MISSING $20BN OIL MONEY: FG to hire forensic auditors —Okonjo-Iweala

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62080

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Oduah's sack: Reps Valentine: NACA warns against HIV, STDs 9 back Jonathan 10

MISSING $20BN OIL MONEY:

FG to hire forensic auditors —Okonjo-Iweala •No money is missing — NNPC boss •$20bn not accounted for, Sanusi insists •Subsidy: We need legal interpretation — Alison-Madueke

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE Fed eral Government is to hire independent forensic auditors to examine the books of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with a view to ascertaining whether or not it has failed to remit oil revenues to the Federation Account, as alleged by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam

Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST:

•P.17

Mr & Mrs

OIL REVENUE—Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke (middle) answering questions from journalists, after an investigative hearing by the Senate committee on Finance on alleged unremitted oil revenue, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Nine soldiers feared killed in Borno 9 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

COMMISSIONING—President Goodluck Jonathan flanked on his left by the Supervising Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Musa Sada and on the right by the Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim; while the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (2l); Minister for Trade, Mr. Olusegun Aganga (l) and others support him as he cuts the tape to commission the FMBN/Aviation Village and Launching of the NHF e-Card in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

MISSING $20BN OIL MONEY: FG to hire forensic auditors —Okonjo-Iweala Continues from page 1 Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday, after

appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance which is investigating the alleged unremitted fund.

At a public hearing in the Senate last week, the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH Manage your resources wisely, If you buy things you do not need, soon you may have to sell things you need.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

T

HE unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!—Henry Ward Beecher A woman was depressed for years and every treatment proved abortive until her doctor decided to try a different approach. He sent a package, in it was a strong magnifying glass. With instructions of what to do. Every day, she should look through the lens at objects in her home and write down her observations.

She began looking through the lens at these objects and was amazed at what she saw. Then she examined the veins in a flower plucked from her garden, the colour dots in an old photograph, and even the texture of her own skin. In days before close-up photography, she’d never seen the likes of it before. She was amazed and astounded at the brand new world opening up before her eyes.

She began to get well because this unusual prescription had aroused within her the most curative of all emotions – gratitude. Gratitude for the gifts all around us. Steve Goodier sums it aptly. “Do you practice gratitude? I think you’ll discover that it is no less than a powerful prescription for inner peace.”

CBN Governor revealed that records available to the bank showed that the total amount generated from crude oil sales was $67.8 billion while records of remittance to the Federation Account by the NNPC was $47.8 billion with a shortfall of $20 billion not accounted for.

Mallam Sanusi, who also appeared before the committee was, however, not convinced by the explanations put forward by both the NNPC and the Finance Minister and insisted that $20b was missing.

At the committee hearing, yesterday, the Minister of Finance said going by the controversy that had surrounded the remittance of the subsidy fund, there was the need for external auditors to carry out a forensic auditing of NNPC account on the issue.

She said the services of forensic experts were needed to verify data submitted by NNPC which the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA had certified to ascertain whether the claim was true or not as the PPPRA and the min-

istry of finance alone cannot establish the veracity of the claim.

She said: “Our judgment is that a proper examination of these documents requires technical expertise beyond the capacity of the reconciliation team and, therefore, we believe we should have an independent forensic audit, managed independently of these submissions.

“We have decided to let the forensic auditors examine the accounts (of the NNPC) and let Nigerians fully know what is going on.

“We understand that this kind of forensic audit requires experts who have some knowledge of the petroleum industry because it is very specialized. What the NNPC submitted was a mountain of documents on shipping, loading, when ships arrived and all that. It requires specialized forensic auditors to work on it”.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala admitted that the nation’s oil account was complex but assured that there was a proper process for accountability.

Her words: “There is

a proper process going in this country and all those writing should know that there is due process in this country.

Reconciliation has been going on in the last two years.

“The oil account is a very complex business.

For example, oil is lifted to pay back what is called “carry arrangement “ in which oil is supplied for loans taken

by NNPC in the past and is to be paid back in crude oil to those creditors who gave NNPC those loans. So when you look at it, someone can say there is a missing x number of barrels which should have been accounted for. But it is used in paying for debt owed by the NNPC. “That is why we are asking for forensic audit so that we can have all these things clearly verified. You can’t just look at the balance of payment numbers- you will not get it right. Those are some of the reasons why we said it is a complex issue. Let us get the experts into this and let them give account to Nigerians”.

She added that “the issue of unremitted funds by NNPC is not new and all attempt to make it look as if the work that should be done in this country to reconcile accounts by the Ministry of Finance is not true.

"The finances of the country that come into the budget have been managed very transparently to the point that the budget of the country is so detailed that people can tell how much is spent in the State House to buy forks and knives and be able to criticize.

“Even if they don’t like it, they have the information and we should be proud of that as a country. There is no country from my experience of over 60 countries that have the details released

by the budget office of this country.

“The issue is that where is that money, how is it being accounted for and we have led the process. We asked both the NNPC and the PPPRA to produce their documents and they had produced certified copies for the $10.8bn and we have asked for an independent audit.

“A lot of accusations are being made in this country and the only way to be satisfied is to have an independent audit.”

Subsidy withdrawal: Legal interpretation needed — AlisonMadueke In her submission, the Minister of Petroleum Resources said that there was nowhere in the government gazette where authority was given on the withdrawal of kerosene subsidy and that there was the need for legal interpretation.

Alison-Madueke said: “For years, the issue of the Presidential directive given by late President Musa Yar ’Adua had been brought up over and over again. At the time, an inter-ministerial meeting was held, both ministers of finance and that of petroleum at that time were parties to that meeting and at that time, a decision was taken to stay action on the memo because kerosene was very crucial to Nigerians.

“Masses of Nigerians deal with it today. The landed cost is N150 but it was being subsidized at N150 because we cannot effectively move the products around the country because of the damage done to our facilities.

“The reason for stay

Continues on Page 8

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Fake medical doctor arrested in Lagos

BY BOSE ADELAJA

L

AGOS — BARELY three weeks after an alleged fake gynaecologist ‘Dr. Sunday Bassey’ was arrested at Mushin area of Lagos, nemesis has caught up with another fake doctor, Awotoye Ayodele, who was arrested, yesterday.

The fake doctor was said to have practised at Military Hospital, Yaba and St. Claire Hospital, Surulere before his arrest.

Also, he claimed to be an undergraduate of Ladoke Akintola University before his decision to practise the medical profession which he had been engaged in for years until nemesis caught up with him and was caught by a team of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN, and Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA The team was led by Head of Inspectorate Department, Dr. Okwuokenye Henry and Executive Secretary, Dr. Jimi Asuni.

According to sources, the fake doctor was first arrested in December 2012 and charged to court over a forged certificate which he used to practise as a House Officer with Military Hospital, Yaba and the case was adjourned to yesterday.

Meanwhile, Ayodele had written an apology letter to the MDCN Council Registrar, Dr. Abdulmumini Ibrahim after his first arrest.

While his case was being reviewed, the council was hinted that the suspect had relocated from Yaba and had been practising with St Claire Specialist Hospital with a different licence but on getting to the hospital, he was discovered to have been sacked.

However, after yesterday’s court proceeding where the case was adjourned till April 14, the medical team confronted him with the second allegation which he confessed to and was thereafter handed over to the police.

Ayobo ATM robbery: Police parade medical doctor, pastor, 2 others ... recover 7 AK-47, 2 K-2 rifles, one pump action

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

L

AGOS— THE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, paraded four persons, including a medical doctor and a pastor, who were linked to the deadly gang of robbers who attacked the Ayobo branch of Access Bank, killing three policemen, last November.

This came as seven more AK47 rifles, two K-2 rifles, one pump action and 17 AK-47 magazines, fully loaded, were recovered by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, at one of the gang's hideouts in Egbeda area of Lagos.

The recovery brought the total number of rifles recovered from members of the gang, which specialised in braking into banks' Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, to 15, while 10 of the 14 member-gang have been gunned down in different encounters in the last eight weeks.

Vanguard also gathered that 13 of the 15 recovered arms were those of policemen killed during the bandits' operations.

Sources disclosed that the officer in charge of SARS, SP Abba Kyari, who coordinated the arrests and the subsequent recoveries of the arms, received an intelligence report about a secret house that members of the gang were using.

The house was allegedly owned by one of the robbers identified as Saviour Confidence, who was gunned down during an operation, at 49, Alimosho Road, Egbeda area.

It was gathered that Confidence, who was an ex-bank staff, fled to South Africa after some members of his gang were killed during a robbery at Ilasamaja area.

The robbers, clad in army uniform, were said to have gone to Ilasamaja few days after the Ayobo bank robbery to rob a bureau de change operator of N10 million.

They had a shoot-out with some SARS operatives who accosted them at the scene and two members of the gang, identified as Eyo Bassey and one unnamed fake soldier, were killed, while one AK-47 rifle, 11 magazines, loaded with 30 rounds each and three mobile phones were recovered.

How Confidence was klilled

Sources disclosed that Confidence fled the country after learning of Bassey’s death, fearing the police would track him down.

But the police managed to arrest his fiancee and made her tell him that all was well.

He sneaked into the country

Members of the gang with their arsenal as paraded by the Police yesterday. PHOTO: ESTHER ONYEGBULA. He said members of the gang were not just responsible for the Ayobo bank robbery, but they killed three policemen.

He said: “They were behind the ATM robbery at FirstBank, Idimu; Zenith Bank, Malu Road, Ajegunle and Diamond Bank, Pen Cinema, where they killed a policeman and took his rifle. We are currently making efforts to arrest four other members of the gang who are on the run.”

Meanwhile, the suspects confessed being members of the gang during an interview with Vanguard.

Dosunmu, the medical doctor one month later, asking his fiancee to meet him in an obscure location in Abule-Egba thinking the police were no longer after him.

According to a source, a team of operatives followed the woman to the location and the moment he noticed the presence of operatives, he attempted to escape but was shot and he died from bullet wounds.

A team of operatives were later deployed to search his apartment where seven AK-47 rifles with serial numbers: 34-3360, 56-2-609299, 56-2-529284, 56-2-5005992, 56-2-61216, 56-2-3280, 56-2-523929 and two K2 rifles with serial number M39874, M40005, with 17 AK-47 magazines and some charms were found hidden in a drum inside his kitchen.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP, Umar Manko, who paraded the suspects at the command's headquarters, Ikeja, gave their identities as Jonathan Nsirim, Tajudeen Dosunmu, Isaiah Willie and Tairu Kareem.

Why I joined the gang —Medical doctor

Dosunmu, the medical doctor, said he joined the gang because he needed money to renew his operating licence.

The 65-year-old man said: “I am one of the gang’s transporters and I usually help to transport their gas cylinders to robbery scenes.

"I am the owner of Boluwatife Kola Hospital, located at Igando, behind the police station and in 2012, my operating licence got expired and I had no money to renew it and I closed it down.

"One of my younger brothers later introduced me to this gang and all they needed from me was to transport the gas cylinders they use in opening the ATMs to the scenes after which they will give me between N20,000 to N30,000.

"I thought I could make some money from it and then go back to my job but in November I followed them to Ayobo and while we were waiting at the spot, we heard gun shots and I quickly drove out with my car.

"I didn’t know policemen were killed in that operation as I have not heard from any member of the gang.

"Last week, I was in my house when the police came and arrested me.“

I joined the gang through Confidence —Pastor

Isaiah Willie, on his part, said he is a Pastor at Happy People Bible Church, but joined the gang through Confidence who he described as a long time friend.

According to him, “Confidence has been a long time friend of mine and he asked me to use my car to carry gas cylinders and other instruments to places where they were to operate, after which he will give me N40,000.

"I usually don’t go into the bank with them, my job is to drive the instruments to the bank and wait by the car.”

My job is to brake open ATMs —Panel beater

But Tairu Kareem, a panel beater said: "I joined the gang because I lost my job. I am married with three children and I reside at Wilmer Crescent, OlodiApapa.

"I lost the space where I was using for panel beating and one Gbenga, who is also a panelbeater, linked me to the gang.

"My job is to brake open the ATM with gas cylinders and I followed them to carry out only two jobs. "I was the one who opened the FirstBank ATM and I got N300,000 as my share after the operation. I don’t carry gun but I was arrested through my girl friend."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 —7

5 kg heroin abandoned in praying rug at MMIA ...as NDLEA arrests man with 400 grammes methamphetamine L

AGOS — A suspected drug trafficking syndicate, yesterday, abandoned five kilogrammes of high grade heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

The drug was hidden inside praying rugs imported from Pakistan.

Narcotic officers made the discovery during inward screening of cargoes on Qatar Airline flight.

The agency also arrested a 29year-old man, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna, for ingesting nine wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes at the airport.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr.Hamza Umar, said the examination of the consignment was witnessed by other security agents.

He said: "The consignment was given 100 per cent physical examination in the presence of customs and other security agents.

"During the search, we found 35 sachets of brown powdery substance that tested positive for heroin concealed in praying rugs.

A trader was also arrested for ingesting methamphetamine."

The arrested suspect, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna, who had lived in Gabon for 10 years, tested positive for drug ingestion.

While he was under observation, he excreted nine wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes.

In his statement Osigwe said: "This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I feel sad because my pastor warned me against crime.

"He told me that I will be successful in life but I must avoid drug trafficking, fraud and other crimes in order to actualise God's plan for my life."

The suspect, who is a primary school certificate holder, is single and hails from Imo State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, said Nigeria is winning the drug war against all odds.

He said: "Nigeria is winning the anti-narcotic crusade against

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

The abandoned drugs

Osigwe Uchenna, the suspect with 400 grammes of methamphetamine all odds. Drug cartels only abandon their drugs when the operating environment is inclement.

"This is a sign of effective secu-

The praying rug rity checks which is good for the country. The NDLEA will continue to intercept drugs through advance surveillance techniques."

A

DO EKITI — EKITI State Police Command has arrested seven suspects in respect of the kidnap of a businessman and a medical doctor in Ekiti state, just as the duo have regained their freedom A Lagos-based business man, Chief Femi Fadeyi, and a medical doctor, Adekunle Abayomi, of the Ekiti State

The NDLEA boss, who ordered an investigation into the cases, assured that all suspects would be charged to court.

8 killed in Edo road crash

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN— AT least eight per sons have been confirmed dead in a road accident which occurred, yesterday, at Ugbogui axis of the Benin- Ore-Lagos dual carriageway.

Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC,

Ekiadolor Tollgate Unit, Mr Adewale Ameen, who confirmed the accident, said the accident involved an 18-seater bus with number plate CT 874 FST and a Mercedes Benz truck, with number plate MUS 570 SS, belonging to Lord Chosen Charismatic Movement.

While attributing the accident

7 arrested over kidnap of bizman, medical doctor

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

Truck kills woman, 37, while praying in church

University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH, were abducted in Ekiti three days ago.

The state Police image maker, Victor Babayomi, who confirmed this in Ado Ekitib said the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state.

Babayemi said the businessman and the doctor were found in a remote area in Ijero Ekiti around 5.30 a.m yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that the manner of their release gave

an indication that both may have been kidnapped by the same gang.

The PPRO said the victims were in stable condition and had since re-united with their families.

According to a family source, a ransom of N800,000 was paid to the doctor’s captors by his colleagues, of the N1 million demanded.

Babayemi, however, denied knowledge of payment of ransom to the kidnappers.

to fatigue on the part of the bus driver, he said the bus driver was said to have rammed into the stationery truck while driving from Lagos to Benin.

He said: “Although the bus driver survived, eight passengers died. It was an avoidable accident because the truck parked well away from the road.

“From my interaction with the survivors, they had consistently warned the diver about his recklessness before the accident occurred. They were coming from Lagos after an all-night prayer session.”

Meanwhile, the FRSC Benin Zone, yesterday, said it would in the spirit of the Valentine season caution offending motorists rather than ask them to pay fine.

The Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr. Charles Akpabio, whose command comprised Edo, Delta and Anambra states, said this in an interview with newsmen in Benin.

He said: "The Operation Valentine, the command’s initiative, is our gesture to waive the fine for offenders and to share with road users the spirit of ‘love’ which the Valentine represents.

BEOKUTA — TRAG EDY struck, yesterday, when a middle-aged woman was crushed to death while praying inside a church in Sotunbo, area along the busy Sagamu/ Ikorodu road in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun state.

The incident, which occurred at about 6.00 am, was reported to be the second in three weeks in the same church.

According to an eye-witness, the tipper with number plate XM 594 SMK was from Sagamu end of the road, but had a blowout in one of its front tyres, making the driver lose control and rammed into the church.

It was gathered that the woman, identified as Iyawo Alfa, was hit from behind while kneeling in prayer with her four months old baby.

But, while the woman died on the spot, her baby and the Pastor who was in front of her during the prayer survived.

Vanguard gathered that Police had arrested two persons in respect of the accident.

It was further gathered that a similar accident occurred in front of the church about three weeks ago when an 18-seater bus had an accident in which the driver died.

Ex-policeman docked for murder

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

L

AGOS — A FORMER Police Inspector, Felix Ugolo, was yesterday arraigned at an Ebute Metta magistrate court for allegedly killing one Sunday Okoli.

According to the charge sheet, the incident took place on January 27 at about 8pm at Adewale Street, Iba New Site, Ishashi.

Yesterday's arraignment came after two year of being in custody Ugolo, 54, was said to have been demoted from the rank of an Inspector to a constable because of the alleged offence.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (left) receives a letter from Mr. Idrissa Daucoure, leader of the delegation from the United Nation Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water Sanitation, during a courtesy visit to the First Lady in Aso Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

MISSING $20BN OIL MONEY:

FG to hire forensic auditors —Okonjo-Iweala Continues from page 5 ing action is because if we remove the Subsidy on kerosene suddenly, obviously the price of kerosene will escalate. It will cause a major problem for the economy and the government. There will be untold hardship for the Nigerian masses.

“The GMD at that time wrote two memos to the Finance Minister for clarification despite a presidential directive but no clarification came, hence the subsidy remained. The issue of deduction at source happened because the product landed at N150 and was sold at N50.

“There is a N100 gap which must be covered and it is not budgeted for. The NNPC was unable to retrieve the amount. In this case, based on the first line charge in the Appropriation Act, it means that NNPC would have gone under long time ago under the weight of the Subsidy and it would have affected the economy of other countries in West Africa.

“I do think the law court should decide on the legality or otherwise on the deduction of subsidy on kerosene.

“The business of kero-

sene had become a very distracting and messy business in terms of all what is happening and what is being said in the polity. It will be very simple for the NNPC and the Ministry of petroleum to withdraw from the issue of kerosene but there is no marketer that wants to go into the business.

“They will come in but it will take time before they take over the distribution but before then the price of kerosene will go up astronomically and we all know that. We have to establish a balance so that the masses of this country do not suffer.

No amount of fund is missing — NNPC boss The Group ManagingDirector of NNPC Andrew Yakubu in his own submission, said no amount of the subsidy fund was missing and explained that the CBN and the Federal Ministry of Finance were clearly aware of the outstanding amount and the issues relating to its nonrealization.

According to him, unpaid amount on petroleum products was $8.76 billion; crude oil and

product losses was $0. 76 billion, $0.46 billion was for national strategic reserve holding, while pipeline maintenance and management cost $0.91 billion.

He said: “We don’t have any problem with forensic audit but what we are saying is that there is a procedure that had been put in place through the bodies like the PPPRA, DPR to cross check our data and certify them for payment, so we have no problem, in the upstream industry we have five agencies that oversee our business, so we are used to interacting with agencies.

“We are happy for anybody to come in and look at it, but the question is what value is it going to bring because we have gone through these things over and over, but all the same we have no problem.”

$20bn still unremitted, Sanusi insists But the CBN Governor could not be moved by the explanations made by the NNPC authorities, though he acknowledged that the Finance Minister had made some explanations on that.

He said: “We estab-

lished that the NNPC shipped about $67bn worth of crude and about $47bn came back to the federation account so there is $20bn unremitted.

“As far as the CBN is concerned, the most important point to establish is that there is a difference of $20bn between what the NNPC shipped and what it repatriated.

We have presented documents from the PPPRA and the presidency that in our view, there is no subsidy on kerosene, first of all and that the payment of kerosene subsidy is a violation of a written presidential directive.

“We ask question about the oil produced in blocks under strategic align agreement with Atlantic Energy to indicate that our concern was not even whether the NPDC is a subsidiary or not or whether the revenue that was transferred to Atlantic Energy was a revenue that legitimately belonged to it.

“Apart from the legal opinion of the Finance Minister, we will also bring our lawyers to come and defend our legal position and once it is established the part that belong to the federation should come to the federation and what goes to the National Petroleum Development Company.

“We have made no comments about the $2bn third party documentation because we have been given no documentation; even the $6bn for NPDC did not come to any account in CBN but we have taken the words of NNPC. For us, there is a question mark over that gap. The PPPRA has done the certification but there is a question of certifying the actual amount of subsidy that NNPC took, and whether the NNPC should have taken subsidy on kerosene.

“For us in the CBN, our task ends with establishing there is $20bn unremitted, after that, it will be left to the committee and the Finance ministry to establish that the $20bn was properly accounted for.

“On the NPDC figure, I cannot accept the claims that the $6bn did not belong to the federation account because I believe part of it should come to the account. I do not know how much oil had been produced on both wells. I do not know

how much crude had been taken and at what value. It is not what the CBN can do.

“If we agree with the Finance Minister that part of the money should go to the federation account, some oil industry experts should go and properly audit how much crude has been taken, how much had been sold, how much revenue was remitted to the federation account and how much ought to have come in.

“Once it was established that $20bn had not been repatriated to the federation account, then we are okay. Without appropriation, can NNPC pay subsidy on kerosene or do they have superior authority to pay it?

“PPPRA had presented a certification of $8.54bn subsidy on kerosene. It was done by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Reginald Stanley on his own responsibility and I have no reason to question him but if any information comes to light, we will raise question.

We do not accept the legality of the kerosene deduction."

Senate committee Chairman agrees with Finance Minister On his part, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi agreed with the position of the minister of finance on forensic auditing of the account and gave the minister one month to carry out the auditing.

He said: “The CBN said part of the NNPC transaction, though it was not in a position to know the exact amount, should be lodged in the federation account. We have agreed on that; that will be sorted out on technical grounds.

“Today is a rewarding, fruitful day. We have narrowed down what the issues are, but that is not to say that we have come into conclusion on all issues. These bunch of documents and submissions by the NNPC, which the committee members will study, and we are going to the ministry of finance, the CBN and others that relate to the crude oil product losses.

“Our own forensic examination of the document will make us take

a decision as to whether the document support the expenses incurred.

The expenses are part of the accounting for the money.

"The major issue laid to rest substantially, is the issue on the Subsidy on petrol which is $5.254bn, because the PPPRA has satisfied it even though to further reassure Nigerians ministry of finance had suggested that and undertaken to independently have it forensically examined to further reassure Nigerians that the certification is indeed in order.

“We have also received certification for kerosene subsidy but the key issue is the appropriation to it and we have all agreed here that no appropriation has been made to it.

The implications of spending money that is not appropriated, is well known to everybody and the whole world is hearing this. I don’t want us to joke or play with this. It is the most central issue.

“All agencies that have spoken have confirmed to the whole world that this money was not appropriated and I want people to absorb the import of this confirmation. We will deliberate on how to deal with the past, how we will deal with the future is critically important and this is the best time to deal with the issue to avoid further contravention.

“We also heard from the CBN that they are questioning part of the $10.8bn. They believe that part of it should belong to the federation account but that they are not technically competent at this stage to state how much it is.

“We have agreed to see how we will engage technical experts to determine which part of the amount, if any, belongs to the federation account. The question which is certain is that it is not all of it but part of it but at this stage, we don’t know exactly. That is what is yet to be ascertained.

“We have also agreed and the Attorney - General had confirmed to us that he will be available next week Thursday to give the legal opinion which also concerns the NPDC issue to give the ministry of finance, legal advice on the issue.

Those directly involved would be on ground."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—9

Udenwa, Chris Anyanwu, 10,000 others back to PDP next week •Jonathan to receive them Feb 21 in Owerri

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will, next week, receive into the family of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP former Imo State governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, Chairman Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu, General Muhammadu Buhari’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ahamba who dumped their parties for the ruling political party.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja, the Chairman, Imo State Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Chief Longers Anyanwu who is also the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, LOC, of the rally to receive the former governor of Imo State and other defectors, disclosed that the event is scheduled for Friday, February 21, at the Owerri township stadium.

Udenwa and Mike Ahamba as well as over 10, 000 persons will defect from the All Progressives Congress, APC, for PDP while Senator Anyanwu will leave the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, for her former party, the PDP.

PRESIDENCY: Group asks northerners to vie in 2019

A

BUJA—AHEAD of 2015 Presidential election, a group under the aegis of the Nigeria Mandate 2015, yesterday, urged the northern part of the country to search for a credible and young presidential candidate for 2019 election, saying there was no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015.

