AGENDA TO SAVE NIGERIA: To hell with APC blueprint — Presidency by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people

VOL. 25: NO. 61904

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

STRANGE PARKING!

N150

104 Boko Haram suspects set for freedom •P.9

STRANGE—Disused aircraft parked at Dapsey fuel station OlowoNla Bus Stop LASU-Isheri Road, with another (inset) found at Sanya Bus Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, yesterday as junk planes were removed from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi and Lamidi Bamidele. See story on Page 6.

FG uncovers N58bn unremitted revenue by MDAs •P.9

COLUMNISTS:

AGENDA TO SAVE NIGERIA:

DONU KOGBARA •P.17

To hell with APC blueprint — Presidency ADISA ADELEYE

•P.55

•Slams Tinubu over attack on administration •Accuses him of hypocrisy, deceit

Mr & Mrs

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

Fatai Rolling Dollar laid to rest — P.9

Eagles go on strike over .64 P • bonus

BUJA—BARELY 72 hours after former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, chastised President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s poor leadership, the Presidency, yesterday, fired back at him, describing his economic blueprint Continues on page 5 C M Y K

2 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

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4 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

with no evidence of success either in history or contemporary climes,” Okupe said.

FBN—From left: Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Tinubu not a

Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings Plc, Mallam Bello Maccido and General Manager, Corporate Services, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Bola Adeeko during the presentation of Facts Behind the Figures of FBN Holdings Plc at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lagos, yesterday.

To hell with APC blueprint — Presidency Continues from page 1 for Nigeria’s growth as obsolete and incapable of salvaging any economy. Besides, the Presidency accused Tinubu of always playing to the gallery for cheap politi-

cal gains without adding value to the people in anyway. The ACN leader had on Monday addressed the House of Commons in London, during which he highlighted major

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions; small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too can become great –Mark Twain.

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed —Abraham Lincoln

IFE is an eternal quest about knowing one self. Perhaps now is the time to challenge you, to rediscover your hidden traits and talents. Embrace your unique qualities and talents. Everyone is different. Figure out what you’re good at and what sets you apart from everyone else. Your mission is to create a reason for being here. Believe in your path. When you start to figure out what you want in life, there will be obstacles. Do not let anyone or anything discourage you from continuing on. Believe in yourself and believe in your decisions. Surround yourself with positivity. Try to limit the amount of time you spend with people who naysay, judge, or ridicule. Choose to completely surround yourself with positive, inspiring influences. You will feel much happier and better about yourself if you do. The most important thing to remember is that you are worth it, you can go another day, and you can be happy. Life will not throw you anything you cannot handle or overcome. Once you start to accept and love yourself and your desired path, the way you should, the clouds will clear and you will breathe easy again. Be kind to yourself and life will be a whole lot brighter.

political and economic challenges facing the country; in a lecture he called “Leadership, National Development and the People”. Apart from describing Jonathan’s administration as lacking the needed capacity to move the nation forward, the APC chieftain also accused the government of taking Nigeria backwards.

Tinubu and democracy The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in his reaction, yesterday, described Tinubu as an autocratic leader, lacking in democratic credentials to talk about leadership and good governance. Okupe noted with dismay the claim by the former governor that the Jonathan administration was drawing the country backwards, boasting that the current leadership had done more than any other in Nigeria’s near 53 years of nationhood. The SSA also described Tinubu’s economic blueprint, “Third Path” as moribund and incapable of taking any country forward and accused him of trying to delve into an area he has little or no knowledge about. Okupe dismissed as

verbose and lacking in statistical support, Tinubu’s recommendation that no large nation has ever attained growth without government running deficit budget to build required infrastructure. The Presidential aide noted: “It is clear from Tinubu’s paper that the ACN chieftain and his party lack a fundamental understanding of both democratic norms and sound economic judgment. “Tinubu’s Third Path blueprint for economic transformation is nothing but a hollow ideological concept. As the ACN national leader has failed to realize, the world has moved away from ideologies in favour of pragmatic and result-oriented policies, which impact meaningfully on the lives of the people. “Nations like Russia and China, which spearheaded Communism, one of the great ideological movements of the 20th century, have since embraced market reforms, and states in the western hemisphere have also dumped pure capitalism for more people-oriented policies with less dogmas and economic clichés. “We are sorry to say that the so-called “Third Path” is a clueless path to socio-economic abyss as it remains essentially a theoretical proposition

patriot — Okupe The presidential aide also condemned the ACN chieftain for trying to portray himself as a patriot, noting that his actions and utterances were skewed and not in sync with actions of patriots around the world. “This is why we regrettably disagree with Senator Tinubu’s labelling of himself as a patriot. As everyone well knows, patriots are concerned with the image, the wellbeing and survival of their countries and will do everything in their power to protect same even if they have political differences with their home governments. They do not condone terrorism neither do they travel around the world denigrating their country,” he added. He pointed out that the former governor had no justification to criticise the rising wave of insecurity in parts of the North, having opposed the recent declaration of state of emergency by the Presidency to checkmate terrorism in the region. Okupe said the country would have been consumed by terrorism if Nigerians were to follow the advice of the ACN leader and his CPC counterpart, who all asked the National Assembly to reject the imposition of a state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states. Asking Nigerians to ignore the former governor ’s undemocratic antics, Okupe stated that Jonathan had done his best to provide the nation with the needed peopleoriented leadership based on the rule of law. He said: “As any keen and discerning observer of Nigeria’s democracy will attest, Senator Tinubu and his ACN are

completely lacking in democratic temper. The ACN as a party is not only undemocratic but blatantly autocratic and makes no pretences about it. “We recall that only recently, its National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, haughtily asserted that whosoever is not pleased with the national leadership of the party’s way of running the ACN and picking its candidates was free to leave the party. “It is clear that ACN leadership’s understanding of democracy is tainted and skewed by his undemocratic mindset, which has seen him exert authoritarian control over the party. With such disposition, it is easy to understand his warped and defective reading of the democratic situation in Nigeria. “To assert as he did in that paper that Nigeria under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan is a dysfunctional democracy is not only the height of ignorance but equally of unbridled mischief. “Unlike the ACN chieftain would have us believe, Nigerian democracy does not stand in any dark and uncertain corridor neither is it authoritarian. Rather, it looms large in the minds of Nigerians for its respect for fundamental human rights and the rule of law. “For followers, local and international of Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, there is unanimity of opinion that no administration has equalled the Jonathan administration in the observance of and respect for the hallowed principles of maintenance of rule of law, free press, sanctity of the electoral process, separation of powers and respect for public opinion. President Goodluck Jonathan’s opening up of the democratic space through institutional reforms clearly marks him out as a committed democrat."

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Dis-used aircraft litter Lagos roads ...as NAMA, NEMA debunk plane crash rumour BY GODWIN ORITSE , LAWANI MIKARU, BOSE ADELAJA, MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO & OLAYINKA AJAYI

AGOS — THERE was panic in some areas of Lagos metropolis, yesterday, following news of plane crashes. Consequently, residents of the areas, some of whom were jolted from sleep rushed out of their apartments for fear of the unexpected. The news of the plane crashes were circulated via social media, with a warning to loved ones to avoid places such as Igando, Ojo/Iyana-Iba, LASU/Isheri Road, Sanya, along the Oshodi/ Apapa expressway and Mangoro on the Lagos/Abeokuta expressway. However, when Vanguard visited Igando, it was a disused aircraft that was sighted. The aircraft which reports say belongs to the late founder of Bethel Ministries, Dr Gabriel Oduyemi, was reportedly intercepted by military personnel along the Ojo/ Iyana-Iba expressway. Although, nobody could explain how the plane got to that location, eyewitnesses told Vanguard that it landed mysteriously about 2 a.m yesterday, in Dapsey fuel station, with patrol vans all over the place. A nurse on night duty who spoke on condition of anonymity said the plane was right in the

middle of the road as a result of a punctured tyre, adding that it almost ran into a near-by fuel station. The aircraft with number N972TF and fully loaded with unknown materials, had the inscription ‘Gabriel Oduyemi World Outreach’. It had its two wings broken, with brownish patches suspected to have developed from a long period of dis-use. A fuel attendant at the scene was prevented from speaking with newsmen by security operatives.

Aircraft almost caused accident But an official of the Aviation International Bureau, Tunde Adedoyin, an engineer, said that from preliminary investigation, it was not an accident case. Adedoyin said: “What we have done so far is to find out if it was an accident situation. From our preliminary interviews we discovered that the plane was towed to the fuel station. “The aircraft was almost causing an accident on the road before it was brought into the fuel station. It was in the process of being diverted that it lost one of its back tyres, according to the reports we got.” However, owner of the fuel station, Mr.Oladapo Coker, explained that he gave his con-

sent for the plane to be parked in his filling station, following a call from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Igando, Olugbenga Adeoye, at about 1 a.m.

No plane crash in Lagos —NAMA, NEMA The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ,NAMA, however, dispelled the rumour that there was a plane crash anywhere in Lagos particularly in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos. Rather, it explained that the disused plane seen in Igando was a junk aircraft belonging to late Apostle Gabriel Oduyemi of Bethel Ministries and had long been parked at a NAMA facility up till Wednesday night when it was eventually canibalised and removed. In a statement, yesterday, Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, said the system of the agency did not capture any missing plane, not-

ing that there could not have been any plane crash without the aircraft first reported missing in the agency’s system. Udoh said: “This morning, we were inundated with phone calls and inquiries over a crash involving a small aircraft but there is nothing like that, it is a hoax because our system did not capture any missing plane. The aircraft was actually released to Captain M.J.Ekehinde who will be using it for educational purposes in Badagry, Lagos. A cross section of the wings was removed to ease transportation to its new location. I affirm again that NAMA facilities are working at optimal level and this could have assisted in detecting any missing plane within the nation’s airspace. “While we appreciate the concern of the public on sighting the plane at an unusual place, we urge that people should always contact the police and local government officials for proper information before spreading the news on incident involving any aircraft.”

Corroborating his claim, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye said: “NEMA has debunked story of plane crash around Igando or Mangoro by social media. There is no crash. But they are trying to remove scraps of unused aircraft from the airport vicinity and people thought it was a crash.” Also at Sanya bus-top along the Oshodi/Apapa expressway, an aircraft was sighted, with the metals on the wings eating away. There was a crowd around the bus-stop, with a man in Air Force uniform there. None could tell how the aircraft found its way there. But Vanguard’s investigation showed that the relocation of the aircraft to various places could not be unconnected with the recent one-week ultimatum issued by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to owners of abandoned airplanes across the nation, saying they constituted security threat to the country.

