First Registrars Limited, in the verification of his FSB Staff Trust shares.

Thirteen months after the tribunal ruled in his favour. In summary, it ruled that Fidelity Securities Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc and First Registrars Limited, “were liable for negligence in not exercising due diligence and professionalism thus occasioning the unwarranted delay in the verification and dematerialisation of the Applicant’s share certificate” So there is hope for all investors who have been victims of unethical and unprofessional conducts of capital market operators. Take them to the IST. previous year, representing 41.5 percent increase on both sides.

Learn Africa rose by 8.25 percent or N0.16 to close at N2.10 from N1.94. The company recently released its nine months financial results for period ended September 30, 2013 with revenue declining by 42.09 percent to N1.004 billion from N1.803 billion in 2012. It recorded loss before tax of N132.397 million as against profit before tax of N8.008 million in the same period of 2012, while loss after tax stood at N132.397 million as against profit after tax of N5.446 million in 2012.

John Holt rose by 8.04 percent or N0.09 to close at N1.21 from N1.12; Union Dicon Salt appreciated by 7.62 percent or N0.92 to close at N13.00 from N12.08; C & I Leasing advanced by 7.14 or N0.04 to close at N0.60 from N0.56; Red Star Express went up by 6.81 percent or N0.29 to close at N4.55 from N4.26; UACN property advanced by 6.09 percent or N1.20 to close at N20.90 from N19.70, while ABC added 5.32 percent or N0.05 to close at N0.99 from N0.94 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 23

BY WILLIAM JIMOH

MR. BONIFACE OKEZIE, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria,

M

y stake on this matter is that no issuing house can do any form of allotment without the knowledge and the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. So if SEC approves the allotment, and based on the approval, the registrar went ahead with the issuing of certificate of allotment, there is nothing wrong with that, and in that case they cannot be penalised.

But in the situation at hand, the questions to be asked should be: In the share allotment, did the company receive the money? And if the company received the money, why should the regulator penalise the registrar, because the registrar on their own cannot pay a shareholder because they don’t own the company.

But it is the ratio or the number of people who applied at the end of allotment, that the registrar is to collate the figures, and then passes them to the issuing houses while the issuing houses will communicate the company to do allotment. And the role that SEC plays in the allotment process is to approve and if the regulator approves it, they will come back to the registrar.

At this point, the registrar can begin to distribute certificates

Investors weigh in on deregistration of Sterling Registrar based on the figure they arrived at during their collation. That is the number of people that applied.

If all these things are properly observed and yet the regulator withdraws the registrar ’s registration, the question one will ask is; was there no any issuing house which took that company to the market? If the issuing house is there, then who approved

Complaints and Investigations N o dividend from Oando plc Sir, I am Peter Eghaghara, 4 3yrs. I have not received any dividend from Oando Plc. Please help me uncover the reason. My acct no with Oando plc is 334274 and my certificate .no is 3703509. I am very grateful for your help sir. Peter Eghaghara Investors Forum For update on dividend payment by Oando Plc and why you have not received any dividend from the company, contact the registrar, First Registrars at Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or call 08033018295, 08191410456 for more information.

I need the addresses of registrars PZ and UACN day sir. Kindly avail me the addresses of the registrars of PZ Industries Plc and UACN Nig Plc pls. Amro Ojigbo.

Oyedele Taiwo

Boniface Okezie

the allotment, did they seek the approval of SEC? And if they did not seek the approval of SEC, then the issuing house should be penalised and not the registrar, except where the registrar gave certificate to people who did not pay or apply for the allotment.

OYEDELE TAIWO

I

heard

about

the

withdrawal of the Sterling Registrar’s certificate on Wednesday and I was in their office to confirm what really the situation of things was. But when I got to their office, they were still operating and attending to their customers as usual.

I will tell you that from what I saw when I got to the office, the ban on their operation as reported by some papers and carried by some investors was

not holding.

Not only did I go there to confirm, I was there together with other shareholders to transact deals as regards some of the companies they work for. And if there was a ban, there must be a sign to indicate that and not only to the staff but also to the customers, to ensure they don’t gain access to the office. Though it is possible they might have resolved their matter before I got there.

Tel: 01-2663241, 2666229, 8730080-6. Email: uacreg@uacnplc.com

Is my investment in Starcomms safe?

I bought shares in Starcomms plc; based on my investment in Starcomms, I bought their phone & special number for myself, my family, etc, I bought recharge card from vendor which I cannot load.

I had to send someone to their office in Effurun and I was told that the office is closed. The story is the same at airport road Benin. What happened to Starcomms? Is my investment safe? What about my special number?

OMOSHIE AMADASU ANDREW

Investors Forum Starcomms Plc is still existing and has not been delisted from the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. So your investment is still safe, but the company seems to be Investors Forum having some problems registrar of PZ industries Plc regarding its GSM line. The is First Registrars and the landline is working; so the internet modem. However, address is Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or we are not sure of the status call 08033018295, of their GSM line. Kindly 08191410456. contact the company at No. 52 Adetokunbo Ademola UAC Registrar is the registrar street, Victoria Island, Lagos of UACN. The contact adfor information on why you dress is UAC House (2nd cannot load their charge or Floor) make calls or call the compa1-5 Odunlami Street, Lagos. ny on 01-8041234,

.

Nigerian Stock Exchange's (NSE) All-Share Index

07028000123. Email: customerservice@starcomms.com or technical@starcomms.com.

No dividend from Oando plc I bought 100 units of Oando Plc shares on November 2004; I receive my dividends for only three years, after that, nothing was sent to me.

My certificate no is 2403392.

Iserhienrhien Roland Orobosa.

Investors Forum update on dividend payment

by Oando Plc and why you have not received any dividend from the company,

contact the registrar, First Registrars at Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or call 08033018295, 08191410456 for more information.

I have not received my dividend from Transcorp Transcorp announced dividend in 2012, but didn’t dispatch warrant to me nor to those who used my contact.

Pius Odiaka, P O Box 1952, Surulere, Lagos.

Investors Forum the best of our knowledge, Transcorp has not paid any dividend since it listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange

in 2006. However, the announcement by the Board of the company to pay dividend for the first time was only an intention. The amount to be paid has not been announced and whatever will be paid as dividend must be approved by shareholders at the next annual general meeting to consider the 2013 audited result and account. Nonetheless, you still contact the registrar, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, at 220B, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos. You can call 01-8401153, 018931501, and 01-4606460 or send message to info@africaprudentialregistrars.com.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,JANUARY 14, 2014

Eland commences Opuama field tests

E

land Oil & Gas Plc said last week that it had completed the restoration work of the production facilities at the Opuama oil field.

As a result, the company said it has progressed to the pre-commissioning and testing phase, including the testing of the final section of the 12-inch export line from the oil field.

All things being equal, Eland anticipates it would start production from the OIL Mining Lease, OML 40 license, located onshore Nigeria, soon after the pre-commissioning and testing have been successfully completed.

Recall that the facility had been shut down for seven years, and the company had originally expected to complete the restoration of the facility and export pipelines in October. But it noted that the restoration work was taking place in a challenging environment and pushed the completion date back to the end of 2013.

Eland said it has been working with the field operator, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to restart production starting with six wells in the Opuama field.

The partners have replaced corroded infield flowlines, refurbish the production flowstation, and repair the oil export pipeline by replacing all corroded and damaged sections.

Also, fabrication and installation works have been completed to fully replace the three flowlines on the planned existing start-up wells in the Opuama field.

These flowlines have been trenched and overlaid with protective concrete mats at major water crossings.

Furthermore, a cathodic protection system has also been installed. Meanwhile, the eight-inch and 10-inch sections of the export pipeline have been surveyed and repaired, with this part of the line currently being flushed prior to conducting a full pressure test to verify its integrity. Repairs to the final 15-mile long, 12-inch section to Otumara were also ongoing.

Once the work is completed, the company said it hoped to start drilling an initial six development wells in the field, while waiting for a rig currently being used by Conoil Plc, which pushed back drilling to early 2014.

Eland also said in October that it expected to be producing in excess of 2,500 barrels of oil a day, bpd, from the two existing wells in the field by the end of the year.

Staff of the defunct PHCN protesting non-payment of their entitlements in Lagos, yesterday.

Operators burn N15.32m worth of gas in 3 months

BY MICHAEL EBOH

O

il companies operat ing in Nigeria’s petro leum industry flared the equivalent of N15.32 million in three months by not utilizing all the gas produced from their operations.

This is a flagrant disregard to the Federal Government’s directive and global concerns on gas flaring, especially on its adverse health implications.

At the current international price of $4.216 per million British Thermal Unit, Btu, the amount of gas flared by the oil companies in the three

month is valued at about N15.32million ($95,728).

One cubic foot of gas is made up of about 1020 British Thermal Units (BTU) of gas.

Broken down, Marginal Fields operators and sole risk/ independent companies, flared an average of 83.75 per cent of their total gas production in the third quarter of 2013, according to data released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The NNPC in its, “2013 Third Quarter Petroleum Information,” revealed that both the independents and marginal fields’ operators produced a

total of 25.48 million standard cubic feet (mmscf). But they utlised only 3.11 mmscf, and flared 22.37 mmscf, representing an average of 83.75 per cent of the total gas produced.

Only Waltersmith Petroman, in the marginal fields’ category, was able to utilise 100 per cent of the 0.8 million SCF of gas it produced in the quarter.

NNPC subsidiary, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, was the worst offender in the two categories, flaring 9.88 million scf of gas, representing 81.63 per cent of its total gas production during the period in review.

Sole risk independent offend-

ers •Niger Delta Western produced about 5.18 million SCF, flared 100 •Allied Energy Nigeria/CAMAC - 2.559 million scf, flared 2.41 million SCF or 94.14 per cent.

•Seplat and First Hydrocarbon – flared 100 per cent of their respective total production •Dubri - flared 98.78 per cent •Amni International Petroleum - flared 92.93 per cent; and •Neconde Energy Limited flared 84.62 per cent of total gas produced.

Marginal field offenders •Midwestern Oil and Gas, and Brittania-U Nigeria were the worst offenders, flaring 100 per cent of their respective total gas production.

•Energia flared 95.85 per cent; Oriental - 85.15 per cent; and Niger Delta Petroleum - 64.27 per cent •Platform Petroleum - flared 96.63 per cent; and Pillar Oil - 94.42 per cent JV/PSC On the other hand, Joint Ventures, JVs, and Production Sharing Contracts, PSCs, made up mainly of the International Oil Companies, IOCs, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total, Eni/ Agip recorded minimal flaring.

Oil companies in these categories flared about 15.85 per cent of their total gas production in Q3, 2013.

Specifically, the JVs utilised 401.45 million SCF of the 474.45 million SCF gas produced, and flared 73 million SCF or 15.39 per cent.

While the PSCs produced 92.28 million SCF of gas, utilised 75.43 million SCF, and flared 16.85 million SCF, representing 18.26 per cent of total production.

Chevron, Pacific enter into N77bn drilling deal

BY MICHAEL EBOH

C

hevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, is to pay Pacific Drilling about $481 million (N77.056 billion), over a twoyear period for an offshore oil drilling contract.

According to documents obtained from Pacific Drilling, the company said it has entered into a two-year contract with CNL, which required it to deploy its newest drillship, the Pacific Khamsin, effective December 17, 2013.

In return for the services, Chevron is expected to pay Pacific about $660,000 or N105.6 million daily, translating to about $60.2 million (N9.632 billion) per quarter.

The 12000 drillship, according to Pacific Drilling, is designed by Samsung, and is capable of operating in 12,000 feet water depth, with a max-

imum of 40,000 drilling depth, 200-man accommodation and 22,000 metric tonnes variable deck load, among others.

According to the company, the rig was originally expected to commence operation on the first contract on December 1, but it was unable to begin on time due to permit delays from the Nigerian authorities.

Pacific Drilling is expected to reap $156 million (N24.96 billion) annually, about $39 million (N6.24 billion) per quarter, after deducting costs and taxes from the deal.

Pacific Drilling further projected a tax rate of four per cent per quarter, meaning that it will be paying the Federal Government of Nigeria about $2.3 million (N368 million) per quarter in taxes, translating to $18.4 million, about N2.94 billion in the two-year

life of the initial contract.

Pacific Drilling also revealed that it incurred about $163,400 (N26.144) daily in operating expences in the third quarter of 2013, adding that this could increase to approximately $180,000/daily to operate one of its rigs.

Apart from the costs incurred on the rigs, the company said it also incurred other indirect expenses, such as onshore support costs, to operate the rigs.

Analysing the financial implications of the deal, analysts explained that the actual amount that the company pulls in from the rig after paying its costs and taxes, will drop to approximately $39 million (N6.24 billion) per quarter.

“This amount is roughly analogous to operating cash flow and so would increase

Pacific Drilling’s operating cash flow by 20.1 per cent over third quarter levels,” they argued.

Continuing, they said, “If we assume that Pacific Drilling will incur this cost to operate the Pacific Khamsin during each of the 90 days in the first quarter then the company would have total expenses related to operating this rig of $16.2 million (N2.6 billion).

“Thus, the start-up of operations of the Pacific Khamsin should increase Pacific Drilling’s first quarter EBITDA by approximately $41.3 million over third quarter levels, assuming that the company’s General and Administrative expenses remain relatively static. This would be a 42.7 per cent increase.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 25

I

like it very much Notwithstanding the furore generated over fuel pump price increases in January 2012, Nigerians have begun to take for granted adequate supply of petroleum products in the market.

Indeed, the market was so fully supplied last year, so much that the problem now became where to store the petroleum products, and the downstream sector began to experience products glut.

But, this did not come cheap; it came at a huge cost bourn by the managers of the petroleum industry to ensure that consumers got value for their money to justify the price increases.

Surrounded by unwholesome practices including oil theft and pipeline vandalism, the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector under the watch of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, against all odds, maintained unprecedented sanity in the supply and distribution of fuel nationwide Buffers for success Despite outstanding unpaid subsidy claims by marketers, Nigeria in the last 24 months has witnessed unprecedented stream and sustained sanity in the supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide especially premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol. This has banished the ugly perennial episodes of long fuel queues in our filling stations, especially during festive periods celebrated

by Muslims and Christians.

Market watchers believe that after the subsidy debacle, there is now a greater sense of responsibility and patriotism among oil marketers, which boosted products importation and attendant availability.

Across the country, it is now taken for granted to drive in and fill your tank without let or hindrance. The celebration of the Yuletide season and New Year without the fear of scarcity is a veritable example of the sanity that has been brought into the system.

Motorists and commuters made the long haul holiday trips to their respective destinations without being compelled to store jerry-can loads of fuels in the trunk of their vehicles to avoid being stranded.

Also, findings revealed that based on the directive of Alison-Madueke, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, embarked on an aggressive revamp of key downstream facilities.

Among the facilities given a facelift included PPMC loading depots and product pipelines, which hitherto, remained almost moribund, thereby impeding on supply and distribution of fuels.

Of the 23 PPMC inland storage depots spread across Nigeria, only three are awaiting repairs, as all the others have been revamped.

For the records, hitherto dilapidated depots and ancillary pipelines in Aba, Benin, Suleja, Gombe, the PPMC product C M Y K

Eliminating fuel scarcity from Nigerian economy

BRIEF We have legal backing to incur expenses —NNPC …gives account of $10.8 bn oil revenue

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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Petrol station evacuation and reception jetty in Okrika and a host of others have been rehabilitated.

Enhancing supply and distribution efficiency Other steps taken to ultimately improve efficiency in the supply and distribution chain include the deployment of the Horizontal Directional Drilling, HDD technology as a solution to pipeline vandalism especially in flashpoint areas like Arepo and Ije-Ododo. There is also the approval of the Subsea By-pass Line project aimed at getting imported heavy crude to the Kaduna Refinery.

Furthermore, some of the pipelines and depots which had been abandoned for upwards of 10 years were given dispatch attention by clearing the pipelines right of way and fixing the lines for efficient distribution of products across country.

Part of the downstream overhaul also involved going outside the sector, in order to find rapid solution, as the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps was immediately awarded the contract to clear the pipelines right of way across the country.

Already, works have been completed on the Atlas CoveMosimi- Ibadan axis as well as on the Port Harcourt-Bonny line. Works are ongoing at other lines where residents have encroached on the pipelines right of way to the point that they actually built houses on them.

To supplement reserves in the inland depots, the PPMC also maintains a large stock of products at sea in loading vessels on a sustainable basis especially in the offshore Lagos area.

These reserves serve as supply buffer for 32 days product sufficiency level at forward consumption.

It should also be noted that the free flow of petroleum products was sustained and propelled during the period by the full activation of wide ranging industry reform programmes.

These ultimately led to the

,

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

In its explanations, the NNPC noted that the disputed $10.8 billion is the result of subsidy claims, unrecovered crude/product losses, and cost of strategic petroleum storage

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reduction in national consumption of petrol from 60 million litres per day as recorded in 2011, to 40 million litres daily, thus saving the economy in billions of Naira.

Alison-Madueke in a widely publicised press meeting attributed the success to the President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformational Agenda in the downstream sub-sector.

She said the reform led to strategic reform initiatives in the management of petroleum products supply and distribution.

She added, “We have also been able to maintain stability of products supply, while putting in place, stringent regulatory conditions which would make it difficult for dubious marketers to short change the system.”

The minister further noted that the federal government had done extremely well in the area of halting fuel subsidy scams in the country, stressing that government’s efforts at transparency and accountability were yielding positive results.

She also argued that the reforms were carried out to address the issue of pervasive malpractices in the oil and gas sector, to engender public trust and belief in government’s sincerity in the downstream sec-

tor.

She identified some of the reform initiatives to include: •restoring credibility in the process of products supply and distribution, •Conducting of a prequalification exercise for traders/suppliers initiated in the form of technical audit of suppliers of petrol into the Nigerian market, •Conducting of monthly and mid-quarter Import Performance Review meetings with stakeholders and resolution of marketers’ complaints through effective mediation.

Alison-Madueke also maintained that these measures have boosted marketers’ confidence in the fuel importation regime, despite the attendant payment uncertainties occasioned by budget approval delays.

Operational challenges Although the NNPC has succeeded in keeping the country wet with products, but it has done this at a huge price.

The cost is exacerbated by the fact of the huge demurrage associated with maintaining the storage vessels at sea, which is not covered in the prevailing template provided by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA. The attendant consequence of this additional cost make up part of the outstanding un-reconciled $10.8 billion, in the allegedly “missing $49.8 billion” declared by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In its explanations, the NNPC noted that the disputed $10.8 billion is the result of subsidy claims, unrecovered crude/ product losses, and cost of strategic petroleum storage which is currently not captured in the PPPRA template for refunds.

“This figure is also well known to all stakeholders at the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC monthly meeting and is reported on a monthly basis,” said the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, while dispelling the missing sum at a press conference.

What is needed now to consolidate on these gains is to fully deregulate the downstream sector for optimum efficiency and performance.

HE management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said that it has the legal backing to incur expenses on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Corporation made the clarification while giving a vivid account of how it spent the $10.8 billion, being the outstanding sum of the controversial “missing $48.9 billion” oil revenue.

The NNPC explained that the sum was spent on subsidy reimbursement for petrol/ PMS; repairs of vandalised pipelines and products/crude oil losses as well as maintenance of national strategic reserves.