National President, Nigeria Mandate 2015, Dr. Ojona Okongor Eno, said while briefing newsmen that one good turn deserves another, stressing that President Goodluck Jonathan will contest for 2015 because of his achievements. He, however, urged the north to support him in the realisation of his ambition and search for a very young personality as Jonathan’s successor by 2019.

Eno said the north must save its energy for 2019 and not seek for the ouster of President Goodluck Jonathan, even as he stressed that 2015 presidential election was already concluded in favour of Jonathan with the help of God as he would be returned by Nigerian electorate.

Oduah's sack: Reps back Jonathan •To screen N7bn budget for National Conference •As NUG condemns APC over bribery allegation

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

T

HE sack of the Minis ter of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, by President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, got the support of the House of Representatives yesterday.

The former minister, who was accused of purchasing two bullet-proof cars at an inflated rate of N255million last year, was recommended for sack by the House Committee on Aviation after a weeklong public hearing.

Briefing journalists, yesterday, spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, APC, Kwara, said the House proved detractors wrong as Oduah’s removal and ouster from office showed the President had taken sides with the House’ resolution.

Mohammed said, “We have kept faith with exposing corruption and for us, we have done our job. And if the President has finally decided to do his now, then we are on the same page.”

On the allocation of N7billion by the Presidency for the national conference, Mohammed said the House would look into the proposal and do justice to it when it came to the National Assembly.

He said,“As an institution, it is too early for us to talk about the desirability of the conference and the budget for it. But when they bring it to us, we would look at it critically.”

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Unity Group in the House of

Representatives condemned the wild and spurious allegations by members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dished out millions of US dollars to senators and House members to defect to the PDP.

Unity group flays APC The group said it would do everything within the law to ensure the 2014 Appropriation Bill was passed within limited time, and that the group would not allow anything to truncate the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan A statement signed by Bitrus Kaze for the group, after the delivery of the budget

to various committees of the House said, “we are not surprised at their desperation but we are determined not to allow these weighty allegations to be swept under the carpet.

We have since raised a breach of privilege on the floor of the House and the matter has been referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, report of which is expected in two weeks.”

Kaze, however, stated that the group would follow the matter to its logical conclusion, adding that while Nigerians had become used to the regular doses of lies by the APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, they were shocked that the incumbent governor of Nassarawa State, Alhaji Tanko Almakura, would condescend to such a

despicable level to lie on a national television that the members from Nassarawa State were financially induced to defect to PDP. He noted,“Unfortunately, this pattern of behaviour has become consistent with the APC, even at their highest level. Luckily, discerning Nigerians know that the APC remains a patchpatch contraption of desperate and power hungry politicians, most of whom believe in blackmail and false propaganda as tools for achieving political relevance”.

Kaze advised the APC to learn to place national interest over and above parochial political gains, and salute the courage of members of the multi-party platform, under the Nigeria Unity Group, for their resilience and commitment to the Nigeria project, despite all efforts to distract them.

L-r: Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Haruna Waziri-Jalo; Chief Executive Officer , NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, Lafarge Country Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria and Benin Republic, Mr. Guillaume Roux, and Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge WAPCO, Mr. Joe Hudson, during Lafarge Wapco Management's corporate visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau

9 soldiers feared killed in Boko Haram ambush

BY UMAR YUSUF

Y

OLA—SOME Nigerian soldiers, yesterday, fired indiscriminately into the air to protest the killing of no fewer than nine of their colleagues in a deadly ambush by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram at the border areas of Izhe in Madagali Local Government of Adamawa State.

Both local officials and military sources confirmed to newsmen that the insurgents attacked the soldiers at Madagali, a border town between Borno and Adamawa States.

Chairman of the local government, Mr. Maina Ularamu, who confirmed the at-

tack, said he could not, however, ascertain the number of casualties. Ularamu said the soldiers were on a mission to repel an attack when they were ambushed.

Ularamu said, "The soldiers were going to repel a planned attack at Izhe, a border town, when they were ambushed by heavily armed insurgents. As I am talking to you, most villagers at the border areas have fled to Madagali, the administrative headquarters for fear of possible attacks by the insurgents. We are, however, calling on the government to station more troops with armoured tanks. These Boko Haram insurgents are well armed with sophisticated weapons."

Vanguard learnt that the soldiers were left to face the heavily armed insurgents, who attacked them from different directions even with no aerial support to them.

It was also gathered that the soldiers protesting the killing of their colleagues complained of alleged tactical errors in the handling of the illfated journey.

Efforts to get the Brigade Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola, Brigadier General Rogers Nicholas proved abortive as he was said to have gone out for an assignment.

However, a top military source confirmed the attack, saying that the soldiers carried out a raid on a Boko

Haram hideout in the porous border towns which resulted in a prolonged gun duel with the insurgents. He added that some of the insurgents also died in the battle.

Hospital sources also confirmed that the bodies of the dead nine soldiers were deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, in Yola.

A hospital source said, "The bodies of nine dead soldiers were deposited here in Federal Medical Centre,Yola. We counted only nine bodies."

Meanwhile, the College of Education, Hong in Adamawa State has been closed down.

The closure followed series of threat letters ostensibly from the insurgents threatening to attack the school.

10—Vanguard , FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

COMMISSIONING: From left: Dr. Bolaji Adebiyi, Chief Medical Director, Alimosho General Hospital, Dr. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi, Onigando of Igandoland, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mr. Waheed Bello, Chairman, Egbe-Idimu, LCDA, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, Lagos State deputy governor and Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, during the official commissioning of the maternal and child health centre and school of nursing complex, in Alimosho general hospital, L agos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Budget: Aregbesola urges synergy with lawmakers

O

S O G B O — GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola has asked the state legislators to take into cognisance the issue of dwindling allocations to the state while working on appropriation sent by the executive, noting that reordering of the figures must be collective for the good of the majority if need be.

Speaking at the budget retreat of the state parliament, the governor stressed that thinking on the government business must be the product of synergy between the executive and the legislature in consultation with all segments of the society.

However, Aregbesola drew the attention of the state lawmakers to the reduction of allocations to the state, saying the situation had taken toll on the duties of the state, but asserted that ways would be devised for making people happy.

VALENTINE: NACA warns against HIV, STIs

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

BUJA—AS Nigerians today join the rest of the world to mark Valentine’s Day season of love activities, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has called for caution against activities that could heighten the risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, STIs. Making the call in Abuja,

Director General of the Agency, Professor John Idoko, recognised Valentine Day as a period where gratitude of love is demonstrated between individuals through gestures of affection such as flowers, perfumes, cloths among other gift items.

His words: “Valentine Day as good as it may be, has however, brought up a worrisome aspect festering

Fashola inaugurates maternal & child care centre, nursing school

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has said the establishment of seven Maternal and Child Care Centres in the state will improve access to maternal and child healthcare and reduce deaths.

Fashola spoke in Lagos yesterday, at the inauguration of the seventh Maternal and Child Care Centre, MCC and a School of Nursing in Igando area of the state.

He said that the new specialised facility in Igando would improve access to healthcare as mothers and children would no longer need to travel to Ikeja or Festac Hospitals for services.

The governor said: “What all these MCCs in Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Festac and now Igando strive to achieve is to ensure that women in need of gynaecologists and other specialists do not have to drive almost 21 kilometres.

“It means those who used to drive from Ikorodu to Ayinke House in Ikeja now stay in Ikorodu, while those who drove from Ajegunle to Island Maternity now stay in

Ajegunle for care.

“Those who used to drive from Amuwo Odofin no longer need to come to Island Maternity and Ikeja.

“This can make the difference between a mother who survives and a baby who arrives alive because we have shortened the distance to care.”

Fashola said that the provision of the nursing school was in furtherance of the government’s efforts to

train and provide healthcare personnel to meet the needs of people.

He said that the location of the school in the hospital’s premises was strategic as it would provide opportunity for the students to have access to health facilities for practical knowledge.

The governor said the two projects were pointers to the fact that the state government was committed to the development of the Alimosho area of the state.

2015: We're not working for Jonathan —AFENIFERE

L

BY DAPO AKINREFON

AGOS—PAN-YORUBA s o c i o - c u l t u r a l organization, Afenifere has dismissed insinuations that the group is used to canvass support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 presidential elections in the South west region.

In a chat with Vanguard yesterday, national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said there was no iota of truth in such insinuation, but challenged those making the allegation to

come out with facts to back up their claim.

Odumakin said: “What gave that impression? What bad thing did he do that we supported? So, reconstructing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is a bad thing? Is holding a national conference a bad thing? What is the bad thing that Jonathan has done that we supported? We have supported him on the national conference, we have commended him on the Lagos-Ibadan road where many people have been killed over the years."

this celebration of love season. This is the high rate of indiscriminate sexual and other negative activities which are perpetrated on this day leading to uninformed decision making among adolescents.

“In our quest to actualise a generation free from HIV/ AIDS, NACA is advising that at this season of love, Nigerians should make informed decisions about their sexual engagements in order to halt the spread of the virus.”

Reminding Nigerians on the need to be principled and to abstain, or indulge only in protected sex at this period of love sharing. Idoko remarked that consumption of alcohol had become a worrisome

aspect and catalyst in the spread of HIV/AIDS among sexual active partners.

“Either good or bad, alcohol intake does influence an individual’s judgments and perceptions. It is widely observed that drinking alcohol leads to increased risky sexual behaviour, like not using protection to prevent HIV/ AIDS, or having sex that you will regret you had.

“As we celebrate love at this period of Valentine Day, it is good to note that safe sex is not just about protecting oneself, but however protecting those we love. As a nation, we must all come together with our partners and loved ones to discuss HIV/ AIDS epidemic and above all get tested, he said.“

Vanguard , FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 —11

Protests mar INEC, political parties parley in Osun

BY GBENGAOLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—THE one-day stakeholders meeting organised in Osogbo yesterday, by the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega with registered political parties in Osun State was disrupted by two opposing protesters calling for the removal and retention of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Rufus Akeju.

Four of the registered political parties also walked out of the meeting accusing Jega of taking side with Dr. Akeju.

Leading the anti-Akeju protest are Osun Liberated Movement, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, and All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA. They demanded for the immediate removal from the state the REC, arguing that his continued stay in office was becoming a stain on INEC. They alleged that Akeju was a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, claiming that he was also an ally of the APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu.

While the anti Akeju protest was

going on, another group of people mobilised themselves and stormed the venue of the meeting calling for the retention of Akeju in office.

At this point the situation became tensed and uncontrollable while anti-riot policemen were drafted to the scene to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.

Jega in his address at the

gathering assured the parties that INEC would conduct a credible election in the state this year.

He absolved INEC staff of blames arising from Anambra governorship election, insisting that so many factors responsible for it had been taken care of.

Trouble, however, started when representatives of the political parties were making their

presentations and the parties except APC demanded for the removal of the state REC to ensure a credible election in the state.

But when Jega said all the allegations against Akeju were not substantiated to warrant his removal from the state, they stormed out of the meeting enmass.

BRIEFING: Deacon Victor C. Durodola, Chairman, Board of Trustees, CCGK (middle), Femi Olajide (left), and Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Chapel of Christ the Glorious King 5th anniversary briefing, at the Church premises, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

Amosun’s govt accused of incurring N293bn debt zStop playing games with state debt figures —Government

A

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA—FORMER Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Ogun State under Otunba Gbenga Daniel's administration, Sina Kawonise, has accused the Ibikunle Amosun-led administration of incurring N293.33 billion debts for the state.

Kawonise, a governorship aspirant under the Labour Party, LP, said yesterday in a statement that the state’s debt was contrary to the earlier claims by the state government that it was owing only N35.6 billion, alleging that the state government was economical with the truth over its debt profile.

This came on the heels of the invitation to the state Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and her counterpart in the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, Olamilekan Adegbite, by the House of Assembly on Wednesday.

The two commissioners appeared before the Committee of the Whole House over the N19 billion fresh loan being sought by the governor to finance some capital projects.

Kawonise, in his reaction said the documents presented by the commissioners during their

appearance before the legislators indicated that the total debt exposure of the state was N293.33 billion.

According to him, the cash liability of the state amounted to N51.5 billion while total debt to road contractors is N241.83 billion.

Stop playing games with Ogun debt figures

In response, the Ogun State government said it was not surprised to see yet another mischievous press statement issued by Mr. Sina Kawonise, a

member of the Labour Party, in which he tried to foist the mischievous figures he had earlier peddled about the state’s debt profile on members of the public.

The government’s position was in a statement that said in part; “To achieve his purpose, Kawonise took figures from the planning schedule prepared by the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, among other documents given to members of the State House of Assembly during the Wednesday, February 13, 2014 hearing.

“The document from which he took the figures he is now manipulating is a schedule for monitoring the progress on roads under construction and keeping tabs on what will be done later, a long term plan on road construction in the state. This document has been endorsed by the State Executive Council.

“Even, in his submission, he demonstrated a shallow understanding of financial matters, a dubious intention to deceive members of the public and desperation to justify the lie he earlier told."

Ekiti guber: Prepare your handover note, Fayose tells Fayemi

BY GBENGAARIYIBI DO EKITI— FORMER governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, yesterday, told Governor Kayode Fayemi of the state to start preparing his handover note, boasting that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was poised to wrestle power from him in a free and fair contest While noting that PDP had the capacity to dislodge the ruling All Progressives

A

Congress, APC, in the state, he extended the hand of friendship to other aspirants to work like a team in other to go back to government house He said: “Our resolve to fight and win the next election is unshakable. Our capacity to galvanise and mobilise our people against this clueless and colourless regime is in our unity and strength.”

Ex-Governor Fayose boasted that he would repeat

his political dominance on the APC the way he did to the then Alliance for Democracy, AD, in 2003, if given the opportunity to fly the flag of the PDP in the June 21 governorship election.

Fayose said he defeated the then AD incumbent governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo as an underdog, saying nothing would stop him from doing same to Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Court orders forfeiture of pension scam suspects' property

I

BY OLAAJAYI

BADAN—AN Oyo State High Court has ordered the forfeiture of the property of all the nine alleged pension fraudsters who are standing trial before it pending the hearing and final determination of their case.

The accused were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly stealing N5.6 billion pension fund belonging to several retired primary school teachers in the state.

The accused persons are Muili Aderemi, Iyabo Giwa, Oguntayo Banji, Adebiyi Musendiq Olasumbo, Adeleke Kudirat Iyabo, Adeduntan Johnson, Kareem Rasheed and two companies-Fimhab Nigeria Limited and Dumath Investment and Services Nigeria Ltd. According to the court, “an order is hereby made granting interim attachment/forfeiture of the property listed in this application to the Federal Government pending the hearing and final determination of charge No. 1/6EFCC/2013-FG vs Muili Hakeem Aderemi and others.”

Pa Nathaniel Olagoke for burial

P

A NATHANIEL Olagoke (OjoOyeniran) is dead.

According to the Oyeniran's family, the Christian wake keep will take place today, at the Olagoke Villa, Ooye compound, Ifon-Osun, while the funeral service holds tomorrow, at St. John’s Anglican Church, Ifon-Osun, Osun State.

He is survived by children and grandchildren.

Late Nathaniel Olagoke

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—13

17 pro-Amaechi lawmakers approve govt access to N30bn reserve funds

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—SEVENTEEN members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in support of the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, passed the state Reserve Fund Law Amendment Bill 2014, to enable the state government withdraw N30 billion from the N53 billion in the fund.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Leyii Kwane, who presided over the session at the old auditorium in Government House, Port Harcourt, said the passage of the amendment bill was to enable the state government fund ongoing projects and effectively run the state.

“Section 40 and 10 are involved and if you are in support of amendment on all these areas, then indicate,” he said on the floor of the House and the lawmakers gave their support by raising their hands.

"As we have given a third reading to the Rivers State Reserve Fund Law Amendment Bill 2014, it has been passed. N30 billion only be taken out of the said reserved fund to enable the government undertake the projects listed before me. Do I have the leave of the House to allow the resolution, say yes.”

After the Deputy Speaker asked, the 16 members spontaneously chorused:”Yes.” The Deputy Speaker subsequently directed the Clark of the House to communicate the reso-

lution to the executive arm of government.

Speaking later with newsmen, Kwane explained that the resolution of the House would only become law when the governor assents to it.

He said the amendment to the Rivers State Reserve Fund Law Amendment Bill, 2014 was informed by the paucity of fund that had hit the state, a situation he said had made some contractors withdraw from site and workers being owed salaries.

“Contractors have pulled

out of site. Teachers have not been paid. The governor wants to inject this fund into the state,” he explained.

On what caused the drop in the state’s finances, he blamed the situation on oil wells allegedly belonging to the state that were ceded to neighbouring states.

“The Federal Government has ceded our oil wells to other states. N7 billion or more had been lost. You can see where the problem is coming from. Are you happy that 13,000 teachers are not being paid?” he queried.

Earlier, Leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, during the session, had described the lean purse of the state government as an emergency, calling on the lawmakers to expunge the word disaster as pre-condition to assessing the fund.

According to him, the essence of paucity of fund allegedly induced was enough disaster in the state.

Lloyd, who was Chairman of the adhoc committee on the Rivers State Reserve Fund Law Amendment Bill, 2014, urged the House to immediately pass same.

B

ENIN—HOST Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, Edo State, have given a seven-day ultimatum to Zakhem Construction Nigeria Limited, handling the laying of gas pipelines from Oben to Kogi State, within which to respond to their letters bordering on their social and eco-

P

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State, has vowed to use the coming local government elections in the state to teach All Progressives Congress, APC, a lesson that the state was purely a PDP state without opposition.

Chairman of the party in Delta State, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, who spoke in Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area, when members of PDP Delta Mandate, PDPDM, visited him, boasted that PDP would not concede any of C M Y K

HE Ughelli North Constituency 11, House of Assembly aspirant, Mr. Prince Oharisi, has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan on the emergence of former governor of Borno State, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, as the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing him as a good fortune for Nigeria’s democracy.

Oharisi, at his campaign office in Ughelli, noted that Mua’zu’s emergence was already creating the desired impact, mostly in the area of re-building the party.

A

VISIT: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State (right) presenting a souvenir to the new Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, during a courtesy visit to the governor, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

nomic wellbeing or be forced to stop further work on the project.

Representatives of the host communities, who staged a peaceful demonstration, yesterday, at the Edo State construction site of the company in Obayantor, Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area of the state, accused the company of

neglect and disregard for the rights of the communities as well as its non-compliance with the provisions of Nigeria Local Content Act, Nigeria Land Act and other extant laws.

In the protest letter by Dr. Sam Igbineweka, Chairman and others, copied to President Goodluck Jonathan,

We'll humiliate APC in LG polls —Delta PDP

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

Delta community elects exco

Oil, gas producing communities give firm seven days ultimatum

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

Jonathan lauded over Mua’zu’s appointment

the wards in the 25 local governments to APC. He advised PDP faithful not to be deceived by big names, as they don’t win elections, insisting that the raw materials for elections are the human beings.

Nwaoboshi said that PDP would participate fully in the election, win it and at the end send APC into exile in the state which he said would further tell the party that they could not exist in Delta, insisting that the leader-

ship of PDP in Delta State was not divided and would never allow any group to destabilise it.

Nwaoboshi advised members of PDPDM to al-

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Inspector – General of Police and 13 others, they asked the company to immediately tender an unconditional apology to host communities in the state for the neglect, disregarding their rights and expectations in its implementation of the Oben- Kogi State gas pipelines project and the Escravos-Lagos Gas line project.

ways canvass for PDP and not to see themselves as an alternative to PDP members or the mandate as alternative to PDP.

RAYA Progress Union, APU, a community in Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, has elected a new executive to run the affairs of the community for the year 2014.

A statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Aruga Omokaro, said: “The election was conducted under tight security. This was as a result of an aborted election earlier scheduled for December 31, 2013, but which was disrupted by hoodlums.

“To avert a repeat of violence, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, provided adequate policemen, who ensured that the election was successful.”

Mr. Eloho Akpoziakpo, emerged chairman; Mr. Geofery Ogbodo, vice chairman; Mr. Odiki Eziokome, Secretary; Sir Ajiri Akara Treasurer, while Mr. Mathew Ulebe was adopted Speaker.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Ojukwu’s property: Judge asks for case to be re-assigned

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

J

USTICE ADEBAYO Oyebanji of Lagos High Court, Igbosere, yesterday, asked that Ojukwu’s estate case brought against Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the widow of the late Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, be re-assigned to another judge.

The judge held that the re-assignment was in line with the directive of Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips.

As the plaintiff, Debe, who appeared in person stood to address the court, Justice Oyebanji told counsels in the matter that the case was not to have been brought before her in another court that she was transferred, and contended that it ought to remain where it was.

He is claiming to be the first and legitimate son of the late Biafran war lord.

“I have observed that this matter was assigned to this court. It was before the creation of the fast-track division.

“The registrar should not

APGA may adopt Orji for Senate

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — ABIA State chapter of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has said it might adopt Governor Theodore Orji as its senatorial candidate for Abia Central district in the 2015 elections.

A chieftain of the party in Abia State, Chief Dickson Ogu, said the party might consider that option if the governor make up his mind to run for a senatorial seat.

Ogu, who is the deputy national secretary of the party, said he would willingly ask his party to accept the governor to run on their behalf.

Oduah’s sack splits Anambra Assembly

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA — LAWMAKERS in Anambra State House of Assembly were, yesterday, divided over the sack of Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah.

Princess Oduah was one of the four ministers relieved of their duties, last Wednesday, by Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan among three other ministers.

While some members described it as a routine exercise and prerogative of the President to hire and fire based on reasons known to him, some members described Oduah’s sack as an unfortunate development for the people of Anambra State.

Chairman, House Committee

LAUNCHING: From left, Hon. Jide Idris, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Chief Stella Okoli, Chairman of the occasion; Dr. Femi Olugbile, author of the book, and wife; Mrs. Yewande Adesina, Special Adviser on Health to Lagos State Governor, and Hon. Tunde Alokan, representative of Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, during the launching of the book Heroees & Others - short stories written by Dr. Femi Olugbile, at the Protea Hotel, in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

Okorocha joined APC to ensure Igbo presidency in 2015 — Aide CHARLES KUMOLU

S

PECIAL ASSISTANT to Imo State governor on Political Affairs (Lagos), Mr. Ebunola Martins, has said that Governor Rochas Okorocha joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, to ensure that the presidential or vice presidential slot did not elude the Igbo in 2015.

He also called on Igbo to join the APC, noting that the party’s manifesto would further promote the rapid development of Igbo land.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, in Lagos, Martins regretted that Okorocha was being berated for setting the pace for the emancipation of Ndigbo.

He said: ‘’What is wrong with the efforts of Governor Okorocha to ensure that the Igbo are not treated as second class citizens in their country.

“Why should Igbo continue to be members of a political party that is not prepared to give them the presidential or vice presidential ticket in the forthcoming 2015 presidential election. ‘’Some of the reasons Governor Okorocha decided to join APC are because this political party offers the Igbo the oportunity to occupy strategic leadership positions in the structures of this political party and also to actualise the dream of the Igbo for a presidential or vice presidential ticket in 2015.’’

Drop clamour for power shift, Equity Group tells North

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

on Information, Pauly Onyeka, while conceding that the President had a constitutional right to hire and fire any minister said, Oduah’s case was done in error, having served the aviation sector very well. ”It is unfortunate that such a minister that had excelled in her functions as a minister should be sacked from office when investi-

WKA — THE Equity Group, a power block in Anambra North senatorial zone , which championed the emergence of Anambra governor from the area, has called on the people of Northern Nigeria to jettison their current clamour for political power to shift to their

part of the country in the interest of peace and harmony.

Rising from a meeting in Awka, yesterday, the group, through its chairman, Mr. Tony Ifeanya, observed that the consistent call for power shift by some northern elite might give the younger generation of Nigerians the wrong impression that power was meant for loudest agitators for it.

gations into the allegations against her had not been made public,” he said.

Reacting to the issue, Ikem Uzezie, who represents Aguata l constituency, Ebele Obi (Idemili South), Ikechukwu Umeh (Aguat ll), and Chigbo Enwezo (Onitsha) said the dropping of the four ministers, including Princess Oduah was in line with a constitutional provision that empowered the President to hire and fire ministers. ”Mrs Stella Oduah has performed creditably in the Aviation industry. And now that we do not have any representative in the ministerial list in the Presidency, we still hope that another minister would be appointed from Anambra State,” Uzezie said.

Obi, who also subscribed to the view that Oduah was not sacked, but resigned to prepare herself for future jobs, said even without the N255 million two bullet proof cars scam and certificate forgery against her, the President would still have sacked her when the need arose.

The member representing Aguata ll constituency, Ikechukwu Umeh, said though the state had lost its slot in the Presidency, the President should be magnanimous to still give the state another ministerial position.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—15

War against insurgency: NBA urges new service chiefs to respect human rights

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, urged the new Service Chiefs to adhere strictly to their rules of engagement, especially as it relates to the ongoing war against terrorism in the country.