Hezbollah: 3 detained Lebanese slam FG with N50bn suit ...as court fixes June 21 for hearing BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA —THE Abuja Divi sion of the Federal High Court, yesterday, slated June 21 to hear N50 billion suit filed against the Federal Government by three Lebanese, Mustapha Roda Darwish Fawaz, Talal Roda, and Abdulla Tahini, following their arrest and detention over alleged complicity in the illegal importation of weapons into Nigeria. In a fundamental human right enforcement motion they filed before the court, the applicants prayed the court to declare their arrest and continued detention without trial by the Department of State Services, DSS, as “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.” Fawaz, who is the owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Resort, in Abuja, had through their counsel, Chief Robert Clark (SAN), faulted the closure of the business

premises by security agents, even as he urged the court to award him N50 billion as compensation, as well as order the Federal Government to offer to him a public apology, to be published in three national dailies. Specifically, they are seeking “an interim order granting bail to the applicants forthwith conditionally or unconditionally, pending the determination of the substantive Motion on Notice in this matter. “An Interim Order restraining the respondents from continued arrest, detention, harassment and intimidation of the applicants, their families, relations and/or business interests pending the determination of the substantive Motion on Notice in this matter. “In the alternative, an Interim Order directing the respondents particularly the 1st and 2nd respondents to produce the applicants in court for the hearing of the Motion on Notice in this matter pending the hearing and determination of the said Motion

on Notice.” Sequel to the order of the court on June 10, the Federal Government, yesterday, produced the accused persons before Justice Mohammed. Meantime, Justice Adeniyi, yesterday, gave them five days to file a reply to a counter affidavit filed against them by the Federal Government, wherein it insisted that they have links with terrorist organizations. Government had alleged that the detained Lebanese were members of Hezbollah military wing, an international terrorist organisation.

Records Unit of the University of Uyo destroyed by fire allegedly set by angry students, yesterday. Photos: NAN.

The Vice Chancellor's office.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013—7

Ghanaian, Beninoise remanded over co-tenant, wife’s murder L

AGOS — AN Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court, yesterday, remanded a 50-year-old Ghanaian, Kwasi Abubakar, for allegedly killing a co-tenant. Also, yesterday, another Ebute Metta Magistrate Court remanded a 36-year-old Beninoise, Daniel Gajo, at the Ikoyi Prisons, over the alleged murder of his second wife, Esther. In the case involving the Ghanaian (Abubakar), Magistrate O. A. Komolafe, ordered that the accused be kept behind bars, pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP. Abubakar, who resides at 54, Adebanjo St., Papa Ashafa in Dopemu area of Lagos, is facing a charge of unlawful killing. The prosecutor, Insp. Frank Inah, had told the court that the accused allegedly killed a co-tenant, Mr Ranti Elegbede.

He said: “The accused went out and while returning home at night, he fell into the gutter. A shout for help by him attracted other co-tenants, including the deceased, who tried to rescue him. “He turned to the deceased, gave him a blow and he fainted immediately. He was, however, confirmed dead at the hospital.” According to Inah, the accused was infuriated by the deceased’s

probing question:“Where are you coming from this night?” The case was adjourned to July 17 for mention.

Beninoise remanded over alleged murder of wife Meantime, an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, yesterday, remanded Daniel Gajo, at the Ikoyi Prisons, over the alleged murder of his second wife, Esther.

The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Tanimola, ordered that the accused be detained, pending legal advice from the office of the state DPP. According to reports, the plea of the accused was not taken by the court. Gajo, who resides at Labora Village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of unlawful killing and attempt to commit suicide.

Five NANS EXCO members die on their way to UNIUYO to make peace BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA— FIVE execu tive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, were yesterday killed in a ghastly motor accident in Ikwuano area of Abia State on their way to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. Seven others who survived with serious injuries were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where they are currently receiving treatment. Those killed in the accident included, NANS Senate President, Mr. Donald Onukaogu, said to be the leader of the students delegation to Uyo and a student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Others who lost their lives were Assah Ejeita from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri; Duru Jacob, Assistant Secretary General of NANS, Zone B; one Japheth and one other whose name could not be ascertained at press time. The accident occurred at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State along the busy Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene road. The accident involved a Hiace bus conveying the students and a trailer from Akwa Ibom State which was said to have lost control before ramming into the bus. The students were said to be on their way to University of Uyo to initiative peace between the students and the university following the riot which erupted there, Tuesday.

Lagos State Transport Management Agency, LASTMA, officials removing a fallen tree on Alfred Rewane Rd, Ikoyi, Tuesday. Photo: NAN.

Soldiers nab syndicate specialising in hijacking loaded trailers BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE — A SEVENMEMBER robbery syndicate which allegedly specialized in hijacking trailers loaded with goods that they eventually sell in Niger Republic has been arrested by soldiers at the boundary town between Ekiti and Kogi States. The suspects prefer trailers loaded with building materials, provisions, motor spare parts, electronic gadgets and other goods worth millions of naira. Their godfather, who stays in Sokoto, according to reports, used to sell the goods and the trailers across the Nigerien border. Commander of the Internal Security outfit in the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, Ondo State, Col Muhammed Zubairu, said the suspects who were paraded, yesterday, have confessed to the crime of hijacking of trailers loaded with goods worth several millions of Naira. Items recovered from them included locally made revolvers, rounds of 97.62mm loaded, locally made pistols

with cartridges, single barrel guns, 16 rounds of cartridges, empty shells of catridges, ATM cards, seven telephone sets, charms and hamlets, voters cards, drivers licences, indian hemp and masks among others. The suspects include Abdulfatai Olawale, Gbenga Jacobs, Segun Olanrewaju, Godwin Attah, Abdulazeez Isah, Okwudili Uwa and Michael James. According to Zubairu, the suspects confessed that they had a

godfather, Alhaji Bello, who after a successful operation ensured that the trailers and the goods were transported to Niger Republic where a ready buyer would be waiting. The leader of the syndicate who drives the hijacked trailers, Segun Olanrewaju, said he met the Alhaji once and had been communicating with him thereafter, adding that their shares after any business are paid directly into his account.

Community tabloid publishers’ crisis deepens

SABA —THE problem in the rank of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria, ACNPN, deepened, yesterday, as a faction said the National President, Mrs Fortune Sotonyi, has being suspended and her deputy, Dr Prince Oromonokpaye, appointed as acting President. According to a statement signed by Oromonokpaye, the motion for suspension was moved during a crucial National Executive Council meet-

ing in Asaba, Wednesday, and supported by two third majority of the general house. Meantime, the Delta State chapter of association earlier in the week condemned media reports by a group of "its estranged members who purportedly dissolved the Comrade Felida Osede Essiled executive,” describing the reports as the "handiwork of suspended and ex-members of the association who are looking for cheap political patronage ahead 2015 elections.”

Man catches wife committing adultery on matrimonial bed BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

OS – A MIDDLE aged housewife in Jos, the Plateau State capital is in trouble after she was caught in her matrimonial bed with another man by her husband. The woman simply identified as Gloria was caught with a neighbour, a father of three who lives some houses away from the couple when the husband returned unexpectedly at their Rukuba Road residence. The husband (names withheld) who sells clothes at the Old Bukuru Park was said to have barely left home for his business when his wife invited her man-friend, identified simply as George to come around as she was sick. According to a neighbour who was with her when she made the call and begged to be anonymous, Gloria told the man friend to buy a pack of Don-Simon and a plate of pepper soup when coming. The neighbour said: “She earlier complained of being ill. I heard her when we were sitting in front of the house telling the person on phone to bring a plate of pepper soup and a drink for her, although I never knew it was her manfriend. “When he came they went out to the woman who sells pepper soup and bought the whole pot. She told me to help her take care of the kids because she had a visitor.” Probably acting on a tip off, the husband returned home earlier than expected and caught her and her lover red handed. According to the husband, “I built a shop for her to sell provisions, so I went to the market to buy protectors to be fixed in the shop. I just came back to realise that the kids were outside and the door locked. “When I knocked she refused to open the door. Some neighbours who saw her and the man told me she was in with somebody, so I raised alarm. “Instead of her to open the door, she opened the ceiling for him to enter and hide. Fortunately, with time a lot of people gathered and an elderly man from my village, who saw what the incident would have resulted to called the police. She opened the door when the police came to the house, and the man friend came down from the ceiling wearing boxers. This marriage has come to an end.”

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

APC franchise: APCN in court to stop registration BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

BUJA—THE battle for franchise of the APC acronym has resurfaced few days after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had acknowledged the letter of merger from the All Progressives Congress and given the necessary forms to the merger group to fill. The three merging political parties, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, had met, Tuesday, to harmonise the positions of all the committees set up for the ongoing merger process after leaders of the merging parties had met in Abuja last week. INEC, in a letter by its Secretary, Abdulahi Kaugama, had acknowledged receipt of the merger request from the merger groups and issued the necessary forms to them, which they filled and the commission promised to carry out verifications on the information supplied in the forms. However, another group, All Peoples Congress of Nigeria, APCN, which had on March 5,

applied to the commission to be registered with the same name and acronym of All Peoples Congress, a request INEC turned down on the ground that another group had applied with the same acronym, has threatened to challenge INEC in court to restrain it from registering any group with the acronym.

Hurdles

All Progressives Congress seems to be facing another hurdle apart from the battle for franchise, as the merger group was accused of not furnishing the commission with the addresses of the national officers that is part of the requirements for registration by Section 222(a) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. This was the reason INEC rejected registration of African Peoples Congress, another group in contention for the APC acronym. A source in INEC had, yesterday, claimed that the application for registration by the merger group did not come with names and addresses of their national officers. The source said the application was signed by only the na-

tional chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of the merging political parties. Efforts made to confirm the allegation did not yield result as the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, neither picked his calls nor returned the calls at press time. The rival group, All Progressives Congress in its application for registration on March 5, was advised in a reply letter by INEC’s Secretary, Abdulahi Kaugama, dated March 15 to change the name as another group had earlier applied with same acronym.

INEC’s letter

The commission, in the letter, said: “To avoid this likely conflict in acronym and in our view of the fact that the other application was received earlier than the one you submitted, you are advised to re-submit the application under a different acronym, please.” The group, however, re-applied for registration in March 28, with the name All Progressive Congress of Nigeria, APCN, but INEC again advised its promoters to still change the name to avoid conflict in acronym. However, the group, yesterday, threatened to drag the commission to court to secure injunc-

tion stopping INEC from going ahead to register any other group with the APC acronym. National Secretary of the rival APC, Oguzie Ikechukwu, claimed that the party had also in a similar letter to INEC dated May 22, asked the commission to furnish it with the name of the group it claimed had earlier applied for registration under such acronym.

He said: “In view of our earlier application with the name All Progressive Congress, which you advise us in your letter dated March 15, to change name as our acronym is similar to that of another association seeking registration, we therefore demand to be furnished with the name and application of any association whose name is All Progressives Congress of acronym APC and whose application is still pending before your commission. “We hereby rely on Sections 2 and 5 of the Freedom of Information Act to seek this information.”

AD asks to be joined in suit

Meanwhile, a faction of Alliance for Democracy, AD, has applied to be joined in the suit filed against INEC by African Peoples Congress at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the commission’s rejection of its application for registration. AD, in the application for joinder, is seeking an order of

the court to be joined as a second defendant and a necessary party in the suit, claiming that it was interested in the merger efforts of All Progressives Congress and the acronym, which the plaintiff (African Peoples Congress) is contending.

African Peoples Congress reacts

However, reacting to the request, African Peoples Congress, through its national legal adviser, Kingsley Nnadi, said its suit against INEC had reached advanced stage for the upturning of INEC’s decision not to register it as a political party. He said that after all necessary pleadings, affidavit and counter-affidavit had been filled and exchanged between it and INEC, the court has fixed July 5 for the adoption of written addresses and possibly judgment in the case.

BoT meets

Meanwhile, the leadership of African Peoples Congress has scheduled its emergency Board of Trustees, BoT; National Working Committee, NWC; National Executive Committee, NEC, and its caucus meetings for Monday, June 17. The meeting, according to Nnadi, is convened to take decisions on issues, especially the submission of merger application by All Progressives Congress, AD suit, some leadership changes, and the fate of its court action.