It also argued that the Corporation enjoyed legal backing to incur such expenses on behalf of the government.

The Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts Directorate, NNPC, Mr. Bernard Otti, while making the clarification at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, said as a law-abiding corporate entity, the NNPC’s processes and procedures are guided by the provisions of the law.

He said, “Whatever expenditure we have incurred in the discharge of the above national responsibilities are backed by the law setting up the Corporation, as contained in Section 7 Sub section A and B of the NNPC Act.” The Act states: “The Corporation shall maintain a fund which shall consist of, (A) such monies as may, from time to time, be provided by the Federal Government for the purposes of this Act by way of grants or loans or otherwise whosoever; and (B), Such monies as may be received by the Corporation in the course of its operations or in relation to the exercise by the Corporation of any of its functions under this Act, and from such fund there shall be defrayed all expenses incurred by the Corporation.

Mr. Otti insisted that the $10.8 billion currently the subject of ongoing interagency reconciliation exercise was not missing.

Mr. Otti noted that, “the sum in question has been expenditures incurred as part of statutory responsibilities which the NNPC as a National Oil Company executes on behalf of the Federal Government and by extension the entire people of Nigeria.”

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

BRIEF Brittania-U CEO inducted into global leadership fame

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HE Georgia General As sembly, United States of America, in a special resolution on December 16, 2013, recognised the accomplishments of the Chairperson/CEO of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Uju Ifejika.

She was recognised as a role model, who has made sterling contributions worthy of acknowledgement in the areas of economic empowerment in Nigeria and the West African sub-region The resolution focused on Ifejika’s numerous contributions to the advancement of African women in the workforce, identifying her as “Africa’s most successful female oil tycoon.”

Her business operations cover the entire spectrum from exploration to production, refining, trading, supply and distribution.

The resolution also noted “her warmth, humility, sense of humor and simple disposition are all admirable qualities for such a woman of power, position and social status.”

The resolution signed by Representative Dee Dawins-Haigher, concluded: “Now, therefore, be it resolved that Georgia General Assembly and this august body salute the efforts of Mrs. Catherine Uju Ifejika.”

It was another rare honour for Ifejika, who earlier on December 18, was inducted into the Global Women Leadership Hall of Fame, at a ceremony held at the Atlantis, the Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The certificate of induction recognised her accomplishment “as a distinguished achiever and symbol of female achievement globally.”

The induction ceremony, organised by the Centre for Economic & Leadership Development, took place during the Africa-Middle EastAsia Women Summit, under the Chairmanship of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye.

The Centre for Economic & Leadership Development is a global think tank devoted to the propagation of economic and leadership issues as it affects the global economy and women in particular.

It also celebrates achievers in various spheres of economic activities, with particular attention to women global pacesetters and niche drivers as celebrated during its conference, which theme was: “Emerging Economies: Women as the Next Frontier.”

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Power facility

IKEDC spends N11m on equipment replacement

BY SEBASTINE OBASI AND KUNLE KALEJAYE

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keja Electricity Distribu tion Company, IKEDC, said it spent over N11 million on the replacement of vandalised equipment within its network in the last six months.

The Ikeja DISCO, which is a joint venture between New Electricity Distribution Company, NEDC, and the Korea Electric Power Corporation, KEPCO, said the sum was used items vandalized in 42 transformer distribution substations.

According to a statement from its spokesman, Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, “The replacement of the vandalised substations cost the company over N11million.

“The 42 transformer distribution substations were vandalised at various times in the last six months by unknown vandals thus throwing various communities into darkness.”

Adeyanju noted that the N11million would have been better utilised in procuring new materials for network expansion, and appealed to the community leaders to assist the company in protecting electrical equipment in their domains.

He added, “The socio-economic effect of vandalism is colossal as it unleashes hardship on people and businesses. In fact, every citizen in IKEDC network has a duty to perform towards the safety of electrical equipment because it is extremely difficult to put a guard at every transformer

substation.

“We solicit further the assistance of the security agents for the surveillance of IKEDC equipment for adequate protection against vandalism,” he said.

In another development, IKEDC in collaboration with Unite For Sight Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, last week held a free eye care programme for residents of Ikorodu and Odogunyan axis of Lagos State.

Adeyanju explained that the exercise was part of the company ’s consumer engagement activities aimed at giving back to the society. He said the move is also meant to educate the public on its role in ensuring the nation achieves affordable, efficient and sustainable power supply

in the nearest future.

The exercise included free high blood pressure checks, HIV Counseling, diabetes check, drug prescription and free treatments. It also included free eye screening, minor eye treatments, distribution of eye- glasses and eye drugs, cataract surgeries and eye health education-to raise public awareness on the need for regular eye checks.

The forum provided a platform to educate residents on the need for regular health checks and hazards of selfmedication.

Prior to the “Sight for All” exercise, IKEDC had also collaborated with Agboyi-Ketu Ward Health Committee Alliance (WHCA) in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to offer free medical care to residents in December.

According to Adeyanju, both exercises provided the platform for open discussions on the state of power in the nation.

Contrary to expectations that the handover of power assets to new investors would result in immediate solutions, IKEDC explained that the transfer had only begun a process that would culminate in enhanced power supply in the nearest future.

He appealed for the patience and understanding of electricity customers and assured that the distribution company would redefine service in the sector through continuous global affiliations, investment in new technology and human capital development.

He also assured that there would be more CSR initiatives and consumer education exercises in other areas of Lagos to establish a partnership with the public in the quest for a new dawn of uninterrupted power supply in Nigeria.

...as stakeholders urge consumers to exercise patience

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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xperts in the power sector have urged electricity consumers to exercise patience as effects of the just concluded reforms would soon begin to unfold.

They also sought the support of the new investors towards ensuring sustainable and effective electricity supply nationwide.

The stakeholders, who made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Lagos, assured consumers that the roadmap for the reform and activities of the new investors were pointers to future success.

Special Adviser to the President/CEO, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Joseph Makoju, said the just concluded reforms in the power sector would soon begin to show gains.

He said the prospects for fresh investments, new technology and expertise represent hope and confidence that the nation would soon overcome its power challenges.

Makoju called for patience and understanding from Nigerians as the new investors embarked on rehabilitation, upgrading and deployment of robust infrastructure.

“I believe the future is bright for the sector. I see a lot of opportunities for uninterrupted power supply, capacity building and employment prospects for Nigerians in the long run,” he said The Managing Director, PowerCap Nigeria Ltd., Mr Abiodun Ogunleye, said it would take some time to overhaul the subsisting power infrastructure.

Ogunleye argued that achieving uninterrupted power supply would require pa-

tience from Nigerians and commitment to deploy new technology to be manned by well trained workers.

He said, “I am aware that the new investors are already thinking along the line of new technology and have plans to train and retrain their workforce. I believe we will get the breakthrough we all deserve in the near future.”

Also commenting, the Project Coordinator, Dubril Consortium Ltd., Mr. Abraham Williams, said the handover of some power assets to the private sector has brought a new lease of life to the sector.

“The participation of the private sector would bring about more efficient and cost effective power supply arising from increased investment, enhanced infrastructure and

opportunity for transfer of technical know-how to Nigerians,” he said.

On his part, the Managing Director, Seacof Enginering Ltd., Mr Fashola Charles, said the power sector transition represented unprecedented milestone for the nation.

“What private participation did to the telecom sector is what we will eventually witness in the power sector.

“But I believe a lot of consumer education and enlightenment programmes are required to make the average Nigerian know that the handover did not mean we would begin to witness uninterrupted power immediately.

“The good news is that it kicked off the journey of a process that would eventually get us there,” he said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 —27

AfricInvest invests in Broron oil

BRIEF Nigerian firm, others lose Gambia’s oil licences

BY AMAMDI ONYEGBADUE with Agency Report

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Oil and gas facility

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fricInvest Group, a leading private equity firms in sub-Saharan Africa said it has completed an investment in Broron Oil & Gas Limited, a Nigerian oil and gas services company.

Broron provides offshore support services to international oil companies, independent and indigenous upstream companies in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

AfricInvest Group through its Pan-African Fund - Africinvest Fund ll LCC, invested in Broron to build a strong Nigerian and ultimately African brand, by systematically developing capacity and capabilities through the development of lo-

cal resources.

In a joint statement issued in Lagos, the Managing Director, AfricInvest Capital Partners Nigeria, Mrs. Abiola Ojo-Osagie, justified the investment bid.

She said that Broron Oil & Gas is well positioned to maximise the opportunity presented by the recent developments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

She also noted that Broron aspires to become a world class service provider in the areas of offshore support vessels, subsea engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning services to the oil & gas industry.

The Executive Vice Chair-

man, Broron Oil & Gas Limited, Chief Henry Ojogho, who led his team, said, “to further consolidate our position in the sector, the company recently acquired DSV Avianna. This is a Dynamic positioning ll vessel with offshore support and construction support capabilities.”

Africinvest Group has executed over 100 investments across several sectors in Africa, and made significant contributions to the economic development of its target countries through the growth and profitability achieved by its portfolio companies.

The Group, which operates out of six offices (Lagos, Abid-

jan, Nairobi, Casablanca, Algiers, and Tunis) targets growth capital investments in medium-sized companies that are well established and positioned in their local markets with potential to scale up their activities on the regional level.

AfricInvest’s Pan-African Fund started making investments in Nigeria since 2004.

The Fund has made investments in Anchorage Leisure Ltd, owners of Radisson Blu Hotel Lagos; Tunisavia, a helicopter service company serving offshore oil platforms in North Africa, and Francophone West Africa; and Mansard Insurance amongst others.

Indigenous firm completes offshore gas pipelines

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ndigenous firm, Fenog Ni geria Limited, FNL, said it has completed a 2.82-kilometre gas pipelines designed to convey gas from the Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC fields, to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG plant in Bonny, Rivers State.

The project, which was awarded by Agip to the oil and gas services company, entailed the laying of 24 inch gas pipelines, 33 metres under Kwale Ob/Ob River in Delta State, spanning 2.28 kilometres. The project is reputed as the first feat by an indigenous firm in the country.

The project is expected to ease the distribution of gas to power generation facilities throughout the country, and C M Y K

designed to transfer gas from Agip’s production fields to its Ob/Ob Gas Plant and thereafter, to Bonnny and beyond.

The trunk-line project was awarded to FNL in 2013, and it was completed within six weeks.

Speaking while conducting journalists round the project site in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Fenog’s General Manager, Mr. Chukwudi Uwakwe, said no company had been able to achieve the record.

He added that with the NAOC’s gas trunk-line project completed, Fenog had recorded another first in the oil and gas sector.

Uwakwe said, “The significance of this project is that it

is a trunkline to convey gas from Kwale flow station to Ob/ Ob Gas Plant and to Bonny LNG and beyond. So it is an economic value line that Agip has put in place to ensure that gas is convened from Kwale to Ob/Ob Gas Station to LNG. “We carry the flag of local content policy of the government because no company in Nigeria and even in the whole world can be able to do this kind of project for now. A 24inch by 2.82 kilometres river crossing is a challenging work; and Fenog is showing an example to all Nigerian companies that we have the capacity.

“We are equally encouraging them to come up and build capacity to train Nigerians because this job was done by

Nigerians, and it was 100 per cent done by Fenog Nigeria Limited. We are using this medium to tell the Federal Government to encourage local companies so that they can be able to come up with standards that can be able to promote the local content.”

Also speaking, Fenog’s Executive Director, Mr. Matthew Tonlagha, recalled how the company used the Continuous Horizontal Directional Drilling, CHDD, for one of their ongoing crude oil pipeline project within the Escravos region.

He further stressed that this pipeline will be the most secured pipe line in Nigeria, since the company deployed the CHDD technology as a strategy.

he Gambian Govern ment said it has withdrawn the exploration and production, E&P licenses of a Nigerian oil firm, Oranto Petroleum, and two others African Petroleum, AP, and Buried Hill Energy.

According to a statement from the office of the Presidency of the West African nation, the withdrawal of their licenses was due to the failure of the companies to meet their contractual obligations.

According to the government, African Petroleum and its partner Buried Hill Energy has lost offshore blocks A1 and A4, while Oranto Petroleum also lost its Lower River onshore block.

“These licences have been terminated with immediate effect. The Gambia government will not allow any institution to acquire licences only to keep them for speculation,” the statement said.

“In our bid to harness our natural resources for the benefit of Gambians, we are not going to deal with speculators,” it added.

However according to Upstream, a spokesperson at Simco Petroleum, Oranto’s UK-based technical partner, said: “(Oranto’s) current policy is to concentrate on offshore blocks and, for this reason, (it) decided four months ago to relinquish its Lower River acreage.”

While AP in a brief statement admitted it had received notification of the termination of AP Gambia’s exploration licences over blocks A1 and A4.

The Gambian government believes that the country is sitting on large quantities of oil deposits, but has not produced any yet despite decades of exploration by a number of companies.

The Gambian in 2003 announced the discovery of large quantities of both onshore and offshore oil deposits in his country. Since then the government created a Department for Petro-chemical Matters, and started negotiations with companies.

In 2006, Buried Hill Energy signed licences for two deep water exploration blocks encompassing over 2,600 square km of highquality exploration acreage offshore of The Gambia.

These licenses – for the Alhamdulilah A1 and A4 blocks The two blocks hold considerable exploration upside with a total unrisked, mean recoverable potential in excess of 4.6 billion barrels.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 , 2014

By Theodore Opara

Renault dusts up the Duster R

ENAULT is not taking chances with its compact sport utility vehicle, the Duster. The French auto maker recently repackaged the Duster with all-new features, thereby raising its profile.

With head-turning design and improved equipment level, the Duster looks good to give established models in its segment a good competition, especially with its utility advantage.

Adjudged one of the most rugged sport utility vehicles in its class at the moment, the Duster has often been described in the automobile circle as having the ruggedness of Land Rover Defender and boasting the comfort of topclass sedans. This attribute has won the Duster many converts in Europe where it become the choice compact SUV to many buyers.

For instance, since its launch in 2010 and its progressive marketing in different areas of the world, Renault Duster has conquered more than 400,000 customers.

With revolutionary changes inside and outside, the new Renault Duster gain a new frontend that underlines its goanywhere looks.

Double optic headlights The redesigned grille features a new air intake and the new double-optic headlights include daytime running lights. The interior gets a revamp too, with a brand new dashboard and redesigned seats.

New Renault Duster delivers more four airbags, cruise control with speed limiter and rear park assist are some of the new equipment and enhanced features.

Duster is available with 1.6 litre petrol or diesel engine. Nigeria is getting the petrol engine. The 1.6 16v 105v hp engine is available for 4x2 and 4x4 versions. This engine develops maximum power of 77 kw at 5,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 148Nm at 3,750 rpm.

Its power associated to a sequential multipoint injection ensure a direct and smooth answer, while offering a mastered

consumption (7.6 1 / 100 km in 4x4 and 7.9 1 /100 km in 4x4).

This engine is mated to six-speed manual gearbox in 4x4 version and a fifthspeed manual gearbox in 4x4 version.

A hardworking compact SUV by every standard the Duster maintains all the qualities that made Duster a success, including versatility in use, all-terrain abilities for the 4x2 version and off-road abilities for the 4x4 version.

The Duster now has an emphatic 4x4 look.

The front end has been upgraded, with a redesigned grille, featuring two chrome-plated strips and housing a new, low set air intake and new doubleoptic headlights with daytime running lights.

The upgrades underscore the car’s onroad stance and robust,

“go-anywhere” character.

It’s labelled roof bars with slatted supports underline the car’s SUV character, while new 16-inch “Dark Metal” alloy wheels and “Mud” tires revitalise the profile of New Renault Duster.

At the rear, new sharply outlined light units echo the styling cues of the front end. Further design enhancements include a chrome-plated tailpipe (depending on version), new “4WD” lettering for 4x4 versions, and new castellated nameplate trim.

There has been major changes the Duster.

The interior design of New Renault Duster has been upgraded to reflect the exterior styling, positioning it clearly in the world of four-wheel-drive vehicles.

The dashboard has been redesigned to feature a

central console flanked by two vertical surrounds that emphasise its robust

appearance.

Darker cabin colour schemes underline the strong character and sound 4x4 credentials of New Renault Duster. The seats have been redesigned, and the back of the rear bench seat reinforced for improved comfort. New Renault Duster comes with three new upholstery choices, including one in leather.

The Duster has been equipped with more active and passive safety.

The electronic stability control function (ESC) with anti-slipping function is available as optional.

The system keeps the

vehicle on course in the toughest conditions, when avoiding obstacles, losing grip in bends and driving on slippery surfaces.

Also fitted standard is emergency brake assist (EBA) which rounds out with ABS anti-lock braking system.

Setting the highest levels in safety for all the occupants, New Renault Duster is equipped from the first level with front driver and passenger airbags, but also, as option, side head-and-chest airbags and belt pretensioners at front seats.

Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Comrade Kayode Opeifa presenting a plaque to Mr. Deepak Shewakramani(r) and Maureen Ogbonna,(l) Managing Director C&I Motors Ltd, representative of Suzuki Motors in Nigeria who won the Female Automobile Manager of Year Award 2013 at the Nigeria Auto Journalists Awards, held at Sheraton Hotel Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—29

By Theodore Opara

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HE Coscharis Motors and Federal Palace Hotel has entered a deal with the new Jaguar XF. The initiative entailed a Jaguar XF courtesy car scheme with the high profile hotel to aid in transiting VIP customers to and fro the hotel for an initial three months period.

According to the General Manager, Marketing, Coscharis Motors, Abiona Babarinde; with this scheme, all Federal Palace Hotel VIP guests stand to be chauffeur driven in a Jaguar XF from now on. ‘This unique partnership is to create more value to the delight of common premium customers of the two great brands in Coscharis/Jaguar and Federal Palace Hotel’’.

The objective of the scheme according to Mr. Babarinde is to offer the same level of premium experience enjoyed by customers and prospects in the hotel, home and work life; in their driving life. This reiterates the commitments of Coscharis Motors and Federal Palace Hotel to customer satisfaction in all areas of engagement with their customer.

Jaguar settles in Federal Palace

Over one million SKODA built in China

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Saloon comfort “Imagine being drive in a sleek, dynamic, and daring car, which is a fusion of sports car styling with outstanding luxury saloon comfort; a car whose inspired engineering has won over one hundred international awards – that is the experience ownership ensures. The XF is more than a machine, it combines Jaguar’s renowned flair for style and luxury with a genius for technological innovation, setting the standard that other sports saloons can only aspire to.

For an exceptional driving experience, different modes are available to suit the driver and rider’s preferences or the prevailing conditions.

While a unit of the Jaguar XF will be permanently on display at the Hotel

premise for the duration of the partnership, the General Manager, Fed-

eral Palace Hotel, David Kliegl who expressed delight in this unique part-

nership enthused to use the Jaguar XF for the Jazz Night event at the Hotel.

Honda rolls out 3 millionth Alabama-Built vehicle

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LMOST 12 years to the day since it started mass production back in November of 2001, Honda’s manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Alabama has built its 3 millionth vehicle. It was an important benchmark for both the American economy and American Honda, according to Tom Shoupe, president of Honda Manufacturing Alabama. Said Shoupe: “The commitment and dedication of our 4,000 associates has allowed HMA to achieve this production milestone and fulfill our commitment to more than 3 million Honda customers across

the globe.”