The NBA, which gave the admonition in Abuja, tasked the Federal Government to live up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizenry.

Speaking at the formal presentation of cheques to its members from the NBA Relief Fund for lawyers who were affected by the activities of Boko Haram sect in the North-East, National President of the Association, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, bemoaned the fact that legal practice in North Eastern Nigeria had been largely disrupted as a result of the insurgency in that region.

He said: “Legal practice in North Eastern Nigeria has been largely disrupted as a result of the insurgency in that region. In fact, it is non-existent.

"As the insurgency has increased, which has precipitated a state of emergency in three North Eastern states, our noble colleagues in these parts are besieged and endangered. ”I consider it as part of the hallowed responsibility of the Bar to defend the rule of law and protect the fundamental rights and legal practice of our members and non-members, as the case may be, anywhere in the world, but with the emphasis on what goes

on in Nigeria at the moment, especially in the North East. ”We all know that most of the branches in the affected states have been active in affairs of the Bar and they all have strong institutions. There are even many of our members from the Southern and other parts of Nigeria who have lived and practised in North Eastern Nigeria for years. ”Some even married their daughters and settled there. But as I speak most of our members have not only lost their practice as professionals, but have also lost their livelihood and physical well-being. ”Even some of our members are regarded as insurgents and

threatened with prosecution.

"Also, judicial officers are bound to adjudicate on certain types of cases in the absence of adequate protection of their lives and families. ”This is the situation in which our members have found themselves in the North East of Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution provides that the security, protection of lives and property is the primary duty of the government. The NBA hereby calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfil this fundamental constitutional responsibility. ”Let me on behalf of the NBA, congratulate the new service chiefs appointed by His Excel-

lency, Mr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to particularly commend the new Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on his widely reported commitment to ending the insurgency by the end of April, 2014. ”To many, that is a tall order, but for us, it is commendable commitment and exhibition of serious mindedness to deal with insurgency.

"As they say, you aim at the moon, and if per adventure you miss your target, the moon, you will very well get the stars, nothing ventured, nothing gained, so we wish the new service chiefs well."

CEREMONY: Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika, with wife, Gift, during his pulling-out ceremony, in Abuja, yesterday.

We're committed to improving the living standards of Nigerians — Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said improvement of the living standards of Nigerians was a commitment his administration was resolutely pursuing.

The President, who spoke at the commissioning of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Aviation Village, Abuja, said his administration would work towards consolidating reforms in the housing sector in order to address the huge hous-

ing deficit in the country.

While commending the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and FMBN for initiating and financing the N2.4 billion project of 270 flats, President Jonathan added that the recommendations of the

We'll continue to license private universities — Wike

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA — THE Federal Gov ernment has pledged to continue to license private universities as long as they meet laid down requirements.

Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who gave the pledge when management of Nigerian -Turkish Nile University visited him in his office in Abuja, said the objective was to create access to quality education in the country.

He said the Federal Govern-

ment would continue to collaborate with international agencies to develop university education.

Wike said: “The framework established by the Jonathan administration through the National Universities Commission, NUC, has given rise to quality international and local private universities across the nation. ”We are happy that the Nigerian Turkish Nile University has played a key role in the development of university education in the country. ”We shall continue to partner with your government and other

key development agencies in Nigeria to develop our university education.”

He accepted the invitation of the university management to tour facilities of the school, while also approving the participation of his ministry in the International Olympiad to be organised by the university.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, Prof. Huseyin Sert, stated that the school would continue to contribute its quota to the development of the nation’s education sector.

2011 housing retreat he hosted in Abuja were being implemented and results emerging.

Also launching the National Housing Fund, NHF, e-card scheme, Jonathan said it was an effective tool for contributors to the NHF to easily access and monitor their contributions and transactions with the Fund, adding that it was part of his administration’s objectives to promote openness in government business, boost contributors’ confidence, and encourage defaulters to now start complying by making their contributions as and when due.

He extolled the Public-Private-Partnership, PPP, arrangement which paced way for the Aviation Village.

“Our intention is not to create a government monopoly, but to encourage the private sector to drive the process while we provide the right policies and environment.

What makes change is not the big things we do but the little things we do,” Jonathan said.

Ezeoba tasks NSE on female presidency

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

BUJA — Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, yesterday, charged the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, to imbibe the principle of change by electing a female President to lead the profession.

Ezeoba, who threw the challenge at the investiture of Engr. Nnoli Akpedeye as the 13th President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, APWEEN in Abuja, said change had become so inevitable in the 21st Century that many women had become chief executives of multi-billion dollar companies across the globe, including Nigeria and had distinguished themselves.

He said: “We are in the 21st century, if you look at the global establishment of blue-chip companies, you will see a new wave of ladies becoming CEOs of these multi-billion dollar corporations, including Nigeria.

“What we must realise is that ladies are equally as qualified as men. What is important is that they should be accorded that recognition and ladies must endeavour to earn the respect.

IGP Abubakar launches multi-million naira ACP building in Enugu today

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

N

SUKKA — ALL is now set for the commissioning of the multi-million naira area commander’s residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, today by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar The donation of the Area Commander’s residential building by Chief Wilson Agbo, Chairman, Wilson Nigeria Limited, was said to be the first of its kind to the Nigeria Police Force, as it would end the perennial accommodation problems faced by the Nsukka Area Command.

Chairman of the organising committee, Prince George Ehizonaga said the donation of the building by Chief Agbo had ended the accommodation problems encountered by Area Commanders posted to Nsukka.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

NSA to Congress: Snowden copied co-worker password F

L-r: Bharti Airtel’s Director and Africa Head, Airtel Money, Mr. Chidi Okpala; Director of Business Development, mFino, Mr. Chalapathi Rao Immidi with Executive Vice Chairman, Brinq Africa (Ingenico Partner), Mr. Deji Fisho at the fourth MobileMoney Expo, where the Bharti Airtel Director gave a presentation titled ‘Airtel Money–Leading the Financial Inclusion in Africa,’ in Lagos, yesterday.

We'll not support autonomy for ethnic nationalities at confab — ACF

BY EMEKA MAMAH

T

HE AREWA Consultative Forum, ACF, has said that the North would not support autonomy for ethnic nationalities during the proposed National Conference in the country. ACF, however, expressed support for devolution of power from the centre to the states in such a way that ”the centre is strong enough to keep the country one, but, not too strong as to push the country towards a unitary system.”

The National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani made this known in a statement in Kaduna, yesterday. Sani was reacting to reports that the Yoruba would push for ”ethnic autonomy” during the conference. The statement read: ”We have read the reports that the Yoruba will push for some form of ethnic autonomy during the coming National Conference that is reminiscent of con-federal arrange-

ment. As we have repeatedly made it clear, that ACF did not canvass for the Conference. This is because of the forum’s belief that the problems of Nigeria lie on the collapse of national ideals, fall in moral values, collapse in social contract and fall in sense of what is right and what is wrong.

There is no problem in the structure of the country in

the constitution and in the form of government or in the type in ethnic nationalism that promotes cleavages of the country. But since some sections of the country believe that coming together in the conference is capable of furthering the cause of a united Nigeria when issues of national importance or real issues of real concern to Nigerians are discussed; we have said, so be it."

APC chieftain predicts landside victory for party

B

AUCHI — A chieftain in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bauchi State, Mallam Ali Wakili has predicted a resounding victory for the party in 2015. Waliki, who expressed optimism, said that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, would be knocked out of power in 2015, for allegedly failing to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

He spoke in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, yesterday, pointing out that he sympathised with the National Chairman of PDP chairman, Ahmed Muazu, who is a native of the state for taking the mantle of leadership of the party at a period he described as ‘’injurious time.’’

He added that almost all the leaders of the party had defected to the opposition.

Kwara Assembly rejects Gov Ahmed's bill as ‘duplication of effort'

BY SUZAN EDEH

I

LORIN — THE Kwara State House of Assembly, yesterday, rejected the passage of the Monitoring and Evaluation Bill sent by Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed in January 2014.

The legislators rejected the passage of the bill after the Majority Leader moved a motion for the second reading of the bill. The lawmakers described the bill as “ duplication of effort,” saying it was not in consonance with section 128 of the constitution.

Tope Olayonu representing Ojomu-Balogun and Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke representing Essa-Sawo-Igboidun said the passage of the bill would constitute duplication of office.

They explained that since the Bureau of Statistics performing the same

function was in existence in the state, it was not necessary to create another office. According to them, it would amount to waste of public fund if the bill was passed. The member representing Oke-Ero constituency, Abraham Ashaolu, and his counterpart from Iiorin East Constituency, Hajia Nimata Ibrahim, said the bill was not in conformity with the 1999 Constitution.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Gana Yissa, who presided over plenary, urged the state government to allocate more funds to the Bureau of Statistics to enable it perform effectively.

The bill was sent to the House on January 21 and scaled through the first reading on January 22.

The House also directed

its Committee on Works, Energy and Transport to liaise with the state Ministry of Works and Transport on the reconstruction of Moro and Ohan bridges which collapsed.

Triumphant Baptist holds programme

T

RIUMPHANT Baptist Church, Akowonjo will tomorrow hold her monthly programme “Heavenly dew.”The programme which will start at 7am and end at 8.30am is themed: “Help of the helpless.”

According to the church’s pastor, Dr Sunday Oladejo, the programme is designed to enable people pray and have solutions to their challenge.

ORMER National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden gained access to at least some classified documents he later disclosed by copying a password from a co-worker who has since resigned, the NSA reported to Congress.

Snowden has previously said he did not steal any passwords.

The unnamed civilian employee who worked with Snowden resigned last month after the government revoked his security clearance, according to a letter that NSA legislative director Ethan L. Bauman sent this week to the House

Males aged between 15 and 55 fleeing the besieged Old City of Homs have been detained for questioning dated Monday, provides Judiciary Committee.

A military employee some of the first details and a private contractor about what authorities also lost their access to said they have learned NSA data as part of the about how Snowden c o n t i n u i n g retrieved so many investigation, Bauman classified documents before passing them to said.

Bauman’s memo, news organisations.

Kenya denies obstructing case against Kenyatta

K

ENYA’s most senior government lawyer yesterday rejected claims that it was obstructing the International Criminal Court’s investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Prosecutors say Kenya’s government has hindered access to bank and telephone records which they consider essential to secure a conviction on charges that Kenyatta orchestrated violence that swept Kenya after elections in 2007.

The case is a test of the authority and credibility of the court, which has seen several cases collapse and secured just

•President Uhuru Kenyatta. one conviction in 11 years.

Belgium’s parliament votes for child euthanasia

P

ARLIAMENT in Belgium has passed a bill allowing euthanasia for terminally ill children without any age limit, by 86 votes to 44, with 12 abstentions.

Egypt: Putin backs Sisi for Presidency

R

USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has said he would support a presidential bid from Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, wishing him luck after holding talks in Moscow.

“I know that you, Mr defence minister, have decided to run for president of Egypt,” Putin said, according to Russian news reports.

“It’s a very responsible decision. I wish you luck both from myself personally and from the Russian people.”

Sisi, who is widely expected to run for the job, has not yet officially

It has also driven a wedge between the court’s Western backers and African allies of Kenya, many of which launched a diplomatic push to have Kenyatta’s trial scrapped or deferred following his election as president last year.

Kenyatta, who is head both of state and government, denies the

declared his candidacy and there was no announcement from the Egyptian government.

Sisi and Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s foreign minister, also held separate talks with Sergei Shoigu and Sergei Lavrov, the Russian defence and foreign ministers.

When, as expected, the bill is signed by the king, Belgium will become the first country in the world to remove any age limit on the practice.

It may be requested by terminally ill children who are in great pain and who have no treatment available.

Opponents argue children cannot make such a difficult decision.

In the Netherlands, Belgium’s northern neighbour, euthanasia is legal for children over the age of 12, if there is parental consent.

Italian PM Enrico Letta to resign today Renzi had earlier called

I

TALIAN Prime Minister Enrico Letta has said he will resign today after his Democratic Party backed a call for a new administration.

Party leader Matteo

for a change of government at a party meeting, saying the country could not go on in “uncertainty”.

Speculation has been rife that Mr Renzi wants to take over as prime minister.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 —17

M

R. President is clearly in fighting form at the moment because he has recently sacked, transferred or politely edged out a number of senior officials who were previously regarded as sacred cows.

Since the new year dawned, Lt-General Azubike Ihejirika (former Chief of Army Staff) has gone, as has Alhaji Bamangar Tukur (one time Chairman of the PDP).

Ditto Princess Stella Oduah and Elder Godsday Orubebe (the ex-Ministers of Aviation and Niger Delta) and Mike Oghiadome (erstwhile Villa Chief of Staff). Meanwhile, Joseph Mbu (the now-famous Commissioner of Police who was constantly at loggerheads with the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi), has been firmly redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory beat.

•Tinubu

•President Jonathan Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leader of APC, threw a rather witty jibe at Dr. Goodluck Jonathan last week when he described NNPC – which is always being suspected of mishandling oil revenue - as “the President’s personal ATM”!

I must say that I had a jolly good laugh when I heard this sarcastic comment because it is quite amusing. However, let us not forget that the inimitable Tinubu is often accused of using Lagos State Government coffers as his own personal ATM!

Sweeping changes in the corridors of power

Special relationship Even though Mbu has been moved rather than removed, many people are interpreting this development as a reprimand from the Head of State (this viewpoint is expressed by those who see Mbu as a troublemaker who was thoroughly enjoying the gra-gra he was accused of instigating in my home state).

All of the above were said to have sound or special relationships with the President and/ or the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. And it was widely assumed that they could all count on staying put until

•Orubebe

•Ngama

the election. But the President has proved that his Transforma-

tion Agenda can also be ruthlessly applied to individuals

Amaechi’s Supreme Court Victory

N

OW that Amaechi has won his Supreme Court case and looks set to stay in office until 2015 as an APC Governor, I hope his opponents will stop peevishly trying to pull him down and focus on producing a credible PDP candidate to run against whoever he decides to support as a potential successor.

Competition is healthy if it is handled in a civilised way. I was very sad when Amaechi defected to the APC because I am a Niger Deltan sentimentalist and regard Jonathan as our Big Brother.

Niger Deltans struggled so hard to get the Presidency and I wanted Amaechi to overlook anything Jonathan, Dame Patience or his PDP colleagues had done to offend him (not least C M Y K

because he had also offended them!). But this is a 21st century Democracy and even I can stand back and coolly rationally admit that ethnicity is not a good reason for supporting or opposing anyone…and that Niger Deltans should only vote for Jonathan if they honestly believe that he is doing well for their region and the country.

The bottom line is that Amaechi is allowed to walk away from Jonathan, if he feels like doing so, and allowed to join any party he feels comfortable in. So let both sides of the political divide in Rivers State launch their respective campaigns in RESPONSIBLE way. And may the best candidate win, regardless of party affiliation.

•Oduah whom he may personally like (or at least have nothing against) if the individuals in question are highly controversial or simply no longer compatible with his plans. And I applaud him for acting so decisively.

It is possible that some of the above did not deserve to be dumped. For example, a lot of my Igbo friends and brethren – my mother is from Imo State – and a handful of non-Igbos are furiously insisting that Ihejirika was a fine soldier who was extremely loyal to Jonathan. I also know people who praise Oduah, Tukur, Mbu et al and say that they were un-

•Olubolade fairly vilified or simply that they should be forgiven for their mistakes because folks who have allegedly committed bigger outrages are still in office.

But it matters not that everyone does not share Mr. President’s desire for change. All that matters is that HE wanted change (for whatever reason) and had every right to want change and made sure he got change……and has shown the world that he is not a weakling who is always driven by cronyistic considerations…and is capable of pumping fresh air into the corridors of power from time to time.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 THE Lagos State Government, known for its accountability, openness and progressive credentials is in court contesting the right of the public to know how it spent a $90m World Bank facility for improvement of its schools.

State Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, told a Federal High Court that the Freedom of Information Act, a 2011 law, under which the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, wanted the State to disclose the information, was a federal law and therefore not binding on the State.

Mr. Ipaye first stated the position in November 2011 during a public lecture at the Lagos Television.

The state government told the court that the power to make laws on public records was concurrently shared between the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly in their jurisdictions.

The counter-affidavit reads, “The public records of Lagos State Government are generated and kept by various ministries, departments, agencies and personnel of the state government in execution of their functions and responsibility in the service of the State.

Where F oIA Does FoIA Not Apply “Such state government agencies and personnel are statutorily created or regulated by laws of the state House of Assembly and the handling of public records has serious security implications which are routinely handled by rules established by the State Government.”

The position contradicts the constitutional provision that the National Assembly should make laws for the entire federation. State Assemblies make laws for their States.

According to Section 4 (5) of the Constitution, “If any law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the National Assembly shall prevail, and

that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”.

States do not have laws on freedom of information. If they had and there were conflicts between them and federal laws, the Constitution still resolves them in favour of federal laws. States are un-making or ignoring federal laws when they are not in their favour.

Domestication of laws, according to Section 12 (1) of the Constitution, applies to treaties between Nigeria and other countries. States are appropriating domestication to desecrate the Constitution.

The FoIA expands the liberties the Constitution awards the public. Section 22 of the Constitution which states, “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people,” is stronger than the FoIA. On that score alone, governments and their agencies should account to the people through the media.

It would be interesting to see how the court resolves the FoIA imbroglio.

OPINION

BY BOBSON GBINIJE

“Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any Care, but for another gives it’s ease, and builds a heaven in hell’s despair” William Blake

O

UR world is bedraggled by hideous physiognomies, grotesque intermezzos and lugubrious fixations.

We are steeple chasing down the gedarene slope of self-induced annihilation through the shortcircuiting of the beatific vision. We are fatalistically and wearily facing the ineluctable fate of doom. It is this state of homosapental hopelessness that stimulated martyrs of altruism to start searching for therapies and antidotes to man’s mundane morass.

One of such heroes of hope is the Monk ST VALENTINE, who, without vacillating, initiated and enunciated the matrix of love as the basis for a common humanity. He said in “The Canons of St. Valentine” that “Any attempt to combat a philosophy with methods of violence will fail in the end, unless the fight takes the form of attack of the new spiritual attitude of love”.

In “The World Book Encyclopedia 1973 edition, volume 20 page 204 it is stated that “Valentine’s Day comes on the feast day of two different Christian Martyrs named Valentine. But the

St. Valentine day and hypocritical love customs connected with the day came from an ancient Roman festival called LUPERCALIA” which took place every February 15. The festival honoured Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage and Pan the god of nature. But in contemporary times Valentine’s Day celebration transcends the contours of religions, politics and tribe. It is now a global and globalising phenomenon, which entails the exchange and sharing of letters, cards foods, drinks etc with a sweetheart as the hallmark of love.

Truly, love is the reason for the Valentine’s Day or season. But what type of love? Is there still love amongst humanity sunken in the banality of materialism and moral degeneracy? Is there still love in a world ambience or global scenario where our leaders luxuriate in injustice, oppression of the people of the Niger Delta by Federal Hegemonists and their surrogates in coronal garments (Agbada).? Is there love in a world where the Hitleric proclivies of Putin of Russia against Ukrain and David Cameron of Britain and eight European Union (EU) countries have resolved to genocidally wipe out the innocent people of Iran and Lybia from the face of the earth. Is there love in Delta State where the

Urhobos, Itsekiris and Ijaws are at each others economic and political jugular, sunken in bellicosity and hate? Where is the love in Africa were the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Sudan, Liberia, Somalia, Ivory-Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, Chad, Rwanda, etc are sandwiched in a culture of macabre bloodletting?

Love is an enchiridion of uncontrollable emotion. It is to lay down our lives for our fellow man. It is not selfish, arrogant and solipsistic. It is kind, liberal, humble and forgiving.

Almighty Jehovah called by or known by any other names is the Creator and generalissimo of the cosmogony. He is the perfect embodiment and exemplification of love through Jesus Christ. Those who claim to know Him, but have no love for their fellowmen are enshrined in the configurations of the illusionist crudity. This Morbid world is what it is today, because of the dearth of love. The essayist Victor Hugo asserted that “The supreme happiness of live is the conviction that we are loved”. The celebrated poet Virgil said Omnia Vincit a mor (love conquers all).

Whither goeth mankind without love?

As we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, let it be the vaulting ambition and consuming desire of our leaders,

religious groups, politicians, tribal jingoists, youths, professionals, robbers, assassins, workers of iniquity, kidnappers and sons of perdition to turn a new leaf. We must reaffirm our total submission to consolidating and pursuing the globalisation of love.

A love- based St Valentine’s Day celebration that corroborates Shakespeare’s advice in his book “Love Labour Lost” “And when love speaks, the voice of all gods make heaven drowsy with the harmony ”. – The every minute, every second, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year love that cuts across the totality of mankind. Let our Valentine’s Day celebration take cognizance of the admonitions of God Almighty in Romans 23: 12-13 that “The night is far spent, the day is at hand.

Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the amour of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day not in revelry and drunkenness, not in sexual intercourse and lust, not in strife and enmity, but in one true love” God bless, and a Happy Valentine’s Day to all Mankind. *Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014— —19

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

I

N Nigeria, politicians from the time of our independence in the early 1960s have continued to challenge observers and commentators, to find appropriate words to describe the things they do to win elections. In the Western Nigeria of those days, when politicians moved over massively from one party to another in order to forge a strong front to win the elections in the West, it was called ‘CrossCarpeting’, by commentators and politicians alike. They continued to crosscarpet, until the military struck in 1966, followed by a civil war. The military remained in power until the 1980s, when they handed over to civilians. Politicians resumed, and continued with ‘decamping’, till the Military struck again, and remained in power till 1999, when they conducted an election and handed over to civilians, but they do not seem to have learnt anything by way of faithfulness to their political parties. They have continued to cross-carpet and decamp among themselves. Today, we are witnessing a new dimension of movement from one party to the other, prompted by the desire of the politician to acquire power, with APC, dishing out the rough end to the PDP, which we now call ‘Defection’. Whether we call it

C M Y K

Cross-carpeting, Decamping, or Defecting, it is a bad phenomenon for our politics, and democracy.

The question is: Should a defecting politician be trusted? I do not think he should for anything else but for his selfish interests and agenda. First, the defecting politician is an unfaithful person.

Unfaithful to his party, and colleagues, and will be unfaithful to the electorate, because when he gets into power will change the rules and game plan to his own personal agenda, to the shock and surprise of a now powerless electorate. He should not be trusted , on the one hand. A faithful politician on the other hand will not be easily swayed by winds from opposition, or goodies from any. He will keep his words with his party, and if the party is serious will keep it’s soap box and manifestoes promises. Except in extreme cases of high handedness, victimisation, and harassment by the party hierarchy, a defecting politician should not be trusted.

Second, defection by a politician is a betrayal of the trust placed on the party and its candidate by the electorate. While it is true that the premium was placed on the candidate, it is also true that the candidate stood on the platform provided by the party to contest.

The two must work together, to deliver on election promises.

,

Should a defecting politician be trusted?

While the voters are changing in their assessment patterns, politicians continue to take them for granted, and many of them will be shocked at the results of 2015 election despite their permutations and combinations to deceive the people

,

People who ran with the idea that they can form a political party and then control the trends within the electorate, failed over time, because where the electorate could not draw a line, they rejected the candidate and his party. This we saw in the failure of PPA, and other parties formed along this line.

W

here people select a candidate, based on his good records and integrity, the candidate will be running a fatal risk to change his political party on the grounds that he is the one wanted. Dr.Ngige who had the trust of Anambra people lost the election essentially, because he went in to the wrong party at that time. One lesson politicians should learn from Anambra is that it could be fatally risky to contest on the grounds that you are the chosen

one, irrespective of your political party, in the present Nigeria. The electorate want to see consistency in the conduct and character of their leaders before and after elections. Defectors have failed this simple test, and should therefore not be trusted.

Third defecting creates unnecessary tension and heats up the system and polity. The back biting, mudslinging, waste of time in meetings, loss of favour from mentors, and the general confusion that follow such defections do not augur well for the robust development of our democracy.

Prof. Charles Soludo before Anambra State Governorship election in 2013, moved from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Rochas Okocha moved four times from one party to the other, formed his own party, before he eventually landed in the Government House, Owerri through APGA, but has moved again to APC. Chief Atiku Abubakar, our former Vice President, moved from PDP, where he once held sway, to ACN, later formed his own party, moved back to PDP, before moving recently to a metamorphosed ACN, called the APC. We shall see what these movements will hold for these men, in the future, because what was good and acceptable by Nigerian voters in 2011 may be rejected in 2015.Time will tell. The notorious defection of Five People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors to the newly formed APC, followed by the political

tornado of defections at the House of Representatives which gave the APC a simple majority (which was reversed Tuesday) in the hallowed house has left many political observers stunned. They will watch to see as things take shape ahead of elections in 2015.