Pioneer PDP state chairmen regroup against Tukur BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

ISSATISFIED by the current state of affairs in Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, pioneer state chairmen of the party are regrouping to challenge what they describe as the lack of cohesion and the dictatorial tendencies of the present leadership of the party under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The pressure from the pioneer state chairmen is coming in the face of continuing insinuations of increasing lack of confidence in the leadership by the presidency, a fact buttressed by the constitution of an ad-hoc committee by the president to intervene in the crisis. Besides, the open support for Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was believed to have put the national leadership on edge. At the reception of the governor, Wednesday night, Tambuwal had condemned the suspension placed on the governor by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, describing it as illegal. He said that he and other followers of the governor would continue to rec-

ognise him as the party leader in the state, irrespective of the suspension. Wamakko had, at the same occasion, flayed Tukur and called for his removal from office, accusing the national chairman of gross incompetence. Yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, welcomed the presidential intervention, saying the national officers, as elected officers charged to run the party, would open themselves to whatever suggestions that would lead the party forward. He said that in consideration of Tambuwal’s position in government, the national officers would give him the basis for the suspension of Governor Wamakko. Metuh also assured that the suspension placed on the governor was not a death sentence as he said it could be lifted based on the outcome of ongoing disciplinary procedures. Metuh’s assurance of conciliation nonetheless, close associates of the national chairman were yesterday on the bounce that they would ride out the fresh pressures. The Tukur camp, it was learnt, believes that the ongoing pressures against Tukur would soon peter out.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 — 9

Fatai Rolling Dollar buried BY BENJAMIN NJOKU & IYABO AINA

VISIT: From left— Senate President, David Mark; his Czech counterpart, Mr. Milan Stech; Sen. Alena Gajduskova, 1st Vice President of the Senate of the Parliament of Czech Republic, and Sen. Chris Anyanwu, during the Senate President's visit to Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday.

FG uncovers N58bn unremitted revenue BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

BUJA—MINISTRY of Finance has traced N58 billion unremitted revenue of the Federal Government to various bank accounts. It said the funds were ‘hidden’ by unscrupulous bank managers and collaborators in ministries, departments and agencies. The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday in Abuja, threatened heavy sanctions, including closure of such accounts, against the culprits if by Monday next week all such monies were not paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government. She said, in a statement, that the practice through which government officials place government revenue in illegal accounts to earn interests for their pockets was unacceptable and must be stopped immediately.

The statement

It said: “It has come to the attention of the Federal Ministry of Finance that some Federal Government agencies that generate independent revenue, in collusion with some banks, have refused to remit monies to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, CRF, of the Federal Government which they are obliged by law to do. “We have identified about N58 billion of such monies, which rightfully belongs in the CRF. “This unwholesome practice has persisted despite the efforts of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to encourage the agencies and the affected banks to do the right thing. “Rather than comply, the agencies and banks, through their lawyers have engaged in all manner of legal subterfuges to ensure that monies, which are due to the Federal Government are not remitted. “The objective of this conspiracy

against the national interest is clear: to keep government monies indefinitely in accounts earning interest for individuals at the expense of the Federal Government and the Nigerian people. “This is totally unacceptable

and the Federal Ministry of Finance is determined that this practice must end forthwith. “Starting Monday, June 17, the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, in exercise of its powers under the extant laws and rules, will close

the accounts of agencies involved in this practice in all banks. “This process of systematic closure will continue until all monies that should be in the Consolidated Revenue Fund are retrieved.”

104 Boko Haram suspects set for release BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA & JONAH NWOKPOKU

AGOS—ABOUT 104 sus pected members of the Boko Haram sect, currently being held at the Kirikiri Minimum and Maximum prisons, Lagos, might soon be released. Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Tanimu Turaki, disclosed this to newsmen, yesterday, when he led the committee on a visit to members of the sect in the prisons in Lagos State. The visit, according to Turaki, who is also Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, is to interact with those who are being detained in connection with acts related to terrorism.

He said: “We have interacted with them and they have responded to us very sincerely and frankly. “I think I can say that we have been well informed about most of the issues that we are interested in, as a result of the interactions we have had with them.” The Chairman explained that the committee will make appropriate recommendations to the government as far as the issue of their release or non-release is concerned. Turaki said: “The issue of release usually is contingent upon certain conditions. We are more concerned, for now, with the release of vulnerable people. And in this group of vulnerable people we have those who the security agencies have not been able to pin anything on. “We have seen those who the Director of Public Prosecution

has advised that they be released. We have also seen some of them who security agencies themselves have conceded that they have not been able to make out any case against.” The chairman further noted that with the committee’s interaction with more stakeholders, it had become more informed. He said: “We have been given suggestions all of which will assist us in ultimately making our recommendations to government and I can assure you that the committee is on top of the situation as far as the issue of dialogue is concerned.” He also noted that there will be impact assessment at the end of the day, “because we have been asked to study the situation carefully and to make appropriate recommendations for victim support." “I assure you that Nigerians will be very proud of this committee at the end of the day.”

AGOS—EMOTIONS ran high, yesterday, as the remains of legendary highlife musician, Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju a.k.a Fatai Rolling Dollar, was laid to rest at his building site at Ikorodu, Lagos. The Fidau (Muslim prayer for the dead) was conducted earlier in the day at his Militon Estate, Oko-Oba residence, where well-wishers and friends had the final glimpse of the octogenarian musician before the body was moved to Ikorodu for internment. The 85-year old highlife maestro died last Wednesday at Marritol Hospital, Surulere, following a brief illness. Rolling Dollar reportedly died of complications resulting from lung cancer. Top musicians, who were present at the Fidau include former PMAN President, Admiral Dele Abiodun, Segun Adewale, Dayo Kujore, Champion Kunle Opio, Islamic scholars, music industry titans, fans and family members. Meanwhile, veteran musicians, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Prince Adekunle and others were at the deceased’s Oko-Oba Millennium Estate residence on Wednesday evening to receive the corpse from the hospital, alongside family members. Activities marking Rolling Dollar’s rites of passage began at 1:30pm with a prayer session presided over by Muslim clerics at his residence in Militon Estate, Oko-Oba.

WOSEM founder, Obadare for burial August 17 BY SAM EYOBOKA

O fewer than six state governors, traditional rulers and sympathisers from abroad have indicated their willingness to attend the burial of late founder of World Soul-winning Evangelical Ministry, WOSEM, Apostle Timothy Obadare, fixed for

August 17. Apostle Obadare died on March 21. The late evangelist's first son and General Overseer of WOSEM in America and Europe, Pastor Paul Obadare, said the committees set up will accord him a befitting burial in a mausoleum under construction at the WOSEM Con-

ference Ground, along IleshaIfe Expressway. He said: “The coffin to be used for the burial of our father is the type used for the burial of late Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston." Obadare confirmed that Governor Rauf Aregbeshola of Osun State had agreed to accord the late evangelist a

state burial and had commenced construction work on Bolorunduro Road, the access way to late Obadare’s house in Ilesha. Activities would spread across several towns, including Ilesha, Akure, Ibadan and Lagos and will begin at the National Stadium, Surulere, with a lying-in-state on August 9.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Wahab Dosunmu for burial June 16

Lagos govt, NMA condemn commercial blood donation

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

AGOS — THE re mains of two-time Second Republic Minister and chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Dr. Wahab Olasehinde Dosunmu, will be buried on Sunday. His younger brother, Mr. Moruf Dosunmu, told Vanguard in Lagos, yesterday, that the plane bearing the body was expected at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, early morning on Sunday. He said, the body would later leave the airport in a convoy of his immediate family, members of the extended family among others, to Eko Club Surulere, where members of the club would receive the body for a valedictory session. At 12pm, according to Moruf, the body would depart Eko Club for Dosunmu Family Compound, Oshodi Street, on Lagos Island. From there, the body would be taken to Yoruba Tennis Club for another valedictory session before the final journey to the Wahab Dosunmu’s Ado Town, Ajah residence where the Baba Adinni of Nigeria, Sheikh Hafis Abou, would lead other Islamic faithful to observe the janazah (burial prayers)

Media Trust loses its Managing Editor

EDIA TRUST Limited, publishers of Trust newspapers, has announced the death of its Managing Editor, Sulaiman Muhammed. He was said to have died yesterday morning shortly after assuming duty. The company, however, did not give details on the death, but said in a terse statement that he has been buried according to Islamic rites in Keffi, Nassarawa State. Muhammed was said to have left for the bank shortly after arriving at his office in Abuja only to collapse upon getting there. Although sympathisers immediately rushed him to the hospital he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

AGOS — LAGOS State Government and Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, condemned commercial blood donation in the country, saying that it was against the Voluntary NonRemunerated Blood Donation, VNRBD, approved by the World Health Organisation, WHO. Speaking at different fora to mark the World Blood Donor Day, WBDD, today, the state

government and NMA, said though voluntary donation was low in Nigeria, donation for commercial purpose portended a great danger to provision of an effective and efficient blood transfusion system in the country. At a briefing, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, faulted blood donation for non-altruistic reasons, warning that the state would, if notified, clampdown on any centre that perpetrated such act in Lagos. According to him, “The paid donor is likely to involve in

Nigerians' ethno-religious bigotry blamed on low socio-political devt BY OLAYINKA LATONA

HE LOW level of socioeconomic and political development in the country, has been blamed for rising ethnic and religious bigotry in the country. A Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Foundation for Value Transformation, FVT, who gave this assertion, lamented that Nigerians irrespective of what they profess publicly, pay more attention to primordial things such as ethnicity and fanatic religious beliefs. Speaking during the presentation of National Culture Value Assessment report conducted by FVT, in conjunction with Courtney Inglis Consulting and Barrett’s Value Centre, BVC, a US-based organisation, Executive Director of FVT, Mr. Segun Caulcrick lamented that ethnic narrow mindedness had superseded the national identity of Nige-

rians. Caulcrick, who is a past Country Manager of UPS, said it had become imperative to have re-planned Nigeria as a nation, adding that transformation of the society is not just about re-branding images or coercion, but the passion or core values that bring positive change to the society. He stressed that despite the fact that the country had its outstanding potential for greatness in some areas, there was still the heartfelt cry from the people for a way out of the muddle of dysfunctional social political system.

Toe party line or be axed, Tukur warns Wamakko, Tambuwal SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

ATIONAL CHAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday, warned Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko to always abide by the rules and regulations of the party or be ready to face its wrath. Tukur, who issued the warning in reaction to the call by the suspended governor for the national chairman to be sacked, warned that Wamakko should not stay within the party and encourage insubordination. Wamakko had upon return from an overseas trip,Wednesday, faulted his suspension from the PDP, warning that the action would, however ,not force him to leave the party. He was backed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, a prominent politician from the Caliphate, who is also being suspected of romancing with the opposition.

other activities for money as well and will most likely not be living a healthy lifestyle. In addition, they stress the health system unnecessarily as the blood has to be discarded after the rigorous and strict screening process when the blood is found to be unwholesome. This is why we join the rest of the world every year in celebrating our voluntary donors who give the gift that saves lives on a daily basis.” On the theme of this year’s celebration tagged: “Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood” Idris lamented that “only approximately 8 per cent of all the blood transfused is from voluntary donations adding that it is a far cry from the 100 per cent target set by the WHO for the whole world to achieve by 2020” On its part, NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said blood transfusion was a life saving procedure without which complex medical and surgical procedures, maternal and child health care activities and trauma care would not produce expected results.