Those efforts also have allowed Honda to invest $450 million in the plant over just the past two years, adding more than 400 jobs during that period as well. By now, approximate production totals from the Alabama plant to date include: 1.62 million Honda Odyssey, which is all of them, since the Alabama plant is the sole international source for Honda’s award-winning model; 1.02 million units of the Honda; Pilot, the three-row crossover that’s the most fuelefficient eight-passenger vehicle in its segment; 90,000 Honda Ridgeline trucks, including the 2014 Special Edition that’s at dealerships now.

The Alabama plant also assisted with production of the Honda Accord in the 2009 and 2010 calendar years, when the facility built about 27,000 units; in addition, just to be clear, the facility builds the 3.5-liter V-6 engines that power all of those vehicles.

But it wasn’t the only American Honda manufacturing site to celebrate a major milestone early in December: Just days before the Alabama achievement, Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio had welcomed its 1 millionth Honda CR-V.

KODA AUTO is on the path of success in China. Since the Czechs arrived on the Chinese market six years ago, more than a million ŠKODA’s have rolled off the production lines at the Shanghai Volkswagen’s (SVW) plant – ŠKODA’s production partner. ŠKODA has hada a share of around 10% of a total 10,000,000 cars produced there since 1983. In the coming years, ŠKODA intends to further increase their sales in China. For this, the car maker is doubling the range of products manufactured in the country and gained new production capacity. “ŠKODA cars are arriving in China,” says ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr.

H.C. Winfried Vahland.

“We have hit the million mark with only three models sold in the country. With the expansion of our product range and increased capacity, we will continue to grow in China in the coming years.”

The new SVW plant in Ningbo, Southern China took on the production at the end of October. The first model to roll off the production line was the ŠKODA Superb. ŠKODA currently produces five models in partnership with Shanghai Volkswagen; alongside the Superb in Ningbo, the ŠKODA Fabia, Rapid, Octavia and Yeti are produced at the SVW plants in Anting und Yizheng.

NIGERIA AUTO JOURNALISS AWARDS: Dr. Oscar Odiboh chairman of the occasion presenting the Corporate Social Reponsibility awards (CSR) to the winners Coscharis Ford and BricoeFord. On his left is Mr. Babarinde Abiona of Coscharis Motors and Felix Adesoye of BriscoeFord (r) at the 2013 Nigeria Auto Journalists Award held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Seplat gets 7-day ultimatum over spillage

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Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the successful first kidney transplanting surgery at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara, Delta State yesterday. Photo: Henry Unini

KPE Youth Council, the umbrella body of Okpe youths in Nigeria and in diaspora has given Seplat Petroleum Development Company seven days ultimatum to address the issues resulting from oil spillage that was caused by equipment failure at Otonyatsere village in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, or face their wrath.

Speaking at Sapele, the national president, Engr. Felix Oborodowan, national publicity secretary, Comrade Freeborn Eghagha and the Sapele Okpe Community youth chairman, Comrade Benjamin Umukoro expressed dissatisfaction over the unprofessional conduct of Seplat towards their

host community.

Engr. Oborodowan urged Seplat management to adhere to environmental justice by addressing serious issues such as provision of relief materials to the affected community, deployment of medical experts to the community and other related compensations. He said, “imagine a spillage that occurred since December 23, 2013 and till date nothing has been done by Seplat to that effect. Our people, especially members of Okpe Youth Council are now exposed to the danger of likely epidemic and environmental hazards in the community. Also, the livelihood of our people has been cut short."

Urhobo youths laud NNPC GMD

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RHOBO Youth Leaders Association, weekend, commended Engr. Andrew Yakubu, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, over his youth empowerment and assistance programmes in the Niger Delta area.

The group in a statement signed by Comrade Francis Arhiyor and Comrade Vincent Oyibode, President General and Secretary, respectively, also acknowledged the policy of the GMD in curbing youth restiveness which it said has brought about peace and sustainable development in the region.

The statement said that Engr.Yakubu has succeeded in repositioning the NNPC for quality service delivery while at the same time won the hearts of millions of Nigerian youths by creating employment opportunities for them in the oil and gas sector.

It said, “We must not fail to commend you on your administrative and proactive approach in ensuring that there have never been fuel scarcity since the commencement of your administration till date most especially during the period of Muslim and Christian festivals.”

UYLA also urged the NNPC’s boss not to relent in his effort to making life more meaningful to youths and continue his open doors policy not only to youths but also to host communities as well. In the statement, the group reminded relevant authorities on the need to relocate the head office of NPDC to Delta State.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 31

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32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

The Ekweremadu-Chime Contest:

The die is cast I

KE Ekweremadu was Chief of Staff when Sullivan Chime was a special adviser.

When Ekweremadu became Secretary to the State Government Chime became a commissioner. That there was a secret rivalry between both men is only something that is now beginning to unfold before friends and acquaintances of the two men who incidentally are from the same Enugu West Senatorial District.

When Ekweremadu relocated from Enugu to Abuja as senator in 2003, Chime remained in Enugu and eventually was favoured by Governor Nnamani as his successor in 2007. It was following the succession that Chime unfolded and became a force to be fully reckoned with.

Ekweremadu somewhat once in a while deferred to the new governor despite being once his political superior.

In the run up to the 2011 gubernatorial election and despite serious temptations from the camp of Okwesileze Nwodo, Ekweremadu stuck to the governor and was believed to have contributed immensely to the political calculations that saw Chime overwhelm Nwodo as national chairman.

Purpose of the meeting But soon after that election what had been a cordial even if distant tolerance for one another turned into open warfare.

Governor Chime was alleged to have called a meeting of National Assembly members from Enugu where he was alleged to have told them that those who had done two terms should step down. Ekweremadu, who at that time had believably been equivocal about going for another term even as the number two man in the Senate was reported to have openly stopped the governor in his tracts and immediately called for an adjournment of the meeting if that was the purpose of the meeting. Another senator whose seat is alleged to be under threat by a powerful woman in the Chime government was said to have immediately seconded Ekweremadu’s motion, bringing

BOTH men were groomed in the field of extreme politics that characterized politicking in the days of the Ebeano Phenomenon. The unfolding match-up for the Enugu West Senatorial District between Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime is bound to be riveting.

•Chime: Incumbent governor the meeting to an abrupt end.

Following that meeting some few months ago, Ekweremadu was said to have made up his mind to contest for another term in the Senate. Governor Chime who in his first term was praised for his development projects particularly in Enugu city is also said to have taken up the gauntlet. Initially it was believed that the governor would support another person for Ekweremadu’s seat, but Ekweremadu’s boldness is now believed to be forcing the governor into the contest.

Should the governor enter the contest it would be a strong contest where the governor would come in with the advantages of being the state’s governor to match what has been severally reported as Ekweremadu’s good representation on ground.

Constituents who had in the past benefited from federal appointments and projects facilitated by Ekweremadu would be put up to serious task in the unfolding contest.

Concerned stakeholders from Enugu West senatorial constituency are also intervening into the dispute that would inevitably be one of the strongest senatorial match-ups in the coming elections. Interestingly groups supportive of

•Ekweremadu: Incumbent Senator

•Nnamani: Ebeano!

Ekweremadu and Chime are diving into the fray.

Apparently satisfied with what it claimed to be the good representation it has received from Ekweremadu, the Umuneke Progressive Front last weekend insisted that it was not willing to change the deputy Senate President for Chime in the Senate in 2015.

The Umuneke Progressive Front’s support for Ekweremadu was matched by a punch against Ekweremadu by the Enugu State Stakeholders Advisory Group (ESSAG), which on its part expressed dismay over reports that the Deputy Senate President had facilitated a meeting of some persons in Abuja where they

were alleged to have adopted an unnamed individual from IgboEtiti Local Government Area of the state as their favoured candidate for the Enugu State 2015 governorship election.

The UPF in a statement where it claimed not to have ill-feelings against Chime as he hails from their clan and has performed creditably well in developing the state, nevertheless said that their senatorial representative must be one with experience.

According to President of the group, Mr. Emeka Aneke, the experience of Ekweremadu and his sterling performance in the delivering democracy dividends made him an asset that could not

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR AND TONY EDIKE

numerous constituency projects and the appointment of a good number of indigenes of Enugu West senatorial zone to positions of service in federal agencies and parastatals is a clear testimony of his purposeful and resourceful representation.

"The distinguished senator has kept faith with his commitments and promises to the people of Enugu West and has shown in clear terms that his compassion for the people is genuine.”

The communique was signed

by Aneke and Chibuzo Onyia, who is the General Secretary of the group. It also read, “Consequent upon the foregoing, we, the Umuneke Progressive Front, have passed a vote of confidence on Senator Ike Ekweremadu and urge him to re-contest the senatorial seat of Enugu West for sustained service to the people of Enugu West, Enugu State, South-East and Nigeria at large.

“We will continue to support Senator Ekweremadu in his political endeavour and wish him good health and God’s guidance in his service to humanity.”

The Enugu State Stakeholders Advisory Group (ESSAG), on its part faulted Ekweremadu for purportedly concerning himself in choosing the next governor of the state and absenting himself from the party’s campaigns ahead of the recent local government election.

The group also called upon Governor Chime to yield to the demands of the people of Enugu State and assume the Enugu West Senatorial seat after he might have completed his term as governor in 2015.

The group stated that considering Governor Chime’s exceptional performance in Enugu State, it would be most appropriate to have him continue serving Enugu people, this time in the Senate where we are sure he will again register another exceptional performance.

The group said, “It is our position that “since some national legislators from Enugu State

Ekweremadu, who at that time had believably been equivocal about going for another term even as the number two man in the Senate was reported to have openly stopped the governor in his tracts

be easily dispensed with.

Aneke further explained that the Senate should be a place for people with experience in lawmaking, “and not a dumping ground for former governors and ministers.”

He said: “The vision, courage and determination with which Senator Ekweremadu has pursued his rural transformation agenda as exemplified in his

,

have developed a “sit tight” mentality in the senate and appear to be regarding their senatorial seats as their personal property, it would be a great favour for. Enugu State, if Governor Chime were to agree to take the seat and use that as an opportunity to show the example in Enugu State that it is indeed possible for a senator to serve two terms and quit honourably afterwards”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—33

•PDP leaders at the meeting in Chief Akinjide's residence in Ibadan on Saturday

Can it be revived?

WITH its personalities and platform diminished all through the region, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Southwest converged on the Ibadan residence of party grandee, Chief Richard Akinjide to deliberate on the fortunes of the party. Was it worth it?

BY OLA AJAYI

E

MBROILED in an unpredictable power tussle at the national level, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has undoubtedly been in free fall in the Southwest.

From controlling all but one of the States in the region, the party today has no presence in any one of the seven Government Houses in the region.

From having a majority of the members of the National Assembly delegation before the 2011 elections, the PDP can only count one PDP senator from the Southwest and a handful of members of the House of Representatives.

Efforts to repair the damage have remarkably not been successful given the legendary infighting among the party leaders from the zone.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who helped the party to get prominence in the zone has also not been successful and has found himself lately, fighting for relevance in the zone which he claims presently has a wanted criminal directing the affairs of the zone.

His letter to the national chairman insisting on his withdrawal from the affairs of the party on account of the development has only

complicated developments.

It was against the background of the lethargy that a respected elder, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), second republic Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, summoned some leaders and elders of the party in the zone to find ways of putting the ugly past behind them and forge ahead as a united family.

Just last week, a former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese warned President Goodluck Jonathan that an ‘Abuja minority group’ claiming to possess the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State for now would only bring electoral misfortune to the party in 2015 elections.

Electoral misfortune Unless the tide of things changes, he said, winning the governorship seat back from the ruling All Progressives Congress would be a herculean task.

Oyelese, who is one of the founding members of the PDP in the state, asked the leadership of the party to organise free and fair ward congresses in the state to test the popularity of those Abuja-based PDP chieftains who, he said, have been dashed the structure of the party.

Confirming that the party is sharply divided, he said, as things are now in the state, PDP has four groups.

According to him, the groups are championed by Otunba Alao–Akala, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Teslim Folarin and the Neutral group in this crisis is led by him.

Three of the four groups, he clarified, had agreed that the only way to save the party in the state was to organise fresh free and fair congresses from the ward to the state levels.

Though, a faction sympathetic to Buruji Kashamu tried to stop the meeting by calling on members of the party to shun the meeting, the meeting, against all odds, held at the Idi-ishin residence of Chief Akinjide under tight security and it was well-attended. Notable Leaders and elders of the party in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos States were there.

In attendance were Chief Richard Akinjide(SAN), his daughter, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of State, FCT, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, one of the leaders of the party in the zone, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Minister of Education, Dr. Saka Balogun, former Chief of Staff, former Deputy governors of the state, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja and Alhaji Azeem

Gbolarumi,Senator Bode Olajumoke, Chief Bode Olowoporoku, Chief Reuben Famuyibo, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Tope Familuyi, Idris Balogun from Ondo, Femi Bamisile and many others.

When Vanguard called some of those who did not attend the meeting, some of them declared the meeting illegal.

High Chief Lekan Balogun said, “it was an illegal meeting.

I was not invited. Even if I was invited, I would not have attended. He can’t call the PDP house to order”.

But, Elder Oyelese said the meeting was not convenient for him but confirmed that he was invited.

,

PDP in the Southwest:

the meeting we are doing here”.

Though, he did not mention any name, Akinjide supported Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on his claims that there are some alleged criminals in the party.

He said, “If anybody says don’t come to this meeting, disregard him. Don’t trust those people.

One of them is a drug addict, I mean the criminal elements who want to lead us. We won’t allow them”.

He explained why some of the other factions were not present.

According to him, invitations will be extended to others in subsequent meetings.

Reading the communique issued at the meeting, Prof.

Adeniran stressed the need to reposition the national working committee of the party for greater effectiveness and impressive performance in order to ensure victories for the party in the south west.

He said further, “the imperative of reviewing the present membership of the NWC with a view to ensuring that all posts are filled in line with our party ’s constitution and to ensure due process and due diligence”.

The delegates also called for the “appointment and inauguration of a caretaker committee for the South West PDP to fill the vacuum which presently exists in the zone until a proper zonal congress is held” Also contained in the communique was the need to constitute a strong South West committee to anchor the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun States”.

They commended President Jonathan for his mature and courageous piloting of the ship of the Nigerian state, especially in the area of the handling the security challenges in the North East region.

Though people may say I am speaking sentimentally because I am from Delta North, I feel this is a positive sentiment that is becoming increasingly popular and common place among all Deltans

Before giving all the factions present at the meeting chance to release their bottled anger, Chief Akinjide appealed to them to sheathe their swords for peace to reign in the party and our country.

Akinjide said, “In Nigerian politics, Yoruba is a zone to reckon with. Why are we taking up arms against one another.

What exactly is happening to us?

If we call ourselves leaders, should we then be found in a demeaning position?”

“We all heard what the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said. If you read the newspapers today,(Saturday), he made some important comments.

In essence, he is in support of

,

The chieftains of the party used the forum to urge president Jonathan to run for a second term in 2015. “We are hundred per cent behind him as demonstrated in 2010 when the South West PDP was the first zone to endorse him as our presidential candidate”.

All those in attendance agreed unanimously that the resolution of the crises should be left in the hands of Chief Akinjide.

However, going by the stance of Senator Balogun and some other chieftains who want to remain silent for now, it is evident that the stormy cloud which hovers on the future of the party is yet to disappear.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

The Berger Suya tanker fire

2014: Lagos records 8 fire disasters in 12 days

By MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS state has recorded eight fire disasters since January 1.

However, Vanguard investigations revealed that the state, through its fire service, has responded to 48 fire alarms within first 12 days of the new year.

The eight disasters caused at

The year started with the fire disaster that razed three houses in Obi-Osa street, Ijesatedo axis of the state, which rendered 70 residents homeless.

The fire was said to have started from one of the inverters in one of the three buildings.

Agege fire - claimed 2 children Two days into the year, another fire outbreak occurred at No. 12, Adebari Street, Agege kill-

,

I cannot state off-hand the number of fire disasters that have occurred in Lagos State in the last 12 days but I can authoritatively tell you that we respond to at least four fire disasters daily since the beginning of the year

least 16 fatalities, with more than 70 residents displaced and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

For the whole of the previous year, 2013, authoritative sources put the total number of fire incidents responded to in the state at 1,537 out of the 2,015 emergency cases reported through the state emergency call centre.

Ijeshatedo fire

,

ing two children and destroying properties worth several millions of naira.

Sawmill, Ipaja fire Five days later, another major fire disaster at about 3;00 am struck again at the Sawmill Market, Pako Bus stop on Ipaja road, destroying millions of property and rendering hundreds of traders jobless.

15 burnt in Berger Suya

tanker fire On January 9, another major tragedy struck where no fewer than 15 people were burnt to death when a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petroluem motor spirit (PMS) or petrol fell and went up in flames that Tuesday night.

The inferno lasted till the following morning, at the Berger Suya junction, Apapa, Lagos.

Also, several buildings, eight vehicles and about 200 lock-up shops including a commercial bank were razed Averted tanker fire at IjuIshaga A day after, another tanker explosion was averted at IjuIshaga axis of the state.

Printing, Minting staff hospital fire Two days later, another fire disaster razed the Nigerian Printing and Minting staff hospital, Yaba destroying several medical equipment.

But the fire was put out by the state fire service after several water tankers were deployed to the scene.

Another tanker fire averted Last Saturday just like the IjuIshaga scenerio, at about 05:50 am, another tanker explosion was averted. The fuel tanker

loaded with 33, 000 liters of PMS at Ajasa Bus Stop, in the Ipaja axis, fell into a drainage.

Infant burnt A day later, at 35, Oke-Erin Street, Ekore Bus Stop, Oworonshoki axis of Lagos state, an infant identified simply as Ibunkun was burnt to death in an early hour inferno that razed several shanties.

Fire Service confirms Speaking on the state of fire disasters in the state, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe said; “I cannot state off-hand the number of fire disasters that has occurred in Lagos state in the last 12 days but I can authoritatively tell you that we respond to at least four fire disasters daily since the beginning of the year.

He however warned the people against self-help in such emergencies saying that they should rather notify appropriate authorities to avoid preventable losses.

Besides, Fadipe warned residents that fire spread faster during the Harmattan, urging them to take precautions against fire outbreaks, particularly during the dry season.

He said that his men had re-

sponded to five different fire outbreaks within the last 24 hours, which included the one at a male hostel at Oriwu College, Ikorodu, on Saturday.

The aftermath of Berger Suya tanker fire

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

— 35

Residents, govt lament menace of fuel tankers •Six distress calls received in a week – Fire service

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ESIDENTS and Lagos state government have expressed concern over security risks posed by the petroleum tankersfrequent accidents with attendant loss of lives and properties in the state.

In the last week, according to sources, the state Fire and Safety Services responded to at least six distress calls concerning fallen takers, filled with 33, litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise called petrol, in different parts of the state.

It will be recalled that a New Year tragedy occurred last Tuesday night when a petroleum tanker, fully loaded with PMS, exploded and killed no fewer than 15 people and burnt several vehicles at Berger Suya, along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

Earlier in the week, there were two reported cases of tankers that overturned and spilled their contents on the road but did not explode.

A day after the Apapa

Oshodi Expressway explosion, there were two other recorded tanker accidents, which though did not result into explosion following the quick intervention of fire services and traffic managers.