Politicians have their reasons for defection, and these include their moves to check the victory of their opponents. They either win or lose, and often the outcome is never balanced. So they play to win at all cost. Politicians essentially change political party to be better position to benefit from certain conceived interests. Unfortunately, these interests are more personal to them and since most political parties in Nigeria today are formed without some clear ideological divide; every defecting politician or group of politicians find no difficulty to fit into any party within the political space.

No doubt, reprimand or shame is expected. Nigerians are expected to understand and follow them always. I think that while the voters are changing in their assessment patterns, politicians continue to take them for granted, and many of them will be shocked at the results of 2015 election despite their permutations and combinations to deceive the people. No one should be deceived, Nigerians prefer to battle with the many issues and challenges confronting this nation, in one peaceful Nigeria, than in a split Country.

*Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 21

CBN targets world model central bank by 2015

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that its vision is to be a model for central bank around the world by 2015.

The Governor of CBN, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, who disclosed this at the Udo Udoma & BeloOsagie (UUBO) 30th anniversary lecture, titled: “What Next” said “I remember when we were having the debate of a model for central banks in Africa and the world, and I said to them, what is it

about that the Nigeria’s central bank cannot be a benchmark of central banking.”

The CBN Governor listed models that it had mapped out to execute, to include: The Economic Policy Directorate for monitoring authority with the objective of ensuring high stability that is conceived in economic growth; The Financial System Stability with the objective of promoting sound financial system; and Operation Directorate, to provide a credible reliable and efficient

payment system.

“And the idea behind the models was to achieve a monetary policy objective.

“You have to compete with the other low inflation economies in the world, which is why we have to beat inflation down from 15.6 percent in 2009 to between seven and eight percent. We wanted to get away from the day when people will wake up and see that the banking system has already collapsed” he added.

“But more importantly, we wanted people to understand that even if a bank will go

under, there was the central bank that will protect deposits which is why throughout the crisis and we’ve seen that everywhere, throughout the world’s banking crisis, Nigeria is the only country that had a banking crisis on the scale where not a single depositor or creditor lost a single penny in the bank” Sanusi said.

Lamenting on the 2007 and 2009 crisis of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the banks, he said, “Can you imagine in 2009 the capital market has crashed by 70

FROM RIGHT: Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Group Executive Director, Finance, NNPC .Mr. Bon Otti; GMD/CEO UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza; Dr. Awele Elumelu and Mrs. Jumai Oduoza, during the annual UBA CEO Awards ceremony organised to reward star performers in Lagos.

percent, in 2007, the NSE was the best performing stock exchange in the world. In 2009, it was the worst performing stock exchange in the world, there has been a big bubble which has burst, banks were crying over fifty million and hundred million naira, inter-bank rate were so high in the inter-bank market.

For the banks, he stated, “What we discovered when we went into the banks was much, much bigger than what we thought. We discovered that the total amount taken by the CEO’s was equivalent to what we were distributing monthly into the federations account. “If you go back to September 2010, we distributed 236 billion to our federation and at the end of that month, the balances of the account associated with one bank were 235 billion to know how bad it was and it was so bad that every member of committee of governors shared tears.”

Meanwhile, Senator Udo Udoma, Founding Partner, UUBO, added that Nigeria will only get better if only, necessities are put in their proper place.

Udoma said, “Am very positive about Nigeria, we have a lot of entrepreneurial people, who are hardworking, what we need in this country is our infrastructural system, we need good transport, good power system, once we can fix this, this country will pick up, already, we are about to fix power, we have fix telecommunication, if we have good rail system and good road we will soar in this country.”

Manufacturers urged to cut internal operational cost for competitiveness

By NAOMI UZOR

M

ANUFACTURERS in the country have been called upon to reduce the internal cost of their operations for growth and competitiveness.

The Chief Executive Officer, Gold Elsh Unic Services, Mr. Olukunle Taiwo, made the call during a sensitization workshop on ReEngineering of internal processes of manufacturing firms, organized by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Gold Elsh Unic Services.

“In a rapidly globalizing world, with its attendant collapsing tariff barriers and the accompanying stiff competition, the manufacturing industry needs to be re-positioned for future growth while driving down internal cost. This means altering the

approach to innovations, product development, life cycle management, supply chain operations, pricing strategies and incorporating the voice of customers. We need to look internally and ameliorate the factors within members control and reposition for competitiveness,” he said.

“We are doing an all-encompassing analysis with your organization to bring about innovative solutions, workplace leadership, customer engagement, and workplace risk intervention and management efficiency.

Our re-evolving business model emphasizes training for staffs, development and deployment of tools and techniques, which address the complexity of the existing operations in order to achieve more with less. If you don’t train them, don’t blame them,” he said.

He noted that the main objective of the project is to make manufacturing industry process dependent,not people dependent by introducing innovations that create and capture values and to encouragewaste elimination thinking.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Director General, MAN, Mr. Rasheed Adegbenro said, manufacturing companies and indeed other businesses are confronted with unprecedented challenges to grow businesses in the difficult operating environment arising from long years of neglect of basic and critical infrastructures, menace of multiple taxes and levies, multiplicity of regulatory agencies, smuggling and dumping of cheap product in to the country.

135.9

0.2

2,904.00

-18.00

15.64

-0.09

108.79

-0.78

100.05

+0.17

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

154.75 253.7281 211.0016 173.0306 1.5151 0.3013 236.5843 25.5371 41.2623 28.269 237.8508

155.25 254.5479 211.6834 173.5885 1.52 0.3113 237.3487 25.6201 41.3956 28.3603 238.6193

SELLING 155.75 255.3677 212.3651 174.1464 1.5249 0.3213 238.1131 25.703 41.5289 28.4516 239.3878

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/02/2013

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Fortis MfB gets E5.0m facility from Dutch Bank

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

From left: Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, presenting a certificate to an inductee at the Induction Ceremony for recently qualified Dealing Clerks at the NSE

IST resolves over 23 cases in 2013 — Chianakwalam

By WILLIAM JIMOH &ENOCH EFEROBOR

T

he Investments Securities Tribunal, IST, said it resolved over 23 cases in the last financial year as part of efforts to improve investors’ confidence in the capital market.

IST Chairman, Board of Directors, Dr. Ngozi Chianakwalam, who stated this while speaking during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said the regulators – the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE and IST – have not had any reason to disagree in the course of dispute resolution in the market.

Her word, “We were able to resolve over 23 cases during the last financial year. We have the law report for all the cases, which has attracted confidence in the market.

Since investors know that there is an effective adjudicatory body that adjudicates their cases in a very expeditious way that will build the confidence of both the local and foreign investors to the Nigeria.

“The United State’s Securities and Exchange Commission commended Nigeria for being a trail blazer in setting up such a tribunal that deals with cases expeditiously. We try as much as possible to ensure that we reduce to the barest minimum the time consumption on cases in the High Courts and in the similar courts.

“The exchange and securities tribunal have been very innovative and that has made us the best of its types in Africa, as there are just only three similar exchanges in the world that have similar tribunal. Our

tribunal is innovative because it is different from the regular courts where trials are done forever, but because of the nature of the market that requires immediate resolution of cases, we conclude our cases within 90 days from commencement of trial and we have been commended by people from all over the world as they have been asked to emulate Nigeria. The law mandates use to complete all cases from the commencement of hearing.

So, no matter how the lawyers try to delay it, we have to be up and doing to make sure that we keep within the mandatory time given by the law.

“So we are very happy to be here and to let you know that we are supporting the investor’s protection fund and we are helping to build the investors’ confidence in the Nigerian market.”

Speaking on process for resolution of cases, the IST boss said, “There is no disharmony between the adjudicative committee of SEC, NSE and ours in the resolutions of disputes. We also have resolution mechanism, especially if the amount involved is very little. We have a department that handles that in the IST. “The cases first go to the SEC which is the regulatory body and it is from there that the appeals come to us if they are dissatisfied with the internal resolution of the administrative committee of SEC. There are also times when the cases come directly to us, most especially if it is among broker dealers and other market makers; they can bring their cases to us directly as well.”

ortis Microfinance Bank Plc has received E5.0 million facility from the FMO, the Netherlands Development Finance Company. The fund, which is a five year unsecured term loan, will be applied for onlending to boost activities in the microfinance sector of the economy.

FMO is a Dutch development bank that supports sustainable private sector growth in developing and emerging markets by investing in ambitious entrepreneurs.

FMO operates on the philosophy that a strong private sector leads to economic and social development, empowering people to employ their skills and improve their quality of life. FMO focuses on three sectors that have high development impact.

The sectors include: the financial institutions, energy, and agribusinesses with emphasis on food & water. With an investment portfolio of EUR 6.3 billion, FMO is one of the largest European bilateral private sector development banks.

Commenting on the transaction, Kunle Oketikun, Managing Director/CEO, Fortis MfB, said the fund will enable his organisation to deliver on its core services of making funds available to small scale businesses at the least cost.

He noted, “This loan will ensure that our esteemed customers have access to finance at cheaper rates and longer tenors.”

Linda Broekhuizen, Chief Investment Officer, CIO, FMO, in a statement said that Fortis Microfinance Bank is the first MfB his organisation would be providing such support to in Nigeria. according to Broekhuizen, Fortis was able to secure the facility from FMO because it has positioned itself to provide microfinance banking services to support entrepreneurship and the empowerment of the large unbanked population with a focus on (mostly female) micro clients and small enterprises.

The CIO further noted that “Fortis will receive a local currency senior loan equivalent to EUR 5.0 million.

FMO supports Fortis as one of the leading MFI’s in the country to further implement the client protection principles (‘CPP’) with the aim to become CPP certified. The FMO facility will contribute to further financial inclusion and stimulate further development of financial services.”

Poll predicts increase in purchase of more goods, services N igeria’s leading public opinion polling and research organisation, NOIPolls Ltd, has said that consumers in the country are positive about their personal state and stability of the country’s economy and this optimism is expected to result in the purchase of more goods and services and ultimately stimulate economic growth.

The NOIPolls said in its monthly polling for Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for January this year, released this week in Abuja, that the score for January was 83.9 and that the CCI comprises two independent variables: the Present Situation Index (PSI) and

Expectation Index (EI).

The NOIPolls Consumer Confidence Index provides consumer assessments of the economic situation and the intentions and expectations of Nigerians for the future.

It noted that the Present Situation Index of .7 shows that Nigerians feel good about their present personal and economic situation, while the Expectation Index score of .9 reveals that consumers are highly optimistic about the future.

NOIPolls explained that a total of randomly selected 4,000 adult Nigerians are polled monthly and that ‘since this is our first reading,

we clearly cannot identify trends. Once we have a track record of several months, we will be able to draw some conclusions on the patterns observed.’

On the other two new indices introduced by the organisation, the CEO and Managing Director of NOIPolls Ltd, Ms. Oge Modie, gave the names of the portfolio of indices as the Personal Well-Being Index (PWBI) and the NOIPolls Eagle 30 Business Confidence Index (EBCI).

According to Modie, the NOIPolls Personal Well-Being Index measures factors impacting on the lives of everyday Nigerians, thereby producing a complete view of the individual’s personal well-being.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 23

Oxfam, others advocate women’s right to agricultural resources

By GABRIEL EWEPU

A

S the nation’s agricultural sector continues to impact on the lives of Nigerians, Oxfam and other stakeholders, recently, advocated for women’s right to agricultural resources and celebrate women farmers as well.

This position was maintained at a one day workshop organised by Oxfam in Abuja, with the theme, ‘The Power of People against Poverty’, where other speakers from different civil societies in the agricultural sector also decried the situation most small scale women farmers find themselves.

Speaking on the relegated position of women farmers in the country, Gender Officer, Oxfam, Nigeria, Boyowa Roberts, stated that it was high time for women in farming express themselves about government policies and other challenges they face in the sector.

Roberts said women should be considered in many areas by policy makers, which Oxfam was put everything in place to

C M Y K

ensure that women were carried along in the sector, and also will give award to deserving women farmers, which will inspire and motivate younger women to fully engage in agriculture.

Roberts said: “We want women farmers to be well celebrated, and for them to come out and speak for themselves on the change they desire, where they will express

themselves to policy makers in the agricultural sector, including the media, which will enable them to have the spaces and the expected change, and access resources like fertilisers, seedlings, and others.

“Women have not been captured enough in the transformation agenda in the agricultural sector, because they do not have a specific women programme they want

to bring on board, instead you hear them say women are part of the society and whatever we bring up they can participate and be part of it. There have not been a time you hear them say women should take the lead, and tell us what they want or how can we make our policies gender friendly.

“Our award is to celebrate the Nigerian small-scale women farmers, and will be launched

Scientists, farmers band together against bunchy disease

A

project on managing the Banana Bunchy Top Disease is using participatory research bridging scientists and communities together to better control the deadly disease “on the ground”.Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) is the most devastating virus disease of banana and plantain, and its spread is negatively impacting the economy, livelihoods, and quality of life of millions of farmers in Africa.

The disease is already established in 14 African countries and scientists warn that the disease will continue to rapidly spill into more regions if tough action is not taken now. For example, the BBTD outbreak detected in Bénin and Nigeria, West Africa since 2011 – a region previously thought as BBTDfree – opened a second front for disease advancement in the region.

Since the impact of the disease develops over time

and the first symptoms are not always easy to identify, banana-producing farmers often fail to see the situation clearly.

This is compounded by insufficient financial and human resources within the national programs and quarantine services, making the accurate determination of the current status and changes over time of the disease difficult and hampering the drafting of realistic and affordable control strategies.

October 15th on the International Rural Women’s Day in Abuja. It is to inspire and motivate the younger women, create the platform for women to speak to policy makers, and value chain producers.”

She said they were already working with 500 women farmers between ages 18 and 44 were in Oxfam’s pilot phase in states like Ogun, Plateau, Cross River, Oyo, Kastina, Nasarawa, FCT, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos. These women are into different areas of farming, and looks forward to work with more women farmers, including women associations, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Meanwhile, National Programme Coordinator, Association of Small-scale Agro Producers in Nigeria, ASAPIN, Charles Yarima, appealed to government to develop strong political will for women to have special attention on agricultural programmes that will bridge the gap between them and their male counterparts.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

F

ormer SecretaryG e n e r a l , Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku in a prepublication commendation has this to say of the book “The Incredible Journey into the Heart of Nature” written

by Fidelia Salami, “a brilliant bird’s- eye view of the rich tapestry of the culture and traditional occupations of a significant number of Nigeria’s people .

“It is, in the main, a carefully researched catalogue of the country ’s major tourist attractions. The book is a must read not only by those wishing to visit and witness the captivating diversity of Nigeria, but also

by Nigerians themselves who are interested in knowing the tourist sites and rich cultural traditions of their country. “ With this commendation from a revered technocrat who has travelled the world and knowing what tourism can do for a nation, then Fidelia Salami’s book on tourism deserves to be read by all.

Speaking with Vanguard during the week, the Agbor born writer disclosed that she wrote the book wanting to achieve two broad objectives, First, to showcase Nigeria to Nigerians that we have all it takes in joining other countries in becoming a big player in the global tourism business and in also telling the government that this sector can conveniently serve as alternative source or main source of revenue for the country .

Cultural and Historical linkages

“A

nd most importantly, I want to show the cultural and historical linkages between the various ethnic groups in order to stimulate cultural understanding and unity.

“Secondly, to tell and open the vastness of our attractions to the rest of the world as many people outside never believed that Nigeria is blessed awesomely by God with wonderful tourism assets and sites. Having travelled so well over the world, I have not seen too many countries that have all its zones from West to East, North to South so freely blessed with natural attractions, historical sites and monuments, rich flora and fauna, cultural heritage, sun and sea. I believe that all these need proper packaging and documentation which can stimulate investors’ interest

Why Nigeria needs more books on tourism – Salami

•Fidelia Salami

and attract tourists.”

Salami disclosed that it took her 13 years of intensive research and travelling to most of the sites mentioned in the book for a firsthand experience and information gathering before she got the book presented last year November .

,

BY JIMOH BABATUNDE

Borno state in the 90s. “As an undergraduate in the University of Maiduguri , we used to travel with Nigeria Airway as they used to give us rebate ticket, but when they stopped giving us rebate, I started travelling by road from Lagos to Maiduguri.

A brilliant bird’s- eye view of the rich tapestry of the culture and traditional occupations of a significant number of Nigeria’s people

“What you have in the book is a complete reality of what I encountered which I am recommending to others so as to be able to evaluate and appreciate the enormous tourism potentialities in Nigeria.”

Asked why the interest in tourism, she explained that the interest actually started as an undergraduate in the University of Maiduguri,

,

“The journey provided me those opportunities of seeing the splendor and beauty of this great country, so after graduation and my youth service in Anambra state, I took interest in cultural activities. I had already fallen in love with tourism. “ I was one of those who represented the Anambra state’s NYSC in Rivers at the yearly cultural competition.

Those travelling re-ignited my interest in the beauty of this country. That was where the interest in tourism started.

She added that working with one of the leading tour companies in Nigeria was an icing on the cake for her , “as I actually went round many attractions in the country .”

Speaking on the book which she said tasked her resources , comfort and patience, Salami said “The Incredible Journey into the Heart of Nature” differs from others that deal with just an aspect of tourism, “but this book has everything about the nation’s tourism from culture to dressing, from dressing to the people, to the

cuisine and the various natural attractions.”

She added that her book is actually a compendium that contains photographs that are glossy, clean and colourful. “ I am happy to have published a book which provides objective information on

Nigeria and the reality of its tourism growth, its national policies and recent development and growth. It is also a valuable resource and comprehensive guide for the education and entertainment of students, teachers, tourists and investors.

The writer who has spent about 14 years in the tourism industry said joyfully, “I am happy to have produced a tourism encyclopedia about a nation poised to take its destiny in its hand.” peaking on when the book will go on sales, she said “It is not in the market yet. It was published last year and presented in November

by Former Secretary-General, Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

The presentation came as a contribution to the centenary celebration and it will be in the market after presenting it to notable Nigerians before the re-launch.

Asked why Nigerians don’t visit tourist attractions in the country but prefer travelling outside the country, Salami said they do so because they lack information on the various attractions in the country, adding that anybody will marvel at the sheer beauty of Obudu Cattle Ranch or the Mabilla Plateau.

“Can you imagine an adult asking me recently where Yankari Games reserve is in this country? If we have had lots of books on the country’s tourism people will spend holidays here.”

S

Visa facilitation key for tourism development in Africa

V

isa facilitation and air connectivity are key areas to address in order to fully seize Africa’s steadily rising tourism performance and foster sustainable development in the region.

This was one of the main conclusions of the 5th Investment and Tourism Business Forum for Africa (INVESTOUR), which gathered 12 African Tourism Ministers and public and private tourism stakeholders at this year’s Madrid International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Spain.

With international tourist arrivals growing by 6% in the region for the second consecutive year, Africa is one of the fastest growing tourism

regions in the world.

“Tourism is of rising importance to the African economies. Today we will focus on three barriers still hampering the full potential of tourism in the region: air connectivity, visa facilitation and hotel investment” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the event.

“56 visas to visit 56 countries is not acceptable. Only with collective efforts can we successfully address such barriers and continue to promote tourism in Africa as a tool for development while stimulating new business opportunities in Spain and Portugal”, he added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—25

I N S I D E

like the Zimbabwean Dollar, changes configuration

Uzamere:,

No going back to PDP — Rep Uchendu

PAGE 26

PAGE 27

Kwara 2015: Gbemi, Bukola reignite Saraki’s dynasty war PAGE 28

Jonathan is still learning, he 'll do better if reelected — Bafarawa TWO-TIME governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, arguably, belongs to the echelon of vastly experienced politicians. At the dawn of the Fourth Republic, he joined the All People’s Party (APP), which later became All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and now APC. He was elected governor in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 on the banner of the APP. He ran for the presidency in 2007 on the plank of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) he helped to found. In this interview with select journalists in his Sokoto residence, shortly after being welcomed into the PDP by President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the party, he shares his thoughts on his mission, vision and ability to deliver in the PDP. Excerpts:

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HAT prompted your defection to the PDP? Joining PDP was not my decision it was the decision of my people.

In joining PDP, we are looking for a change for the better. I was in the opposition to protest against injustices being done to my people and ensure that justice is done. I was not in the opposition just for the sake of being in the opposition. All I was trying to do was to make sure that things were done the right way because in the constitution of any party, there must be internal democracy.

On whether the enlarged PDP will welcome his ideas.

Yes! The PDP is a national party.

In the last 16 years I have been opposing the party but when I decided with my people to join PDP, automatically, they started giving us the same treatment like those that founded the party unlike other political parties that will meet the owner and take it away and give it to a new member. So, when you sit down and compare the two, you can see that PDP is more national than any other political party in the country.

On the day I joined the PDP, I went to Abuja with my people to

•Bafarawa: Joining PDP was not my decision and my people and accept us into the party. The president, vice president, senate president, national chairman and members

,

I’m not in politics for the sake of my personal interest, I am in politics to advance the cause of my people positively

see the national chairman and he told us that we were all equal.

And look at what has been happening since then — there have been signs of togetherness, unity and brotherliness. Look at the caliber of people that came to Sokoto to celebrate with me

,

of the NEC, serving governors, and even former chairmen of the party were all here to welcome us into the party. So, you can see the difference within two weeks.

On whether he has regrets for not joining the ruling party earlier.

Not at all! I have no regrets because I am fighting injustice.

I’m not in politics for the sake of my personal interest. I am in politics to advance the cause of my people positively.

When my people saw that there is injustice in the APC, they made up their mind that we should leave and join PDP. It was their decision and I cannot say no to their decision. That is why we found ourselves in the PDP. Therefore, I’m not regretting anything.

But now, I have joined PDP and they have seen justice done to me. That’s all I’m looking for —

equal treatment.

So, I don’t have anything to quarrel about, I am comfortable and I want to work for the party.

On allegations that he left the APC, which he helped to form because the leadership took the party structure from him and gave it to Governor Wamakko.

We are not quarreling with anybody in APC. All we are saying is, let us follow the rules of the game.

If you are playing a game and there is no rule to guide it, then there is a problem. And as a leader, I cannot just be dragging myself when I know that I am leading millions of people. If I know that things are not being done well and I continue to be dragged into the ship and I know that the ship is going to sink on us, then there is a problem.

Therefore, my people decided that we have to change and we changed. That is what is expected of a leader and that is why we joined the PDP. I only hearkened to the wish of my people.

On what he thinks APC has lost with his departure.

I don’t think I’m the right person to comment on what they have lost or not lost with our leaving for the PDP. As far as I am concerned, if I was of any value to them, I don’t think they

could have afforded to lose me.

May be they did not know my value or because I’m no longer occupying the seat of governor where I can award contract or release money to do whatever I was asked to do, they felt that instead of going for me, they should go for a governor who has money to dish out.

While speaking at the podium, you said that you are not joining PDP to pursue any political position but for the interest of your people…

Of course, yes.

What if your people ask you to go and represent them in the Senate?

There is something that my people will ask me to do and I will do it. They asked me to move to PDP, I went because it is going to affect everyone of us. But if they ask me to go to the Senate and I accepted to go, then I’m selfish. I have ruled the state for eight years; the whole constituencies were my constituency.

Governor for eight years So, if I come back again after eight years to go for Senate, I won’t be fair to myself and the young ones whom I think I should give a chance to rise. I cannot be a governor for eight years and come back to go and represent one third of my state in Abuja.

His take on the re-election ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan.

If he wants to re-contest and the PDP gives him the ticket as the presidential candidate of the party, I will definitely work for him. In fact, whoever emerges as the flag bearer of our party, I will work for the person.

His assessment of President Jonathan’s performance in the last four years.

My assessment of President Jonathan’s performance in office will be different from anybody’s assessment because I was once in office as governor. Sometimes it is not the leader that is weak but those who are giving him Continues on Page 27

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Senator Uzamere:

The revaluation of Edo PDP THE return of Senator Ehigie Uzamere to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has significant suggestions on the carriage and content of the party whose ticket just four years ago was valued less than a Zimbabwean dollar in Edo.

I

T was in 2010, a year after the redenomination of the Zimbabwean Dollar, when twelve zeros were removed from that country’s currency that Senator Ehigie Uzamere, senator representing Edo South senatorial district likened the election ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to that of the Zimbabwean Dollar.

Just about that time, at the height of the hyperinflation in that country, when the Zimbabwean authorities declared their country ’s national currency worthless, and legalized the use of the United States dollar, Senator Uzamere also dumped the PDP for the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. He eventually became the first senator from Edo South ever to win reelection to the Senate.

Powerful voice The feat did not come easy.

Uzamere had also shown himself as a powerful force in the Senate when he at one point helped to stop President Umaru Yar‘adua’s nominee from being cleared into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and subsequently, pushing the nomination of another nominee. In both cases, he was opposed by his two contemporaries from Edo State.

Senator Uzamere subsequently drew recognition to himself as a quiet mobiliser, having been a leading light in the formation of the Nigeria Interest Group, NIG, the group of senators who helped to push for the ascension of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as acting president in the turbulent days when the then president, Alhaji Yar‘Adua was critically ill.