Afribank: Shares bought meant to forestal a take-over of bank — Adigwe BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & IJEOMA NATHANIEL

AGOS — FORMER Managing Director of Afribank, now Mainstreet Bank, Sebastine Adigwe, yesterday, told an Ikeja High Court, that the shares he allegedly bought fraudulently, were meant to forestall a hostile takeover of Afribank by Bank PHB and Access Bank, who were buying large quantities of the bank’s shares at the time. He denied engaging in irregular banking transactions before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of an Ikeja High Court through his counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN, and said the transactions followed normal banking procedures. Adigwe is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly stealing N87.5 billion belonging to Afribank, alongside five other former directors—Osa Osunde, Isa Zailani, Chinedu Onyia, Henry Arogunde and Peter Ololo.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013—11

Mimiko eulogises Fatai Rolling Dollar BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE — ONDO State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has described the late music legend, Fatai Rolling Dollar, as a committed professional, who never wavered in his calling till he passed on. This was contained in a condolence letter he sent to the family of the late highlife maestro, Fatai Olagunju, popularly known as Fatai From Left: Master Omotayo Kehinde, receiving award from Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Rolling Dollar. Lagos State Governor; Mr. Flemin Hadsberg, Managing Director, Fan Milk, and Mr. Tunji Mimiko said in Akure, yesBello, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, during the 5th anniversary of Climate terday, that it is obvious that Change Club, for Schools in Lagos, with the theme: 'Eat, Think and Conserve for Future,'' there cannot be another Rollorganised by Lagos State Government, yesterday, at Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. ing Dollar because “ the late Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi icon was unique in musical and lyrical delivery.” According to Mimiko, Rolling Dollar was a testimony in endurance and perseverance. “Papa came back to dominate the on the performance of the last two years, dem- and please continue scene when everyBY OLA AJAYI body had forgotten Governor Abiola Ajimobi onstrated that you want your good work”. about him. All BADAN— L AW of the Action Congress us all to work together to The governor was in through his trying move Oyo State for- the House to give an ac- period, he never MAKERS in the Oyo of Nigeria. While their leaders in ward”. State House of Assembly count of his stewardship gave up, he beIn the words of the in the last two years. who won their seats on AP and PDP criticised lieved God would the platform of the Ac- the governor ’s achieve- Minority Leader, Mr. Ajimobi, in his reply, make a way and his cord Party, AP and Peo- ments in the last two Rafiu Adekunle of the said, “The acceptance prayer was anples Democratic Party, years, the lawmakers PDP: “You are perform- and encouragement you swered” PDP, yesterday, disa- said the governor should ing and we want you to gave me during that first Mimiko said greed with their leaders be carried shoulder high perform more; we are State of the State address added that Dollar for his efforts. very grateful and happy became the fillip with Senator Rashidi to work with you. Those which we moulded the was a good ambasLadoja, leader of the Ac- of us in other political even more painstaking sador of his nation cord Party in the state parties (aside the ruling and concerted achieve- and was spoken had openly condemned Action Congress of Ni- ments that we have re- highly of everythe governor ’s policies geria) cannot see some- corded in the last two where he performed in the ELIGIOUS TOL- as being anti-masses. thing good and say it is years.” world, ERANCE and fear The legislators, includ- bad; You are doing well of God will be the theme ing those from the ACN, of two lectures marking yesterday unanimously the 61st birthday anni- passed a vote of confiversary of former Chief dence in the governor of the Naval Staff, Vice for his performance in Admiral G.T.A. Adekeye the last two years. This means that the which had bedeviled the BY SEBASTINE OBASI (rtd). The Deputy Speaker, country is already losing industry for a long time. The lectures, to be de- Hon. Babatunde about 600,000 barrels of The IEA report gives livered by Bishop Olaniyan of the Accord IGERIA’S CRUDE its daily production credence to the recent Ezekiel Oduleke of Afri- Party, described Goveroil output de- benchmark of 2.567mbd statement by the Nigecan Baptist Church and nor Ajimobi as intelli- clined to a six-month low in the 2013 budget. rian National Petroleum Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar gent, sound, solid, sin- of 1.96 million barrels The agency attributed C o r p o r a t i o n , Agbaje, will hold at the cere, industrious and per day, mbd, according the decline to oil theft NNPC,which said that 53 admiral’s Ikoyi, Lagos accountable. to the International En- and pipeline vandalism break points were dishome tomorrow. He said,“You have, in ergy Agency, IEA. covered along the 97km Nembe Creek Trunk line. “This will further reduce our April and May monthly average to about 2.2mbpd and further decrease crude oil revenue by about $554 million (N83 billion) that should have accrued to the Federation Account,” the corporation said. “We shall continue to work with relevant government agencies both at the federal and state levels; to end this incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Ajimobi: PDP, AP lawmakers disagree with party leaders .As legislators pass confidence vote in gov I

Adekeye's 61st birthday lecture

PCN okays LAUTECH for drug manufacture BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO — THE Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, has granted Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo authority to commence manufacturing of drugs in commercial quantities. The council in its letter dated May 8, 2013, conveying authority to manufacture oral liquid preparations and signed by the Council’s acting registrar, Mrs. G. O. Abumere,urged LAUTECH Pharmaceutical Company Limited to ensure strict compliance with the good general manufacturing practice and maintenance standards. In its bid to ensure administration of quality medication to its patients and good health care delivery services in the state and its environs, LAUTHECH Teaching Hospital established a drug manufacturing company.

Olujohungbe, renowned haematologist, for burial June 17

Nigeria’s crude falls to 1.96mbd

…loses 600,000 barrels daily

R. ADEBAYO Olujohungbe, a distinguished Nigerian haematologist and Oncologist,who passed on in Canada May 26, 2013, few days to his 50th birthday, will be buried in the United Kingdom, Monday, June 17, 2013, the family has announced. Olujohungbe was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria on June 3, 1963. A Service of Songs will hold for the deceased from 7-9p.m. at Dean Row Village Hall, Browns Lane, Wimslow Sk9 2BR.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

PDP alleges fraud in Edo Education Ministry fire BY GABRIEL ENOGHO-

LASE

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has attributed the fire that razed the state Ministry of Education on Wednesday, to alleged fraud in the ministry. State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Matthew Uroghide, who addressed newsmen, yesterday, in Benin, recalled that PDP had earlier blew whistle on the N600 million fraud, allegedly perpetrated by officials of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, saying that the graft led to the sack of the former Commissioner for Education, Mr Ekpenisi Omorotionmwan. Uroghide, who represented the state Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, insisted that his party had written a petition to Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the issue. He said that the fraud involved the diversion of the sum of N320 million of the N600 million made available by the Federal Government for payment of State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, staff salary in the state by officials of the ministry into an account in Sterling Bank, allegedly to fund some phony projects. Uroghide said that though Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his media spokesman had dismissed the PDP allegation as spurious, EFCC reacted to the petition promptly when its officials visited Edo State on June 6, and invited officials of the Ministry and SUBEB to Abuja to respond to the PDP petition. “We believe there is a link between the firethat gutted the ministry, our petition and EFCC’s visit to the state,” he said, alleging that the mystery fire was a ploy to destroy documents connected with the on-going investigation. Describing the fire incident as a big mystery to Edo people, Uroghide, said it could not have been caused by Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN power surge, because according to him, there was power failure in the area at the time the fire.

Insist on transparent election, Amaechi urges Nigerians As Etche people reaffirm support for the governor

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

Meanwhile, Amaechi, who spoke at a conference of the state council on information in Port Harcourt, yesterday, noted that laxity among the electorate was responsible for

weak governance in Nigeria. “`The people should demand for transparent election and good governance and where they do not, they are 80 per cent

of the problem. Insist that election must be transparent; nobody will give you your right, demand for it and claim it,” the governor said.

ORT HARCOURT—GOVERNOR Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, has urged Nigerians to insist on good governance and the conduct of transparent elections in the country. Meantime, the people of Etche in Rivers State have reaffirmed their loyalty to Governor Amaechi of the state, describing his administration as a huge success. His Majesty, Onyishi-Etche, E.M.B. Opurum, Chief Ambrose Nwuzi and others, who spoke during a solidarity visit to the governor, yesterday, at Government House, Port Harcourt, lauded the achievement of the governor since he came on board. They condemned what they viewed as plots to destabilise the governor because of his transparency and sense of justice, adding that he should SOLIDARITY VISIT: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (middle); flanked by continue to remain calm and member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, focused in the face of provocaOgbonna Nwuke (left) and His Majesty, Onyisi-Etche E.M.B. Opurum, when they led the tions from his political foes. people of Etche in Rivers State to pay a solidarity visit on the governor in Port Harcourt, “We have come to reaffirm our yesterday. undying faith in your administration. We have come to say we are with you. We cannot pretend to be on the fence, and we have no intention, whatsoever, as an ethnic nation to stand on the fence. We stand where we should, and we have the mandate of our traditional father, His Majesty, the Onyishi Etche, his council of chiefs, elders and people of Etche land to assure you that we are standing by you. This is our position, and our position remains unshaken and undiluted. “We have watched with great concern, attempts to cause confusion, chaos and instability in our great state. Worst of all, the deliberate effort by persons, who do not wish Rivers people well to pull you and the administration that we voted for, down on account of your strength of character, sense of transparency, blunt support for democracy and truth,” he added.

Lagos hosts Wines of South Africa Grand Tasting 2013

AGOS—WINES of South Africa 2nd Grand Tasting will be held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, on July 19, 2013. This event coincides with the Nelson Mandela Day celebrations around the globe and South African wine producers will showcase over 336 wines from different regions in the Cape Winelands. According to a statement by Spronks Creations Ltd, the organisers of the Nigeria wine and spirit festival “the tasting event aims to promote awareness of the South African category in the Nigerian market as wines will be presented in a walk around tasting targeting trade, such as importers, distributors and portfolio managers working in the food and beverage/hospitality industry. “We also want to engage with consumers in the Nigeria market and demystify wine and make it more accessible to everyone.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 —13

Don’t ignore families of those killed by Boko Haram, FG told BY JIMITOTA ONOY-

UME

ORT HARCOURT— THE FEDERAL Government has been advised to compensate families of those killed by Boko Haram insurgents in the North as part of measures to achieve enduring peace in the country. A conflict resolution expert, Mr. Richard Anthony, who gave the advice, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, enjoined the government to explore alternative dispute resolution mechanism, ADR in resolving the security challenge posed by the Islamic sect. He said it might be a bit difficult engage members of Boko Haram for a peaceful resolution of their grievances at the central level but institutions such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF; traditional rulers and governors in the region could be productively engaged to drive the peace process. He said: “The Federal Government should be

more proactive in handling security challenges in the country. This could be handled through negotiation and mediation. The Northern Governor’s Forum and the traditional rulers in the North could be used to mediate between the group

and Federal Government.” Richard said that the emergency rule recently declared by the Federal Government in some states in the northern part of the country was in order, adding that it could force Boko Haram to open negotia-

tion with the government. Richard, Head of Global Mediation Services, said that government at all levels in the country should shift from punitive actions to restorative justice as a means of promoting enduring peace.