One of the tankers fell at IjuIshaga, in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, and the other tanker fell at Ajasa Command, in Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA. Mr Jerry Stephen, a Lagos businessman, accused the Federal Government of not doing the needful in the production and distribution of petroleum products in the country despite the huge income from the oil sector.

Tanker explosions “We, concerned Nigerians, are disturbed by the incessant tanker explosions in the state and in Nigeria generally.

“They have continued to claim innocent lives and property without any pragmatic action from the FG in particular

and the state governments in general..

“Is this how we will continue to witness carnage on our roads due to insensitivity to our plights by our leaders?

“I think the activities of these tankers should be regulated as soon as possible if the authorities cannot fix the rail lines and refineries.”

Mr. Adewale Akinbolade, a civil servant, blamed the operators and owners of the tankers who he accused of having poor maintenance culture.

“The owners are so careless that all they are interested in is to make profit as much as possible, paying little or no attention to the state of their drivers and the vehicles.

“The drivers are so naive that they do not understand simple road signs. The roads are so bad. Our destiny is in our hands. It is for us whether to choose life or otherwise.

“All stakeholders, such as Nigeria Ports Authority, clearing and forwarding agents, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO,

should be fully mobilized to ensure safety so as to reduce the menace of fuel tankers on the roads,” he said.

Fashola fumes, says he’s sad

Reacting to the tanker explosion,, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, urged the Federal Govern-

products are supposed to be transported through the railway. The tanker drivers are not well trained, they don’t have the basic rudiment of driving.

Lack of adequate maintenance of vehicles is some of the teething problems causing carnage on the road by tanker operators.

Opeifa also urged petroleum

,

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

Many Nigerians do not know how to respond to emergency situations. I think the drivers of these tankers should be trained and retrained at intervals. Most times, the causes of accidents are inexperience and fatigue on the part of drivers as well as lack of maintenance culture of Nigerians

,

ment to put in place structures that would encourage transportation of petroleum products on rails rather than on roads, saying it would avert future tragedies.

He lamented; “If we had spent over $10 billion to build rail evacuation of fuel from Apapa and Tin Can Island, maybe those people wouldn’t have died.

“It is really tragic. I just feel diminished by the fact that we lost lives again when they were avoidable and everyone must take his own share of responsibility on this issue.

“I couldn’t find a word to express how sad I feel especially at this time of this year. It is a year that has started on a bad and sad note. It is a very painful and sad note for the families, and our hearts go out to them.”

Commissioner for Transportation, comrade Kayode Opeifa, in his submission also expressed deep concern over the trend saying, the FG, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, should be held responsible.

According to him: “The FG has failed in its responsibility to find a functional means of transporting petroleum products, there is no functional refinery in the country everyone has to come to Lagos to lift refined PMS and others.

“The railway is not working to full capacity. All these

unions to ensure that all drivers are duly certified as it would go a long way in reducing road accidents. He enjoined drivers to be very careful when they are behind the wheels, saying that carelessness and over speeding have been major causes of tanker accidents.

Fire and safety services The Director, Lagos State Fire and Safety Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, while also expressing concern over the rising cases of fallen tankers, confirmed that the fire service responded to about six cases of fallen tankers within the last one week with one fatal incident recorded.

Fadipe lamented the poor attitude of Nigerians to emergency situation.”Many Nigerians do not know how to respond to emergency situation.

I think the drivers of these tankers should be trained and retrained at intervals. Most times, the causes of accidents are inexperience and fatigue on the part of drivers as well as lack of maintenance culture of Nigerians.

“At least before the vehicle is put on the road, adequate inspection should be carried out to determine the level of roadworthiness for safety purpose. But all these precautions are not taken, ” Fadipe said.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

2015: Group rallies support for Jonathan

Ex-PHCN workers protest non-payment of gratuities

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BY AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE ARRI—FORMER workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Warri, Delta State chapter, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest over delayed payment of their gratuities and salaries since they were laid off, following the Federal Government’s privatization of the power sector.

Mr Austin Njagwuani, Chairman, Electrical Employees of Nigeria, Warri zone, expressed displeasure and sadness over attitude of the current management of VIGEO, the firm in charge of Edo and Delta power sections.

He said: “PHCN sacked us from our jobs with outstanding salaries even before the Federal Government’s policy of privatization, which made private companies to buy over PHCN and there was an agreement reached between PHCN and VIGEO to pay the outstanding salaries and gratuities.

“But over three months since we were relieved of our appointment, nothing has been done and we have not heard anything till date.

But we have all agreed that VIGEO must pay us our money, if not, we will not leave their office.”

The protesters sang solidarity songs at the premises of VIGEO

IGERIAN youths under the aegis of Nigerian Youth Mandate, NYM, have started mobilising over 10 million youths across the country to vote en-mass for President Goodluck Jonathan as President in the 2015 general elections.

Mr David Markson, the National President of NYM, made the disclosure, at the inauguration of the Delta State branch in Sapele, saying that Jonathan’s return to the presidential villa in 2015 was not negotiable.

He called on stakeholders to support their choice because it was the only way the South-South region would have a sense of belonging.

Speaking after the inauguration, Mr Felix Usih thanked the national body of the group for finding them worthy for such position and promise to mobilise all Deltans to vote enmass come 2015 for Jonathan.

The meeting had in attendance over 3,000 youths from the 25 local government areas of the state.

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in Warri. Some of the protesters attempted to disrupt VIGEO activities by barring customers from

PDP 'll emerge stronger from crisis — Rep

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN CITY –A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Friday Itulah, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will emerge stronger from its current crisis to win all subsequent elections in the country.

He represents Esan North/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State.

Speaking to Vanguard, week-

end in Uromi after meeting with party faithful in the area, he said that Nigerians were no fools nor can they be deceived as they are aware of which of the political parties that can provide democratic dividends to them.

“Nigerians should not allow the deception they have been witnessing to border them because the representatives were elected by the people. The representatives are not the ones who determine what the people want

U

Chief Tom Ikimi over media reports credited to him that the complaint of former Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in Delta State, Chief Adolo Okotie-Eboh over the inauguration of the APC’s executive in the state was irrelevant.

The group said “the manner in which the purported executive emerged is undemocratic, a complete sham and a total departure from the APC’s cardinal objective

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN CITY—THE Esan Youth Movement, EYM, an umbrella body of Esan youths from Edo Central senatorial district, Edo State, yesterday, lamented alleged failure by Esan leaders, to call a summit of all Esans to come

B

up with a position paper on the proposed national conference.

The group regretted that despite the fact that they have a former governor, in the person of Professor Osarieme Osunbor; Chief Tom Ikimi; a member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP

of rescuing the country from the shackles of misrule and underdevelopment foisted on it by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. “As a man of unwavering belief and support for democratic principles and tenets, who piloted the affairs of the state chapter of ACN to the admiration of all Deltans, all that Okotie-Eboh was seeking was transparency and the use of internal democracy in the process of determining who

becomes member(s) of the party’s interim executive committee in the state.

“It is therefore, a great show of shame to see Tom Ikimi, the South-South Vice Chairman conniving with some members of the party, who are from PDP, who are not members of the legacy group, to scheme Okotie-Eboh out and go ahead to swear-in those that have not been approved by the NEC of the party."

Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; Senator Odion Ugbesia, unlike other ethnic nationalities, Esan people were yet to come up with a position paper on the proposed conference.

A member of EYM Board of Trustees, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, who spoke to Vanguard, warned that if things do not change, the people of Edo Central senatorial district might lose the opportunity to produce the governor of the state in 2016.

He said “it is sad that politics has divided our people so negatively that they have forgotten that we are all brothers and sisters despite our political affiliations. Nigerians know the calibre of men Esan have produced, but as I talk to you, none of these leaders has called our people to say what are those problems confronting Esan people so that we can put them together and discuss at the conference."

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

and many of these people that are defecting from one party to the other are doing so without carrying their people along.

“So, let nobody be scared about the defection either in the National or State Assemblies. The constitution says that you cannot seek an elective position without being sponsored by a political party; so it is the platform on which you were elected that you ought to defend till the very end of that tenure."

National confab: EYM flays Esan leaders over non-articulation of position

....Group asks APC to dissolve Delta interim committee

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—A social polit ical group, Delta Network for Qualitative Governance, DNQG, yesterday, called on All Progressive Congress, APC, to dissolve the purported interim executive committee constituted by the party in Delta State.

DNQG in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Ifeanyi Okocha, berated the National Chairman, South-South of APC,

stored by the quick intervention of soldiers at the gate of the company.

purchasing their monthly tariff cards.

Normalcy was, however, re-

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Missing fund: Should the CBN Governor resign?

I

F it is in advanced countries, Sanusi would have been sacked not even asked to resign for apologizsing to finance minister over the harm his misleading report on missing fund have caused her. That portrays incompetence on his part and very delicate to retain such a person in sensitive and prestigious post of CBN governor. Mr. Uwuanyi Okwudili- Businessman.

I

T will be an insult and abuse of office to force the CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, out for trying to draw the president’s attention to some of the shortfall in the oil revenue. If really Mr. President is serious on fighting corruption in the country, then Sanusi should remain till retirement. Mr. Peter Ekpo- Worker.

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ARTH Nnaji and Fes tus Odimegwu showed Nigerian politicians the honourable thing to do by resigning. Prior to this, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala had resigned under OBJ when the latter wanted to rubbish her blossoming career. So the CBN Governor can honourably join such queue. Mr. Emmanuel Iyoke- Worker.

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EAKING such sensitive information is capable of collapsing the financial market which can be disastrous for our economy.

In a civilized country the governor should have resign by now, but not in Nigeria. It is very clear, we do not know the word honour or what is right. Ms. Mabel Ogechi- Hairdresser.

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ANUSI is not a whistle blower. Whistle blowers do not place themselves above authority. On the contrary, they also do not peddle rumours meant to bring the financial system down.

Telling lies is corruption too. Nigeria is sick of liars.

Mr. Shuaibu Yakubu- Naval Officer.

S

ANUSI was due for sack when it was once reported that more than N21 bilion was missing in Central Bank, when every part of the area was equipped with surveillance cameras and uninterrupted power supply. It’s a big amount and can’t be sneaked out.

But what was the end of the report? Mrs Jennie Okwuazu- Businesswoman.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—37

2015: Why power must shift to Delta North—GROUP

Return to site, Amioku tells NDDC contractors in Delta

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HEAD of the search for who succeeds Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in Delta State, a political pressure group, SouthSouth Youth Political Forum, SSYPF, has insisted that power must shift to Delta North senatorial district, come 2015.

The group, in a statement

by Alaowei Promise Lawuru, its National Chairman and 87 others, said that it was the turn of Delta North people to produce the governor of the state based on an agreement before Uduaghan, representing Delta South, became the governor.

The statement said: “We have 101 reasons why the Delta State governorship position must shift to Delta North, which shall be stated soon. Deltans should, however, focus on the best qualified gubernatorial candidate from Delta North that will bring quality representation and further transform the state.”

It advised intending aspirants from other senatorial districts to drop their ambitions and wait for their turn.

Politicians out to blackmail Akpabio, says commissioner

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KWA Ibom State Government has raised alarm that some politicians were out to blackmail the state governor and the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, PDPGF, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

It urged the general public to be wary of the contemptible politicking of such persons, which has made them resort to smear campaigns ahead of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Aniekan Umanah, in a statement, said some politicians appeared to have declared war on Governor Akpabio, since the governor insisted that the governorship seat should go to Eket senatorial district.

Umanah said that they had masterminded several invidious messages through different avenues, such as the mass media and the internet, to rubbish the governor.

C M Y K

BY FESTUS AHON

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AUCHI DAY: From left: HRH Gen. Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo II, Emir of Zulu, Kebbi State; Chief Host HRH Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, Otaru of Auchi and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Secretary to Edo State Government, who represented the state governor, during the 17th Edition of Auchi Day Celebration, at the Otaru Palace grounds Auchi, Edo State.

Akpatason advocates joint ownership of refineries

BY SIMON

EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—A MEMBER of the House of Representatives and former President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Mr. Peter Akpatason, has advocated the adoption of joint ownership of the country’s refineries rather than outright sale, as being proposed by the Federal Government.

Akpatason, representing Akoko Edo federal constituency of Edo State in the House, also described as laughable, the agitation that lawmakers who dumped Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to All Progressives Congress, APC, would lose their seats, saying that defection was a global practice in any democracy all over the world.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin City, weekend, he argued that

the planned sale of the refineries would not help the sector, “rather, it will help a few pockets, because people are opening companies these days just to bid for the refineries and at the end of the day they will not deliver.

“Today, we have private media outfits like AIT. The question is, did we sell NTA for AIT to come on board?

The answer is no. NTA was left there, it is still there functioning. NTA had no choice but to wake up. So, why don’t you bring in private refineries, let them compete with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and if the NNPC refineries are not ready, let them die a natural death.

“Why not adopt the Nige-

rian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, model also? Nigeria owns 49 per cent, private investors own 51 per cent and they manage this business together."

If Shell, for instance, is the Managing Director, NNPC is Human Resources Director on behalf of the Nigerian people and that model is working, so why don’t we adopt same model for the refineries? Why are we running away from a model that is working and we want to sell to traders, who have no known pedigree in petroleum refining?

“If privatising becomes very necessary after all the options, we will support privatization, but before then, we must look deep into all the options that are available except there is no other option. The we can sell"

Delta South senatorial election'll be litmus test —EMIKO

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ARRI—THE 2015 senatorial election in Delta South will be a litmus test in the struggle for legitimacy and freedom from election riggers, who rob the people of their mandate, says Organising for Delta, OfD, the campaign organisation of Prince Yemi Emiko.

The group, in a statement, weekend, in reaction to the purported declaration by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State to run for Senate in the district in the next general elections, said that the Itsekiri know better than to give their support to those who cannot point to any tangible project they have done in any Itsekiri community in nearly eight years of their tenure.

The group in a statement by its

Director of Operations, Mr Tunde Okorodudu, condemned the timing of the announcement, which he said came at a time of great instability and protracted crisis in much of Iwere land.

It called on all Itsekiri and “indeed the good people of Delta South to rally support for All Progressives Congress, APC, in the zone, to checkmate the brazen rigging of elections."

GHELLI—THE new Delta State Commissioner on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Tom Amioku, has directed contractors handling ongoing projects for the commission in the state to immediately return to site.

Amioku, who gave the directive on his assumption of duties at NDDC office in Warri, said: “President Goodluck Jonathan had advised us to complete ongoing projects before embarking on new projects.”

Received at the Warri office of NDDC by the Director, Delta State office, Mr. Sam Ayadi-Yala and other staff of the office, he said they would pursue President Jonathan’s advice to the letter.

Amioku promised to operate an open door policy and work harmoniously with staff of NDDC and other stakeholders to ensure that the objectives of the commission were realised.

Okolichi for burial

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URIAL rites for the late Iyase of Ibusa, Chief Bright Okolichi, who passed on, aged 82, begin with a wake keep at his residence, Ogbeowele Quarter, Ibusa, on January 24, followed next day by Okanga Dance round the community.

He is survived by many children, including Mr. Chukwuma Okolichi, a former Heavy Weight champion of Nigeria.

Late Chief Okolichi

New JTF Commander vows to combat crude oil theft

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE new Commander of the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Ilyasu Abbah, has pledged to work hard to rid the Niger Delta of crude

oil thieves, illegal refinery camps and sea pirates.

Major-General Abbah made the pledge, weekend, at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while taking over the command of the special security outfit from Major-General Bata Debiro, who recently retired

from the service.

The new JTF Commander, who described the Niger Delta as the hub of the nation's economy, said as a special operational unit of the country's security forces, it has the mandate of the Federal Government to protect the oil installations in the region.

38—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Woman arraigned for violating Lagos rent law

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—A 42- year-old Lagos State government official, O l a t u n b o s u n Onoabhagbe, has been arraigned before an EbuteMetta Magistrate's Court, over alleged threat to life and for soliciting two years rent against the state’s rent law.

The defendant, who was docked before Magistrate Olatunbosun Abolarinwa, is facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, threat to life, unlawful damage, breach of peace and collecting of two years rent, preferred against her by the police.

Police prosecutor, Cyril Ejiofor, told the court that the defendant and others at large, committed the alleged offence in June 20, 2013.

He said the incident happened at Iponri Shopping Complex at Surulere area of Lagos.

Ejiofor said Onoabhagbe threatened to eliminate one Abiodun Olufunsho, adding that the defendant, who rented out a shop to Olufunsho at the rate of N250,000 per year, collected the sum of N500,000, for two years which the complainant paid to her.

Why we must build an airport, by Gov Orji

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BY ANAYO OKOLI

M U A H I A — GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has stated the desire by his administration on building an airport in the state.

According to him, the airport project is a noble project worth initiating, even if it will not be completed within the life of his administration.

Orji spoke in Umuahia when he received officials of Euro Asia Global Services Ltd, technical partners to CGCOC China construction group, who are interested in actualising the airport project.

The governor explained that the airport project was borne out of requests by Abia businessmen as it would boost the economy of the state.

According to the governor, land for the project has been secured in a centrally located area of the state between Ikwuano and Olokoro in Umuahia South.

Imo govt replies minister, presents score card

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State government said yesterday that it had within two and a half years built an average of 10 schools at a cost of N27.5 million each and a modern hospital at an average cost of N110 million.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor, who disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri yesterday, also affirmed that he was presenting government’s score card in response to the challenge recently thrown at Governor Rochas Okorocha by the Minister of External Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri.

Okafor said: “This administration has equally constructed 15-kilometer stretch of asphalted roads with drainages at a cost of N60 million each, revealing an average investment of N1.285 billion in infrastructural development in each local government area of the state.”

He said the state government replicated these projects in all 27 local council areas of the state, and wondered why the

minister accused Okorocha of developments not commensurate with federal allocation to the state.

While insisting that the projects were verifiable, the commissioner also said that in spite of the enormous

infrastructural burden before the administration, it had consistently and timely paid the salaries of local government workers, primary school teachers and monthly pensions of retired local government workers, with a wage bill of over

N2.1 billion monthly.

Okafor insisted that the 12-year rule of her party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, did not achieve the feat, pointing out that the impulse to unduly malign a government that truncated her ambition to become a deputy governor was understandable”

WORKSHOP: From left: Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb.. James Entwistle and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, at the workshop on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism in Abuja, yesterday.

Poilce reform: 1% deduction from states' allocation to commence this month

BY EVELYN USMAN

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BUJA—THE one percent first line charge deduction from revenue allocated to the 36 states to fund the Nigeria Police, with a view to reforming and repositioning the Force, will commence this month.

Making the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), explained that the introduction of the one percent revenue allocation would go a long way to assist in funding the Police Reform Programme, by providing more logistics, equipment, welfare and training, among others.

Commending President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating such a move, Olubolade explained that the measure became pertinent when it was glaring that the regular budget was not enough to cater for the operational needs and welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Said he: “ The President initiated the reform budget to ensure that neglect of the Force becomes a thing of the past. We have the regular budget and the reform budgets targeted at making provisions for the Nigeria Police Force. The reform budget is used to boost professionalism in the Police,

while the regular budget is mainly managed by the Inspector General of Police and the Police Management Team for capital and recurrent expenditures of the Police. In the last two years, a lot has been accomplished within the

resources provided, particularly in the reform budget.