Senator Uzamere’s defection to the ACN was in the eyes of nearly everyone at that time seen as real politics given the dominance of that party in his native Edo State and the internal crisis that had engulfed the PDP following the ascension of Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole as governor of the state.

Following his defection, it seemed as if Uzamere never felt fully at home in his new party or, perhaps in the view of some of his associates, he was never fully welcomed.

Willy-nilly, the senator ’s dalliances in Abuja with the PDP, especially with the president seemed to disconcert some ACN leaders at home.

Though he was ACN at home, in Abuja Senator Uzamere did not pretend about his strong feelings for President Jonathan, perhaps seeing his presidency as a pet baby, given that his house in Abuja was the venue of most of the meetings of the NIG senators that helped proclaim Jonathan as acting president.

By late last year, it was apparent that the gulf between Uzamere and Oshiomhole had widened to the point of no return. At a function organized by the deputy governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu late last year, Oshiomhole apologized to Pharm. Matthew Urhoghide, the Edo PDP publicity secretary for supporting Uzamere against him, Urhoghide in the ACN’s senate battle. It was based on what Urhoghide perceived as Oshiomhole’s betrayal that he

ACN as a “party organized around a sole administrator who overturns and overturns and overturns depending on his moods, desires, whims and caprices cannot dispense justice, equity and fairness in a heterogeneous polity.”

Uzamere in the letter also pointed at what he described •Uzamere: Dumps APC for PDP, says his people are cheated as the criminal short-changing of Edo South by the incumbent administration in the state.

“Our people are considered good only for crumbs or leftovers (called Izobo). That is why they are given petty contracts. What a humiliation for a people with a rich heritage of industry and •One hundred trillion Zimbabwean dollar resourcefulness.

We must reject the Izobo state publicity secretary, failure of Adams Oshiomhole treatment because it is criminal Comrade Godwin Erahon in government to develop Edo and ungodly to starve the goose his reaction to the loss, state. It is the worst that lays the golden eggs. We said:“We wish him good luck government we have had in the refuse to be treated like a in his political merry go round. history of the state with his conquered people.

We have no ill feelings towards policy of demolition of houses, Much as I tried to get him. We will continue to trust all in the name of expansion of integrated into the party, the in God and depend on the existing roads and primitive tax party proved impregnable,” judgment of our people. Our policy. The PDP is now Uzamere submitted as he gave victorious train sails on towards repositioned and will create the presidential villa with level playing field for all members.”

For Senator Uzamere, accommodation in robust hope.” the Edo State chapter of “That mandate was given to Oshiomhole’s ACN was stuffy despite his him by the people but since he theThat PDP has been reengineered initial expectations as he said in a letter to decided to sell it to the PDP, we is an issue Orbih has for long leave him with the God and the sought to propagate. The return his constituents last Wednesday gods of our land” Erahon of Senator Uzamere is perhaps one good testimony that Orbih notice of his decision to return added. left the party to join the PDP. would want to flaunt in his to the PDP which he claimed For Senator Uzamere, continuing war of arguments Future accommodation in has been reengineered and like with the incumbent elections Oshiomhole’s ACN was stuffy the Zimbabwean economy, has administration in Edo State. despite his initial expectations also been revived.

While he asserted four years The Forum of former Council “The PDP ticket in Edo State, as he said in a letter to his ago that the PDP ticket was which was once worse than the chairmen in Edo South constituents last Wednesday. almost worthless like the Senatorial District led by Mr. “Great expectations followed Zimbabwean Dollar, has Zimbabwean Dollar, Senator Crosby Eribo, on its part said: the movement into the ACN. significantly appreciated in “it is a lesson to Governor Uzamere would be shocked to Going by the sloganeering in value having been reby the Adams Oshiomhole and other find that the Zimbabwean the party and public perception denominated of the key leaders as men of repositioning efforts of the party APC leaders in future elections authorities in a dramatic Mr President’s because it seems pretenders response to their problems took integrity we believed that vices and are sometimes rated higher the decision to abandon the transformation agenda.” like godfatherism, imposition, Senator Uzamere’s shift has than those who has been Zimbabwean Dollar and ethnic domination, dictatorship, etc which characterized the been flayed by former working and dedicated to the replace it with the United States Dollar.

PDP then would be non- associates in the ACN who party”.

It would be wishful thinking In a contrary reaction, the described his action as a existent in the ACN,” he wrote. to assume that the PDP would He, however, said that what betrayal, and in the words of chairman of the Edo State disappear like that! chapter of the PDP , Chief Dan he saw in the ACN was far from some, have been left to God. Orbih said: “It is a reaction to All Progressives Congress his expectations, describing the

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—27

No going back to PDP —Rep Uchendu HON. Andrew Uchendu was the Leader of the members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the House of Representatives amongst whom 37 later defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC). He is also the Chairman, Committee on Public Service Matters of the House. Uchendu, who represents the Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency of Rivers State, in this interview, says there is no going back to the PDP. Excerpts:

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

W

HAT is your opinion on the recent move by lawmakers from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to take majority status in the House of Representatives?

You remember that I led the team of 37 lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC. In taking that decision it was done under sober reflection. It is unfortunate that all efforts made in making sure that reconciliation was brought into the party failed.

You will recall the embarrassment then that our Rivers State Governor received in the hands of some members of the House of Representatives who felt that Mr. Speaker should not have given them any private audience. They are Nigerians and they were expected to meet with anybody of their choice and they did write to Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker approved that they should come and they were embarrassed by members. These are clear indications of the wrongs in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

Efforts have been made to reposition that party to no avail and finally because of the division and factions in this party, different interests emerged and I found myself along with the 36 other lawmakers defecting to APC.

Game of numbers It is very obvious that politics is about number, more still in the parliament very clearly stated in our rules and regulations. Politics is a game of number. The majority party must possess the majority of members in the House.

The majority leader of the House must be a member of the party that has majority. It is commonsensical. It is there. They did not write it because they knew today some people will be defecting. We knew the change was inevitable.

On return from New Year break, we now received a court order that we should maintain the status quo and as law makers, what do our colleagues expect us to do? We are law abiding citizens.

Until that order is vacated we should hold our breath. The Minority leader, Femi

Gbajabiamila only cracked a joke by referring to Leo Ogor as the ‘minority leader’ which does not change his position as the Deputy Majority Leader.

Nonetheless, I did not expect the kind of reactions I got from my colleagues- the PDP members. What is the anger all about? The APC is the majority which is a simple truth. Why do they want to pull down the roof except they want to redefine democracy? I won’t be surprised but then that was what happened?

Now that Bamanga Tukur has been removed, do you see yourself going back?

You see, the exit or removal of the national chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was one of many conditions. One has been met.

However, the issues in PDP have gotten more complicated and complex which have led to other subsidiary problems.

I don’t know who that politician will, having defected, go back and eat his vomit. In fact, people like me have crossed the red line.

Though the new acting PDP

•Uchendu...led 37 lawmakers that defected from PDP chairman, Adamu Mu’azu can go about saying what he wants to say.

Rivers State has been boiling in crisis for quite some time now, how long do you think this crisis would drag on?

Well, in politics, people try to strategize and re-strategize but in any case those who want to

take over power are realigning and carrying on with their ambition. They should take it easy, approach people, campaign and convince them to vote for them instead of trying to take power by force. A situation where the police is still funded and supported from our common wealth and would brazingly support a section

against another is unacceptable.

I am worried that the police is part of the system encouraging discontent rather than making peace and this could lead to anarchy which can metamorphose into something else. Who knows where all these will lead us to. A situation where people can no longer hold social gathering like the one that Senator Abe participated in and was shot by the police with what is alleged to be rubber bullet is condemnable.

I did not pay my tax in Rivers State so that police will come and be causing havoc and taking us back-ward.

Members of Rivers State House of Assembly recently sat and passed the state’s 2014 in the Government House. How would you describe that development?

Based on the conduct of the invaders who invaded the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 9th of July 2013; during the crisis of July 9, most of the electronic gadgets which are meant for the transmitting of activities in the House were destroyed. So where do you want the members to sit? So do you want to now deny the people of Rivers the dividend of democracy? So the part of Government House in Rivers was given them where they met and passed the 2014 budget.

Jonathan'll do better if re-elected — Bafarawa Continues from Page 25 support. If someone had people who are not qualified to help him in the running of affairs, he will not succeed even if he has a great vision. The leadership of our great country is not a one-man show; it is a collective responsibility. So, for anybody in government to succeed, you must have people who are capable and knowledgeable to help you do the job.

So, I don’t assess Jonathan as a failure because he needs to be assisted. Nigeria’s problems are not for one person to tackle; it’s a collective responsibility. That’s why we are now in PDP.

Process of learning If I could not see him when I was in another party, now as a member of the PDP, I have the right to advise him because his failure is my failure while his success is my success.

Jonathan is still in the process of learning; he had experience as deputy governor, governor and vice president. Being a

governor of Bayelsa is different from being the president of the country. Within the last four years, he has gained a lot of experience. If he goes for a second term, I believe he will do better than he did in the last four years.

On how President Jonathan can succeed.

If Mr. President wants to aspire for a second term, I believe he has a vision. His first coming was not as president but as vice president. Therefore, the vision of his government is the vision of his boss. Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, if the party leadership is doing its job as it ought to, everybody will succeed because the manifesto of any political party is the working material that is supposed guide Mr. President or the governors.

And who is going to supervise them? It is the party leadership.

So, if the president or any governor fails, it is not the person that has failed but the leadership of the party.

His take on the rising tension in the country ahead of the 2015 election.

I speak from my background

as a Moslem because in the Quran, there is a verse which says that nobody gives power but God and He gives it to anybody he wishes and He can take it from anybody any time he wishes to take it back. So, if I say that in 2015 something is going to happen, I’m doubting that and also going contrary to my religion because no matter what, nobody gives power but God. So, all the theats about what will happen in 2015 if certain things do not happen, are just rubbish. To me, only God gives power.

Let me give examples: former President Obasanjo was in prison; he was looking for his freedom and did not expect to be president.

But look at how God took him out from prison and made him the president of Nigeria for good eight years. God gave him power but it had a limit. By time he wanted to go back for a third term, he had the money, he also had the power but it didn’t work. Look at how Yar’Adua came from nowhere.

He was thinking of how to finish his second term as governor and go and take care of his health but he found himself in Aso Rock.

•Bafarawa: I believe Jonathan has a vision

Jonathan was not thinking of ruling this country but he is the one governing Nigeria today.

So, for us to start writing and shouting about 2015 is just a waste of time as God has already made His decision regarding 2015 and nobody can change it.

So, whether you are a northerner or southerner, Christian or Moslem you cannot change it.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

T

HE good news about Nigeria is that life is never dull – there are always moments of drama and fun. The movement of the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakir from the Peoples‘ Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC) has been described by Atiku as normal in Nigeria‘s political evolution. It should be recalled with considerable amusement that the former Vice-President is not new in the game of seeking political green pastures.

Perhaps, he is an adept in such a game of political opportunism. Who would not seek the prime political prize in a country where ‘everything goes‘?

It seems that the country has for sometime been witnessing the amusing gyrations of the country‘s honorable ‘Members‘ of the National Assembly.

There appears to be free or inhibited flow of some ‘Members‘ from PDP to APC and also, (in lesser quantity) from APC to PDP. All in the act of exercising the democratic right of free movement. Also, all is perceived to be right in as much as the salaries and allowances of those involved by the pernicious trafficking are not affected. In that regard, the gullible electorate has no right to be consulted because once elected, the servants (before elections) become the masters.

Many questions are being asked in enlightened political circles about the quality of the existing political parties and their membership. The structure of the country‘s main political parties is being challenged on the premises of political ideology and economic orientation. Even the military President, Ibrahim Babangida made the distinction between a party to the ‘Left‘ and a party to the ‘Right‘ in his ‘two party structure‘.

The brutal dictator Abacha did much, without success, to introduce distinction among his five political parties (Ige‘s ‘five fingers of a leprous hand‘) which adopted him as their only candidate for the election of a civilian President. The recent political maneuvers could be another political form of magic – optical trick. Not many people are convinced about the real difference

They're talking more about politics and less on commonsense economics between the ruling party (PDP) and the Opposition (APC), which is now becoming the haven for PDP renegades and others of dubious political inclinations.

At the time politicians are busy digesting the INEC‘s elections time-table for 2015, President Jonathan was announcing his own time-table for the National Conference in 2014. Many believe that the National Conference is of that great importance that any thought about 2015 elections should wait a bit.

Many analysts are hoping that President Goodluck Jonathan would attach great importance to the structure of the National Conference and make it a great success because on it might rest any future elections in the country. It is expected that decisions of the National Conference would touch on sound electoral system, type of government, devolution of power, including Police, etc and also, the form of arrangement suitable for a united Nigeria.

Many people are of the candid opinion that the Federal Government is not right in declaring a ‘no-go‘ area in the debates in the National Conference. It is probable that many Nigerians will not willingly want their country to break-up even with the obvious problems of staying together as one nation. It is a question of what crude-oil has joined together, let no one put asunder, but it is necessary to hear

the argument for breaking the country, if there is any.

It should be realized that many powerful nations have at present, formed the country called Nigeria. The Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, and the Yoruba are nations by themselves which have definite borders, accepted cultures and traditions and each could stand as a country if it wishes. So are other smaller well defined tribes in the country whose interests are inter-woven in the complicated union of the country. It would be necessary and highly desirable for the views and the aspirations of these ethnic groups to be taken into consideration in the deliberations at the National Conference. It would be a gross mistake to say ethnic groups do not exist.

THE ECONOMY The strength of the Nigerian economy eloquently stressed at the recent Davos Economic Conference by President Goodluck Jonathan would be duly propagated by the Nigerian team at the World Economic Forum of Africa in May 2014 in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. As stated often and supported by reliable statistical figures, Nigeria has achieved macro-economic stability with appreciable growth rate, foreign exchange stability and inflation rate below 10 per cent.

According to the Central Bank, ‘the moderation in domestic price level was

largely due to tight-monetary policy stance coupled with the relatively stable exchange rate regime during the period, which resulted in single digit inflation in the three measures for the whole year.

This is the first time the country has achieved this since 2007‘. That was an outstanding economic achievement in Africa As I have noted in this column several times, the macro-economic stability being gloriously chimed by the Central Bank has been achieved at the expense of employment and glaring inequality in the distribution of income. The Finance Minister, Dr. (Mrs) Okonjo-Iweala noted in Davos, ‘In Nigeria, we are growing fast, but that growth has come with increasing inequality and lack of inclusion of certain segments of the population.

Nigerian policy makers will have to choose, and quickly too, between slight increases in prices, which might be necessary at times for growth and largescale unemployment with severe consequences of insurgency, armed bank robberies and kidnappings for monetary ransoms. The country has also to choose between a small colony of glittering wealth and a vast land of abject poverty in a fast growing economy. This is where a judicious mixture of fiscal and monetary measures could work wonders in an atmosphere of commonsense economics.

AID TO EMPLOYMENT: If importation of drugs is strictly controlled, the manufacture of drugs used in all Nigerian hospitals could be entrusted to some reliable pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nigeria who, without fear of foreign competition would seize the golden opportunity to expand production of drugs in the country. The import of antibiotics and other high technology drugs could be handled by these trusted domestic manufacturers who will become the supply centre to the hospitals and the Nigerian market. The advantage of this will be increase in employment, and fewer deaths from imported fake drugs.

PDP has not failed Nigeria — Agbi CHIEF Goodnews Agbi is a leading chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State. In this interview, he bares his mind on a number of issues relating to the party at national and state levels. Excerpts:

BY FESTUS AHON

Y

OU were a pioneer member of the NEC of the PDP; 15 years after, how would you assess the performance of the party generally?

So far, the major achievement of the party is that, under its watch, democracy has thrived in Nigeria uninterruptedly. Don’t forget ours is a growing democracy compared to the advanced democracies of Europe and the United States of America. For this singular reason, I will say PDP has not failed the nation. But like other democracies there is room for improvement.

How would you score the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan?

The Governor started slowly, but he appears to be finishing strongly. Take for instance the area of insecurity, like kidnapping and armed robbery that was initially on the high side when he assumed office in 2007 has reduced significantly to be honest.

The daily incidence of robbery and kidnapping in Isoko land is relatively low compared to about two years ago.

The Asaba airport for example is working despite the initial skepticism of some of us. DESOPADEC has been reinvigorated such that virtually in every community you find the Commission doing one project or the other.

I have also seen massive infrastructural work on roads and flyover in Asaba, Effurun, Ughelli, Oleh just to mention a few.

His various healthcare programmes also speak volumes. So if you ask me, Governor Uduaghan has surpassed the expectation of many.

Recently, the response of the State PDP Chairman Chief Peter Nwaoboshi to the issue of zoning sparked off a row in Delta State. The impression was created, that the SSG is a neophyte in politics of the State, and therefore may not be in a position to know if there was a zoning agreement that zoned the 2015 governorship position to the Anioma People. What is your take on this?

Frankly, the governorship was never zoned at any time since the creation

•Agbi: Sanusi is warm and cold of Delta State. Some of us believed in the Anioma agenda because we feel that every zone deserves a shot at the number one position of Delta State. I believe in equity.

However this quest should not be carried out with untruths, half truth,

outright lies or blackmail as being exhibited by Nwaoboshi. Going down memory lane since the creation of Delta State, every senatorial district has always participated in all gubernatorial elections conducted so far.

Nwaoboshi cannot just wake up one morning in the middle of 2015 and tell us it is the turn of Anioma and in the process instead of being civil and decorous about it, resort to insulting high ranking state Government official, an illustrious son of Isoko land in the person of Ovuozorie Macaulay.

Finally should President Goodluck Jonathan contest?

Of course, he should contest because it is his constitutional right to do so. It is also the right of the minorities to do so.

Obasanjo, from Southwest contested for two terms. Why should a president from the South South not contest twice as allowed by the constitution?

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—29

when it goes along with the central government.

“It is clear that the reason for defection by a loud few is because of their personal and selfish reasons,” Gbemi said on that day.

“It is time for us to reclaim our pride. I therefore call on all Kwarans to come together to put a stop to this charade. I call especially on politicians like me to put ambitions under wrap while we strengthen our party.

We must be single minded. We must put the interests of the people before our individual ambitions.”

•Gebmi

•Bukola:

Kwara 2015: Gbemi, Bukola re-ignite Saraki’s dynasty war Politicians would seize any opportunity to manifest their talents. For the many political leaders in Kwara who had resisted the influence of Senator Bukola Saraki, the exit of the senator and his political godson, Governor Abdulafatah Ahmed, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is an opportunity to take the centre stage.

L

AST month’s defection of Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and nay, the political structure of the government in Kwara State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has paved the way for a flurry of political activities in the state.

Senator Saraki’s defection provided the needed opportunity for the siddon look politicians and the opposition politicians to regroup against “The leader” as he is fondly called by his teeming admirers.

The most prominent of those that have ridden against Bukola is not surprisingly, his own blood sister, Senator Gbemi Saraki who took the significant step of returning to the PDP just as his brother stepped out of the PDP umbrella.

Another major catch for the PDP is Mr. Mohammed Belgore, the 2011 governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, one of the legacy parties that formed the ACP. While Gbemi is partly moved by sibling rivalry, Belgore is understandably peeved by the handing over of APC’s political structure to Bukola and the governor.

The coalition of forces under the umbrella is said to be

informed by the desire of the uniting politicians to work with the party at the centre and the presidency to “dethrone” Bukola and his crowd in Kwara State.

Current composition of PDP The PDP in Kwara State, which with the defection of the governor has turned from the ruling party to the opposition party, comprises a splinter group of the aggrieved members of APC, who were not comfortable with the entry of Senator Bukola Saraki and his people among other personal reasons.

Advantage of the crisis Some members of the PDP who were with Bukola and the government of Ahmed refused to follow them to APC; and of course, some onlookers who took advantage of the present development to join PDP. Vanguard gathered that the permutation of the PDP hierarchy to hit back at Bukola was to go to his house and play up his sister, Gbemi.

The initial calculation was to take advantage of the crisis between brother and sister by empowering Sister Gbemi with a ministerial position alongside other opposition members with plum offices to help in mobilizing support for the

opposition.

While the ministerial job for Gbemi has not worked out and even if she seems to be willing to work against her brother for free, that permutation was responsible for the appointment of Senator Makanjuola Ajadi as Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters.

Ajadi worked with Bukola and his structure to enthrone the government of Ahmed, but is today one of the avowed enemies of Bukola.

Ajadi it was learnt was hurriedly appointed to his new position after another former senator had already been primed for the office, but political pressure to empower the PDP in Kwara moved the presidency to appoint Ajadi.

So also is Professor Oba Abdulraheem, who was appointed chairman Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The seriousness of the PDP was underpinned by the large crowd that turned out when Gbemi was received into the party at an event centre in, Ilorin, the state capital, last weekend Gbemi was thought to have abandoned the supporters that swam to her in 2011 on her father’s orders immediately she lost the 2011 gubernatorial election to Ahmed. In her absence with no leader to look up to,

many of them sought accommodation in the government.

But Gbemi was all fire last weekend as she formally returned to the fray. Remarkably, she stood with her other siblings, Laolu and Toyin, leaving Bukola their eldest brother and the first born on his own against his younger siblings.

Gbemisola said that she is back in PDP to woo supporters for

,

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

Belgore goes to PDP In like manner, the much expected declaration of Muhammed Dele Belgore SAN, for PDP took place on Wednesday. Belgore had been facing serious challenges with the leadership of APC over the defection of Senator Bukola Saraki and his supporters to APC Speaking at a political gathering in his GRA campaign office, Ilorin, Belgore said he defected to the PDP because the leadership of APC had let them down by the way and manner they handled the defection of members of PDP to APC in Kwara State.

He said that the “APC’s leadership in seeking to satisfy a few, alienated the rank and file and the soul of the party”, stressing that the owner of a home need not be displaced to give any false sense of friendship to a stranger.

“Our people do not believe that people are made for a platform.

Rather they believe that platforms are made for the people. No positive change is possible where we are to coexist with the same elements that the people of Kwara want to dislodge”.

“APC has let us down. We have therefore decided not to be part of an arrangement that put us in the same ship driven by the oppressors”.

Notable chieftains who

While Gbemi is partly moved by sibling rivalry, Belgore is understandably peeved by at the handing over of APC’s political structure to Bukola and the governor

President Jonathan in his second term ambition.

She added that her decision and that of her other siblings to stay in PDP was because their brother did not inform them of his decision to dump the party and more importantly, that their father never encouraged them to leave PDP because President Jonathan didn’t offend them and that he was nice to their father.

She further said that the exit of Bukola’s group from the PDP has afforded them the opportunity to restructure the party and rescue the state from bad governance.

The politician urged the people of the state to support Jonathan, saying the state would fare better

,

defected with him include: Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, Rev Bunmi Olusona, Alhaji Idris Mahmoud, Dr Sa’ad Omoiya, Alhaji Isa Afon, Hon Agboola Ismail, Alhaji Toyin Ayinla, Bar Funsho Sa’ad, Alhaji Atanda Soro, Alhaja Khadijat Abdullateef, Alhaji Ganiyu Onikere, and thousands of supporters across the state who were firmer members of APC. But in a swift reaction, the state Chairman of APC, Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani said the exit of Belgore was good riddance.

As things stand in Kwara today, APC seems to have the upper hand but the ruling party is in for a tough battle from the PDP. C M Y K

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014— —31

C M Y K

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014— —33

C M Y K

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014— —35

C M Y K

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

L-R: Etisalat Nigeria’s Chairman, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie, founding partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and Group Managing Director/ CEO of UAC of Nigeria PLC, Mr. Larry Ettah at the Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie’s 30th Anniversary lecture entitled “What Next" in Lagos

L-r: Mr. Monday Edemivweye, president, Delta Vision, Dr. Michael Diden, a.a. Ejele, DESOPADEC commissioner/president general of Delta Vision during their inauguration in Warri

Rivers new CP upholds ban on political rallies

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— THE new Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, yesterday, upheld the ban on political rallies in the state by his predecessor, Mr. Joseph Mbu, saying that it was in consonance with Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act. Ogunshakin said the Electoral Act made it clear that political rallies would only hold 90 days to the date of elections, adding that the state will not be an exception.

He urged political associations and pressure groups planning to hold public functions to notify the Police at least five days ahead to enable it provide adequate security at the venue, stressing, “Furthermore any person(s), political associations, pressure groups intending to hold any public gathering in Rivers State must give the Police not less than five days notice to enable the Police provide adequate security and protection. It is important to emphasize that the duty to provide adequate security is imposed on the Police by statutes, including the Police Act and Electoral Act.” Appealing for a robust synergy with all sectors of the state, Ogunsakin said that Governor Rotimi Amaechi accorded him a warm reception when he paid a courtesy visit on him (governor). Promising to promote peace in the state, he enjoined the political class not to place their interests above security of lives and property, adding “I wish to state that there is the need for a robust synergy among all of us in order to ensure that law and order is maintained in Rivers State."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—37

WHY

FEMI FALANA’S SON, FALZ DUMPED LAW FOR MUSIC

says ‘Music stole my heart’

BY AYO ONIKOYI

F

olarin Falana isn’t a name that will cause a great fuss but when you link that name to the legal luminary, Femi Falana, it begins to ring bell and the picture that comes to your mind is that of ‘Learned Gentlemen’ but Folarin isn’t anything like his father even though he read law too.