VISIT: From left: Alhaji Aminu Danagundi; Mohammed Abana; Sen. Florence Ita-giwa, and Dr. Christopher Odili, Communications Manager, Brawal Oil Services Ltd, during the visit to Brawal Oil Company by members of Nigeria Ports Authority board of directors, at Onne, Port Harcourt.

Court to rule on suit challenging invitation of Rivers’ Speaker, July 29 BY JIMITOTA ONOY-

UME ORT HARCOURT— A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday, adjourned till July 29, for judgment on the suit by Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, challenging his invitation by the police over his allegation of a plot to assassinate Governor Chibuike Amaechi and some top government officials. Counsel to the Police, Mr. Donald Dewigwe, SAN, had argued at the resumed hearinmg of the case that it was in order for the Police to invite the

Speaker over the alleged plot to assassinate the governor of the state, stressing that he must appear to defend the allegation. Dewigwe argued that there was no way the Police would not investigate the issue, adding that any attempt to stop the Police

from carrying out its duty of investigation, particularly on the issue could create problems for the society. Counsel to the applicant, Mr Emenike Ebete argued that the allegations levelled against his client, the

My relationship with Clark still cordial —Orubebe extraction to a meeting BY EMMA AMAIZE & AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE.

ARRI—MINIS TER of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, said, yesterday, that his relationship

with elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, who tongue-lashed him, last month, over his ambition to rule Delta State, was still friendly. Orubebe, invited by traditional rulers of Ijaw

Abia dismisses purported pictures of Aba Onyechere, in a state- habilitation of schools in schools ment said: ‘’The recent Aba and the rest of the state

MUAHIA—SPECIAL Adviser to Abia State Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Ben Onyechere, has dismissed a recent pictorial presentation of the state of some schools in Aba as an act of blackmail. He also said that the state government will not be distracted in its efforts at rehabilitating schools in Aba.

Speaker, were unfounded, contending that there was no prima facie evidence before the court to compel his client to appear before the Police over the alleged plot to assassinate the governor and other key political figures in the state.

photo story on the purported nature of some schools in Aba is not only a habitual display of reckless blackmail, but also a shameless disposition of falsehood and a confirmation that the architects of such decrepit actions have exhausted their options. “It is no secret that the governor had before now embarked on massive re-

because education is the focal point of this administration for which reason he has sustained free and compulsory education in the state, with Aba not an exception even though it has assumed the centre stage of reconstruction activities due to the reckless neglect perpetrated by the past administration of Orji Kalu.’’

in Warri, Delta State over the ceaseless attacks on him lately, told reporters after the closedoor session, “Chief Clark is the leader of Ijaw people, he is a father and he will remain so, and our relationship is still cordial. We work together for the interest of the Ijaw people and the interest of the state.” The minister said he will continue to support the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and national levels and pledged his commitment to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the country.

16 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Vanguard, FRID AY, JUNE 14, 2013 —15 FRIDA

Inherited problems stiffle our efforts — Education Minister BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

rians.” Rufa’i noted that the sector had witnessed significant impact in the past two years and beckoned on the private sector to invest more in education. Speaking on the University of Abuja crisis, the minister said given that the carrying capacity of Nigerians had been over stretched, it would not be wise to

consider transferring the medical students out of the institution. Prof. Rufa’i said efforts were being made to ensure that normal academic session returned to the faculty. She said the process of accreditation of the medical students would be concluded soon, assuring that the students would resume classes in the next few

weeks. She added that: “We are not resting on the issue of University of Abuja. We, as stakeholders, are not happy about the fate of the students but due process must be followed to get all the necessary accreditations and I am assuring the students and Nigerians that in a shortest while, the whole issue would be resolved”.

BUJA—MINISTER of Educa tion, Prof Ruquayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, yesterday, said her ministry’s efforts at repositioning and transforming the education sector was thwarted by inherited problems. She also said the ministry was adequately funded but regretted that her team was faced with challenges of improper utilisation of the funds though she did not mention who misused the funds. Speaking at the on-going ministerial platform, the minister lamented that her administration inherited a lot of problems in the sector, which she confessed thwarted the efforts of her team in repositioning the sector. She said: “Federal Ministry of Education has adequate funding and when adequately utilized, can deliver the sector and reposition it to the pride of the nation. “Education is a huge sector with numerous institutions and with many decades of decay, the transformation we expect from the sector cannot happen overnight. “I can assure Nigerians that we are not relenting but doing our best INSPECTION—Governor Aliyu Wammakko of Sokoto State and Speaker House of Repreto ensure that the transformation sentatives, Aminu Tambuwal inspecting Female Hostel of the Sokoto State University, Airin education sector is felt by Nige- port Road, Sokoto. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Same sex marriage: N-Assembly's decision irreversible—Mark BY HENRY UMORU

RAGUE, CZECH REPUB LIC—SENATE President, David Mark, yesterday, said the decision of the National Assembly to ban same-sex marriage in the country was irreversible. He also appealed to the Czech Republic to allow a Nigerian prisoner, Mr. Victor Uriah, serving jail terms for drug trafficking, to be transferred back home to complete his prison terms. According to him, the Bill on Same Sex Marriage, which was sponsored by Senator Domingo Obende, ACN, Edo North, and approved by both chambers of the National Assembly, remains the way it is. According to him, it will not in anyway infringe on the human rights of Nigerians. Speaking at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Nigerian com-

munity in Prague, Czech Republic, Senator Mark assured Nigerians outside the country that the government would not fold its arms and watch them being dehumanised by their host communities. He was, however, quick to add that Nigerians living outside the country must abide by the laws of the country where they resided and shy away from activities that might mar the image of Nigeria. He said: “The law against samesex marriage is an approval of the wishes of the generality of Nigerians who are desirous of living within our cultural bounds. ”The law is not designed to infringe on the human rights of Nigerians in any way. Also, wherever you go in our country today, our people are completely in support of the National Assembly because the practice of same-sex, as you all know, is alien to us.”

Senator Mark also charged Nigerians living abroad to be passionate about coming home to contribute their quota to the development of their fatherland, to

use the opportunities contained in the transformation agenda of the Federal Government to join the struggle to make Nigeria great".

Terrorism: Nigeria seeks Japan's co-operation BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

BUJA—MINISTER of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, has solicited the cooperation of Japan, on terrorism and other security challenges confronting the country. Speaking while inaugurating the Japanese government funded participants hostel for Peace Support Operation, PSO, courses at National Defence College, NDC, the minister noted that both countries had been strategic partners on other endeavours. She said: “We will like to have the relationship strengthened. That is why we are celebrating this partnership today. The cooperation would be in the area of technological transfer”. Disclosing that the defence sector was looking at the private sector partnering Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, the minister said Japan could play a part in this area. She noted that Japan was an advanced technological nation and third largest economy in the world after U.S. and China, pointing out that Nigeria stood to leverage on the Japanese technological powers and economic strength to realise her goal of joining the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020.

Reps order ex-Surveyor General to refund N49m BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

BUJA—THE House of Rep resentatives has ordered a former Surveyor-General of the Federation to refund the sum of N48.9 million to the coffers of the Federal Government. The order was issued by the Public Accounts Committee, PAC, of the House based on a query to the former Surveyor-General, Mr. Austin Njebuome, as contained in the report of AuditorGeneral of the Federation cover-

ing the period 2003-2009. The report had indicated that various payments totaling N48,980,900, which were made to eight contractors, were not supported by invoices, store receipts and vouchers, contrary to the provisions of the Federal Government’s financial regulations 603 (I). Investigations revealed that the Office of the Surveyor-General later explained that the required financial documents were traced and attached to the voucher and submitted to the committee.

This notwithstanding, the committee, headed by Solomon Adeola, was unimpressed, considering the fact that there were cases of mixed-up documents that were tendered. For instance, it was learnt that the committee also found that though one of the contracts in question was awarded to Messrs Essential Services Multi-Concern Ltd., the receipt that was attached to the voucher tendered before the committee was issued by Aus-Bud Contracting Services.

16 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 — 17

You are not alone, Mr P!

•Cameron, PM of Britain

•President Jonathan different societies are so different! If a Nigerian President drank and smoked in public, he would be condemned as irresponsible.

Shameful statistics

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is probably the most vilified Head of State in the history of Nigeria. And, frankly, he deserves a lot of the criticisms that have been flung at him because he has not tried hard enough to fulfill his potential…and does not sufficiently control his cronies and subordinates. But I for one am constantly aware that some of his critics are taking pot shots at him for dubious reasons, such as the fact that they come from bigger tribes and never imagined that

a “mere” Minority Man would wind up being their Boss! Whatever Dr Jonathan’s critics’ motives may be, the fact is that all leaders who are operating within democratic contexts face endless queries and insults from time to time. And it might cheer our Mr President up to remember that David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the UK, is also battling with constant verbal and written attacks from many detractors (including members of his own Party). Cameron (who comes from a rich family) is frequently accused of being out-of-touch with ordinary British people and was recently unfavourably compared with Nigel Farage, a maverick right-wing opponent who allegedly has a “charismatic common touch” because he publicly drinks alcohol and smokes cigarettes. Life is so interesting and

Bottom Line? Cameron is a saint and prisoner compared to most African leaders. The System that catapulted him to its peak is not perfect

Cameron, unlike his African counterparts, will be sacked or jailed if he refuses to comply with the rules that the system has imposed on him

CCORDING to a recent report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Nigeria holds the world record in the sense of having the highest number of youngsters who are not receiving an education. One in every 5 Nigerian children – 10.5 million in total - is out of school. Other countries that also feature in this shameful league table are: Pakistan (5.1 million), Ethiopia (2.4 million), India (2.3 million), Philippines (1.5 million), Cote d’Ivoire (1.2 million), Burkina Faso (1 million), Niger (1 million), Kenya (1 million), Yemen (0.9 million), Mali (0.8 million) and South Africa (0.7 million). But while most of the 12 countries mentioned above are getting better within this context, Nigeria is getting worse. The number of our children in school has dropped like a stone in absolute terms since l999. And the compilers of the report are saying that corruption is partly to blame for this terrible situation. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education, has recently invested a lot of time in political conflicts with his Governor and former friend, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. Since Wike is famed for his generous spirit, one can only pray that he will soon C M Y K

by any means; but it is essentially civilized, ethical and efficient; and he will get into HUGE trouble if he ever fails to perform on a basic level or succumbs to theft and cronyism. Cameron, unlike his African counterparts, will be sacked or jailed if he refuses to comply with the rules that The System has imposed on him. Even if you are his best friend or sibling, he cannot lavish juicy government contracts on you. Having said this, it is tough at the top because whatever you do or don’t do, some folks will always insist that you are utterly despicable and messing up

First Lady D

AME Patience Jonathan and I do not belong to the same tribe. She is an Ijaw from Okrika while I am Ogoni from Bodo. But it takes less than 30 minutes to drive from

•Nyesom Wike recognise the pressing need to forget about avoidable fights and concentrate on his job…which is to provide the next generation with hope. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should also respect itself, get its priorities right, ditch its penchant for engaging in petty, distracting, time-consuming feuds…and ferociously focus on delivering developmental and security-related dividends to a population that is tired of being betrayed.

•Patience Jonathan

my village to her’s, so I feel as if we are sisters of sorts. And I have fondly praised her on this page quite a few times. But she needs to protect her image more zealously. Her name keeps cropping up whenever toxic conflicts in our state – Rivers - are being discussed. And she’s often strongly suspected of being behind all manner of irregularities. Many people were, for example, sure that was lurking in the background when militants stormed Government House last month to demand Amaechi’s removal. I would like Dame P to be a genteel, decorous and totally uncontroversial spouse.