“In the case of the reform budget, when it became clear that the releases to the ministry was dwindling as a result of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation, Mr. President

gave a clear directive to the Vice President, who is the Chairman of the Interim Implementation Committee on Police Reform Programme, to find an alternative way of funding the reform programme. This singular initiative has brought about the needed solution to fund the reform programme."

....Rights group tasks FG on funding of INEC

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS—A civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, has called on the Federal Government to properly fund the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct free and fair general elections in 2015.

It also called for the conclusion of the proposed national dialogue and amendment of the country’s constitution before the conduct of the 2015 general polls.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, in a statement, in an open letter to the President, said: “Without prejudice to the planned national conference of whatever name called, the National Assembly, working on constitutional amendment, should, as a matter of urgency, incorporate into the constitution the rotation of the Presidency among the six geopolitical zones

under reference. “ It should also state clearly on the premise of equity which zone should take the first shot, bearing in mind that South East and North East have not governed Nigeria in recent times."

“If same is accepted, the

arrangement must accommodate the Christians and minorities of Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States. It is very important to point out that in the rotational arrangement being demanded, there will be a time for each beneficiary zone to 'cry and smile.'”

Abia govt lauds US on lifting of travel ban

BY ANAYOOKOLI MUAHIA—ABIA State government has commended the United States government for lifting the travel ban previously imposed on the state on account of insecurity.

The US government had imposed a travel ban on Abia and a few other states in the country as a result of poor security situation, including kidnapping and other violent crimes.

The government’s gratitude was expressed yesterday in Umuahia by the Chief Press

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Secretary to Governor Theodore Orji, Charles Ajunwa.

Ajunwa said U.S citizens could now travel to Abia and neighbouring states to do business, following improvement in security.

He said Abia State government was happy with the development, noting that Governor Orji had done very well in the area of security and peaceful co-existence.

According to him, the lifting of the ban is a clear testimony that Orji’s administration has done a lot to boost security in the state.

Vanguard,TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014—39

WEDDING: From left, First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; bride's mother, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, and her husband, Chief Tayo Makanjuola, at the wedding ceremony of Adetutu, Chief Makanjuola's daughter, in Abuja, weekend.

LUNCH: Governor Godswill Akpabio (middle); Dr. Ernest Azudialu,CEO, Nest Oil Group (left), and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Managing Director, Mr. Dan Abia, during a lunch with members of Nest Group of companies, at the Governor's Lodge, Uyo.

VISIT: Front row, from left, Chief Chris Umukoro - 1st vice president, Urhobo Social Club Lagos, USCL; Chief Simeon Ohwofa - president, USCL; Professor Amos Utuama - Delta State Deputy Governor; Chief Johnson Barovbe - former president/leader, USCL, and Mr. Austin Isire- 2nd vice president. Back row, from left, Professor Ben Oghojafor - member; Mr. Omah Tadafe - former presient; Engr. Isaiah Erhirhi - member; Mr. Jitobor Akanike - legal adviser; Chief Silver Etsemitan - public relations officer; Mr. Marcus Okagbare - elder; Chief Edoreh Agba - member, and Chief Tony Efegherimoni - member, during USCL's visit to Deputy Governor of Delta State, at his residence, in Delta State.

INSPECTION: From left, Mr. Theo Azinge, Chairman, Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Asaba; Mr. Leader Eju, board member, DBS; Mr. Ewere Eluebo, board member, and Engr. Monday Imariagbe, Head of Dept, Engineering, DBS, Asaba, during inspection of facilities at the state TV and radio stations by DBS. Photo: Nath Onojake

FUN-FAIR: MTN’s Trade Marketing Consultant, Imo State 2, Chibuzo Ajomiwe (middle), presenting a box of noodles to one of the winners, Mr. Amadi Everest (left), and MTN’s Sopuru Uzoho (right), during MTN Family Fun-fair, in Owerri, Imo State.

CONFERENCE: National Publicity Secretary, Northern Patrotic Front, Alhaji Musa Zubaru; National Chairman, Northern Alternative Forum, Malam Gidado Ibrahim, and National Coordinator, Northern Youths Congress, Mr. Abdulmumini Tijani, at a news conference on the state of the nation, in Abuja, yesterday.

Industrialist and elderstatesman, Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas (left) with public relations consultant, Aramide Tola Noibi, at the funeral service of Madam Susanah Odusote, at the St. John's African Church, Okeagbo, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

CORONATION: From left, His Royal Majesty, Ekiti Kalesibe III, Olukole of Ikole Iloro Ekiti, Oba Babalola Ezkiel Oladele (JP); Special Adviser Chieftancy to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Aderemi Ajayi; High Chief Olajide Awe , and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor, during Oba Oladele's coronation ORDINATION: Eben Eric Osinachi (right), and John Mgbeahuruike (right), during and presentation of Staff of Office by Governor Fayemi, at Iloro Grammar their ordination as deacons, and His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. L.I. Ugorji (Bishop of Umuahia Diocese), at the Umuahia Cathedral, in Umuahia, Abia State.

School Playground. Photo: Shola Oyelese

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Kebbi earmarks N140.6m for four new nomadic schools

800 teachers to benefit from Nasarawa special training programme

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AFIA—THE Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, said more than 800 science and mathematics teachers in the state would benefit from a special training programme, this year.

The programme was part of the bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Japan.

Malam Salisu Isah, the Director of Quality Assurance of the board said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday, in Lafia.

The director said under the agreement, some of the teachers would be trained as facilitators, who would in turn train other teachers in the state on modern and easier methods of teaching the subjects.

“Thirteen of the mathematics and science teachers are currently attending a training programme at the National Teachers Institute in Kaduna.

“They will in turn come back to the state after the training to train 800 mathematics and science education teachers on the programme “The programme was designed to improve on the teaching and learning of mathematics and science education.

“It is to equip the teachers with enhanced knowledge and skills which will impact on the pupils and students positively in their grasp of the subjects.

“That is why the federal government and Japan entered into partnership to enhance the standard of science and mathematics education in the country,” he said.

The director urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme to “equip themselves with modern method of teaching mathematics and science education”, so as to make it easier for students to understand.

Isah also urged parents to give priority to girlchild education.

BRIEFING—From left: The Diocesan Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Diocese, Most Rev'd Josiah Idowu-Fearon with an official of the NUJ Correspondents Chapel,Kaduna State, Mr Saxzone Akhaine at the Bishop's media briefing in Kaduna, Weekend. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Rep condemns killing of 30 people in Plateau

BY TAYE OBATERU

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OS— A MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Plateau State, Mr. Bitrus Kaze has joined in condemning last Monday’s killing of over 30 people at Shonong, saying the continued killings despite the presence of the Special task Force, STF, in the state for over six years calls for a review of the security strategy on ground.

He said in a statement that the planned national conference should be used to revisit the need for state police since Federal Government’s security agencies appear unable to cope with the security challenges in different parts of the country.

“These dark years of terrorism even on military installations have put to question the capacity of the Federal Government controlled security agencies alone to curb crime. The call for State Police therefore becomes imperative especially now that the Goodluck Jonathan presidency is staging a National Conference.

“The State Police will understand better its topography, psyche and local sentiments for effective crime control. The efficacy of the Civilian JTF in Borno State and Operations Rainbow on the Plateau in intelligence gathering and counter terrorism provide clinical examples”, he said.

Kaze who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency faulted a situation where the STF often claim to have repelled the attackers after they have wreaked havoc on communities adding, “it offends the collective sensibilities of our people when STF goes to press to commend its men for pursu-

ing terrorists to obscurity only after maximum damage has been done.”

He said the situation had become frustrating for political, religious and other leaders of thought who had been reassuring the people of an end to the attacks as they “no longer know what to say” in the face of the recurring attacks.

He commended the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, for speaking up against the killings and for challenging the STF to be more alive to its responsibility urging other labour unions to join her in this crusade.

“Having lost several members to terrorism, the pains and frustrations expressed by the Plateau State Chapter of the NUJ must be understood

and taken very seriously”, Kaze said.

The council had in a communique at the end of a congress on Wednesday last week expressed worry that the attacks had continued for years without let despite the presence of the STF and wondered why none of the attackers has ever been arrested despite repeated claims by the force to have “repelled” the attacks.

It urged “the commander of the task force to investigate all allegations against possible culpability and connivance of his men in some of these killings” and the Federal Government to release reports on investigations into past crises especially the one by the Solomon Lar Presidential Advisory Committee.

IRNIN KEBBI— THE Kebbi Government has earmarked N140.6 million for the construction of four additional nomadic schools to emnhance access to education for children of nomads.

Alhaji Nasiru Masama, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Saidu Dakingari on Nomadic Affairs made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Birnin Kebbi.

Masama said the money would be used to construct four primary schools, one each in Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru Local Government Areas of the state.

“The Council Chairmen of those areas will determine a suitable location for the schools,” he said.

The aide said the state government would also establish adult literacy classes for the nomads, in addition to providing learning materials and qualified teachers to the schools for effective teaching and learning.

According to him, arrangements have been made to secure admission in tertiary institutions for students from nomadic schools who completed secondary education with required grades.

Benue APC leaders walk out on Akume

BY PETER DURUBB

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AKURDI —THE cri sis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, has degenerated as leaders of the party walked out on the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, at a harmonization meeting of all opposition parties in the state on Sunday.

Sources told Vanguard that the meeting which took place in Makurdi, the state capital, was called by leaders of opposition parties to harmonise their views with the aim of collapsing into the APC. “Trouble started when the former Governor decided to

nominate and imposed his long time political associate and friend, Targema Takema as the chairman of the harmonization committee.

“The development infuriated majority of the leaders at the meeting because most of them felt that he lacked the pedigree, experience and political clout to head such a sensitive committee,” the sources said.

The Deputy Governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN during the 2011 election, Alhaji Abubakar Usman (Young Alhaji) confirmed that he walked out of the meeting in protest of the alleged au-

thoritarian tendencies of Senator Akume.

“Akume imposed Takema wrongfully on the party, Takema was never a member of ACN. All the processes that took place was against the constitution of the party. I, Senator Waku and many other people had to walk out of that meeting,” added.

In his reaction, the state chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, and leader of the New APC in the state, Mr. Baba Agan said, “as leader of the New APC in Benue State, I can assure you that our faction will continue to resist the autocratic tendencies of Senator Akume in the state.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2013—41

The scnene of Rivers protest and Police (Top right) moving in to disperse the protesters. Photos: Jimitota Onoyume.

Ogoni youths protest gun attack on Abe Continues from page 8 Khana local government areas.”

He added that what made them to notify the Police of its planned event, was for them to provide security and not to secure a police permit to hold a legitimate function. According to him, Section 1 of the Public Orders Act which the Police relies on to insist on Police permit had been quashed by the Court Appeal in a well celebrated judgement, adding that it was inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution.

According to him, it had become evident that the state was clearly under siege by the Police, adding that what the Police did on Sunday was barbaric and an attempt to replace democracy with autocracy.

According to him, five members of the forum were missing as a result of the action of the Police on Sunday.

Asked for the names of the members, he said they would still conceal them from the press in the meantime.

Our members missing — SRM “Some of our members are still missing as a result of the rascality of the Police. We want to state without fear that the SRM shall be available to defend the Rivers man”.

Also counsel to the group, Mr Ken Atswuete, condemned the action of the Police on Sunday. He said that the Police infringed on the freedom of movements of residents of the area that Sunday, when it barricaded the Rumuola Road, Port Harcourt.

He condemned the alleged attack on Senator Abe, accusing the Police of gross abuse of federal might.

Abe arrives London hospital Meanwhile, Senator Abe, has arrived in London for further treatment.

Media aide to the Senator, Mr Honour Sirawoo, told Vanguard that what he could say was that Senator Abe arrived London safely, adding

that he had been admitted in a hospital.

Also, a civil society leader, Mr Celestine Akpobari, has portrayed Sunday’s alleged shooting of Senator representing Rivers South East

District, Magnus Abe, as a conspiracy to deny Ogonis of Rivers State, the chance to produce the next governor of the state.

Akpobari, Coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, as mixed reactions continue to trail intrigues over

police decision to disperse the crowd at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, where the Save Rivers Movement was billed to stage a rally.

“Out of thousands of people who were at the venue of the planned rally, why should the Police single out Sen. Abe to manhandle? I see this as another grand plan to deny the Ogoni their genuine demand for the 2015 governorship.

“This incident is a manifestation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s fear that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was training 1,000 snipers outside the country for political reasons.

“What the Police did on Sunday was a clear prelude to what we should expect in 2015. As we progress in the year, we are likely to see more

acrimony. My prayer is that politicians in this country should tread with caution in the interest of the common masses.”

Livingston Wuchie, Spokesperson for Rivers State chapter of the Civil liberty Organisation, CLO, however, doubted if Senator Abe was shot by the Police.

“Let them show proof and then drag the police to court the moment the truth is established that he was actually shot.

Every Nigerian should be given the equal treatment no matter the person’s social standing.

“People are crying today because it is senator Abe. What would have happened if it was an ordinary Nigerian? If Abe was not shot as they claim, then his party, APC will now have a credibility problem,” Wechie said.

TERROR: US court upholds Abdulmutallab’s guilty plea An appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Nigerian man who pleaded guilty to trying to blow up a Detroitbound airliner with a bomb in his underwear.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab admitted he was outfitted with a bomb on behalf of alQaida. But he still appealed his guilty plea, claiming a Detroit federal judge made a series of improper decisions.

In a 3-0 decision Monday, an appeals court affirmed the conviction and life sentence. The Cincinnati-based court says the judge did noth-

ing wrong in declining to order a mental health exam.

The court says the com-

plexity of Abdulmutallab’s plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas 2009 shows he was com-

petent to stand trial.

Abdulmutallab’s explosive caused a fire but didn’t destroy the plane.

Jonathan signs anti-same sex bill

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BUJA — PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill yesterday that criminalizes same-sex relationships, defying Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans

gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the National Assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.

Presidency spokesman Reuben Abati told Reuters he had now done so.

As in much of sub-Sa-

haran Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular. Jonathan is expected to seek reelection in 2015 but is under pressure after several dozen lawmakers and a handful of regional governors defected to the opposition in the past two months.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

EID MAULUD: Jonathan, Mark, others advise Nigerians

BY BEN AGANDE

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, have enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of honesty, selflessness, charity, tolerance, good neighbourliness, justice, equity and fairness which Prophet Mohammed preached and exemplified during his life time.

In his message to mark Eid Malud, the birthday of Prophet Muhammed, President Jonathan assured Nigerians that his administration will not be distracted from working diligently to bring all of its priority developmental programmes and projects to a successful conclusion.

Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati quoted him as saying : “As Muslims in the country join believers in other parts of the world in celebrating the Prophet’s birth, President Jonathan urges them to offer special prayers during the Eid-elMaulud for greater peace, unity and progress in Nigeria. ”Also, as this year’s Eid-elMaulud fortuitously comes just a day before the nation’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, President Jonathan urges all Nigerians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to seize the opportunity of the Eid to offer special prayers as well for officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces who continue to do their best to protect the nation’s territorial integrity.

PDP moves to stop change in House leadership •Seeks injunction against Tambuwal, 52 Reps members

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—WORRIED over its gradual loss of grip at the National Assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal and 52 other lawmakers from altering or changing the leadership of the House.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, PDP averred that a ‘rebel’ group of 46 lawmakers, led by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, had perfected plans to change the leadership of the House upon resumption from their recess.

The party had argued, “If the House is not restrained by the court and they take any step, it will foist on the court a state of fait accompli. The plaintiff will be prejudiced if this application is refused. Monetary compensation will not atone for the damage that will be done to the plaintiff in place of this interim injunction. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application.”

It prayed the court to compel the lawmakers, including those that have decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC, to maintain their status-quo, pending the hearing and final determination of the suit.

The party, through its counsel, Mr. Yunus Usman, SAN, is also asking the court to determine, whether in view of the mandatory provision of section 68(i) (g) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, and in view of the pendency of a suit between Senator Bello Gwarzo and 78 others against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and four others before the Federal High Court, Abuja, the defendants, can validly function as members of the

Court orders direct payment of judiciary funds

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA —THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, ordered that funds accruing to the judiciary from the Federal Account/Consolidated Revenue Fund, should henceforth, be paid directly to the heads of courts of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Delivering judgment in a suit by Judiciary Staff Association of Nigeria, JUSUN, an umbrella body of workers in the justice sector, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, held that going by the provisions of sections 81(3), 212(3) and 162(9) of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, it was illegal and unconstitutional for the judiciary arm of government in various states of

the federation to continue receiving their statutory allocations in piecemeal through the states’ Ministry of Finance as and when the governors so desire.

“The era of cap-in-hand begging for funds to run the judiciary should stop. The effect of allowing the governors to rely on their whims and caprices in determining when to release fund for the day-to-day operation of the judiciary is not farfetched as it is evident in the incessant undue interference by the Executive, continued reduction in budgetary allocation to the judiciary, poor infrastructure and dilapidation of court buildings and chambers, low morale of judicial workers and corruption."

House of Reps, contribute to, or, vote on any motion and or debate in the proceedings of the House with a view to removing or sanctions 2nd to 10th defendants or any of the principal officers of the House.

Defendants in the suit include, Deputy Speaker (Emeka Ihedioha), Mulikat AkandeAdeola (the Majority Leader), Leo Ogor (Deputy Majority Leader), Isiaka Bawa (Chief Whip), Ahmed Mutkar (Deputy Chief Whip), Gbajabiamila (Minority Leader), Samsom Osagie (Minority Whip) and Su-

maila Kawu (Deputy Minority Leader).

The party urged the court to also determine whether in view of the mandatory provision of section 68(i) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the aforementioned pending suit, the 23rd to 79th defendants can lawfully alter the composition or constitution of the leadership of the 1st defendant.

It sought “A declaration that the 11th to 52nd defendants who are 23rd to 79th plaintiffs in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/621/ 2013, between Senator Bello

Hayatu Gwarzo & 78 Ors V. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur & 4 Ors, are not competent to sponsor, contribute or vote on any motion calling for the removal or change in the leadership of the House of Reps or the removal of any of the Principal Officers of the 1st defendant.

•An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants particularly 2nd to 52nd defendants, their agents, servants, privies, or through any person or persons however from taking any step or further steps, sitting, starting or doing anything to alter, remove or change the leadership of the House.”

From left: traditional ruler of Shape community, Alhaji Usman; AMAC chairman, Mr. Micah Jiba welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan to the launch of operation light-up rural Nigeria project at Shape and Durumi communities in FCT, Abuja, yesterday.

Boko Haram: Court gives FG 7 days to try Kogi varsity lecturer

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA— A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, gave the Federal Government, seven days to arraign in court, Dr. Mohammed Nazeef Yunus, a lecturer at the Kogi State University, Ayingba, and five others arrested by the Department of State Service, DSS, following their alleged involvement with the Boko Haram sect.

Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that since October 30, 2013, when the suspects were arrested, the government ought to have concluded its investigation on the matter and charge them to court, saying it would be unconstitutional to perpetually keep the accused person in detention.

The other suspects the court said should be arraigned within seven days are Umar Musa

(a.k.a Abubakar), Mustapha Yusuf (a.k.a Habib), Ismaila Abdulazeez, Ibrahim Isa Hayafu and Salami Abdullahi.