He is a singer and an entertainer. His stage name is Falz, The Bad Guy and he isn’t running anyone amok in the courtroom, his terrain is the entertainment stage where he sings to thrill people. Hear his story.

Excerpts: Please Introduce yourself My name is Folarin Falana but I am popularly known as Falz or Falz ‘The Bad Guy’. I am a musician, and an entertainer

I N S I DE:

Educational background I went to St. Leo’s Catholic Primary School, Ikeja, after that I went to Olashore International School, in Osun State after which I went to study in the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Then I came back and went to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja where I qualified as a Barrister.

What is a Barrister doing, singing?

A lot of people have asked me that and my reply is that when you are very passionate about something you must follow your heart. Music is my passion, that is why I am in music.

Omawumi drops three drops three love singles for V al’s da Val’s dayy

Is XBoom making us all Djs?

Given your father’s reputation, one would have expected you to follow in his footsteps. Why tread another path?

Initially, that was my intention.

Looking at his life and how much he has achieved and the kind of name he has made for himself, I sincerely wanted to follow in his footsteps. I admired his monumental achievements,and his lifestyle. In fact that was why I went to study Law; to follow in his footsteps but along the line I just developed the love for music and music stole my heart and I decided to follow my heart.

Have you had any spat with your father over this your decision of dumping law for music?

That was what everybody thought but I never had a strained moment over my decision with my father.

Though when he got to know, he found it a bit strange, because none in my family has musical background but then it never developed into what I would call a

Continues on page 38 C M Y K

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Continues frompage 37 strained moment. Later on he and my mum started to accept it and even go as far as encouraging me.

So, what would you call your own genre of music now?

I have given it my own name. I call it ‘ what’s up music. It is a mix of hiphop with old school sound and funny lyrics.

What have you really done to date?

Precisely in 2009 I released a mixtape, it was titled ‘Shakara’. It was actually the compilation of some songs I have been doing before. I released it online and made it available to people for free download.

The reason for that was just to get my music to the people, to know me.

Later on I released some singles. There was ‘Cool Party’, then ‘What’s up Guy’ and most recently I released my most successful single to date, it is called ‘High Class’. And most current among them, released just late last year is ‘Currency’.

nowadays?

That is very correct. These days many artistes just focus on the sound with little attention to lyrics because the basic idea is just to get people to dance. The music industry is all about dance music but personally, I focus more on the lyrics.

When you listen to my music you will understand there is so much of lyrical message with danceable beats. I actually address some issues in the songs without being boring and yet still danceable. I hold lyrics to be very important.

Music is m myy passion, that is why I am in music

At what time in your life did you realise you were going to chart a different course from your dad?

The passion for music started building when I was in the secondary school.

Though the passion was there, I never thought it was something I was going to give serious attention until towards the end of my University days. By then the music I was making appeared to be on a different level, assuming something of professional status. Then I realised I could make it a profession.

Should we look forward to anything special from you any time soon?

Definitely. My debut album is about wrapped up now. It will be released officially next month. The album is going to showcase a lot about my style as an artiste. There is going to be a lot of versatility shown and people can appreciate different sides of me as an artiste and an entertainer. Also there are variously artistes who collaborated with me to make various blends of music people can enjoy. The album is done, only the engineering works going on now to finish it.

Are there others in the music industry you want to emulate?

There is nobody in the music industry I can say I look up to or I want to be like.

But there are few that are doing well for themselves. I admire their work and like listening to them. Among such is Tuface Idibia. I like Wizkid, he is a talented musician. Olamide is doing well for himself too and a few others.

What do you say to the notion that there is too much of beats and sound with less meaningful lyrics in music being made

Is it true that as a musician you must indulge in some substance used to derive inspiration for songs or at least get a bit wild ?

Many people when they think of musicians think of substance use and stuff to get inspiration but it doesn’t have to be that way. It is not always that way.

I, personally don’t indulge in any substance use for inspiration. I get my inspiration from life; things and people around me. I pick on issues that can make great topics and I blend them into danceable, meaningful music.

Being wild also comes with handling the ladies; how are you with the ladies?

Well, I am okay with the ladies (laughs). When they know you are a musician the female fans will always come around but you must know how to handle them right because they are very important, they are the ones that even convey our music to the male fans.

Why the name ‘Falz, the Bad Guy? First, Falz is a nickname my friends gave me way back in school. It is just a short form of my last name ‘Falana’.

For the Bad Guy, it is not Bad Guy,it is BAHDguy, which is an acronym for ‘Its Brilliant And Highly Distinct Guy (BAHDguy). The BAHDguy stands for something positive.

My most romantic Valentine w as was spent in Dubai

My Bo yfriend Boyfriend gave me a car gif giftt

– Ayo Adesanya

M

y most romantic Valentine was spent in Dubai. Shopping in the morning, romantic dinner in the evening, we went for a cruise later and then off in to the warm Dubai dessert sands for a romantic dessert ride- all these left me looking forward to the trip again

– Anita Joseph

M

y most romantic St. Valentine Day was way back in 2009. My boyfriend gave me a surprise package as Valentine’s gift. Wow, I never expected a car gift as Valentine’s gift.

Omawumi drops three love singles for V al’s da Val’s dayy

By SAM ANOKAM

M

ultiple awards winning Nigerian singer, Omawumi has released three beautiful ballads that capture the essence of the Valentine season and an everyday lovers’ anthem. The three songs entitled Finally, You Must Love Me and Serious Love Nwantinti (remix) are timeless classics that show more musical diversity of the gifted singer.

Without any hype, the first cut, ‘Finally’ produced by E-Kelly describes the genesis of every relationship, the lady’s pretense and the required patience by the man before giving up on his prospective lover. Since everyone has experienced either some success or failure at love, the subject is a familiar territory.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Looking at the competitive Nigerian music scene, what new thing are you bringing to the table to sell yourself?

I believe what you have to do in a scene such as this is to be unique.

And I think my music is very unique. The infusion of comic lyrics, which people can easily relate with, with a lot of old school jam and the contemporary hip-hop is what makes my brand of music very unique. It is very different from what any other artiste out there does.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—39 Stories by Ayo Onikoyi

Nollywood damsels’ S “Most romantic “Most romantic Valentine’s Day experience ever”

– Mercy Aigbe

M

y most romantic Valentine was precisely four years ago when my hubby took me to the Bahamas! Gosh, it was fun! And on top of it all, I got a gold Rolex wristwatch as gift

– Crystal Okoye

N

igerian men could love if not for the hard times in the country,my memorable Valentine experience was when I went for a dinner with a loved one at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja and two different people that I didn’t know gave me lovely gifts. My date saw the gifts and wasn’t fussy about it,instead he gave me a kiss to let everyone know I belong to him.

Wizkid, Y emi Yemi Sax gang up for V al’s single Val’s

T

t. Valentine’s Day which is celebrated worldwide today, February 14th of every year, means different things to different people. For some, it is a day to rekindle the flame of love, by Indulging in all sorts of amoral acts while to some it is a somewhat solemn day reserved for doing extraordinary act of good, either by caring and sharing with the less fortunate people.

But the consensus notion, regardless of the coloration that is attached to it, is agreed that it is a day set aside to celebrate love; among couples, friends and even families.

However for everyone who has ever had to celebrate the occasion there might be one particular one that keeps resonating in the heart as unforgettable. That little memory is tucked away in the inner recess of the heart and cherished as a day to remember for always.

In this St. Valentine’s Day special. WG went to town to sample the pulse of some of our screen goddesses to find out if they have ever had a St. Valentine’s Day they would consider ‘the most romantic ‘ they have ever had.

Instead of being jealous my bo yfriend boyfriend gave me a kiss

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

A trip to the Bahamas and a Rolex watch

By AYO ONIKOYI

he rave of the moment hip-hop star, Wizkid, is known as the ‘Star Boy’ while Yemi Sax, is regarded as Africa’s number one saxophone oracle. Now, imagine the duo ganging up to release a single, just to celebrate the St. Valentine’s Day. According to Yemi, the whole idea behind the single ‘One Question’ is to celebrate love and confirmed the single will be dropping today. Ever wonder what the question’One Question’ is?

The single is Wizkid’s idea and Yemi Sax is expected to spruce up things with his saxophone, to bring in the blissful feeling of love.

My bo yfriend boyfriend took me tto oa private beach – Mimi Ubini

M

y most romantic St. Valentine’s Day? That will be when my ex boyfriend took me to this private beach called Ilasa Beach I think, we spent a day there, it was really fun.

Tiwa Savage, Mike Okri, others st orm W arri storm Warri

T

he oil-rich city of Warri, Delta State will come alive this evening as some of Nigeria’s top rated acts storm the city to thrill their fans in the spirit of Valentine’s Day celebration. Put together by Brownhill Entertainment, the event will feature the likes of Tiwa Savage, Mike Okri, Kcee, Timaya, Banky W, Harry Song, Waje and many others. Leading comedians like I go Dye,AY, and Odogwu will headline the event which will have the cream of society in attendance. Described as a classy Valentine Night, the owner of the outfit, Mrs Anuju Pinnick is urging couples and single guys to make it a date.

My husband carried me like a bab o his babyy tto sof t-light-lit rroom oom soft-light-lit .... Maureen Cyril

M

y most romantic Valentine’s Day was last year when my husband, then my boyfriend, sent me a text a week earlier inviting me for a formal dinner at his place,so he had to wear suit and tie and me, a dinner gown.

He prepared a three-course meal and candles everywhere with a sexy music playing softly in the background.

Then after the meal he cleared the table and carried me like a baby to his soft light-lit room and dropped me like an egg on his red flowered bed with the music still playing and........I’ m not sure you would want me to go into details of the night but I swear it was the most memorable Val’s Day of my entire life because somehow I got tired of the gifts he always got for me because I needed something romantic.

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 —41

C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

By EBELE ORAKPO

R

un For a Cure Africa (RFCA) was launched in Nigeria in 2009 to raise greater awareness of breast cancer in Africa through targeted education, free screenings and to alleviate the cost of treatment of women with breast cancer.

“We say Africa because essentially, we want to fight breast cancer in Africa, not just in Nigeria even though this is where the idea for fighting breast cancer was born but we understand that this is a disease that is quietly killing women throughout this continent and because there is such an emphasis on malaria and HIV, sometimes breast cancer is put by the side. For us, it is disheartening because if there is any disease that is treatable and curable in SubSaharan Africa, it is breast cancer.

The organisation was eaterblished based on my inspiration from my mother’s experience. In 2007, she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer and she survived simply because we detected it on time. In addition to her, I also have two other aunts that had breast cancer and they are also survivors. It is not only because of when it was detected but their access to treatment as well. So that was the inspiration behind starting this programme and our organisation.

Why breast cancer in particular?

Like I said, because I have a personal experience, and I was able to see first-hand how you can treat it if you find it on time so that was why we focused on breast cancer.

How do you get the patients, do you go on the streets to look for them?

(Laughs) Essentially, what we do is we hold breast cancer screening exercises for free.

We have three main objectives – to educate, to screen and to treat. Mainly, we educate women on what breast cancer is so as to dispel the myths associated with the disease.

A

lot of women are suffering or wondering about this disease but because of the myths surrounding it, they would rather keep quiet.

They would not ask questions or make enquiries, so we are hoping we will get a chance to educate them and help them understand that it is nothing they have done per se that has made them get the disease. There are several reasons why.

So what do you do with those diagnosed with breast cancer after screening?

Education and screening kind of go hand in hand. For

Breast cancer: We want to turn mortality rate to survival rate — EBELE MBANUGO

B

reast cancer has been adjudged the most lethal malignancy in women across the world.

Available statistics show that it is a leading cause of death among women in West Africa with an approximately 30,000 new cases in 2008 and more than 16,000 deaths. Shocked by this frightening reality, coupled with a personal experience, Mrs Ebele Mbanugo, a graduate of Psychology from Southern Methodist University in Texas, USA and a Master’s degree holder in Educational Administration, founded Run For a Cure Africa (RFCA), a non-profit organisation whose mission is to turn the breast cancer mortality rate into breast cancer survival rate. In this chat with Vanguard, Mbanugo speaks on what informed the establishment of RFCA, the challenges and successes so far. Excerpts:

Breast cancer is 98 per cent treatable when it is detected early and we find that a lot of women delay coming in for treatment until it gets too late and that is where we are trying to help women that are found to have breast cancer during the screening exercises or from referrals from doctors at Lagos

University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), we are able to gauge a level of support and in most cases, we are able to subsidize or cover the cost of their breast cancer treatment which is about N1 million per person.

Until they are cured?

You know, we endeavour to support them throughout their treatment; sadly, we have lost women to this fight and their treatment has been cut short because of that reason but definitely, we want to help them throughout the entire process.

What of those who present themselves at the end stage?

That is why we are trying to raise awareness so as not to have women coming when it is too late. We want them to come once they find the breast lump; we want them to do self

Mrs Ebele Mbanugo breast examinations so we can avoid having them come very late because breast cancer is 98 per cent treatable when it is detected early and we find that a lot of women delay coming in for treatment until it gets too late and that is where we are trying to help.

How successful has the programme been?

We determine our success by how many women we are able to reach and in that respect, I will say it has been very

successful.

Through our programme of creating more awareness, women are being more proactive about their breast health which is important; women are coming out and talking. When we started, none of the women we were supporting was willing to come out and talk but now, we are finding that women are coming out to talk about it and are not afraid and so for us, we count that as a huge victory.

I

n our first screening exercise, we had a handful of women show up despite advertising the programme but at our last screening exercise, we had 350 women come out to participate so that is success.

Last year, we were able to support close to 30 women through their breast cancer journey. We have some survivors and like I said, we have some women that are still

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

— 43

Aimee: Out to take praise and worship to new dimension ..... releases new album ‘So Grateful’

F

We raise funds through individual sponsorship and corporate sponsorship.

Our sponsors include Cadbury Bournvita, Chevron Nigeria, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Transocean, Nigerstar7, Halliburton, The Palms and Strategic Media Solutions.

“Breast cancer affects all women; it’s not a social class disease as a wealthy person can get breast cancer the same way as somebody who is impoverished.

T

going through treatment and we lost some of them as well but even at that, the fact that these women have come out and we have women that can say “I started my treatment in Nigeria and I completed my treatment in Nigeria and I am still alive,” we count that as a huge success. The doctor that we invited for the symposium last year said the way they were able to increase the survival rate for women with breast cancer was by having other women come out and say ‘I had this and I survived it.’

The reason why women do not come forward is because they don’t know anybody that had the disease and survived it and so, fear and so many different things keep them inside and so for us, having ambassadors to be able to say this can happen if you are proactive, is great.

How do you raise funds to be able to support these women?

he difference though is that a lot of people who are wealthy can seek treatment outside and a lot of people do.

It is not that it’s a bad thing but when a lot of women who may not be as lucky realise that they are not going through this alone, it is helpful to them to know that they can fight and there is a place where they can fight too,” said Shelancia Daniel, a volunteer organizer at RFCA. What has been your experience with RFCA? Justina Lucky, a survivor said: “I got to know RFCA in 2012 and since then, they have been sponsoring me. They have supported me through my surgery, chemotherapy and I just finished my radiotherapy. My boss whom I work with introduced me to the NGO. They have been helpful.

What is your advice to women?

I am still telling other women to come out and talk about breast cancer. So many women are dying in silence. A lot of them won’t come out; they say they don’t want to be seen. I believe that when God is on your side, nothing will overcome you. I give God all the glory.

or seven years, Rita Alakija suffered from severe illnesses, which no one thought she would survive. She bubbled with life working in the aviation, broadcasting and financial sectors. She felt it was a short trial when she fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. As the years rolled by, she was transferred for treatment to different hospitals within the country and abroad until she became what she described as a vegetable who the doctors almost gave up hope on. She was a modern day woman with the issue of blood.

She was rejected by some hospitals because they felt she would die.

While she would not reveal the severity of her medical condition, she concedes that her body became temple of over 15 different medical challenges. In those seven years of almost losing out on everything she had worked for, God was always there for her.

It was in the midst of it all, she released her first album. Somehow, through praises, God healed her. In a short interview with Rita, she tells us what she expects from herself.

Would you say it was because of your illness you went into music?

No, I have always been a singer. I have been singing in church. It got to a point in my life when all I wanted to do was to make money, but God had all the plans.

Therefore, I would not say it was when I was ill that I started singing. I have always been a singer; I just never made a career out of singing. The experience I had propelled me. I had to do it as a work of faith and obedience. If I had not gone down that lane, maybe I would not have been singing. Maybe I would not have listened.

You said you did your first album while you were ill, it must have influenced your second album. How true is that?

Very true. You would notice there is no song in the album titled ‘So Grateful’. Now I look at life through a different perspective. When you go through a near death experience, life changes for you. You look at life differently. You look at life through the eyes of God. You want to make an impact; you do not just want to live a selfish life. You want to do and be as God. There are different experiences but there is nothing like a near death experience.It shakes you up. Therefore, it is like I am all for you lord. It’s not like I have not always been for him but when nobody could help and he comes in his mercy and power to deliver me, then I know that there is a God that loves me and there is nothing I can be afraid of. All the songs in the album are talking about one experience or the other. ‘’So grateful’’ is a summation of everything God has done for me over the past seven to eight years.

What Genre of Music do you do?

It is church music first and fore most. It is praise and worship. The first album does not sound like this. In this one, there is some classical music, soft rock, R&B, and some Jazz.

Are you delving fully into music?

I put everything I had into music when I was sick. I have five videos from my first album, and I am doing concerts too, but it’s not just music I do. The kind of music I do is music and the word because I do not sing about what I didn’t experience.I went through hell and back. Therefore,

•Rita Alakija when I am singing or talking, I know what I am talking about because I experienced it.

What message would your album be passing across to people?

That God is the only answer to everything. I am not ashamed or afraid to say that. Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion but when push comes to shove, there is a God who loves us. He gave his life for us and when you call him, he is always, there. He has your back. No other person has your back. People will go but God will still be there.

What is your perception about gospel artist in Nigeria?

I think we have so many of them and they are all doing well. Despite of everything Nigeria is blessed with many talents.

Where do you place your self in the next couple of years?

I would not be the one to place myself.

How do you intend to stand out?

It is not about standing out for me. It is about hearing a ministration, your life is blessed, somebody gets healed, somebody gets saved. It is not a competition. I am not a secular singer where you have to be out there showing your stuff. I am a servant of the most high. So it’s not really about standing out from the crowd. God makes you stand out. In the secular world, it is like look at me and see what I’ve got. With what I do, it is like look at God. So the glory is not me, it’s God. That is the difference.

What do you hope to achieve with music?

Music is a very powerful tool. Some people listen to music and get hypnotised, some listen to music and get angry, some listen to music and become violent, while some listen to music and they have peace.

So music is a channel that can be used for either good or evil. God is the author of music. Music being powerful is a tool for anything. I have decided to use this medium to influence listeners, to affect the world positively. I could tell you God heals but I could sing that and it has a different impact. People listen to music and practically go naked. Nevertheless, for me as a messenger of God, when you listen to music, it brings you to the throne of God. It makes you more dedicated to God. It builds your faith and lifts you up. It lifts people from depression and lets people know that God is God.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—45

Itsekiri Education Trust doles out N1.8m scholarship awards

APC vows to recapture Edo Central

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, a former senatorial aspirant of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Edo State, Mr. Theophilus Okoh, has vowed that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will do its best to ensure none of the current Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Assembly members from Edo Central senatorial district returns.

Okoh, who fielded questions from journalists in Benin, yesterday, however, blamed the party’s failure in the last senatorial election on internal wranglings, adding that the party had eliminated all pitfalls.

Delta North urged to remain united

T

HE national president of Anioma Alliance, a socio-cultural pressure group made up of prominent youth bodies and associations of Anioma, Delta State, Mr. John Ozegbe has called on the Anioma political class to remain united to produce a consensus candidate that will take over from the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in 2015.

Speaking with newsmen, Mr. Ozegbe stressed the need for Anioma nation to present a credible candidate committed to sustaining the developmental agenda of the present administration.

Madam Tobi-Ogbakpah for burial

M

RS. Ajiyenmikpia ghan Tobi-Ogbakpah is dead, aged 97.

A textile merchant attached to UAC in Sapele in the 50s and 60s, she is survived by children, grand children and great-grand children.

Service of songs holds February 27 at her residence 12, Ofotoku Road, Sapele, while internment takes place at Ologbo on February 28.

Late Tobi-Ogbakpah

W

SWEARING-IN: From right: Mr. Victor Ochei; Chief P. I.G. Onyeobi, former Head of Service, Defunct Bendel State and some traditional rulers at the swearing-in ceremony of Sir Paul Evuarherhe as the new Head of Service, Delta State.

2015: PDP constitution supports Delta North gov —FJHD Coordinator

BY EMMA AMAIZE

L

AGOS—NATIONAL Coordinator, Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, Warri, Delta State, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, yesterday, said claims that the governorship position in Delta State was ceded to Delta North senatorial district under a power shift arrangement in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were valid.

Speaking to Vanguard in an interview, he said that the unconfirmed plan of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is from the Itsekiri ethnic stock, to contest the Delta South senatorial district election on the platform of PDP was also valid, as the Ijaw

and Isoko that make up the district had occupied the position on separate occasions.

Citing Articles 2, 7 (2) (fg); Preamble 2 (c-d) and 7(3) (a-c) of the constitution of PDP, he said: “On the issue of power shift in PDP in Delta State, we want to state without fear or favour that the party’s constitution recognises and permits power shift.

“North and South senatorial districts would have occupied the governorship position in the state from May 1999 to May 2015, respectively. Therefore, nothing should stop the jostling by Delta North. The constitu-

tion of the party permits the senatorial district to produce the governor of the state in 2015.

“It would be just and equitable for members of the party, whose senatorial district or ethnic stock have not enjoyed the above principle of power shift as inserted in their party’s constitution to benefit from same.

"And until the above articles and preamble of the party constitution are amended, these party faithful have valid claims to the above and any weapon fashioned against these valid claims would not prevail. Nevertheless, the above principle only applies to members of PDP."

Rivers community protests Shell’s alleged seizure of farmland

T

RAFFIC on the newly constructed Shell Location Road, Orazi, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, was disrupted, yesterday, following a protest by youths of Orazi community over claims that Shell Petroleum Development Company, had seized a portion of their farmland.

The contentious piece of land on the Location Road, until recently, housed one of Shell’s oil well heads.

The leader of the protesting youths, Mr. Asonye Akaninwa, told newsmen that Shell had operated in the community for 40 years, noting that they came through their consultant, Emma Wike, late 2013 and told the community they were ending their operation in the area, and would,

accordingly, hand over their land which they acquired on lease.

“Shell came to us through their consultant that they were coming to remove their well heads and formally ended their operations on our land. They actually kept the promise, but to our surprise, rather than hand over our land which they took on lease, we are now seeing some construction work going on there, suggesting they may have sold the land to some persons or organisations,” Akaninwa said.

The youths leader said a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, was signed between the community and Shell, a document which he

said, was periodically renewed.

“We started smelling the rat when Shell, after reviewing the document in 2003, turned their back at us and refused to discuss further with us anything pertaining to the land. This, to us, is most unfortunate considering the negative impact their operations had on our environment,” he said.

The protesters, who numbered over 50, beat drums and also barricaded the two entrances to the site with palm fronds. Several appeals by the security operatives for the youths to remove the barricades fell on deaf ears as the protesters heightened their drumming amidst peaceful disposition.

ARRI—THE Itsekiri Education Trust inaugurated in October 2012 by His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri, will on Saturday disburse N1.8 million to 18 deserving Itsekiri undergraduates in Nigerian universities.

Each recipient will go home with N100,000 to be reimbursed yearly until the completion of the recipient's academic programme provided they maintain good grades and shun all vices.

The maiden award of the Education Trust will hold at the palace of the Olu of Warri at in a ceremony that will be attended by the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Itsekiri Service organizations and other dignitaries.

The Itsekiri Education Trust was inaugurated by the Olu of Warri in collaboration with the Warri National Council and the Itsekiri Progress Club.

Delta Vision 2015 inaugurates new chapter

A

POLITICAL pressure group known as Delta Vision 2015, has inaugurated a new chapter in Warri. With the inauguration, Mr. Andrew Young emerged as the coordinator of the group in Delta North. He urged other members of his team to do their best to mobilise all Deltans for the forth-coming general elections.