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 SENATE President David Achelenu Mark in Prague, Czech Republic, said military rule was gone forever in Nigeria. Mark thrilled his audience with Nigeria’s efforts to sustain democracy after it has run uninterrupted civilian administrations for 14 years. Many share his optimism. More still needs to be done. Nigerians would like to know how the Senate is sustaining democracy. Nigeria’s democracy thrives on optimism, not the Constitution. The ephemeral optimism that forms the foundation of our democracy makes an objective assessment of our democratic progress more challenging. How has the average Nigerian gained from civilian rule when the basic rights that the Constitution awards him are breached relentlessly? People are undergoing civilian dictatorship, in very dangerous forms. The danger lies in their subtlety. Freedom of speech and association are being abridged. Permissions are required to assemble and to exchange ideas. Whether they are licensing for media or police permits for gatherings, the abnegation of these to the freedoms our Constitution guarantees, are telling indicators of our democratic journey in 16

Dictatorship In Other Forms years. How many Nigerians have access to their representatives? How many legislators reflect the aspirations of their peoples in positions they present at the assemblies? How are Nigerians involved in their 16-year-old democracy? Nigerians want more involvement in their governments. Many of them have great ideas that can change the country, only if they have a chance to share the ideas. How would their ideas matter when their representatives live away from them? How would their representatives know their conditions when they live – at public expense – above the hurting circumstances of the people? Denial of rights is reflected in many

illegalities that the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly have imposed on Nigerians on what we consider the two most important laws that have been passed since 1999. First is the Child Rights Act (2003) which would have given the Nigerian child enforceable laws that could improve the society. The Freedom of Information Act (2011) awards Nigerians the right to information. These are the only federal laws being subjected to the approval of States. Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution states, “If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.” Then Section 4(5) re-emphasises it,“ 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.” The National Assembly cannot remain silent in this constitutional desecration and dictatorship.

OPINION BY KINGSLEY EMEREUWA

HERE is a passage very common among the Ibeku people in the present-day Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. It is a passage used to draw home a conviction over an issue in dispute. It is put thus: “Lekwa onye ohii, lekwa ihe ozuru’’, grammatically interpreted as: “Behold the thief as well as his loot”, while in the literary term it connotes that evidence will surely mark the end of an argument or doubt over any issue. For some inexplicable reasons, many unscrupulous characters have sprouted within the past few years and assumed commentators on a catalogue of issues comprising both the serious and mundane with Abia in focus. There has been a contraption of intellectually bankrupt pessimists who have wished that the stagnation that was Abia remained the lot of the state. Fortunately, Governor Theodore Orji, being conscious of history, has already chosen his part, while posterity will be his judge. Then their usual mantra was the swan-song of non-performance. Notwithstanding all, Governor Orji left no one in doubt of his determination to turn around a state which administration he inherited when the state in all ramifications and rating was lying prostrate. His attempt at the inception of his government left no one in doubt that the man was in a hurry to transform his state. But little did he know that what he thought was a patriotic agenda would earn him umbrage and calculated sabotage from those who ran C M Y K

Abia: When evidence end of argument with the hare in the day, and at the same hunted with the hound. However, with hindsight, the Governor had to take his political destiny into his own hands since “he that wears the shoe knows where it pinches”. Since then, Governor Orji has known no political peace as every arsenal at the disposal of his traducers have been deployed to tarnish and rubbish his efforts. One thing though is that the Governor himself was not oblivious of the onslaught expected from these reactionary agents who would have given anything to remain as devourers of the people’s commonwealth. It is then no surprise that for daring to leave a once prostrate state better than the comatose condition he met it, he has become the target of politically-instigated campaign of calumny. Nothing would placate the gladiators unless the treasury of the state is handed over to them. They engage the services of their Internet rats to publicly masturbate about morals and service delivery in their own understanding. The Orji administration, within the period of its liberation from the stranglehold of now expired political buccaneers, has shown determination to turn around the fortunes of an ordinarily promising state which suffered initial still-birth owing to the incompetent political midwives. But

marks

the

thank God as Ochendo has been able to restore the years eaten by the locust. From education to agriculture and power. From security to health, commerce and industry, judiciary and infrastructure, the government has left its marks as depicted by the legacy projects to its credit.

id it not take the withdrawal of the accreditation of the law programme of a neighboring state university headed by the immediate past president of ASUU for the people of Abia to appreciate that the commitment of their governor to elevate the standard of education in his state was beyond the rhetorics of a political campaign rally. If it was Abia State University that lost that accreditation, hell would have known less fury than the government of Ochendo. The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. While others revel in dancing to the gallery, Abia operates with the Latin legal maxim: “res ipso loquitur”, meaning that the facts will always speak for themselves. And as we say in our local parlance, the selfglorifying story of “Dee John’s exploits in the war will only be believed when we see his military boots”. Apart from the tertiary institutions, there has been silent upgrade of facilities and infrastructure in the public schools in Abia courtesy of the present

administration. The feats are only made known through the awards given to the state by policy makers and regulators in the sector. Also, power has greatly improved in the entire state that residents in the state now enjoy steady electricity supply. In Abia today, people can predict the period and time of supply from energy source. The ripple effect is economically felt as small and medium scale enterprises rekindled the economy, ending crime. Governor Orji came into office when no single industry in the state was operating. While the privately-owned ones like International Equitable Association, Nigerian Breweries and Dubic Breweries had closed shop, government-owned industries, especially in the hospitality sector, were sold to the cronies of the then Lords of the Manor. That was how Abia Hotel Aba and Umuahia went on economic sabbatical. That was also the case of Golden Guinea Breweries, Modern Ceramics, Ogwe Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber. Even state-owned corporations like Abia Marketing Company, Abia Newspaper Publishing Company became ghost corporations. Ochendo got some of the industries back to their tracks. Today Dubic Breweries is back to the shelf with its products, Nigerian Breweries has returned to Abia while the reactivation of the both the Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber has long commenced. *Mr. Emereuwa, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013— —19

Our collective selective amnesia O

N both sides of the divide, we all agree that we have short memories and easily forget grave injustices. That’s why we are quick to beg for mercy and forgiveness and in the rare case that the aggrieved wants the offender to pay in some way, they are branded ‘evil’, ‘ wicked’ or ‘unfair ’. It’s our short memories that allow those who say ‘crucify him’ today to switch to ‘hosanna’ when the price is right and there are no consequences. What then is the value of integrity and character? The flip-flops are most obvious with politicians and government officials, but we all do it. We all have selective amnesia. In the first two weeks of June we have three significant dates – (1) On June 4, 1996, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was murdered while defending her

husband’s mandate as the duly elected Nigerian President from the June 12, 1993 election. In her words: “I will fight for the actualisation of June 12 with the last pint of my blood.” Her murderers are yet to be sentenced. (2) On June 8, 1998, General Sani Abacha died in Aso Rock. He had ruled Nigeria as a military dictator for almost five years having assumed power in a bloodless coup overturning the Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government. Chief Shonekan’s mandate was to run government and conduct fresh elections after General Ibrahim Babangida stepped down on August 27, 1993 due to domestic and international pressure. (3) On June 12, 1993, Chief M.K.O Abiola, businessman and philanthro-

Tears for my friend, Michael Prest BY FEMI OGUNKOLATI

SHED several tears yesterday when I saw how British and global press descended on my friend of over 30 years, Michael Prest. Whilst divorce is always a difficult thing, it makes it even harder when the facts are broadcast all over the world to feed to a hungry press and 24 hour news channels always keen for another sensational story. Not only have I known Michael for 31 years, I have also known Yasmin Prest for almost 19 years; so I know them both very well. I have holidayed with them as a family; I have been to the baptisms of all their children, so I know the family very well. Michael’s late Father took me as his son and I stayed at Michael’s family home even when Michael was not there. His father was a great man and may his soul rest in peace. The Michael Prest, I and many reading this know is a very private man who never talks. He is a father who absolutely adores his children, who looks after his family and looked after his ex-wife Yasmin. She never lacked anything and you could C M Y K

never speak badly about Yasmin to Michael. Even to this day he will not have you criticise the woman he says has given him the greatest treasure in his life. ”Keep your views to yourself please,” Michael would say. For Michael, family is number one even if he had to rush home from wherever he was every week – end to watch his son play football or his daughters act or do sport. In the press, Yasmin is described as being “British born wife”, yet, I know Yasmin is the second daughter of the late Inua Mohammed, a much loved and highly respected veterinary surgeon from Gombe (may his soul rest in peace). I know her elder sister was the former head of the MDG in Nigeria. Yasmin is a Nigerian and why is it that the press seem reluctant to describe her as a Nigerian? Does she not want to come back to her country? In the British press, the properties at the heart of the dispute are now decided by The Supreme Court of London as being held on trust. Can somebody please tell me what that means? One paper said earlier that the Customary Law

Deep wounds fester and cause more damage when covered up; we need to have frank discussions about what it means to be a Nigerian today

pist, won what has been described as the freest, fairest and most credible election in Nigeria’s history. What was special about the 1993 elections was that voting patterns cut across religious and ethnic lines. Old and young stood in line for hours in the sun to cast their votes. In addition, it was conducted using the Open Ballot System, OBS, popularly known as ‘Option A4’. With this system, voters lined up behind the ballot box of their preferred candidate. As such, if you were voting based on conviction or inducement, you had to be bold enough to defend your vote publicly. Sadly, Chief Abiola died in

Yemi Adamolekun

GUEST COLUMNIST

I shed tears for my friend because I KNOW him and I know that his exwife knows the man and knows the great father and provider he is

Trust was ‘Nigerian Tribal Law’. Can someone please tell me the difference? After 20 years of companies owning and paying for these properties with their own company money, they are now decided as being held on trust. I am not a lawyer, so I don’t understand it. Surely, it is so easy to find out who did buy them and with what money was used to pay for it? Isn’t that why they have searches? Can lawyers reading this help me out? The Michael I and many reading this piece know is the Michael who is always willing to help. When he was the head of Marc Rich Oil Company he made the point of opening doors for many young people. I don’t want to mention their names but they know themselves and today they

the custody of the Nigerian government on July 7, 1998 after a visit from the US Assistant Secretary of State. It was the 1993 elections that triggered the other two events and Nigeria’s return to democracy on May 29, 1999 – the Fourth Republic. Abiola’s campaign slogan was ‘Hope ‘93: Farewell to Poverty ’. In 1998, 72.3 million Nigerians representing 64.2 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line (less than N155 a day). In 2013, that number is 121.6 million representing 71.5 per cent of the population. Nigerians will go to the polls again in 2015, what is our hope for 2015? Fifty per cent of Nigerians are between 18 and 35 years old. Eighteen-year olds today had not been born during the historic 1993 elections; 35-year olds were 15 and ineligible to vote. In the last 20 years, we have become even more divided along ethnic and religious lines. The Hope ’93 team was a Muslim-Muslim ticket; that would be a herculean task in today’s Nigeria. Our voting pattern in 2011 clearly showed that Buhari dominated in the North, while Jonathan dominated in the South. Some in the North have declared that a Southerner can never rule Nigeria again. Some Southerners have responded that a Northern president is impossible. Un-

said is that the Northerner is assumed to be Muslim and the Southerner a Christian. And where does that leave the Nigerian who grew up in Yola, born to Yoruba parents speaking fluent Hausa, now married to a man from Kaduna living in Port-Harcourt with her family? Chief Obafemi Awolowo famously said Nigeria is a mere geographic expression. From militancy in the Niger Delta to terrorist threats in the North, we probably have not been more divided since the civil war. However, the issues are still very much the same - access to resources, opportunities and information. Our population and diversity are our greatest assets and instead of dealing with these issues head on, deciding on what structure provides the best opportunity for each Nigerian to maximise his potential, we either have selective amnesia or play ostrich wishing they would go away. But they will not go away. Deep wounds fester and cause more damage when covered up. We need to have frank discussions about what it means to be a Nigerian today; acknowledge atrocities committed and prosecute people accordingly so we can all heal and move on to achieve the potential that we all keep talking about in the ‘Giant of Africa’.