It will be recalled that Dr Nazeef who was hitherto a lecturer in the Department for Islamic Studies was said to be the spiritual leader of a Boko Haram cell situated in Igala land in Kogi State. The DSS had maintained that the 44-year old lecturer, who hails from Idah, Kogi State and a graduate of Islamic University of Medina, Saudi Arabia, confessed that he had conducted several preaching sessions every last Saturday and Sunday of the month at Ethosho secondary school Ojiolo, Dekina, Kogi, where he had about 80 adherents.

He was also said to have confessed to teaching his adherents the virtues of Jihad (Holy war) and the sanctity of the Sharia system as an alternative

form of governance.

While parading the suspects, Deputy Director of Information at the DSS, Ms. Marylyn Ogar further told newsmen that Dr Nazeef, aside having an extensive nexus with Boko Haram cells in Maiduguri, also facilitated the trip of two of his adherents to Boko Haram’s Sambisa camp in Maiduguri for training in weapon handling, allegations that were vehemently denied by the suspect who insisted that he was being framed up.

Meanwhile, the DSS had on November 25, 2013, obtained an ex-parte order from the court to hold the accused persons for 25 days to enable it conclude investigations on the matter, a period that has since elapsed. Consequently, the suspects, through their team of lawyers led by Mr Hassan Liman, SAN, and Mr James Ocholi, SAN, approached the court, asking it to set aside the ex-parte order, alleging that it was obtained surreptitiously by the respondent.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 43 YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SCORPIO: Monetary Venus makes an ingress into your Star sign with good luck to you. Financial success is closer to you than you can imagine. Give it a big push.

SAGITTARIUS: Here is a good day when influential personalities around you will be willing to assist you but you will need to take the initiative. Take good advice.

CAPRICORN:This is your day. The more ambitious you are along your career line the better for you. And friends are willing to give the needed supports.

AQUARIUS:Your mind is truly active and if you’re more practical about it success’ll crown your efforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

PISCES:Coming of monetary and loving Venus into a positive angle to your Star sign is a big plus. On a day like this the more ambitious you are the better. It’s good to be loving.

By Richard Eromosele

F

ORGIVENESS simply put is to let go our annoyance of someone for offending us. All great religions is centered on this — forgiveness of wrongs done us so that our own wrongs to other peo-

Forgive And Forget ple could also be forgiven us. We are not only required to forgive, we are enjoined to forgive and forget completely.

Have you ever practised the act of for-

giveness? To forgive is strength. To forget is to regain life. For both the perceived offender and the offended are prisoners.

When you refused to forgive you end up

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

drawing back yourself while making effort to keep the other man down. No matter how much you have been offended, have a large heart. Allow God to heal your hurt especially this season.

By Lanre Kehinde

ARIES:The more willing you are to listen to your partners and/or spouse the better for you today. Friends are trying to convince you that the are reliable.

TAURUS: The more push-full you are along your career/ business lines the better. Embrace new method at work.

Don’t neglect your love life.

GEMINI:Here is a day you are not meant to ignore new ideas that come suddenly. It’s good to take matters of the heart more seriously. Listen to your spouse please.

CANCER:Monetary and romantic Venus at positive angle to your Star and bringing you good influence. Be more ambitious.

LEO:Although your being co-operative can enhance your scope, your personal ideas and initiative are guarantee for a bigger do.

VIRGO:Those of you who are more consistent will have more to gain. Good ideas on monetary issues will enhance your finances. Be more family minded.

LIBRA:Entrance of monetary and romantic Venus into a positive angle is meant to enhance your finances. The more willing you are to take good advice the better. Be loving..

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

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

Basic characteristics of Scorpio TIME SCOPE = JAN 20 – JAN 25 RULER =AGGRESSIVE MARS AND MANIPULATIVE PLUTO. QUALITY = FIXED ELEMENT = WATER. SYMBOLS =SCORPION AND THE EAGLE. GROUP = FEMININE. ZODIACAL POSITION = THE 8TH. Scorpio stands for secret, sex, sin, death, jealousy and regeneration. You can see that sex and death have powers to compel any earth’s inhabitant to surrender. Thus, Scorpio is the most powerful of all the 12 zodiac signs. That is why you are endowed with strong will powers that can be used to regenerate either yourself or those close to you.

Scorpio is a water sign. It’s natives are emotional types with powerful intuition. They are of inclination to protect their loved ones and/or the people with weaker personality, however, if they have any cause to doubt the loyalty or sincerity of such person/persons, they tend to become jealous and the strong love they have for the person can turn to hatred. And as they are the type capable of intensive love and bitter hatred, it is not good to incur their wrath.

Scorpio-being a member of fixed signs, it’s natives are not keen lovers of change. That is why you always love to make success of any important project of yours before consideration can be given to another one. And by so doing, you make yourself a reliable person.

The water element of Scorpio makes them highly mysterious personalities who intuition (and emotion) can be regarded as extra-ordinary.

Although, other influence in your natal horoscope can tempt some people to think that you are very open; the truth is, you can be highly secretive person who knows what he wants and how to get it.

Your being secretive has many advantages, thus, you are encouraged not to be tempted to open up unnecessarily whenever it comes to manipulation of unseen forces or psychic energies. Let it be known that African Scorpio born person that refuses to acknowledge the reality of occult forces heads for failure.

Whoever tries to jeopardise your interest and/or anything that is important to you and yours will be met with resistance. Equally, Scorpio tends to nurse grudge; that is why some people will say natives of this powerful zodiac sign are truly good friends but dangerous enemies.

Pluto’s ruling influence over Scorpio makes Scorpio’s desire for unknown to be strong. That is why many Astrologers call Scorpios the deadly detectives. And a well-developed Scorpio is as bold as aggressive soldiers and fears no death. In other words, you have all the traits of the most powerful Star sign Scorpio.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

44—

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 14, 2014 TUESDA

Crisis in the health sector:

Health professionals in war of words

By SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

A

all is not well with the health sector in Nigeria. For months on end, the industry has been entwined in a web of dispute, discord, protests and wranglings culminating in or arising from strikes, or threats of strikes and other expressions of disharmony. Watchers of the industry have interceded at various times, but rather than wane, the spate of unrest is waxing stronger - strongly suggesting

the extent to which there is no love lost among the professional groups. Even as accusations and counter-accusations continue to fly around as to who takes responsibility for the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s healthcare system, the agitations for “justice” have also become much more strident. Sadly, Industrial dispute now has the sector by the jugular - in a death-grip. Lately, series of wranglings has forced dividends of healthcare delivery to its knees. A fortnight ago, in acceding to the demands of the Nigeria Medical

Association, NMA, President Goodluck Jonathan, among other assurances, promised to appoint a Surgeon General for the Federation.

But last week, the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, in league with the Assembly of Health Sector Professionals called for unconditional halt to the appointment of a Surgeon General for the Federation and threatened fire and brimstone in default.

Aggrieved parties have since expressed divergent views on this seemingly intractible issue as well as

other matters of mutual interest.

The question making the rounds now is whether such unhealthy rivalry is good for the country's already battered health sector. Who will save the troubled sector from imminent collapse? In this first part of our special series on Crisis in the Health Sector, health professionals bare their minds on the proposed appointment of the Surgeon General and their thoughts on attaining the elusive peace and harmony. Excerpts:

Surgeon General will address critical gaps in healthcare delivery —Dr. Osahon Enabulele, President, Nigeria Medical Association

I

N line with the need to promote the growth, development and good health of Nigeria, there is a compelling need for the establishment of the Office of the Surgeon-General of the Federation to be occupied by a licensed medical/dental professional (called Surgeon-General of the Federation) who, as an officer of the nation, should be an independent officer and not a member of any political party.

as the power to assess the medical fitness of political office holders.

Independence

He/She should independently articulate national and international health perspectives based on evidence-based best practices targeted at empowering Nigerians for healthy living. Importantly, the SurgeonGeneral of the Federation, amongst other functions, should be conferred with the technical, professional coordination and expert leadership of a commissioned Medical Emergency Corps to handle public health/medical emergencies during disasters, as well

Health Ombudsman

In different countries, there is a Health Ombudsman whose duty it is to technically guide the nation on matters of public health importance.

Different countries have different names for their Health Ombudsman who is held responsible for the health of the nation and who is not subject to the vagaries of politics. What is important is therefore the accorded roles and responsibilities and overall objective.

In Nigeria, there used to be a Chief Health Adviser, including Sir Manuwa, who made remarkable contributions to the growth of the health system.

No conflict

•Dr. Osahon Enabulele

It should be noted that the functions of the Surgeon-General of the Federation are not in conflict with those of the Minister of Health, but rather are complementary. The Office, through its separate and statutorily defined functions, will support the work done by the Minister and Mr

President on health with improved technical competence and stability brought to bear on the health of Nigerians.

Similar positions

It should also be noted that similar posts already exist in Nigeria's public service and they perform useful services. These include AccountantGeneral of the Federation, as distinct from the Minister of Finance; Surveyor-General as distinct from the Minister of Lands and Housing; Attorney-Genera, Auditor-General as distinct from the Minister of Finance and Statistician-General.

Conviction

I wish to once more express my patriotic conviction that our country urgently needs to establish the Office of Surgeon-General of the Federation as a way of addressing critical gaps in our constitutional, political and

Continues on page 45

Nigeria needs appointments that can ameliorate our burdens —Pharm Olumide Akintayo, President, Pharmaceutical

time. What is the enabling law to justify the appointment of Surgeon General in Nigeria?

Our nation needs appointments that can truly impact by ameliorating the burdens of our depressed citizenry and not those that intensify conflict potentials in a perennially tension soaked sector at the detriment of overwhelming pubic interest. SurgeonGeneral is not a professional cadre.

Society of Nigeria, PSN

T

HE justification for the position of a Surgeon - General, hinged on the need for such a public officer to be saddled with the responsibility of coordinating public health on face value is ridiculous and certainly most unconvincing. This is because the basic tenets of medical training positions any registered medical practitioner to undertake the responsibility of driving processes that border on public health.

Duplication

It is instructive to note that the office of the Assistant Secretary of health to which the Surgeon General reports in the United State of America is junior to the Minister of State for Health in Nigeria.

The office in whatever nomenclature

will mean an unnecessary duplication of offices and functions which are presently being articulated and undertaken by the office of the Minister of Health and the Minister of State for Health with an array of Directors, Deputy Directors and Assistant Directors. Some stakeholders in health probably see Nigeria as a Health outpost that deserves a Chief Medical Officer.

Consequences

One is bound to ask if the President has powers to appoint a Surgeon General. The concept remains both unconstitutional and outrightly unlawful. It is an unnecessary procedure. On face value, it is valueless.

Government is advised to remember the consequences of the unlawful Medical Salary Scale, MSS, of the 90's

Team concept

The fact is that healthcare is increasingly a team concept and multidisciplinary where each stakeholder contributes to a pooled effort to achieve desired outcomes.

The health sector has suffered from avoidable entropy because of ill conceived policies and statutes over

•Pharm Olumide Akintayo

Continues on page 45

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 14, 2014—45 TUESDA

Surgeon - General will create a veritable platform Nigeria needs appointments — Dr. Anthony Omolola, National President, Association of General Private Medical

Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN

I

T is so unfortunate we are witnessing the current crisis in the health sector because they are avoidable or can be minimised. The wealth of a nation is measured by how healthy the citizens are. The implications of strike in the health sector have major consequences on the economy of the nation.

Loss of lives is the most important consequence and increased morbidity.

Strike should be the last weapon of negotiation in the 21st century when lobbying, constructive dialogue have failed.

Even at the face of strike,

emergencies should be attended to as to reduce mortality. Also government should take the issue of health very seriously because it's her responsibility to provide good health for her citizen.

The issue of Surgeon General will create a veritable platform for many health issues intra and inter professional disputes can easily be sorted out. The health team has to work together in a synchronized manner as to achieve proper health delivery system. Everybody has a role to the patient.

Continued from page 44 which is the precursor of the industrial disharmony in the public service where different cadres of workers agitate for discriminatory and exclusive wages.

The move to appoint a Surgeon General will lead to demands for such by all cadres of workers and therefore makes government more vulnerable to strikes and shut-downs in the months ahead.

We all believe that access to good health is the right of the Nigerian citizen, but what we are saying as long as we continue to embrace and encourage these half measures and methodologies grounded in nepotism, so long shall we continue to contend with negative indices in healthcare.

Govt has failed to enthrone peace and harmony

• Dr. Anthony Omolola

S-G will address critical gaps Continued from page 44 medical history.

I am clear on the fact that beyond the opposition being engineered on the basis of primitive prejudices, this creation of the Office of the SurgeonGeneral will help to significantly improve Nigeria's essential health indicators, with the overall aim of driving growth, development and the future progress of Nigeria.

—Pharm Azubike Okwor, Past President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN

I

THINK the Nigerian Medical Association was playing politics when it used the threat of strike to force Mr. President to make promises of appointment of a Surgeon General which we all know cannot be done by Presidential fiat.

In the 6th Senate, Dr. Mamora, a distinguished Senator from Lagos State, sponsored a Nigerian Medical Association bill seeking the appointment of a Surgeon General.

That effort was defeated at the Senate, but it gave other stakeholders is an opportunity to give their perspective on the issue. Our take then

which still represents the view of many stakeholders is that the appointment of a Surgeon General was an ego trip by medical doctors who are losing sleep, because there are nomenclatures and appointments like Attorney General, Accountant General, Surveyor General and others in our polity.

The Surgeon General in the USA where it is popular is the head of an interventionist commissioned corps of officers much like the Federal Road Safety Corps. In the USA, the list of Professionals that make up the officer corps continues to increase and now includes engineers, any of the 15

Team spirit is destroyed —Comrade Faniran Felix Olukayode, President, Nigeria Union of Allied

Health Professionals, NUAHP

T

EAM spirit is destroyed. the patient cannot get the best care, collaborative research would be minimal or impossible, incessant strikes will be the order of the day, revenue generation would drop, health indices would be poor and medical tourism would be pronounced and the overall economy of the nation would be adversely affected.

The Surgeon-General is the head of military medical services in the USA, Canada and UK and a few other nations. The head may be a nurse, pharmacist, medical practitioner or any other medical professional in the armed forces. In Nigeria, the head of medical corps is designated ‘Director' At the Federal Ministry of Health, we have Director of Public Health, Director of Hospital services etc.

All these directors are equivalent to Surgeon- General. Therefore, Nigeria does not need a Surgeon General since we already have its equivalent performing same duties. The Nigerian medical practitioners propose to have Surgeon General who shall be exclusively appointed from her members only so that they can use the position to oppress other health professionals.

•Comrade Faniran Felix Olukayode The sixth Senate once threw out the bill on Surgeon General due to its lack of support. In 2007, the matter was discussed again by the inter-Agency

committee on the grievances of NMA. The Surgeon General was overwhelmingly condemned. Again, NMA presented it to a-38-member Presidential Committee headed by justice Abdullahi Bello Gusau between August 2010 and November 2011. It was flatly defeated.

One is however surprised that Mr. President could give approval without seeking the opinion of other stakeholders other than medics. We appeal to Mr. President to withdraw his approval in the interest of industrial peace.

The Presidency should remove the current Minister of Health and appoint two new persons - one from the NMA and the other from JOHESU/Assembly of Health Professionals. Restructure the the Federal Ministry of Health and Allied Health professional groups to be represented at the Directorate level.

Allow equitable representation of major professional groups on the Boards of Management of each Hospital.

Make the post of CEO of Hospital open to any competent and qualified health professionals without skewing it toward a particular profession.

Promote all unduly stagnated health professionals to Directors cadre.

•Pharm. Azubike Okwor professions can aspire to lead the corps as Surgeon General. In the USA, the Deputy Surgeon General is a pharmacist and Rear Admiral Lushiniak a physician serves as Surgeon General.

If Nigeria is desirous of a commissioned corps of public health professionals, we must propose and support an Act of Parliament that is not discriminatory and is designed to serve the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

In the meantime we should strive to make the best use of Primary Healthcare Development Agency, the Department of Hospital Services and Public Health in the Federal Ministry of Health.

Leaders and elders in the health sector, in the spirit of new year must come together and save this important sector. It appears that government has failed to enthrone peace and harmony in the restive sector The stakeholders meeting I am advocating will draw selfless practitioners who believe that the Sector must be operated as a team and that respect must replace hatred in so much as a team number contributes to the care of patient.

Leadership of the team must be earned through demonstration of skills, competence, and humility that is the hallmark of international best practice and not the type the current act for the establishment of Teaching Hospitals that Decree 10 imposes on the sector.

46—Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 14, 2014 TUESDA

Nigeria makes steady progress to stop polio

By CHIOMA OBINNA

A

NEW global report on polio has shown that Nigeria has made considerable progress toward polio eradication in the last 18 months.

According to the report published in the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, MMWR, , since late November 2013, no Wild PolioVirus 3 cases had been reported for more than a year.

The report also showed that the geographic extent of WPV transmission appears to no longer include the western-most states, and the number of WPV cases reported through September 2013 (49) was half that was reported during the same period in 2012 when about 101 cases were reported.

It further stressed that improvements in the quality of Supplemental Immunization Activities backed by effective outbreak response holds the key to interrupting wild polio virus transmission in Nigeria this year.

The progress may not be unconnected with the government reactivation of an emergency operations center and implemented a national emergency action plan to eradicate polio in 2012 and also the 2013 revision of the plan which resulted to the improvement of quality of supplemental immunization activities among others.

The report maintained that despite these successes, continued WPV1 transmission in Nigeria was still a threat to global polio eradication and

must be addressed urgently, particularly as the country enters the relatively low WPV transmission season (November-April).

It further stressed the need for a comprehensive immunisation strategy and improvements in campaign implementation as well as increased community demand for routine immunization to reach all unimmunized children in the country.

To address anti-polio vaccination sentiment and the threat of violence, it recommended social and community mobilization activities which provide opportunities for community leaders to engage and become advocates for the protection of children against the

Health insurance: HMO calls for strengthened partnerships H EALTH Maintenance Organisations, HMOs, and hospitals have been urged to improve their partnerships in the interest of the enrolees seeking healthcare services.

Making the call last week in Lagos, the MD/CEO of Avon Healthcare Limited, Mrs. Adesimbo Ukiri, said hospitals have a crucial role to play if Nigeria is going to take health insurance to the great heights every Nigerian expects, Ukiri, who spoke during the first edition of the Avon HMO Providers Quality Forum, described hospitals as key players in the success of health insurance in the country.

“HMOs can make all the promises

L-R: Mr. Dosunmu Adeniran (centre) of Bee Hess Hospital Lagos, receiving a prize for excellent service delivery from Dr. Banjo Oni, Head, Providers Services Unit, Avon HMO while MD/CEO, Avon HMO, Adesimbo Ukiri looks on.

in the world to enrolees, but it is through the hospitals that they (enrolees) will experience our service.

In a sense, you can say that the hospitals are the taste of the pudding for enrolees. But we also understand that historically, HMOs have not partnered with hospitals the way they are supposed to.

At Avon HMO, our hospitals are our partners, and that is why we are taking the lead in forging a mutually beneficial partnership with our care providers through this event,” she remarked.

The event was a special training and awareness programme organised for staff of hospitals under the Avon network. It was the first in a series of engagements intended to improve the quality of the service delivery Avon enrolees enjoy from hospitals under its network.