In a statement, president of the group, Mr. Monday Edemivweye, noted that the change of leadership became necessary because the 2015 election is close.

He thanked Mr. Michael Diden, who is the President General of the group, for his support over the years and promised that the group will do everything possible to keep the flag flying.

Responding, Young thanked the National Executive for finding them worthy for such position and promised that they will do their best in the forth coming elections.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Fidelity Bank empowers Adamawa State women

A

DAMAWA STATE government has lauded management and staff of Fidelity Bank for assisting to eliminate poverty in the state.

The bank staff recently renovated two workshops and donated sewing machines to the state’s women development centre in Yola, the state capital.

State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Halima Mohammed Hayatu, who gave the commendation while commissioning the workshops and sewing machines, said that the bank had blazed the trail in corporate social responsibility in the country.

She commended the board and management of the bank for their genuine commitment to improve the lives of its host communities.

Specifically, the commissioner said the bank’s gesture would go a long way in alleviating poverty and empowering women.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairman, Yola South Local Government Area, Alhaji Ahmadu Waziri, thanked Fidelity Bank for coming to the aid of the centre.

He explained that the centre had been in dire need of financial support and had been unable to meet its set objectives.

Chief Nwaneri for burial today

C

HIEF PATRICK Akughara Nwaneri, is dead, aged 81.

He will be buried in his family compound in Umuodu Owerri today after a final service at the Christ Anglican Church, Owerri, to be presided over by Venerable Zion Ngoka, Archdeacon, Christ Church Archdeaconry.

He is survived by a widow, and four children.

Police kill 2 kidnap suspects in Aba

BY ERIC UGBOR

A

BA — TWO suspected kidnappers have been shot dead by the police in Aba, Abia

State.

They were killed in exchange of fire at Ohuru Isimiri in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

The dead suspects, Reuben

Okezie and Lekwa Uzor, were killed while trying to escape from the police on their way to the kidnappers’ den in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

CEREMONY: Abia State governor, Chief T. A. Orji (left) in a handshake with the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), during the latter's pull-out ceremony, at Parade Ground, Mogadishu Cantoonment, Asokoro, Abuja.

A reliable police source in Aba told Vanguard that the dead hoodlums were arrested two days ago. Lekwa Uzor was the first to be arrested and he later took the police to where his partner in the crime, Reuben Okezie, was apprehended.

The corpses of the duo who were said to be behind the kidnap of a Chinese national, Tang Bing, were seen yesterday morning lying at the premises of the police Area Commander in Aba. The late criminals were said to be taking the police to their camp when other members of the syndicate ambushed the police and

Okorocha suspends commissioner; sacks Transition C'ttee Chair

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — IMO State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has suspended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Nma Onyechere, for physically assaulting a top official in the Local Government Service Commission.

Confirming the development in a telephone interview, the governor ’s Senior Special Assistant, SSA, Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, explained that the suspension followed the unwarranted physical assault the woman unleashed on a serving Commissioner in the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Emeka Okoronkwo.

“Governor received a complaint that the suspended commissioner physically assaulted a serving commissioner in the Local Government Service Commission, Chief Emeka Okoronkwo,” Onwuemeodo said.

According to him, it is the

governor ’s belief that such a public figure of the rank of a commissioner should properly manage her temper, no matter the level of provocation.

“The reported incident brought bad image to the administration and the governor strongly felt that such a public figure of the rank of a commissioner should learn to properly manage her temper very well, no matter the level of provocation,” Onwuemeodo said.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced the sacking of the Transition Committee Chairman of Oguta Local Government Area, Mr. Henry Igbomezie, from office.

Although government’s statement on his sacking was very sketchy at press time, Vanguard gathered that Ig-

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

C M Y K

WERRI — THE rumbling in Imo State House of Assembly over alleged forcing of members to register with All Progressives Congress, APC, has resulted in the sack of the member representing Oru East state constituency, Mr. Greg Okemili.

Announcing the sacking of Oke-

nomezie was removed for allegedly failing to respect a top government official from the local council area.

Mega Progressive Peoples Party chairman resigns, defects to APC

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

T

HE NATIONAL chairman of Mega Progressive Peoples’ Party, MPPP, Chief Rasheed Shitta-Bey, has defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Chief Shitta-Bey made this known at the MPPP’s second national convention in Lagos.

Shitta-Bey, who was elected

national chairman of the party on October 10, 2010 steered the ship of the party till February 2014 when he resigned.

He said his resignation was “part of his efforts to re-engineer and re-position himself to other affairs in politics.”

He said he chose to move to APC, because the party was organised and he shared mutual understanding with the members.

CAN accuses FG of marginalising Igbo

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

T

HE CHRISTIAN Associ ation of Nigeria, CAN, South East zone, has accused the Federal Government of allegedly marginalising the Igbo in the scheme of things in the country.

CAN stated in a statement by its Chairman and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, that Igbo had nothing to show for their massive support for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011.

The statement read in part:

Imo House removes lawmaker for not being elected

Late Chief Nwaneri

exchange of fire ensued.

The kidnappers were said to have taken advantage to escape before they were hit by stray bullets.

Other members of the group who escaped were said to have had bullet wounds and the police in Aba have called on hospitals and chemists to report anybody with bullet wounds.

The police source stated that the Chinese national who was abducted was yet to be rescued, but noted that the search for her was still on.

He stated that what was happening in Aba was an organised crime and robbery, assuring that the police were on top of the situation to ensure that the place was unsafe for kidnappers.

mili from the House at the end of the plenary, yesterday, the speaker, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, however, linked the pronouncement to the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Owerri.

“This announcement is in full compliance with the May 2013 Owerri Division of the Appeal Court judgement, which over-

turned the election of Okemili on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA,” the speaker said.

He also explained that the House had received a letter last July, asking it to declare Okemili’s seat vacant on the grounds that the now embattled lawmaker was not duly elected to occupy the seat.

‘’There has been this rumour that there is embargo on appointment of Igbo by the Jonathan administration on the grounds that there are too many Igbo in the government. ’’The removal of General Onyeabor Ihejirika confirms the rumour. The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, is selected from the rank of service chiefs and it rotates between the Army, Navy and Air Force.

“Unless someone can prove otherwise, both the Nigeria Air Force, NAF, and the Navy have had their turns as CDS. Rather than promote Ihejirika to the position, Ihejirika was retired. ’’Igbo who came first in interviews conducted by the government were dropped and others from favoured tribes given the appointments."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 -47

VISIT: From left: Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Nteranya Sanginga, Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA, Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, and Director, Capacity Strengthening, FARA, Dr. Irene Annor-Frempong, during a visit by the IITA and FARA team to the Governor in Akure.

VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State , Osun (middle), his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left), Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (right), Elder, Dynamic Reformers (an Affiliate of Oranmiyan Worldwide), Mr. Duro Olaleke (2nd right), Hon. Koledowo Johnson (left) and others, during a visit to the Governor in Osogbo.

Director General, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM (left) Professor Akpan Ekpo, receiving 'Vanguard of True Federalism' award from the President-General, Inter-Community Students Union of Nigeria, James Uneze, in Lagos.

MEETING: From left: INEC National Commissioner (Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti), Professor Lai Olurode, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Obas, Oba Adamo Babalola, INEC Deputy National Commissioner, North Central, Dr. Nuru Yakubu, and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ekiti State, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai, during the election statkeholders' meeting in Ado-Ekiti.

Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Council, Mr. Ayodele Adewale (right) and some party members, displaying his All Progressives Congress, APC, membership card, after his registration, at Ward 063 polling unit, Festac Town, Lagos.

BRIEFING: From left: Ven. Abel Ajibodu, Dean of the Cathedral, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, and Professor Wale Omole, Chairman, Anniversary Committee, during the brieding to mark the 50th anniversary of Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, in Lagos C M Y K

MINISTERIAL SCREENING: From left, Ministerial Nominee and former House Leader, Hon. Wakili Mohammed, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Umar Naa’ba and former Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Bawa Bwari, after the screening of the nominees for ministerial appointment, at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire displaying her APC membership card after registering at her Ward E, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos.

MEETING: From left: Director, Entertainment and Creative Services, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Grace Gekpe, MD/CEO, PRM Africa, Mike Dada, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, Director, Brand Communications and Sponsorship, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi, and Director, Cultural Industry and Heritage of the Ministry, Mrs. Dayo Keshi, during a meeting on the hosting of AFRIMA in Nigeria.

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

All-Muslims Police leadership in Kaduna dangerous —CAN

Gambia woos Nigerian tourists AGOS—THE Gam L bia, a leading popular tourist destination in

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

ADUNA – THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kaduna State chapter, yesterday protested over alleged Islamization of the police force in the state, pointing out that all top policemen in the state were Muslims.

CAN alleged that by the new postings carried out by the police in the state, only few Christians were given command positions while Muslims mostly favoured in a volatile state like Kaduna. Speaking at a news conference yesterday, the state Secretary of CAN Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, said that the new postings was curious and does not give Christians assurance of impartial security.

KPMG seeks probe of coys over submission of accounts statements

BY MICHAEL EBOH

L

AGOS—KPMG Ni geria, yesterday, called on the authorities in the capital market to probe any company who fails to submit its financial statement for a minimum of one year, saying that it might be a sign that the company is manipulating its financial statement or a sign of fraud in such company.

Over the years, the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, only impose fines on companies that fail to submit their financial statements as at when due.

It is only in rare cases that trading is suspended on the shares of the companies. For example, the NSE said it imposed a total fine of N61.2 million on companies in 2013 for various infractions.

Speaking at the annual seminar for audit committee members of the Nigeria Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, NSSA, in Lagos, Mr. Tola Adeyemi, Partner and Head, Audit Services, KPMG, said the regulatory authorities should strictly enforce the rules on non-submission of financial statements.

TURBANING—From left: Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu; Wakilin Marwa Bauchi, Chief Daniel Kambai; Magajin Gari Moro in Kaura LGA, Mr Danladi Nache and former Editor-in-Chief News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Shehu Abui, during the turbaning of Wakilin Marwa in Bauchi on Tuesday. Photo: NAN.

Jonathan tasks corps members on job creation, self-reliance

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—PRESIDENT GoodLuck Jonathan, yesterday, charged National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members to take advantage of the youth development entrepreneur skill programme introduced by his administration to fight unemployment by being self-reliant.

Jonathan spoke during the passing-out parade of Batch A members at the Ibrahim Babangida Square in Bauchi.

He was represented on the occasion by the Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh.

Jonathan said that the Federal Government usually empowered youths through soft loans for young entrepreneurs from programmes like the SURE-P and YOU-WIN among others, add-

ing that skill acquisition centres for youths were geared towards challenging their potentials for self actualization.

He said the NYSC scheme was designed by the Federal Government to deepen national unity as the programme ‘’brings people of diverse cultural backgrounds together and in the process, facilitate national integration and development.

“The NYSC scheme has given relevance to diverse communities in the nation.

Some communities depend on this laudable scheme for graduate teachers, doctors and medical manpower.

“The Federal Government has risen to the challenge of insecurity and harassment of

corps members during their service year by ensuring that respective state governments provide for their security and ensure that they enjoy their full rights and benefits as corps members,” he said.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 16 corps members are to face disciplinary actions after their cases were investigated by the national headquarters of the scheme in Abuja.

Earlier in his farewell address to the corps members, the state coordinator of the scheme, Mr.Nuhu Kwanghe said that 1,117 out of the 1,137 of the Batch A corps members that served in the state, would receive their certificates as 16 others were facing various disciplinary actions for alleged offences committed by them.

Africa, has thrown its doors open to discerning Nigerian visitors seeking an exotic vacation, a family holiday, or savvy corporate organizations requiring high quality facilities for corporate meetings.

“We have concluded plans to implement a comprehensive multifaceted campaign in Nigeria to launch The Gambia as a year round destination of choice to all categories of Nigerians”, said Adama Njie, Marketing Director, Gambia Tourism Board (GTB).

Mr. Njie revealed that, through accredited agents and operators, all classes of Nigerian visitors can now have access to comprehensive roundthe-year travel and tour packages to enjoy the world renowned hospitality, the spontaneous smile and the warmth of the people of The Gambia.

“For years, The Gambia has been the region’s most formidable destination for people from all over the world. We believe the country offers special attractions which are yet to be discovered

by Nigerians.

Also, according to Mr. Benjamin A. Roberts, the Director General of the GTBoard, ‘’Nigerians are very hard working and busy people, with a great need for leisure and rest.

"Our unique geographical position at the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean, enables The Gambia to remain an attractive tourism destination with natural waterways that extend the entire length of the country."

Middle Belt Forum meets over planned national dialogue

BY TAYE OBATERU & MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS—THE Middle Belt Fo rum has held a consultative conference on the proposed national dialogue, with a call on the delegates who will represent the group at the dialogue to speak with a strong, coordinated and loud voice. Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State gave the charge, yesterday, at the conference, saying how united they are in presenting their position would determine the weight of

the region’s submission at the national dialogue.

Jang also reminded the delegates that the Middle Belt is the zone that builds and holds Nigeria together via “the strategic and visionary roles it played prior to independence, during the civil war as well as the democratic sojourn”.

He stressed “the need to deliberate on issues without sentiments but driven by the conviction that whatever position we take today deter-

mines the status and future of the Middle Belt and indeed Nigeria”, adding that the zone would not compromise the unity of the country.

“This is an opportunity to fine-tune and add our distinct voice to this conference which would shape the future of our nation. Need I remind us of the strategic and visionary role the Middle-Belt geo-political zone has played, our sacrifice and service for the survival of the Nigerian na-

tion? Must we allow these values and symbols to fizzle out?"

Earlier, the Chairman of the forum, Professor Jerry Gana told the delegates to give their best during deliberations “at syndicate group” because the Middle Belt will not go to the conference unprepared".

According to him, “ we are here for preparation to know where we stand on issues. We encourage the delegates to take the exercise seriously as we cannot afford to disappoint our people."

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 49

C M Y K

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 51

C M Y K

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 53

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 55

56— V anguard anguard,,

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 RAISE be to Almighty Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah continue to abide unto the noblest of prophets, Muhammad (s.a.w), his household and followers.

Allah has chosen for us Islam as our religion and He will not accept any other religion apart fro, Islam, as He says in Quran 3 vrs 85 “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.”

So, doing anything that is contrary to the tenets of Isam is unacceptable. Submission as the cornerstone of islamic belief includes staying within the alike on the issue of Valentine’s confines of the religion, using Day. Some rationalising it as the Quran and the hadiths as another way of showing love guide, no matter the pressure which they further submit that from the society. does not contradict the dictates of Islam. Care must be Pressure from exercised and we must have a the society clear understanding of this issue so that we dont undermine The Prophet saw what the the belief (‘aqeedah) which we world would look like thousands tend to uphold. of years after his death. He was But how did this day become accurate in his prophecy. A recognised? world where women will The Festival of Love was one murder shame and expose their of the festivals of the pagan treasure to every Dick and Romans, when paganism was Harry; a world where men the prevalent in Rome more would take the position of than seventeen centuries ago. women and shamelessly turn In the pagan Roman concept, the order of nature in marital it was an expression of “spiritual relationship upside down and love”; although they later inside out. changed it from the pagan He warned the ummah concept of “spiritual love” to against these developments that another concept known as the Muslims should distinct “martyrs of love”, represented themselves from these ways and by Saint Valentine, a martyr, never in any way imitate or who had advocated love and follow their path. Unfortunately, peace. He was persecuted by the path and customs of the the Gothic leader Claudius, c. kuffaar are now being packaged 296 CE. in such a way that is enticing.

The crux of the persecution Nowadays, a new dimension was that, according to records, has spread among the Muslim after Christianity had become youths – males and females

P

14 Rabi'ul Thanni 1435 AH

Why Muslims don't recognise Val's day was executed on 14 February 270 CE, on the eve of February 15, the festival of Lupercalis.

So this day was named for this saint. This was how the day was designatd as Valentine’s day.

This is what translated into exchanging of red roses, boxes of gifts to wives, and friends which are an expression of love, the “spiritual love”. In some

,

widespread, the Roman emperor Claudius II decreed in the third century CE that soldiers should not get married, because marriage would distract them from the wars they used to fight. This decree was opposed by Saint Valentine, who started to perform marriages for the soldiers in secret.

When the emperor found out about that, he threw him in jail and sentenced him to execution. In prison, he (Saint Valentine) fell in love with the jailer’s daughter, but this was a secret because, according to Christian laws, priests and monks were forbidden to marry or fall in love. But he was still regarded highly by the Christians because of his steadfastness in adhering to Christianity when the emperor offered to pardon him if he dumped his religious ideals and worshipped the Roman gods.

He offered him a juicy position in Rome and also become his son-in-law. But Valentine declined and so, he

The incessant break-up of marriages, indicipline, gay issues and other social disorders are good examples. In essence, Val’s day does not have any positive impact on the society, rather it encourages permissiveness and immorality

palces, parties are held and sexual acts becomes the order.

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.” La tattabi’unna Sanan man kaana qablakum.

Cour ix es April 23 ffor or hearing in Lagos hijab case Courtt ffix ixes

J

USTICE Grace Modupe Onyeabo of the Ikeja High Court has set April 23, 2014 date for the commencement of hearing in the Lagos Hijab case.

At the resumed hearing for report on out of court settlement today, counsel to the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, Barrister Adetola Kasim (SAN), expressed dissatisfaction over the way and manner the state government is handling the case.

According to Kassim, a letter

was written to the Lagos State Attorney General reminding him of the settlement that was supposed to take place before the court hearing today but said he is yet to get any response from the state.

The State counsel Mr. Samuel Ajanaku confirmed the matter for the day is for a report on settlement but that the state still need more time before the case would be settled.

“The settlement is still on-going considering the nature of this

Barr. Adetola Kassim, SAN, speaking to journalists after the hearing recently

matter” Ajanaku said.

He, however, applied for further adjournment in other to allow the government to explore the settlement.

But counsel to MSSN, Adetola Kassim (SAN) urged the court reject the application for further adjournment.

He said that the state government was yet to either react or call for any discussion since the case began almost a year ago.

“The process of settling out of court has been too slow and we are not pleased with that, we do

Why Muslims should desist from such act is contained in the Quran and the hadiths. The fact that it is not our ways and Islam had been perfected for the ummah, we don’t need any other thing to become a good Muslim other than what is contained in the Quran and hadiths.

Allah says: “And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them.

It is they for whom there is an awful torment” (Q 3:105) The Prophet said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” This hadith further explains what allah says in Q5 vrs 51 which says: “And if any amongst you takes them as Awliyaa’ , then surely, he is one of them.”

Allah has forbidden imitation of the kuffaar; He has described it as hateful and has warned against the consequences of that, in many aayahs. We also cannot follow our whims and caprises in Most of these warnings are

hope that those that are working on it will work a little bit faster in other for us to make some progress,” he said.

Thereafter, Justice Onyeabo granted the application and adjourned the case for hearing till April 23, 2013.

Speaking to newsmen, the Amir (President) of group, Engineer Kaamil Kalejaiye, said he was not surprised with the state seeking for further adjournment to settle out of court on the case.

Engr. Kaamil Kalejaiye addresing pressmen after the hearing.

,

handed down to us in the Quran so as not vitiate our religion. This was why he sent the prophets and the scriptures to guide us. The main evergreen lesson on Islam is the verse: “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

Allah has made Islam cover all human interests at all times and in all places and for all people.

There is no area of life that the religion has not touched. So, one wonders what any Muslim would be looking for in the ways of the kuffaar. If you take to their ways and ideals, you are not only becoming part of them, you have also expressed a complex of inferiority, weakness and defeatism.

Love in Islam is more general and more comprehensive; it is not restricted only to a love between man and woman. A man who sincerely loves his wife does not need this holiday to remind him of his love. He expresses his love for his wife at all times.

Again, if you love Allah and His Messengers, you will have love for good and righteous people and the society will be better. Let us not be swayed by the propagation of the Val’s ideal of love especially as it is done today. Even in the Western world where this ideal is prominent, it has not helped the society. The incessant break-up of marriages, indicipline, gay issues and other social disorders are good examples. In essence, Val’s day does not have any positive impact on the society, rather it encourages permissiveness and immorality.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—57

TREBLE CHANCE Bury Plymouth Portsmouth Hibernian Alloa

v Bristol R v York v AFC Wimbldn v Ross County v Livingston

Dumbarton Morton Raith Berwick

v Falkirk v Cowdenb'th v Hamilton v Elgin

Guest Forecaster BAYO AKINWAMIDE BET – 11, 19, 27

FOUR HOMES

QUANTUM draws though, British Football Pools, Saturday February8,2014 – Carrow Road: Norwich (0) Manchester City (0); . >> Memorial Stadium: Bristol Rovers (1) Oxford United (1); >> Aldershot vs Chester – (Postponed, Home-Win); >> Grimsby (0) Southport (0) That ¾ fans nationwide [6,36,46,49]. And, quick take Saturday February15,2014 are Plymouth vs York, Montrose vs Queens Park. TIPS > > > NAP: 8,14,30,42. NAP: 2,13,14. NAP: 11,19,27. NAP: 2,18,30. NAP: 4,10,18.

Cup & CUP – 2014 English Football Association Cup 2013/2014 Season and the amazing discovery, guaranteed perfection for 6-times. ## #.Programmed –A&B.( SectionB)* Fourth Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday January25,2014; >> Fifth Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday February15,2014; >> Sixth Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday March8,2014.With the multiplication of 3,2,1 used respectively. CODED-NUMBER: 5,13,? Used respectively. Simply, Coded-Number be multiplied, as that multiplication made subtracted the last Coupon-Number of English Matches Setting for a distinctive draw automatically. Research, modification by Bayo Akinwamide. 08035317164.

Facebook: bayodusports@yahoo.com WEEK28- Fixtures Saturday January25,2014 – Fourth Round Football Association CUP 2013/2014 Season with Coded-Number being-5. And last En. Setting beingglish Football Coupon-Match 21. That’s 5x3=15-21=6banker. Checked for Week28 matches played Saturday January25,2014,Napped6.WEEK31- Fixtures Saturday February15,2014 – Fifth Round Football Association CUP 2013/2014 Season with Coded-Number being-13. And last English Football Coupon-Match Setting being-44.

13x2=26-44=18banker. Checked LATE That’s for Week31 matches to be played SaturTIPS day February15,2014 to NAP-18.

Cup & CUP – 2013/2014 English Football Association Cup 2013/ 2014 Season and the amazing discovery, guaranteed perfection for 6-times. ## #.Programmed –A&B.* Section-A) * first Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday November9,2013; >> Second Round F.A.CUP –Fixtures Saturday December7,2013; >> Third Round F.A.CUP Fixtures Saturday january4,2014; >>( Section-B)* Fourth Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday January25,2014; >> Fifth Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday February15,2014; >> Sixth Round F.A.CUP – Fixtures Saturday March8,2014.

1X3X 7 X11 FOUR AWAYS PAIR 18 17X 21X 36 X X 37 PERMUTATION 19 2 X 8X 9 X 14 AVOID X 22X 26 39 TIPS RISKY 29X32X 34 30 CREDIT Aldershot York Wycombe Torquay Walsall Sheff Utd Port Vale Carlisle

EXCELLENT 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3

Aston V. Crystal P. Liverpool Tottenham Bolton Charlton Derby Middlesbro

7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5

What do you say about our Guest Forecaster?

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS WEEK 31 Barclays Premier League 1 Burton A. v Dagenham 1 2 Bury v Bristol R XX 3 Cheltenham v Wycombe 1 4 Chesterfield v Tourquay 1 5 Fleetwood v North'pton 1 6 Hartlepool v Newport Co 2 7 Oxford v Mansfield 1 8 Plymouth v York XX 9 Portsmouth v AFC Wimbldn XX 10 Rochdale v Morecambe 1 11 Southend v Exeter 1

Scottish Premier League 12 Celtic v St.Johnstone. X 13 Dundee Utd v Kilmarnock 1 14 Hibernian v Ross County XX 15 Inverness CT v Hearts 1 16 Motherwell v Partick 1 17 St. Mirren v Aberdeen 2

Scottish Championship 18 Alloa 19 Dumbarton 20 Morton 21 Queen O'Sth 22 Raith

v Livingston XX v Falkirk XX v Cowdenb'th XX v Dundee 2 v Hamilton XX

Scottish Division One 23 Airdrie v Brechin 2X 24 Ayr Utd v Rangers 2X 25 Forfar v Dunfermline XX 26 Stenhsemuir v EastFife XX 27 Stranraer v Arbroath 1

Scottish Division Two 28 Annan 29 Berwick 30 Montrose 31 Peterhead.