hold leading positions in the oil industry. Whilst they will be quick to admit that ‘Oga’ as they call him was a very hard task – master, they say he trained them well to stand on their feet. Michael trained Yasmin’s youngest sister and brought her into the oil industry at a time she was having problems in London. She worked for him for five years.

ambulance which took me to Charing Cross Hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, Michael argued with staff and Doctors to ensure I got immediate attention. Within 24 hours of arriving at the hospital, I underwent an eight hour brain surgery. I am told that throughout that time Michael nervously paced up and down the hospital corridor simply counting the time I came out. I feel those 24 hours saved my life. Over my ten-day stay in hospital, Michael came EVERYDAY, talking to the specialists and trying to better understand if there was anything else that could be done. At the end of the stay, Michael signed my discharge from hospital and then settled me at home. He then quietly left and went back to dealing with his own problems. I shed tears for my friend because I KNOW him and I know that his ex-wife, despite what her advisers print and get printed to try and win her money, she knows the man and knows the great father and provider he is. I know he is a ‘big boy ’ who ‘can handle himself ’ and I know he will be upset with me for talking but I cannot keep quiet anymore, my Brother.

ichael trained and brought into the business his brother and his cousins and they also worked with him for so many years. I know this because I too worked alongside them in the business. We are all now part of the oil business. Michael ‘bailed’ out Yasmin’s other sister when they needed to buy a house in London. I know this because the younger sister told me. I could go on and on. I am not saying my friend is perfect; like all of us he is not; yet surely let reporting be balanced. Yet for me, Michael is defined by what happened to me earlier this year. In January I collapsed and fell into a coma in Abuja. Despite all his problems upon being told, Michael took immediate charge from where he was and arranged for my being flown out of Abuja on British Airways. He then met me and my father at London Heathrow Airport with the

*Mr Ogunkolati wrote from Abuja

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Mile Two/Berger traffic confusion: Many questions, conflicting answers BY MIKE EBONUGWO, KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE, BOSE ADELAJA AND LAMIDI BAMIDELE

OMMUTERS and motorists plying the Oshodi-Wharf/ Apapa route are presently struggling to come to terms with the jolting, albeit shocking, reality that the suffering and pains now associated with the worsening traffic jam along the Mile Two/ Berger axis of the expressway may continue for a long time to come. Since the traffic ordeal began over three weeks ago, there has not been any respite in sight as road users are greeted with a worse version of the problem each new day. The situation has been most horrifying since last week when a journey to Apapa/Wharf via Tin Can/ Coconut became a nightmare experience for travellers. But while the relevant authorities engage in a buck-passing blame game, the suffering continues for motorists and other road users who can only but cry out in lamentation to anyone who cares to listen even though such expression of disenchantment is yet to receive any serious attention from relevant quarters. While the frustration and suffering continue, most people engage in conflicting explanation on the cause of the problem and why there has not been any far-reaching solution. For now, the on-going road reconstruction has received a lion share of the blame as most observers continue to berate the construction company for blocking off sections of the road and restricting motorists to one or two lanes on the multiple lanes expressway between the bridge at Mile Two and Berger Yard/ Under-bridge. The feeling is that the Federal Ministry of Works should immediately call the contractor to order and compel it to either open up the closed lanes on the road or introduce remedial measures to ease the suffering of motorists and commuters. But while responding to this, a source close to the Works Minister informed that his boss is

Traffic jam on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway. Pix by Bunmi Azeez most reluctant to bring undue pressure on the contractor in order not give it the excuse to slow down the pace of work which could lead to delay in the completion of the work. On why the Ministry has failed to deploy security personnel to the area to manage the chaos and crisis, he said that should be the responsibility of the Lagos State government which collects taxes on the road. He added that when it comes to the issue of rehabilitating the road the state government often fails to rise to the occasion on the pretext that it is a Federal road, but always quick to collect taxes on the road which run into billions of naira yearly.

•Residents, road users groan; hawkers rejoice For many road users of the popular Apapa/Oshodi expressway, there seems to be no end to the prevailing situation that is now a recurring decimal on this ever-

The abandoned aircraft at Sanya. Pix byLamidi Bamidele C M Y K

busy road. For the past few days, travelling on the expressway has become an unending ordeal for road users. Before now, the traffic situation was blamed on bad road, recklessness of commercial motorists as well as indiscriminate parking of trucks and trailers which have attracted government intervention, leading to the rehabilitation of the road which is ongoing. On various occasions, the government has issued ultimatums to tanker drivers against indiscriminate parking which was observed only for a while. For the past three weeks, commuters and motorists have been finding it difficult to connect Mile 2 to Orile, Badagry, Apapa and Oshodi as several man hours are usually lost on the road. Even sustained media outcry on the state of the road has largely proved abortive as the gridlock persists, growing beyond the control of government agencies like the Lagos State traffic Management Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and a host of others working to restore sanity to Nigerian roads. Beginning from Ilasa bus-stop, Cele expressway, First Rainbow and Second Rainbow, Berger Yard, Under bridge, Berger Suya to Coconut, crater-like pot holes dot sections of the road thus subjecting road users to endless pains as vehicles are stuck on these areas thereby causing traf-

fic jam on the road. At Otto-Wharf bus-stop, imported second hand motor vehicles popularly known as Tokunbo are parked indiscriminately on the service lane of the road, while at Berger Yard Bus-stop and Underbridge, heavy duty vehicles are stuck on the road as a result of the ongoing road construction at Berger Under-bridge. Mile 2/ Badagry and Orile road is not an exception as it has become a nightmare to commuters and motorists. On a good day, a journey from Oshodi to Apapa Wharf or IyanaIba which ordinarily takes about 30 minutes now stretches to between three and five hours.. On Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, road users of the Oshodi-Apapa expressway expressed dissatisfaction over the perennial traffic jam on the everbusy expressway. One of them, Mr. Akinade Olaniyonu, whose journey to Oshodi from Mile 2 took him about four hours complained bitterly about his plight. ‘’I wonder if we still have a government in this country or how can traffic jam take over the road and the government shows little or no concern? I have spent about four hours travelling between Mile 2 to Oshodi; this will have a serious effect on my health,’’ he lamented. While commuters and motorists lamented about this ugly situation, hawkers were seen singing praises on the road. In a chat with Vanguard Metro, many of them

said the traffic snarl on the expressway has increased their daily income. Chukwus Ibe who deals with can drinks said now he is able to sell between five and eight cartons everyday ‘as the traffic jam increases daily. “How I wish the traffic situation persists,’’ he said.

•Aircraft on the highway

Yesterday, the traffic jam on the expressway took a different turn when an abandoned aircraft was sighted at Sanya bus-stop, leaving many to wonder if another plane had crashed. This brought panic among residents and road users who trouped out to have a glimpse of the aircraft. The aircraft with registration number 5N-BLN was relatively small in size and parked at the service lane of the expressway. It has the inscriptions ‘Capital Airlines’ and tagged ‘Official Airlines of U-17 World Cup 2009’. There are speculations that the aircraft belongs to Capital Oil company and it is believed to be among the aircraft ordered to be removed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, as part of efforts to de-congest the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Following the FAAN order there have been reports of the sighting of other aircraft of various sizes on the streets of Lagos, particularly in Igando, a Lagos surbub.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 —

From left: Managing Director, SIBs International, Pedro Hipolito; Director, Acceptance Development, West Africa, MasterCard, Kamil Olufowobi and Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), Christabel Onyejekwe at the 13th edition of Card, ATM & Mobile Expo Africa,in Lagos.

FG kick-starts international bidding process for 10 power plants T

HE Federal Government has opened up 10 power plants under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) for international investment in London. Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Power, who presented the plants to investors during the first leg of the NIPP road show in London, said the 10 plants had a combined cost of over $3.8 billion.

2,372.00

+17.00

16.21

-0.08

103.76

+0.80

96.22

+0.84

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL 154.75 242.1373 205.3533 166.6487 1.6003 0.2897 230.8856 25.2286 41.2645 27.5297 235.3438

155.25 242.9197 206.0168 167.1872 1.6055 0.2997 231.6316 25.3105 41.3978 27.6187 236.1042

and 71 lots of Critical Distribution Network capacity upgrade. While stressing the potentialities which abound in the power sector, the Minister said that NIPP plants presently contribute only 1,500 mega watts of electricity to the national

grid. “However, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has assured all stakeholders that the entire 4775 mega watts would be ready by the end of 2013. This will bring the total generation capacity to 10,000 mega watts. This is still a far cry from our demands and projections, but

a major milestone in our drive towards electricity sustainability,” Nebo said. The NIPP plants being managed by the NDPHC are the Alaoji, I h o v b o r, C a l a b a r, a n d Egbema power plants. Others are Gbarin, Geregu 11, O g o r o d e , Olorunsogbo, Omoku as well as the Omotosho plant. In his remark, Mr Mohammed Adoke, the Minister of Justice, assured participants that government has put in place legal and legislative framework to safeguard investments in the country. According to him, the 2005 Power Sector Reform Act saw the transformation of NEPA from state owned monopoly to limited liability companies. “The recent privatisation of PHCN’s successor electricity distribution and generation companies is a demonstration of government’s commitment to the reform process. Our goal is to provide the requisite enabling environment that can deliver efficient power required for economic development of the country.” The Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) fixed July 13 as deadline for the submission of Expression of Interest form, and June 2014 as expected handover date to successful bidders. The road-show, which attracted over 100 investors, saw presentations from major stakeholders in the power sector. The event will also be held in New York and Hong Kong to attract more investors.

IEA disparages Nigeria’s plan to export refined products

-5.1

122.6

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

He said that the projects include seven medium sized gas power stations, 39 gas turbine generators with a total capacity of 4,775 mega watts, and five lots of gas infrastructure upgrade. Others are 43 lots of Critical Transmission Grid upgrade,

SELLING 155.75 243.702 206.6803 167.7256 1.6107 0.3097 232.3776 25.3925 41.5311 27.7076 236.8646

CBN Exchange rate as at 13/06/2013

By MICHAEL EBOH, with agency report

ROJECTIONS that Nigeria will begin to export refined petroleum products by 2016 may not materialise after all, as the International Energy Agency, IEA, said it expected a significant increase in oil processing with the coming on stream of new refineries in Asia and Middle East. The IEA in its monthly report said it expects 9.5 million barrels per day of new crude distillation capacity, representing more than a 10th of global demand, to come on stream between 2013 and 2018, forcing less advanced competitors in developed countries, including Nigeria, to close. It maintained that shorter-thanexpected crude supply and large refining volumes would undermine refining margins, making it difficult for marginal players to

break even. The 9.5 million barrels refining capacity, the IEA said is substantially more than the forecast increase in crude production capacity and global demand growth. According to the IEA, the changes would be felt from the third quarter of 2013 as global refinery runs may rise by more than two million barrels per day on the back of increased processing by China, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. It added that the spike in crude runs would exceed forecast product demand growth of 1.7 million barrels per day. The IEA said, “While Europe’s economic woes are taking a toll on demand, there are mounting signs that China’s oil use, like its economy, may have shifted to a lower gear. Slower growth in demand than in runs could lead to product stock builds.”