“This is our first Provider Quality Forum and we are encouraged by the outcome. It has been an open exchange of ideas between our partner hospitals and Avon. We intend to do this every quarter and then go round the country with it,” said Head, Providers Services Unit, Avon HMO, Dr. Banjo Oni. He added that the ultimate aim is to work closely with hospitals to improve the quality of service delivery, as well as understand the challenges that they face in the course of their work.

“At the end of the day, we want to step up the level of education, skills, capabilities and competences in these hospitals, both with the clinical staff and their administrative staff, in order to improve service delivery.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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My experience of sex has been frankly disappointing.

I don’t know what I was expecting when I got married but it is nothing to write about. I don’t enjoy sex and I don’t have an orgasm. The only time I have an orgasm is when I masturbate with my fingers or with that Jelly Chocolate Vibrator that I bought from you years ago – Rita Dear Mrs Rita, a lot of people feel the same way about intercourse. The truth however is that great sex doesn’t just happen. You have to create the sexual experience you want. That is where sex education comes in. Great sex can be learned if we are willing to learn. Start by telling your husband what you want and how he should do it. Men are dying to be told what to do because they delight in pleasuring their women. You can also learn more about sexual pleasuring from educational movies like Sex Around the House, The Ultimate Sex Party and the Guide to Multiple Orgasms. So invest in sexual learning and you will be able to get the sex you want - Uche I have a small penis and I cannot undress in front of my girlfriend. I hear that penis enlargement takes time but I need something that works fast- Bidemi One trick that men with small penises can use to look bigger involves the use of a penis sleeve during intercourse. It is like a condom but it is thicker, longer and reusable.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 , 2014 — 47

The model of Residences, FESTAC

UPDC boosts luxury housing with six new projects in five states

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE Describing the six projects as “a tale of five cities”, the UPDC boss disclosed that two of the projects are joint ventures with state governments who have the vision of providing best-in-class accommodation to residents of their respective states. Olive Court in Agodi G. R. A. Ibadan which is a 50-unit residential estate

and Golf Estate in Calabar are the two joint venture developments being undertaken with Oyo and Cross River state governments.

A further breakdown shows that Pineville Estate, Asaba comprises 20 units of four units five-bedroom detached houses and 16 units of fourbedroom semi-detached houses. James Pinnock, Lekki comprises 83 units of 11 units of five-bedroom detached

Lagos govt hands over new Oshodi market, compensates 550 traders

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

T

he popular Isopakodowo market lo cated within the Oshodi suburb which was reconstructed by the State Government has been handed over to traders affected by the transformation. Awarded in year 2009, the market has 571 shops, including stalls for saw millers and electronics shops.

Governor Fashola, who maintained that his administration will continue to work to make the lives of citizens better, declared that trading has been a foremost activity of the people and over 50 percent of the economy of Lagos comes from trading.

While urging people to support government by utilising the facilities in a manner that will realise the goals of constructing the market, Fashola said appropriate facility managers will be appointed for the market to ensure that its maintenance is in top shape.

He also disclosed that traders displaced from the railway lines and road median will have a first offer, adding that 374 of them

had been given shops in the new market.

The governor while assuring the traders of adequate security with the installation of CCTV cameras in the modern market, urged them to be watchdogs over those who are fond of not taking appropriate trade permits.

He enjoined the people to desist from erecting klee klamp inside the market while asking the Local Governments to assist the State in ensuring that people get the necessary permit before erecting structures.

Governor Fashola restated the commitment of his administration to undertake the reconstruction of some roads. According to him, the main Oshodi Road had been awarded and the contractor will soon move to site.

He further stated that the State Government will also consider the Local Government if and when it plans new road contracts. Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stated that the reconstruction of the market is important for the economy of Lagos and social development as a people. It will also discourage street trading.

houses with boys quarters, 28 units of four-bedroom semidetached houses with boys quarters, 42 units of three-bedroom apartments with boys quarters and two units of fourbedroom maisonette with boys quarters. On its part, Olive Court, Ibadan is a 50-unit estate that comprises nine units

,

FOREMOST real estate de velopment company, Messrs UACN Property Development Company Plc, has unveiled plans to boost its rich portfolio of real estate development with six new projects commencing simultaneously in five cities across Nigeria this year. The upcoming housing projects include, Olive Court in Agodi G. R. A. Ibadan, Oyo State, The Pinnacle located in Maitama area of F. C. T., Abuja, James Pinnock Place located in Lekki Phase Three, Lagos, The Residences located in Festac, Lagos, Pineville Estate in G. R. A. Asaba, Delta State and Golf Estate, Calabar, Cross River State.

Unveiling the residential estates in Lagos last week, the Managing Director of UPDC, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran said the decision to spread its business to other cities in Nigeria outside the traditional cities of Lagos, Abuja and PortHarcourt, was based on the outcome of the research which the company undertook in the Nigerian real estate market.

The research led to the classification of Nigerian cities into A, B and C based on both the current and potential sizes of the market.

Explaining that before now, UPDC developed both residential and commercial accommodation only in Lagos, Abuja and PortHarcourt which were identified as ‘A’ cities, Ogunniran noted however, that current research and the serious need for residential accommodation in the country, have propelled UPDC to consider the development of residential estates in some other cities in Nigeria.

plants, borehole and water treatment plants. Other facilities include security systems, swimming pools, power supply, children’s playgrounds, gymnasiums and facility management outfits.

“These six estates will deliver a total of 502 housing

Two of the projects are joint ventures with state governments who have the vision of providing best-in-class accommodation to residents of their respective states

of five-bedroom detached houses, 22 units of four-bedroom semi-detached houses and 19 units of four-bedroom terraces.

Others are Residences in Festac, Lagos which comprises 152 units of housing types and office space. Wing One consists of eight floors made up of 88 units of one-bedroom apartments, Wing Two comprising eight floors of offices and Wing Three which is residential comprising 18 units of one-bedroom apartments and 46 units of two-bedroom apartments. The Pinnacle to be built in Abuja is a 27-unit luxury apartment comprises one unit of one-bedroom flat, 20 units of three-bedroom flats, four units of four-bedroom flats and two units of four-bedroom maisonette. All estates, according to the UPDC boss, have facilities such as sewage treatment

,

units in addition to 5,820 square metres of office accommodation to Nigerians within the next 24 months. In addition to developments, our Festival Mall with over 10,000 square metres of land mass is currently undergoing construction and will be commissioned before the end of 2014.

“UPDC, our mantra is building for sustainable value and we assure Nigerians that these projects have been conceptualised and will be developed with this philosophy in mind. These projects will also provide quality, comfortable and secure accommodation for Nigerians in these five cities.

It is expected that these new developments will be completed within the next 18 to 24 months”, Ogunniran assured.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 , 2014

Lagos Island bubbles again as highbrow tenants return to CBD ...Facelift triggers off rise in property values

By JUDE NJOKU

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AGOS Island Business District was unarguably the toast of property investors and blue chip companies prior to the relocation of the seat of the Federal Government to Abuja in 1991. The movement to Abuja coupled with the dilapidation of existing infrastructure in the Island, led to a mass relocation of many business outfits to more conducive neighbourhoods of Victoria Island and Ikoyi. The glut of vacant office spaces prompted the Association of Building Owners in Lagos Island, ABOLI, to cry out to the Lagos State government to carry out a comprehensive urban renewal of the Island. ABOLI which metamorphosed into the Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment LIMGE, continued with the regeneration struggle until the Lagos State government and the World Bank embarked upon a comprehensive rewewal of the Island. The ubiquitous miscreants popularly called "Area Boys or Alayes" were also dislodged to a large extent from the Island while street trading was reduced drastically.

The good news is that the CBD is again bubbling with life. The neighbourhood which houses the tallest buildings in Lagos, has once again become the toast of property investors and corporate organisations as it was in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Redevelopment and beautification Vanguard Homes & Property learnt that the redevelopment and beautification of the outer Marina, the surge in rental value of purpose built offices in Victoria Island and Ikoyi and the traffic bottlenecks in Victoria Island, have compelled some of the companies and banks to relocate their offices to the burstling Lagos Island CBD. The glut in vacant office accommodation which was in vogue prior to the regeneration has given away to shortage of supply of such accommodation.

Infact, occupants of the Great Nigeria House which was gutted by fire late last year, could not find vacant spaces in the CBD to continue their businesses.

The Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Pastor Stephen Jagun confirmed the development in a chat with Vanguard Homes & Environment.

The burstling Lagos Island CBD He explained that the surge in the rental value of commercial properties in Ikoyi and VI coupled with the facelift given to Lagos Island CBD gave rise to the present high demand for commercial properties in the island. He noted that housing

supply in Lagos Island CBD is static while demand is going up. “There are virtually no new developments going on in Lagos Island apart from a few refurbishments.

The whole area is jam packed The vacancy rate is very low

because of the attraction from VI. Purpose built houses in Victoria Island are very costly; a tenant may be paying between 10 -15 million naira as rent per annum on such purpose built buildings. When you add the cost of running

generators and hiring a private security outfit, you find out that it becomes cheaper for you to rent a wing in a highrise building and share the services with other tenants,” he said.

Continuing, Pastor Jagun said a square metre of office space in VI and Ikoyi goes for between 50,000 -70,000 naira per annum while the the same space will go for between 20,000 -25,000 naira in Lagos Island CBD. He noted that some property owners in the Island have also given a facelift to their properties. For instance, Messrs WEMABOD Estates, owners of Western House on Broad Street, have given the property a facelift. “They have repainted the building, recreated water channels for the airconditioners and put A/C in the reception and lobby. They have also changed the facial appearance of the building, bought a new generator and retiled the whole place. Right now, the tenants enjoy electricity between 9am to 5pm as against 10 -12am and 24pm.previously. Although the service charge has increased, but the tenants are not complaining because they have better facilities and improved services,” he said.

LSPWC sets target of maintaining 1,400 roads in 2014

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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OR Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC to realise its vision of becoming the “foremost road maintenance and rehabilitation Agency in Africa”, the Corporation has set new targets aimed at raising the bar of progression in performance for 2014.

Specifically, strategic plans have been put in place by the road maintenance outfit to do better this year than it did in 2013.

Unfolding the targets of the Corporation for 2014 at a press briefing last week, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, Executive Chairman, LSPWC, explained that “raising the bar always has been the cornerstone of our progression in performance since 2010. As a result, the modest achievements of yester-years are considered as mere stepping stones towards covering the gap between where we are and where we want to be as indicated in our vision statement”.

According to Akintola, an engineer, the Corporation has set a target to work on 1,400 roads in terms of road maintenance in the state this year as against

LSPWC workers in action the 988 record of 2013. This target, he said, will be easily achieved because the two new asphalt plants strategically located in Badagry and Imota areas in Lagos state will significantly boost the speed at which road maintenance needs of the state shall be met.

Another target of the Corporation for the year is to replace

350 manhole covers and gratings in the state. This is a significant increase compared to the 251 replaced in 2012/ 2013.

Akintola who stated that more equipment will be procured to boost the equipment fleet of the Corporation this year, said the equipment include four tipping trucks, four utility vehi-

cles, four tractors with tipping trailers, six number of four tons rollers, one mobile mechanical workshop and one vibratory 12 tons roller.

The LSPWC boss disclosed that production of paving stones is another target of his Corporation for 2014. He pointed out that through the Continues on page 49

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 , 2014 — 49

Oil spill laws are ineffective —Idabor

By FUNMI OLASUPO

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Oshodi Heritage park commissioned last week

LASG commissions 180th park

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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HE Lagos State Government has brought to 180 the number of Parks and Gardens it has completed and handed over to various communities in the state since the inception of the aggressive open space development campaign called “Operation Green Lagos.”, The State last week, commissioned the Oshodi-Heritage Garden, the Dolphin Park and the Alao Aka-Bashorun recreational Park and Garden, bringing the number of such facilities to 180.

The "Operation Green Lagos campaign" is responsible for the gradual restoration of the ecological glory of the State as witnessed in Oshodi, Gbagada Phase II and Osborne Road where the three new parks and gardens are located.

Lost glory of Lagos Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello explained that the official commissioning of the three parks was a demonstration of the commitment of the state to restore the lost glory of Lagos and create a safe and healthy environment for all.

“Firstly, we are contributing to the global fight against climate change. Secondly, we are creating jobs for landscape experts, not to mention the multiplier effect in the supply chain. Thirdly, we are creating veritable outdoor media opportunity for corporate organisations to market their products.

Fourthly, we are restoring the aesthetics of the environment as well as rehabilitating some of our youth who were used in the development of the parks”, Bello said. Commending the contribution of the private

sector, Bello stated that the organised private sector had heeded the clarion call by the state government to assist in restoring the ecological glory of the state. He pointed out that over 40 corporate bodies had so far partnered with the state government to beautify the environment.

Some of the private sector actors include: Zenith Bank, UBA, Jubali Brothers, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries, Berger Paints, Hitech and Messrs Clear Edge Media who developed Oshodi Heritage-Garden.

Oshodi-Heritage Garden occupies a parcel of land measuring 12,000 square meters It has facilities like garden seats, garden lights, children play

items, water fountain and irrigational facilities. Others include 200 and 50KVA generator sets, LED bill boards, two sided advert billboards, sculptures moulded with fiber glass, artistic sculpture and fitness facilities The Dolphin Park occupies a total land area of 61,875.42 square metres.Facilities include, ornamental plants, palms, garden seats, garden lights, children play area, gazebo buts, football pitch, irrigational and toilet facilities.

Late Alao Aka Bashorun Recreational Park has the bust of Alao Aka Bashorun cast in solid bronze and mounted on a concrete block with marble finish. The park sits on an approximately 5,295.25 square

metres with walkways paved with inter-locking stones, children’s play area, and a football field made of Astroturf (first of its kind to be used in any of Lagos developed parks.

Garden light to provide illumination and enhance aesthetics, an underground irrigation system, green area with lush green lawn and ornamental flowers with wrought iron as perimeter fence were also provided.

Bello explained that Late Alao Aka Bashorun Recreational Park was dedicated to the legal icon in recognition of his role in the enthronement of democracy and the fight for human rights.

LSPWC sets target of maintaining 1,400 roads in 2014 Continues from page 48 Corporation’s in-house paving stone production factory, a total of 33,120 square metres of interlocking paving stones shall be produced this year as against 26,840 square metres produced in 2013. “We believe that this will allow us step up our programme in terms of using this method to intervene in sections of our roads that paving stone work will technically suffice as an effective solution to damaged roads, especially on roads with flooding and drainage challenges”, he said.

According to Akintola, “our effort in drains shall receive a boost in 2014 as we intend to construct 2.80km length of drains as against 2.67km constructed in the previous year. By this, we can further guarantee that our maintenance work will last longer as they will be supported by functional drains where necessary.

“Our flagship plant at our Ojodu headquarters shall undergo turnaround maintenance in 2014 with a view to upgrading its automation capacity towards achieving the objective of waste reduction and make pro-

duction more efficient. Metropolitan Lagos roads shall receive more attention from this year as asphalt produced from the plant at the headquarters shall be utilised focusing on such roads while the two new plants shall address roads in far suburban parts of the state.

“In order to step up our advocacy campaign to enforcement level during the year, the Corporation has concluded arrangement to provide solution to a major question which many of you have always asked during interview sessions as how do we enforce the relevant laws to dissuade people from indulging in activities that cause damage to our roads?

“Following our enlightenment campaigns on radio, television, newspapers, outdoor and other means of reaching the people, we are now set to work in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Task Force to begin to monitor the environment in an attempt to arrest on the spot anyone caught in the act, prosecute them and apply the necessary sanctions as provided for in the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law, Akintola clarified.

HE Director General, Na tional Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, Sir, Peter Idabor, says the enabling laws to regulate the oil industries on matters of oil spill are not strong enough to punish oil spill offenders.

Addressing newsmen at the maiden retreat for the agency’s governing board and management in Abuja, Idabor lamented that this and other challenges were making the agency not to perform optimally.

To this end, the NOSDRA boss called on the National Assembly to look into the matter critically and ensure that there is commensurate punishment for any kind of default by these operators.

According to him, “when our laws are amended, we will have more teeth to bite, and we will be able to cub the incident of oil pollution in the country.

“We have launched what we call the National Oil spill monitor, a web base platform for reportage of oil spill all over the country and we have given opportunities to the host communities to play their own role as well as the NGOs and we are also collaborating with the oil companies,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Governing Board of NOSDRA, Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd) emphasised the need for the redefinition of rule of engagement and the necessity for capacity building for staff to be able carry out their works effectively.

He said: “With regards to the role or the involvement, as I have said, since we came on board that we must redefine relationships in this industry; we can no longer afford to have relationships that connote adversarial engagement, because we are not adversaries.

“The greatest tool that a regulator needs for his job is knowledge, and so necessary investment needs to be made in expanding and deepening the knowledge of the staff and we are willing to support the management to do just that and to provide the relationship to and the environment that will make that happen.

“In terms of the resources the agency is relatively young, there is no doubt that there is a lot that need to be done, there is a lot of gap in terms of capacity.

“We do not believe that the oil companies are not interested in the environment, we know that as responsible cooperate citizens, all those who work in that industry are keenly aware of the impact of these unfortunate incidents when they do occur and must be willing to do everything possible to manage any disaster," he said.

50 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

Israelis, world leaders bid farewell to Ariel Sharon I

SRAEL and world lead ers said its last farewell to Ariel Sharon yesterday with a state ceremony outside the parliament building before his flag-draped coffin was taken on a crosscountry procession to its final resting place at his family home in the country’s south.

VIPs and international dignitaries attended: With a high-powered crowd of VIPs and international dignitaries on hand, Sharon was eulogized as a fearless warrior and bold leader who devoted his life to protecting Israel’s security. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair headed the long list of visitors.

In a heartfelt address, Biden talked about a decades-long friendship with Sharon, saying the death felt “like a death in the family.”

When the two discussed Israel’s security, Biden said he understood how Sharon earned the nickname “Bulldozer,” explaining how Sharon would pull out maps and repeatedly make the same points to drive them home.

“He was indomitable,” Biden said. “But like all historic leaders, all real leaders, he had a North Star that guided him. A North Star from which he never, in my observation, never deviated. His North Star was the survival of the state of Israel and the Jewish people, wherever they resided,” Biden said.

Sharon died on Saturday, eight years after a devastating stroke left him in a coma from which he never recovered. He was 85.

One of Israel’s greatest and most divisive figures, Sharon rose through the ranks of the military, moving into politics and overcoming scandal and con-

troversy to become prime minister at the time of his stroke.

He spent most of his life battling Arab enemies and promoting Jewish settlement on war-won lands.

But in a surprising aboutface, he led a historic withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, uprooting all soldiers and settlers from the territory after a 38-year presence in a move he said was necessary to ensure Israel’s security.

His backers called him a war hero. His detractors, first and foremost the Palestinians, considered him a war criminal and held him responsible for years of bloodshed.

The speakers at Monday’s ceremony outside parliament largely glossed over the controversy, and instead focused on his leadership and personality.