32 Stirling A.

v E. Stirling 1 v Elgin XX v Queens Pk 1 v Clyde X1 v Albion R. XX

English Conference North 33 Brackley 34 Bradford Pa 35 Colwyn Bay 36 Worcester 37 Workington

v Gloucester 1 v Gainboro XX v Boston XX v Barrow 2 v Altrincham XX

38 Basingstoke 39 Bishop's S 40 Boreham W 41 Dorchester 42 Dover 43 Ebbsfleet 44 Whitehawk

v Chelmsford XX v Hayes 1 v Eastbourne 2 v Bromley 2 v Bath City XX v Staines 1 v Farnboro XX

45 Ath Bilbao 46 Atl madrid 47 Barcelona 48 Getafe 49 Sevilla

v Espanyol XX v Valladolid 1 v R. Vallecano 1 v Real Madrid2X v Valencia XX

English Conference South

VA TTable able Spanish LigaBB LigaBBV

2 8 9 14 Revised Pairs 2 x 8, 9 x 14 34 x 38,42 x 44

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14 14 14,, 20 2014

Vanguard CLASSIFIED ADELEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Feyisayo Maria Adeleke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sayo Maria Levis. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BANJOH —I, formerly known and addressed as Mary Nneka Adetokunbo Banjoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mary-Jane Obasogie Stephens. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AT TI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Atti Jane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agbarah Jane.

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

E K P I T E TA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Sandra Evuarere Ekpiteta, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sandra Evuarere Owei. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKABA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ewoma Joyce Akaba, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ewoma Joyce Igbi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AJOBONA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss T h e r e s a Akpevwoghene Ajobona, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. T h e r e s a Akpevwoghene Okonedo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UDUJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uduje Onyenagolum Florence, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amanze Nneji Onyenagolum Florence. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKUNDALAYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwatoyin Adeola Okundalaye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adeola Olubiyi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeh Oluchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ekweonu Oluchi. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration Service, Embassies and general public please take note.

IBEKWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibekwe Vivian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vivian Ogbemi Galani. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SOSANYA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sosanya Olasimbo Olatejumade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajayi Olasimbo Olatejumade. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ODIBO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chidimma Vivian Odibo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chidimma Vivian Anagbogu. All former documents remain valid.

The Immigration, Embassies, Schools and general public please take note.

OGUNLEYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esther Mojisola Ogunleye, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Esther Mojisola Chibundu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEGBAJU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adetomi Adetola Adegbaju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adetomi Adetola Rasheedah Gbadebo.

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

UDOFIA—I, formerly known and addressed as George Chidi Udofia, now wish to be known and addressed as George Chidi Johnson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

WISIKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oghenevwegba Wisike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oghenevwegba Ovuomata. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SMITH —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Smith Beauty, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chukwuekwu Beauty.

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

OSU — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Osu Ofuma Blessing, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akaeze Ofuma Blessing. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and general public please take note.

AKAEZE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Akaeze Ugochukwuka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Akaeze-Ukponu Chukwuka. All former documents remain valid. Delta State Civil Service and general public please take note.

OBINEDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Augusta I. Obinede now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chukwu Augusta Ifeoma . All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PIUS—I, formerly known and addressed as Bishop Odeleke Bola. O. Pius, now wish to be known and addressed as Bishop Odeleke Margret Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EKEKHOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gloria Ekekhor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gloria Ehigie. All former documents remain valid. Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe, Oghara and general public please take note.

KEHINDE—I, formerly known and addressed as Akinyemi Funmilayo Kehinde Amoo, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinyemi Funmilayo Amoo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBIONWU—We, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Obed Samuel Obionwu, Ms Blessing Nwamaka Obionwu, Ms Leticia Ifeoma Obionwu, Ms Gloria Ijeoma Obionwu, Ms Dorothy Obionwu and Ms Pauline Obionwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Obed Samuel Obed, Ms Blessing Nwamaka Obed, Ms Leticia Ifeoma Obed, Mrs. Gloria Ijeoma Muonagor (NEE OBED), Ms Dorothy Obed and Mrs. Pauline N. Onuekwusi (NEE OBED). All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADESHINA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bukola Victoria Adeshina, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bukola Victoria Bakare. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Anthony Tuoyo Ogun, now wish to be known and addressed as Anthony Tuoyo Ogun-Amahwe. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ORAJEKWE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Orajekwe Nwaamaka Gladys, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwaamaka Gladys Aigbokhaode Imomoh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O K A F O R — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor Vivian Amaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vivian Amaka Paul. A. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A K I N WA L E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Adenike Deborah Akinwale, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adenike Deborah Salami. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEBOYEJO—I, formerly known and addressed as Adeboyejo Adenike Adesile, now wish to be known and addressed as Joseph Adenike Deborah. All former documents remain valid. The King’s Kid School, Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos, general public, please note.

BAJEH —I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Deborah Ozavize Bajeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Deborah Ozavize Awolaja. All former documents remain valid.General public, please note.

A F A G W U — I , formerly known and addressed as Afagwu Joseph Isioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Afagwu Clement Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IHEME—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Faith Ifunanya Iheme, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Faith I. RobertEgwim. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

M U O G B O — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Muogbo Anastasia Chidiebere, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwaodu Anastasia Chidiebere. All former documents remain valid. Court of Appeal Abuja and general public please take note.

OLESHIN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oleshin Ruth Dupe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeniji Ruth Dupe.

All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public please take note.

UDUMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nnena Uduma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnena Iroha-Kalu. All former documents remain valid. TETfund and general public please take note.

ACHINE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Achine Bridget Omolayomi Abimbola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akintayo Bridget Omolayomi Abimbola. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan (Vice- Chancellor’s office) and Establishment Division and general public please take note.

ONOJA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onoja Roseline Owoje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbole Roseline Owoje. All former documents remain valid. Benue State T e l e v i s i o n Corporation (BTC) and general public please take note.

NIKORO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nikoro Oghenero Jane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. O r i e o g h e n e Oghenero Jane. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOSU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uchechukwu Priscilla Nwosu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uchechukwu Collins Mendu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKEKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okeke Ukamaka Vivian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okoye Ukamaka Vivian. All former documents remain valid.

Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe in affiliation with University of Nigeria Nsukka, NYSC and general public take note.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014—59

INYC constitutes interim executive committee

Vanguard CLASSIFIED IGHOFOSE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ighofose Oghenero Brigid, now wish to be known and addressed as as Mrs. Oshevire Oghenero Brigid. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EVUOJAPHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Evuojapha Ediri Endurance, now wish to be known and addressed as Evuojapha Eddy Eduvie. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UDIO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Zino Lisa Udio, now wish to be known and addressed as as Mrs. Zino Lisa Irorobeje. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKONYE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okonye Jessie Chimemenum, now wish to be known and addressed as as Mrs. Ebinum-Monday Jessie Chimemenum. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, School of Nursing, Agbor, H.M.B. Asaba, and general public take note.

OSIGWE—I, formerly known and addresed as Miss Osigwe Juliet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okonkwo Chidiogo Juliet. All former documents remain valid. Plateau State Polytechnic, NYSC and general public please take note.

UKOMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Maryjane Ukoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maryjane Achi. All former documents remain valid.

OSISATECH, NYSC and general public please take note.

AMADI— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amadi Chinenye Lilian, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iwuchukwu Chinenye Lilian. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Imo State University and general public please take note.

OGBEJESI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbejesi Thelma Ezinne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Orioha Thelma Ezinne. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UKAEGBU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ukaegbu Iheoma Francisca, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oguamanam Iheoma Francisca. All former documents remain valid.

Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri, Imo State; University of Nigeria Nsukka, West African Examination Council, Samec International Sec. Sch. Obekwesu Isiala Ngwa South, Abia State and general public please take note.

IBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibe Precious Chidinma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onwudiwe Precious Chidinma. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri and general public please take note.

SHUWA—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Dlukumari Yohanna Shuwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Dlukumari .B. Yohanna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

N WAG W U — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Celestina Oluchi Nwagwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tina Oluchi Mbonu.

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

AMABEBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Binaebi Amabebe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Binaebi AmabebeBatowei. All former documents remain valid. Bayelsa State Hospital Management Board and general public please take note.

CHUKUMA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Agbalakume Doris Chukuma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tamadu Francis Agbalakume Doris. All former documents remain valid. Bayelsa State Ministry of Education and general public please take note.

BOROGHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayebanoa Borogha, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayebanoa Borogha Ebidiseghabofa Nwankwe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ATABIRI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oninidolo Atabiri, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oninidolo Atabiri Benjamin. All former documents remain valid.

University of Ibadan, NYSC and general public please take note.

GBORIANGA—I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Gborianga Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Zige Victoria. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

N WAG W U — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwagwu Nnenna Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eunice Nnenna Chukwura.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, University of Calabar, Main Street Bank.

General public please take note.

AYO M ATA — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Charity Ayomata, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eniye Charity Donbraye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OZAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Modelene Efe Ozah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Modelene Efe Tuoyo.

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

ADJEDJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adjedje .I. Ejovwokeoghene, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okotie .I. Ejovwokeoghene. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AWENAYERI — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Awenayeri Emonena, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okorefe Emonena. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

URENEYUNOKAN— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ureneyunokan Dede Deborah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ighodalo-Ijiebor Dede Deborah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EZEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezeh Lauretta Peace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnamdi Lauretta Peace. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGBARO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogbaro Rhoda Ayodele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okpeyeaghan Rhoda Ayodele. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

O L AY I M I K A — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Olajumoke Anino Olayimika, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olajumoke Anino Ireyetseoritseone. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EJURO-ETCHIE — I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejuro – Etchie Abugiewa, now wish to be known as addressed as Mrs. Bolade Olubayo Abugiewa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

INEGBENOISE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Marian Fidelia Inegbenoise, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Marian Fidelia Chimsunum.

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

CHIKAODILI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chikaodili .M. Chima, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chikaodili .M. Okarevu Chima. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGELEGBANWEI— I, formerly known and addressed as Miss C y n t h i a Ogelegbanwei, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Cynthia Agada. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UKUBAJE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oghenero Ukubaje, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oghenero Igbigbi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IKRUMALE—I, formerly known and addressed as Ikrumale Efe Florence, now wish to be known and addressed as Opoku Efe Florence. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E RT S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

I

TSEKIRI National Youth Council, INYC, has constituted an interim committee to work out modalities for an election of a new executive committee.

The committee has Messrs Shola Jakpa and Toju Ayalaju as chairman and secretary respectively, with Mr. Oritseweyemi Eyitan, Mr. Esimeje Awani and Mr. Afejuku Henry as members.

Speaking shortly after the inauguration in Warri, the INYC interim chairman promised to protect the interest of the Itsekiri nation, just as he lauded the efforts of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, at ensuring peace in Iwere Kingdom. Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Godwin Omanogho, charged members of the committee to live above board and carry everybody along.

Earlier, convener of the forum, Mr. Awani said, “time to do away with selfimposed leaders is over. No more exploitation of the people. We need development, peace and transformation of Iwere Kingdom.

We should celebrate merit and shun backstabbing. We should not enslave ourselves to others for things that belong to all of us.”

Group appeals to Jonathan over Onolememen, Okonjo-Iweala

N

ATIONAL Move ment of Nigeria, NMN, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to move the minister of works, Mr. Mike Onolememen and the coordinating minister of the economy, Mrs. Okojo Iweala, to other ministries in his current bid to rejuvenate his cabinet.

National publicity secretary of the group, Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen, said at a news briefing in Lagos that while the group aligned with the views of other Nigerians that the two ministers had performed creditably well in their ministries, they should be encouraged to continue their respective ministries, instead of relocating them.

Ihimekpen said that a visit to the six geo-political zones of the country showed that the President transformation was easily noticeable in the road sector.

He appealed to the President to properly fund the on-going road projects in the country as they will be a basis for Nigerians to assess this administration in the 2015 elections.

60—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 AQUARIUS Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

PISCES: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course. The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for you. Be steadfast.

ARIES: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come to play today, you’ll be better for it.

Enjoy your love life.

TAURUS: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Speak your expectation

W

HAT is the situation with you now? Have you allowed your present situation to consume you?

Have you given up on your situation?

As you stand now, what is the nature of

the words that comes out of your mouth? Are the words coming out of your month capable of lifting your spirit?

Are you speaking of your present situation or you are projecting more what you expect to happen to your life?

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

Do not allow what is happening to you now drain you of your hope. No matter what you are going through now, speak your expectation. Even in pain, dwell on paean.

By Lanre Kehinde

GEMINI: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting from the influential people will be enough to see you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are the better.

CANCER: Your creativity quotient within your working arena will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official issues secrets from your challenges at work.

LEO: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the needed opportunity to look through windows of the world and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is predicted for lovers today.

VIRGO: Even if you continue to work under pressure via increased workload, you will have good results to show for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

LIBRA: Better than yesterday. And the more cooperative you are today the better for you. Those of you travelling for love are in for an exciting day.

SCORPIO: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

SAGITTARIUS: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity to assert yourself to the administration of others. Both love and financial success can be yours with efforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

CAPRICORN: You can make it a successful day with positive approach on your part. You will be in a better position to defuse tension within your working arena.

Try to be more ambitious.

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

Which day was I born?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my date of birth.

Ayo, Kaduna.

Dear Ayo, Under-here are the planetary positions as requested by you.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Day of Birth = Sunday Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs hosted five planets each.

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% PLANET AT HOME = NONE ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as there was planet at home when you were born, too many ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your intelligence comes to the rescue.

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the personality with a steel like will power.

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to change once you have made up your mind as indicated by distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two of this exercise. One major challenge you have been battling for a very long time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014

I

Eagles

*Continued from BP best football playing team in the world according to the ranking released earlier in January.

Despite finishing in third position at the African Nations Championship in South Africa, Stephen Keshi’s men fell down the ladder in the monthly rituals by Fifa.

Cote d’Ivoire remain at the summit of African football with 841 points which put them in the 23rd position while CHAN runners up Ghana dropped 13 places to be ranked the 37th best team in the world and fourth in Africa.

Algeria moved to the second position on the continent after amassing 819 points which places them in the 26th spot in the world. Cape Verde moved into third spot in Africa while Egypt, Tunisia and Cameroon

all moved ahead of Nigeria.

Even though Libya won the CHAN tournament, the Mediterranean Knights dropped six places to finish in 68th place and 14th in Africa.

Spain, Germany and Argentina hold the first, second and third spots in the world respectively as 2014 Fifa World Cup hosts Brazil moved to the ninth spot.

The next ranking will be released on March 13, 2014.

08053068728

Minister, Keshi and Eagles! alone cannot earn you results if you lack the skills or the aforementioned qualities. It is therefore better to spend money to prepare teams than promising heaven on earth during the competition. Lesson to our good-hearted minister.

Those who follow our league know that what we presented in South Africa were no where near our best in the league. The keeper, for example, kept two matches for Rangers. He had been displaced as the first keeper in Warri Wolves before he moved to Rangers. And this season, Rangers registered four keepers and dropped him. That’s the man that manned the post for Nigeria in CHAN. He

,

was a member of the Segun Adeniyi panel that investigated the Namibia match bonus international disgrace.

Eagles had refused to fly to Brazil for the Confederation Cup because the football federation reverted to what they were paying before the 2010 World Cup when the Presidential Task Force increased winning match bonus from $5,000 to $10,000 each. NFF said that they could no longer sustain the increase as the PTF had even ceased to exist.

In one of our sessions on the importance of match bonuses, I made a presentation, saying that it is generally good to motivate players in many ways including payment of bonuses but I clearly and repeatedly maintained that monetary inducement does not win matches. I quickly cited the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which was actually one of the remote causes of the fracas in Namibia.

The PTF increased Eagles match bonuses from $5,000 to $10,000 but our Eagles woefully failed in South Africa. They were in what many saw as a weak group with Korea, Greece and Argentina. At a time they needed just one win to qualify for the second round, they rather offered Greece their first ever World Cup finals match win. Did the new bonus lift their game? No! Can Enugu Rangers in their current state, for example, beat Barcelona FC if their players are offered $1m each? Will the money conjure better tactics, skill, fitness and every ingredient that contributes to the beauty of the game? No. And I spoke from the background of a former athlete. But money can inspire success in sports if rightly used.

The committee agreed that the federation should always pay what they can afford but must formally inform the team of what their bonuses and all entitlements are for every competition.

I have just recalled this to address what the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, did in South Africa during CHAN. He rewarded Eagles with $100,000 for beating South Africa and promised another $100,000 for the semifinal match against Ghana.

They lost but he still paid them $100,000. Rewarding failure. And this happened at a time other sports preparing for the Commonwealth Games had not been funded. Experience has shown that such gestures, if that is what they are, never yield results.

Money cannot stop defeat when it comes unless through the fraudulent way of influencing match officials as they do in Africa. In other words, such monetary inducements on players don’t win matches. Records have proved that and not me. What earns you victory is the quality of your team in terms of individual brilliance, team work, fitness, discipline and of course determination which are all boosted with good preparation. Determination

If Keshi does not want a foreign or local technical assistant and wants Sylvanus Okpala back, give him what he wants

,

embarrassed us with his shameful performance. In football nations, the coaches who picked such a hand would be battling to keep their jobs. But it is on record that Stephen Keshi and his colleagues rarely watch the Nigerian league. That is another scandal on its own. But the last time I made inquiries, the coaches had no allowances to travel to different venues to watch league matches. If the minister assisted the team with $200,000 for preparation, part of which the coaches would have used to watch league matches and select the best, Nigeria would have probably won the cup. But do you blame the minister for the inability of coaches to select the best for Nigeria? No. When I foresaw problem and took this matter up with the federation long ago they told me that the allowance to travel for league matches was built into the pay of the coaches. I left

CHAN *Continued from BP kind words for the Nigeria Football Supporters Club and promised to have a meeting with the leadership of the club on

the 19th of this month in Abuja.

He praised the players for their heroics in South Africa, pointing out that he was happy that some of them had started getting signed up by foreign clubs.

NFA picks Houston as Eagles camp

T

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Association (NFA) said yesterday it has picked Houston in the U.S. as the camping site for the Super Eagles in preparation for the 2014

World Cup. Emmanuel Ikpeme, the association’s Director, Technical told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja the team would proceed to Brazil for the mundial from the city.

it at that but I was still scandalised that the national coaches were not watching our league matches. I think a provision for that would have helped although they also needed to make sacrifices to achieve success.

The minister meant well. He has always meant well. But the experts around him should guide him when he has extra money for events. It is better to prepare than doling out money at competition venues. And this leads me to the Brazil World Cup preparation. Good preparation begins with selection of players. There should not be sentiments, the type that saw Chigozie Agbim manning the post for us in South Africa, the type that saw Fegor Ogude preferred to Ogenyi Onazi during the first two Nations Cup matches in South Africa. I still maintain that two changes won Nigeria the cup in South Africa – Onazi coming in for Ogude and Sunday Mba for Nosa Igiebor. Replay Nigeria’s Nations Cup matches and you would agree with me.

Good preparation will entail serious tactical training for different game plans, various types of exercises for physical and mental fitness, friendly matches, match reading techniques and information gathering on opponents and how best to use it, etc.

Good preparation will entail good camping – accommodation, facilities, technical guides, etc. The coaches have to make the national team competitive.

I have said this before. If there’s healthy rivalry among team mates; training and selection will be highly competitive, the players will take the winning mentality such brews to the field.

Good preparation is about team work on the side of coaches. Our head coach is Stephen Keshi. His entire staff must be loyal to him but they must be bold enough to air their views on selection and tactics although the head coach has the final say and he takes responsibility for every decision. Westerhof saw Aloy Agu in good shape to start USA ’94 World Cup matches but the then goal keeper trainer, Gerry Van Iyke, told him that Peter Rufai was in a better shape.

Westerhof did not hesitate to agree with him.

Good preparation is about providing the coaches with what they want. If Keshi does not want a foreign or local technical assistant and wants Sylvanus Okpala back, give him what he wants. The federation may have good reasons for suggesting an entirely new assistant for him but the timing is absolutely wrong. Again, the head coach selects his staff although there are cases where provision is made for some technical assistance from the federation or management as the case may be. We don’t need controversy now. We need concentration and the federation says that they will not impose anybody on Keshi. I think that they mean well and they want results in Brazil. Let them give Keshi what he wants and hold him responsible for every failure and success in Brazil.

NFF

*Continued from BP Okpala was eventually affected for what they later said was insubordination. Keshi did not understand that and pleaded for Okpala.

The federation, in turn, turned down Keshi’s plea to have Okpala back.

There has been outcry against any plan to engage any foreign assistant for the team now and yesterday a member of the technical committee, Victor Ikpeba

Ekiti United make NNL debut against Akwa Starlets

E

KITI State will make history on Saturday, 15 February, when her pet team Ekiti United Football Club make their debut in the Nigeria National League, NNL, in an opening match against Akwa Starlets in Uyo. The football loving Ekiti fans had waited for years before the State

Governor, Kayode Fayemi endorsed the formation of United, who are ready to compete for honours in Group B of the NNL this season.

Secretary of Ekiti United, Deji Olowolafe said the team are now in the right shape to begin their campaign in the 2013/2014 NNL season, having successfully

completed their preseason preparations this week.

The Ekiti United scribe disclosed that the club management registered 30 players to prosecute their matches this season. According to him, skipper/centre defender of the club, Ogunrinde Paul leads the list of 14 players

signed from the State’s lower division team, Fountain FC. It was gathered that Ekiti United also signed five players from Canaan FC, three players from Crown FC and a player from Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Kano Pillars.

said the following: “We felt that Keshi would need help in the World Cup and wanted him to hire a foreign assistant himself. We felt that he needed somebody to help monitor other opponents, somebody to assist in reading and analyzing games etc. But he said he would have none of that and wanted Okpala. We thought that Okpala’s case had been closed but Keshi felt that it was wrong and that his former teammate was useful to the team and wanted him back. As it is now, he may go to the World Cup with the technical crew as they are constituted now - himself, Daniel Amokachi, Ike Shorunmu and Valere.

There will be no foreign or local assistant for him and he should execute his plans the way he deems fit. Nobody is interfering.

Nobody is imposing anybody on him. He should do it his own way.

That is the position that we have taken and we hope that it should make him happy.”, Ikpeba added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 14, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014 BUMPER P ACKA GE OF SPOR TS — CHECK INSIDE PA CKAGE SPORTS

Eagles slump in FIFA ranking T

HE Super Eagles have dropped six places to 47th in the the world, according to latest Fifa world ranking released yesterday in Zurich..

The African champions were adjudged the 41st Continues on Page 62

*Mikel

Jonathan showers CHAN Eagles with N1m each

P

RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan yesterday rewarded members of the home based Super Eagles that won a bronze medal at the recently held African Nations Championship in South Africa with N1 million Naira each.

The head coach, Stephen Keshi who was

absent at the event because he is holidaying in the USA got N1.5 million while his assistants were rewarded with N1 million each.

The backroom staff of the Super Eagles were rewarded with N500,000 each.

The President had

Continues on Page 62

World Cup: Let Keshi do it his own way — NFF

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

T

HE Nigeria F o o t b a l l Federation will no longer insist on a foreign or local technical assistant for Stephen

Keshi, the Super Eagles Head Coach.

The federation had nursed the idea of engaging a technical assistant to assist Keshi and his technical crew for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Keshi bluntly rejected the offer and rather asked for the reinstatement of Sylvanus Okpala who was disengaged after the Nations Cup last February on the grounds of poor funding. The

federation said that it lacked money to pay all the coaches and large backroom staff of the Eagles then. But they did not eventually whittle down the backroom staff. Only Continues on Page 62

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 2 Poor (3) 7 Sheet (5) 8 Unfastened (5) 10 Irrigate (5) 12 Vehicle (3) 13 Precipitation (5) 15 Determined (7) 17 Approached (6) 19 Fate (3) 20 Discussed (7) 23 Always (4) 25 Sand-hill (4) 26 Eased (7) 30 Utter (3) 31 Loathe (6) 34 Sagged (7) 37 Trivial (5) 38 Boring-tool (3) 39 Fiend (5) 40 Riddle (9) 41 Cut (5) 42 Salute (5)

Down 1 Wire (5) 2 Fresher (5) 3 Exhilarated (6) 4 Act (4) 5 Asked (7) 6 Ship (5) 9 Father (3) 11 Told (7) 13 Scoff (5) 14 Keen (5) 16 Bed (3) 18 Postponed (7) 21 Quilt (5) 22 God (5) 24 Resolution (7) 27 Circuit (3) 28 Oust (6) 29 Sewer (5) 32 Principle (5) 33 War-horse (5) 35 Be indebted (3) 36 Expensive (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 2, Pleat 7, Urge 8, Outcry 9, Trust 11, Sad 13, Roe 15, Idea 16, Dud 18, Bend 19, Damaged 20, Eros 22, Gust 23, Silence 25, Amen 27, Doe 28, Zero 30, Rod 31, Din 33, Renew 36, Couple 37, Omit 38, Pagan.

Down: 1, Tread 2, Pet 3, Emu 4, Tot 5, Sty 6, Arson 10, Scum 11, Sidecar 12, Deposed 13, Reduced 14, Edition 16, Dated 17, Dance 18, Beg 21, Sin 24, Note 26, Motor 29, Rigid 32, Ape 33, Rep 34, Nag 35, Won.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.