“Arik was a man of the land,” President Shimon Peres, a longtime friend and sometimes rival, said in his eulogy. “He defended this land like a lion and he taught its children to swing a scythe. He was a military legend in his lifetime and then turned his gaze to the day Israel would dwell in safety, when our children would return to our borders and

US Vice President, Joe Bidden, wearing a sunglasses, stands with Isreali Prime Minister, Benjamin Natanyahu, his wife Sarah and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair and other world dignitaries yesterday during the burial ceremony of late Ariel Sharon at the Knesset Plaza, Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem peace would grace the Promised Land.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who resigned from Sharon’s Cabinet to protest the Gaza withdrawal, said that he and Sharon didn’t always agree with each other. Nonetheless, he called Sharon “one of the big warriors” for the

nation of Israel.

Arik was a man of actions, pragmatic, and his pragmatism was rooted in deep emotion, deep emotion for the country and deep emotion for the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said.

Nearly 10 years on, the withdrawal from Gaza remains hotly debated in Israeli society. Supporters

say Israel is better off not being bogged down in the crowded territory, which is now home to 1.7 million Palestinians.

Critics say the pullout has only brought more violence. Two years after the withdrawal, Hamas militants seized control of Gaza and stepped up rocket fire

World powers, Iran to resume nuclear talks in February

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ORLD powers and Iran will very likely meet again on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in February, shortly after a sixmonth deal restricting its atomic work goes into effect, a diplomatic source told Reuters yesterday.

The new round of talks will aim for a broad settlement in the decade-old dispute over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program that could ease the risk of mistrust leading to deeper

Underwear bomber’s life sentence upheld by U.S. court

tensions or even conflict in the Middle East.

The talks, led by the EU’s foreign policy chief Cathe-

rine Ashton, will face the challenge of defining a permissible scope of Iranian nuclear work that will

US, Russia call for Syria truce

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OSCOW and Wash ington have made a joint call for Syria’s regime and rebels to agree to ceasefires in parts of their battle-scarred country ahead of peace talks this month.

During yesterday’s meet-

ing in Paris, the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said that President Bashar-Al Assad was willing to open aid access to devastated areas.

The United States and Russia called called for the ceasefires to start ahead of

U

MAR Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian man who tried to set off an explosive hidden in his underwear while aboard a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day in 2009, yesterday had his life sentence upheld by a federal appeals court. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments by Abdulmutallab, known as the underwear bomber, that the trial judge erred by letting him represent himself despite doubt about his competency and by admitting incriminating statements he made without having first been read his rights.

lay to rest western concerns that it could have military goals.

•Putin

•Kerry

the so-called Geneva II talks due to begin in Montreux on January 22.

“We talked today about the possibility of trying to encourage a ceasefire.

Maybe a localised ceasefire in Aleppo,” said John Kerry, the US secretary of state, after the meeting.

The discussions, attended by UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, also included the possibility of a prisoner exchange between the warring sides.

It was a rare pulling together of two heavyweights in the Syrian crisis, which has seen the US backing the opposition as Moscow sticks by longtime ally Assad.

on Israel.

In a reminder of the precarious security situation, Hamas held a victory parade in Gaza to mark the five-year anniversary of a three-week war against Israel, and Palestinian militants fired four rockets toward Israel.

S/Sudan troops advance on Bor

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OVERNMENT troops in South Sudan have been advancing on the flashpoint town of Bor, the last state capital still in rebel hands, according to an army spokesperson. Bor, situated about 200km north of Juba and capital of the restive Jonglei State, has already changed hands three times since fighting broke out in South Sudan one month ago.

“Bor is still in the hands of the rebels but our forces are moving towards it,” Colonel Philip Aguer said yesterday.

Government troops recaptured the key northern oil city of Bentiu last week, but have since grappled with rebel fighters closer to the capital Juba. The rebels also claim they are close to retaking Malakal, the capital of the biggest oil-producing state, Upper Nile.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 51

Brazil 2014: Eagles will shake the world, says Maigari PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Aminu Maigari, on Monday expressed confidence that the Super Eagles would “shake the world” at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Maigari said in Lagos that the dividends of the association’s long term preparation would yield results in Brazil.

Eagles were on Jan. 9 awarded Africa’s National Team of the Year for 2013, during the GLO/CAF Awards held in Lagos.

“I won’t specifically predict how far Nigeria will go at the World Cup but what I’m certain about is that the Eagles will do wonders.

“Nigeria will shake the world and I’m being optimistic that the Eagles will do what I can describe as a turn around to the favour of this continent.

“I think the team has improved tremendously and can hold their own against some of the best football nations.

We’ve developed rapidly over the last two years,” he said.

Maigari assured that the Eagles would be engaged in top friendly matches that would strengthen the team ahead of the World Cup. “We had a remarkable 2013 and we are doing all the best within our capacity to consolidate on last year’s performance.

Ronaldo Continues from BP hind Ribery.

Even if one were to put extraordinary weight on the efficiency with which Messi scored — he took far fewer shots than Ronaldo — or the defensive work that Ribery did for world champions Bayern Munich, it was still nearly impossible to make an argument that either should have won the Ballon d’Or over Ronaldo.

The only argument against Ronaldo was that Real Madrid did not win a trophy in 2013, but even putting aside the ridiculous notion that he could be faulted for that, it wasn’t much of an argument come November. Ronaldo put Portugal on his back in the World Cup qualifying play-off against Sweden, scoring four goals over two legs to almost single-handedly book his country’s ticket to Brazil. The trip to the World Cup may not have come with a trophy, but any

Echiejile, Ideye and Onazi

Nigerian teenage sensation, Omotayo lifts team in Switserland champion, who recently Spinnicha of Italy and Csaba

T

EENAGE sensation, Olajide Omotayo at the weekend began his professional career in the Swiss table tennis league after aiding STT Lugano to a 6-1 win in their first league match against STT Veyrier.

The 2013 Asoju Oba Cup

moved to Europe to ply his trade in the Swiss elite league was regarded as the youngest in the lucrative league but his performance was instrumental to his team’striumph.

Playing alongside his teammates – Simone

vague argument about how “clutch” he was or whether he did enough to help his teams win was dead and buried.

So when Pele read Ronaldo’s name as the winner of the award, it was entirely predictable. It was also entirely deserved.

Brazilian great Pele was finally awarded a Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday, despite retiring in 1977, co-organisers France Football announced. He wept after receiving the award.

When France Football created the Ballon d’Or in 1956 it was for the best player playing in Europe and Pele never played club football in the ‘old continent’.

By the time FIFA inaugurated the world footballer of the year award in 1991, Pele had long since retired.

“For regulation reasons the king is not on the list of Ballon d’Or winners, an anomaly that was corrected in 2013,” said France Football on their website.

Continues from BP er teams , even as Nigerian Head Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, says his boys can handle the pressure.

Chisano, whose team is sharing the same Garden Court De Waal hotel with the Eagles says he made the assertion because his team if beaten by the Eagles have nothing to lose but the reverse will be the case if Nigeria were to lose to his side.

“The Eagles are the big brothers in Africa, the African champions and the Coach is the African Coach of the Year, we don’t have any of those accolades, so pressure is on Nigeria not Mozambique.”

On likely qualifiers from the group, Chisano said even if his side were to be beaten on Wednesday, the Eagles still has an uphill task against Bafana Bafana on Sunday.

“With their massive fans and the Vivuzelas, Nigeria will again be under pressure to perform as African Champions”.

The youthful coach said he

Molnar of Hungary, Omotayo described his experience as exciting. Narrating what transpired in the encounter, Omotayo said: “We played against STT Veyrier and we won 6-1. I won one and lose the other but my teammates won all their matches to give

Eagles will however not be surprised if his team was eliminated from the first round, because according to him the pitch in Cape Town is very poor and that accounted for his side’s 3-1 loss to the host in the opening match. He also said he’s looking to build a strong side in the future that his countrymen will be proud of.

On his part, Keshi said he has been talking to his players along with team psychologist, Robinson Okosun and other officials for the players to forget the past and concentrate on Wednesday’s game.

“Gradually, they are getting off it but I must admit that only three players played well in the last game and that was why we lost, we expect eleven players to play well on Wednesday for us to get the result we want”. On Bafana Bafana game on Sunday, Keshi simply said, “ we won’t talk about that game now, after the Wednesday game we can talk about that, for now the focus is on the Mambas game”.

Iheanacho signs City pre-contract

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IGERIA Under-17 striker Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a pre-contract with Manchester City according to his father James.

In an interview with Brila FM the player ’s father confirms that he has signed a precontract with City but with him being 17 years-old a proper contract will be signed when his son turns 18, and only then will they get money from his deal.

October 3 is the day when Kelechi turns 18 years-old.

“The situation is that Kelechi hasn’t turned 18 yet and until he does, he can’t sign, but what he has done is sign a pre-contract with Manchester City pending his 18th birthday,” James Iheanacho told Brila FM. He also added that Kelechi is jetting off from Nigeria to Switzerland for today’s FIFA World Player of the Year award ceremony together with Dele Alampasu, whom FIFA also invited.

•Iheanacho

Ibrahimovic wins 2013 goal of the year

Z

LATAN Ibrahimovic, overlooked for the Fifa Ballon d’Or prize, will be pleased to have at least received recognition for something.

The striker saw his incredible overhead strike against England win the goal of the year at today’s awards ceremony.

However, there is some confusion, as the effort by the PSG frontman was actually scored in November 2012.

Despite the goal not actually coming in 2013, there’s no denying it was an absolute cracker.

It came in a match in which Ibrahimovic scored all four goals past England in a 4-2 victory as Sweden unveiled their new national stadium, the 50,000-seat Friends Arena.

It won’t bring good memories for England’s Joe Hart however, who was at fault as his weak headed clearance presented the opportunity.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 53

Man City close in on Yahaya

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ANCHESTER City are poised to secure a deal for Nigeria under-17 star Musa Yahaya.

Yahaya scored four times in seven matches at the U-17 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates, with Nigeria beating Mexico 3-0 in the final to win the tournament.

Dubbed the ‘Nigerian Neymar’, Yahaya had been tracked by Tottenham, as well as teams in Portugal and Spain, but City appear to have won the race for the 16year-old and are in deep discussions with the player’s agent, Babawo Mohammed.

The attacking midfielder, who plays at the Mutunchi Academy in his homeland, would become the third member of the African nation’s junior team to join City and is keen to link up with his international team-mates at the Etihad Stadium.

Yahaya, who describes Andres Iniesta as his footballing hero and has admitted he wants to play for Real Madrid, has remained coy over his immediate future in recent months.

“I am not going to talk on that one [where he wants to move], I have a manager in Babawo Mohammed. I have left that for him to handle. He knows me and knows what is good for me,” he told MTNFootball in November.

Striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who won the Golden Ball at the U-17 World Cup after picking up six goals and seven assists, signed a pre-contract agreement with Manuel Pellegrini’s side on Friday and will join when he turns 18 in October.

Angry Maigari queries Green over Iheanacho

BY TONY UBANI

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ED-EYED President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Aminu Maigari did not hide his displeasure with the appearance of Golden Eaglet, Kelechi Iheanacho at the GLO-CAF awards in Lagos at the weekend. Iheanacho who bagged the most promising young talent award came to the awards ‘not properly dressed’ to attract Maigari’s ire. His dress-

F

OOTBALL critic and Special Adviser to Kano State governor on sports, Alhaji Shuaib Gara Gombe has faulted the emergence of Yaya Toure as African footballer of the year, insisting that the prestigious award should have gone to Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi. Gara Gombe who was in Lagos to represent his boss during the Glo CAF award ceremony noted that Mikel did more last year for club and country to deserve the crown ahead of Toure. ”What did Yaya win with club and country to deserve the award? Nothing. But Mikel on the other hand was superb for Nigeria and Chelsea. He was part of Nigeria’s success

•Iheanacho after the award

I lost to a better coach — Garba

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

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•Garba

Mikel better than Toure — Gombe

BY TONY UBANI

ing was not pleasing for a teenager with his sprouting beards unshaven. Maigari queried the Chairman of the Technical Committee, Green, for not ensuring that the teenager appeared in the colours of the country at the awards.

“We should not send wrong signals with the dressing of a teenager who appeared rough at the awards. Maigari was angry and queried me over his appearance”, Green confirmed.

Green, however, said that there was little he could do as the father of the Golden Eaglet appears to have taken possession of his prized jewel. He also advised the father to listen and ask questions from those who know to avoid mistakes in the young lad’s blossoming career.

story as well as that of Chelsea, so I don’t see why Yaya should win the award. I see it as conspiracy against Nigeria on the part of those that did the voting,” Gara stated.

Gara who was full of praise for Globacom for sponsoring the event, however faulted those who ran the show declaring that there were too many glaring flaws that must be corrected in subsequent editions. ”The organisers fell short in so many areas. There were lapses in the areas of accreditation, VIP management, security, award presentation just to mention a few. Globacom as a company deserve a pat on the back for bankrolling the event, but Dr Mike Adenuga must ensure that competent people take charge. He has invested heavily into the project and the show must be world class.”

LO-CAF African coach of the year nominee, Manu Garba insists he nurses no regrets losing the prized award to Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

Speaking moments after Keshi was handed the best coach diadem at the Eko Hotel, Garba, who guided the Golden Eaglets to FIIFA U-17 World Cup glory in the United Arab Emirates last November, says he is honoured to be named amongst the final three nominees for 2013 “For me, this is a personal honour and recognition to be among the three best coaches in Africas. I felt truly honoured and can only say that I am satisfied with the result”, Garba.

On Keshi’s choice as winner, Graba said “he deserves the award and I do not have any regret losing to a better coach, who is also my

•Mikel

senior on the job. That two Nigerian coaches were on the shortlist of the final nominees speaks a lot of what we are doing for our country and we can only hope for a better future”.

The former Flying Eagles star said further that his recognition by CAF has

fuelled his desire to strive for excellence in the area of coaching.

“This recognition by CAF has increased my desire to always go for the best in this game. I cannot rest on my laurels, now that I have been brought to the limelight by the nomination”, said Garba.

3 rd Ochei W/chair B/Ball championship dunks off Feb 18

BY JACOB AJOM

T

HE 3 rd Victor Ochei Annual International Open Wheelchair Basketball Championship dunks off February 18 through 22, 2014 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

Six international teams and about twenty from local clubs will take part in the championship which is sponsored by Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, The Right Honourable Victor Ochei.

In a pre-championship media briefing in Lagos Monday, President of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Comrade Bukola Olopade told journalists that the championship feature teams from South Africa, the Republic of Benin, Ghana among others.

He said the event will be

holding in Lagos for the second consecutive time because of the tremendous success the last edition recorded last year.

“We are staging this edition in Lagos because of the success we recorded in the last edition. We have received commendation from far and wide as six international teams will be coming for this edition,” the former Ogun State Sports Commissioner said.

The federation President acknowledged the goodwill the federation enjoys from Honourable Ochei and announced a whopping N5million prize package for finalists made possible by the sponsor and his frinds.

“Through his sponsorship the federation’s activities have achieved a lot of acceptance from both local and international bodies and we enjoy a lot of goodwill from his friends,” Olopade said..

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2014

Images of FIFA Ballon d'or

Former Dutch football player and presenter Ruud Gullit (L) asks Barcelona's Lionel Messi a question next to Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) and Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) as they pose with their FIFA/FIFPro World XI awards during the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on January 13, 2014. AFP PHOTOS Germany's coach Silvia Neid receives the 2013 FIFA Women's Coach of the Year award during the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony

FIFA president Sepp Blatter applauds next to former International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (R) after he received the 2013 FIFA Presidential Award

Bayern Munich's former German coach Jupp Heynckes (L) receives the 2013 FIFA Coach of the Year award from England manager Roy Hodgson

Nadine Angerer with her award

Ronaldo celebrates with his son

Pele waves

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 — 55

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 All the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or winners FIFA FIFPro WORLD XI GOALKEEPER: Manuel Neuer (GER / Bayern Munich) FIFA FIFPro WORLD XI MIDFIELDERS: Andres Iniesta (ESP / Barcelona) Xavi (ESP / Barcelona) Franck Ribery (FRA / Bayern Munich) FIFA FIFPro WORLD XI DEFENDERS:

World Footballer Award

Philipp Lahm (GER / Bayern Munich)

Tears as Ronaldo wins!

Sergio Ramos (ESP / Real Madrid) Thiago Silva (BRA / Paris Saint-Germain)

C

RISTIANO Ronaldo was the best player in the world in 2013 and now he has the Ballon d’Or to prove it. He was awarded the top individual honor at the FIFA awards yesterday, giving him proper recognition for a remarkable year. He wept openly with his son and mother as he was announced the winner.

There was never much doubt that Ronaldo would take home the award. His 66 goals were 24 more than Lionel Messi and 44 more than Franck Ribery, the other two finalists. Admittedly, a player like Ribery is tasked with doing much more than just scoring goals, but Ronaldo also had 15 assists, even with Messi and only three be

Continues on Page 51

Dani Alves (BRA / Barcelona) FIFA FIFPro WORLD XI FORWARDS Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE / Paris Saint-Germain) Lionel Messi (ARG / Barcelona)

EMOTIONAL:Ronaldo, Pele weep

Eagles will be under pressure against Mambas group A of the on-going CHAN today's matches — Chisano African Nations Cham-

M

AMBAS of Mo zambique Head Coach, Joao Chisano on Monday assessed the chances of the teams in

pionship (CHAN), and came to the conclusion that Nigeria is under pressure more than oth Continues on Page 51

DRC v M/tainia 5pm Gabon v Burundi 8pm Results Ghana 1 Congo 0 Libya 1 Ethiopia 0

FIFA Presidential Award 2013 JACQUES ROGGE FIFA World coach for Women’s Football SILVIA NEID FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football JUPP HEYNCKES FIFA Fair Play Award winner Afghanistan Football Federation FIFA Puskas award ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur ) The Greatest) Pele FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR NADINE ANGERER

FIFA MEN'S WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR CHRISTIANO RONALDO

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Shabby (6) 5 Search (4) 8 Premium (5) 9 Youth (3) 10 Cupid (4) 11 Repair (4) 12 Enquired (5) 13 Deserved (6) 16 Liability (4) 18 Impel (4) 20 Consumed (3) 22 Entrap (3) 23 Observe (3) 24 Jetty (4) 25 Thought (4) 28 Imagined (6) 30 Twenty (5) 32 Rebellion (4) 33 Cunning (4) 34 Tavern (3) 35 Artery (5) 36 Cat-noise (4) 37 Coma (6)

DOWN 1 Tray (6) 2 Stubborn (8) 3 Considered (6) 4 Pampered (9) 5 Arm-bone (7) 6 Employed (4) 7 Neat (4) 8 Snake (3) 14 Defame (9) 15 Day (3) 17 Couch (3) 19 Narrative (8) 20 Tune (3) 21 Builder (7) 26 Bowman (6) 27 Posture (6) 29 Grasp (4) 30 Tower (4) 31 Epoch (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Paste 9, Amused 10, Eaglet 11, Tower 12, Rota 15, Mice 17, Erected 20, Nod 21, Duvet 23, Ever 25, Disc 26, Dated 28, Wet 30, Diverse 33, Idol 35, Deer 36, Debar 38, Doctor 39, Tongue 40, Tenet.

DOWN: 1, Sabre 2, Quote 3, Pet 4, Adored 5, Teem 6, Ear 7, Plain 8, Steed 13, Ordered 14, Acted 16, Concise 18, Duped 19, Wed 22, Tired 24, Rap 27, Dilate 28, Windy 29, Torch 31, Reign 32, Erred 34, Mere 36, Dot 37, Rot.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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