The IEA further stated that global crude supply could struggle to keep up with refining demand due to a number of factors, ranging from seasonal maintenance to North Sea production, Sudan’s struggle to resume production, the annual hurricane season in the United States Gulf and risks to Middle Eastern output due to the Syrian civil war. It said, “While that would normally prompt refiners to drop their throughputs, market participants may not be equally receptive to such price signals. New refining capacity would likely be the last to cut back on runs if refining economics turned south. “On the other hand, older plants in mature markets, saddled with comparatively high costs, might feel the heat. That those plants should find it increasingly tough to compete is a widely anticipated outcome of the current downstream restructuring.”

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 201 3

BRIEFS Shareholders commend UBA over 2012 financial performance

From left:Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo; Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Capital West Africa, Yvonne Ike; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema and Global Co. CEO of Renaissance Capital, Mr. John Hyman at the company’s bell ringing ceremony at the exchange.

Wapic Insurance’s N3.51bn rights issue excites shareholders By NKIRUKA NNOROM

HAREHOLDERS of Wapic Insurance Plc have expressed satisfaction over the N3.51 billion rights issue being embarked on by the company, calling all the existing shareholders to take advantage of the offer to increase their holding. They observed that the profile and public perception of the underwriter has since improved following its take by Access Bank Plc. Speaking on behalf of members of Renaissance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, the president, Ambassador Olufemi Timothy, said “It is a good development. My advice to shareholders is to endeavour to take up their rights and even buy more. “You know Access Bank took over the company as a result of its take over of Intercontinental Bank, which was the parent bank. All insurance business of Access Bank will be handled by the company and it will leverage on the good will of Access Bank to boost its business and create value for investors. So, for me, it is a good buy and it is a promising company.” Wapic is offering 6.65 billion ordinary shares of 50kobo each at 55kobo per share to its existing shareholders in the ration of eight new shares for every 10 previously held. The offer opened on th Monday, 10 June, 2013, and is billed to close on Friday 5th July 2013. Speaking through Taukeme Koroye, a non-executive director of the company, Wapic’s Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, explained

that the rights issue was a first step towards raising additional capital for Wapic’s long term infrastructure and expansion objectives, adding that the required endorsements from shareholders to guarantee the success of the offer has been received He added that requisite approvals have been received from the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and the Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, while explaining that shares being offered would rank pari passu in all respects with the existing shares of the

company. The Managing Director of Wapic Insurance Plc, Mr. Segun Balogun, also disclosed that plans are in top gear to ensure complete uptake of the issue. ”Our shareholders are excited at the prospect of a company with a significantly robust capital base and the underwriting privileges it would confer on the company,” He added. Balogun further stated that Wapic is gradually being repositioned for growth in all aspects and lines of business, adding that the company has strengthened its capacity by

restructuring its business model. It would be recalled that shareholders had on June 4, 2012, during the rd company ’s 53 Annual General Meeting, authorised plans by the Wapic’s board of directors to raise N5billion to boost the company’s operations. The additional funds, which shall be raised will be used amongst other things to expand operations, improve infrastructure and IT capabilities and also to inject additional capital into the company’s subsidiaries.

Okomu Oil to build largest mill in Africa ...pays N7 dividend By PETER EGWUATU

HE Okomu Oil Palm Plc has revealed plans to build the biggest oil mill in Africa as part of its various steps to strengthen its leadership position in the oil palm and rubber industries on the continent, even as it declared N7.00 per share dividend to its shareholders for the year ended December 2012. The Chairman, Okomu Oil, Gbenga Oyebode, revealed this at the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the firm, held in Abuja. According to him, the expansion of its oil mill, which will double its production capacity from 30t/hr to 60t/hr thereby making it the largest oil mill in Africa, has already commenced and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2014. The N7.00 dividend is the highest ever paid in the company’s history, and is 29 percent higher than that of N5 per 50k paid to shareholders in 2011. The company also gave a bonus of one new share for every existing ordinary share of 50k held

by each shareholder of the company. The Chairman further announced that the company ’s ambitious expansion programme will greatly boost yield from its oil palm and rubber plantations and grow the revenue of the company. The programme includes the planting of a total of 600 hectares of rubber in 2013 and another 700 hectares, which has already been cleared, will be planted in 2014. Also, the last 1,200 hectares of clearing is expected to begin in October 2013. Oyebode noted that the company recorded a combined consolidated turnover of N10.1 billion in 2012, in spite of the lower-than-average commodity prices and trade volumes occasioned by the continuing worldwide financial crisis and uncertainty in the Euro Zone and USA which continued to impact negatively on consumer spending during the year under review. “Commodity prices, as a result of this crisis, dropped significantly, especially rubber prices, and this, amongst others, had an influence on the company’s profits in 2012.

HAREHOLDERS of United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc have commended the board and management for the bank’s sterling performance and dividend payment to investors during the financial year ended December 31, 2012. The shareholders, who approved the payment of N0.50 per share at the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, affirmed that the restructuring and transformation of the bank have been beneficial to investors. A shareholder and National Coordinator of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, in his observation stated, “We are happy with the dividend for the 2012 financial year because it represents a consolidation of the bonus shares that we received in the previous year.” Continuing, Nwosu said, “The board and management should be commended for the way they handled last year ’s transformation of the bank; they have done well and we look forward to a better dividend next year. In his statement to shareholders, Chairman of UBA, Chief Israel Ogbue, noted that the 2012 financial year ushered in a new era for UBA, with the consolidation of its-African expansion.

Custodian and Allied streamlines business, network

OLLOWING regulatory and legal approvals of the business combination between Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc and Crusader Nigeria Plc, the merged entity known as Custodian and Allied Plc, has embarked on restructuring the organisation, with the integration of skills, information technology (IT), harmonisation of products and services, and back office processes, which will be to the advantage of customers. It was therefore imperative to reassign and release some employees who were due for retirement, to ensure a perfect fit for the various job portfolios, while those retained will be properly integrated into the company and will benefit from the restructured remuneration. The Board of Directors and Management have expressed gratitude to the retired staff for their contributions over the years towards the growth and development of the company. All affected personnel will be duly compensated with their respective entitlements.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 —23

China export growth plummets amid fake shipment crackdown

HINA’S trade, inflation and lending data for May all trailed estimates, signalling weaker global and domestic demand that will test the nation’s leaders’ resolve to forgo shortterm stimulus for slower, more-sustainable growth. Industrial production rose a less-than-forecast 9.2% from a year earlier and factory-gate prices fell for a 15th month, National Bureau of Statistics data has shown in Beijing. Export gains were at a 10-month low and imports dropped after a crackdown on fake trade invoices while fixed-asset investment growth slowed and new yuan loans declined. The data add pressure on President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang to shore up growth less than three months into their tenure, after firstquarter expansion unexpectedly slowed. While the figures boost the case for easing monetary policy or approving more spending, the leaders’ room is limited by rising home prices, financial risks and overcapacity. “Growth remains unconvincing and the momentum seems to have lost pace in May,” said Louis Kuijs, chief China economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc in Hong Kong. “While we still do not worry too much about growth in 2013 ending up significantly lower than the government’s comfort zone, on balance this weekend’s data is likely to strengthen the calls for a more expansionary macroeconomic policy stance.” Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News last month trimmed economic-expansion forecasts for the April-June period to a median projection of 7.8% from an 8 percent pace forecast in April. Li said provincial that while growth is still relatively fast and within a reasonable range and employment is stable, “complicated factors” are ahead and must be closely monitored, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi said at a California summit with U.S. President Barack Obama that “ we have full confidence in sustained and healthy long-term economic development” and that risks and challenges are controllable. Industrial production compared with the median estimate for a 9.4% increase, with growth the weakest for a JanuaryMay period since 2009.

G8 to assist Nigeria create 3.5m jobs, provide N300bn income STORIES BY DANIEL GUMM

HE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has attended G8 Food Security and Nutrition events, where Nigeria was announced as a partner country in the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, a G8 initiative to catalyze private-sector investment in African agriculture. Speaking at the New Alliance meeting as the representative of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Adesina noted that inclusion

in this global partnership of G8 nations and private sector partners will help Nigeria achieve its Agricultural Transformation Agenda to create 3.5 million new jobs and provide over N300 billion (US$2billion) of additional income for Nigerian farmers. “We have bold targets for Nigeria’s agriculture transformation and the world is noticing,” Dr. Adesina saidn explaining that “Nigeria’s inclusion in this initiative backed by all the G8 countries, Nigerian agribusinesses and major multinationals will leverage our domestic resources to

AGM: Chairman, BOI Investment and Trust Co. Ltd, Ms Evelyn Oputu (left); Mr. Samuel Effiong, board member (right); Chief Lawrence Osayemi, board member and Managing Director, Mr. Tony Phido (2nd right) at the Annual General Meeting of the company.

N the heels of Nigerian food industries current insufficient Crude Palm Oil (CPO), a critical raw material for the manufacturing of their goods and as they are attributing this to the high import duty on the commodity, the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, POFON, has disagreed, saying in spite of the harsh investment environment, it is rapidly addressing the issue of inadequate local supply of quality grade CPO for the manufacturing sector. The existing expansion and upgrade projects of POFON members will be concluded to improve aggregate supply in less than two years. See some of the initiatives in table. But reacting to media reports about current scarcity, Executive Secretary of POFON, Mr. Fatai Afolabi said that “in terms of the aggregate production of CPO, it is a known fact that the supply of CPO falls short of the demand in Nigeria. The supply/demand

Undertakings New Planting

Replanting Mill Upgrade

deliver on our country’s agricultural promise. We are already seeing results from bold policy reforms, donor country support and private sector commitments.” As one of the newest members of the New Alliance, Nigeria will be a strong advocate for substantive initiatives to improve agricultural production and incomes, focusing attention on empowering women farmers. The country’s new partnership will continue to drive the imperative to reduce food import bill, promote domestic and regional markets, and create jobs across the entire value chain, ultimately keeping the country on track to meet its agriculture target of increasing food production by 20 million metric tonnes of food for 2015. “Nigeria believes that agriculture is a business and that the role of government is to provide an environment that enables the private sector to succeed,” the minister said adding: “What joins all our food policies is the imperative to reduce our import food bill, promote domestic and regional markets, and create jobs across the entire food value chain.” This global partnership reinforces Nigeria’s ties with the

private-sector to strengthen investment, create jobs and diversify the country’s economy. To date, 28 companies have signed letters of intent to invest a total of more than $3.3 billion in the country’s agriculture sector. Nigeria has adopted bold policy reforms that have led to the creation of a major farmer registration programme that has reached 10 million farmers in two years, innovative agricultural financing to leverage financing from commercial banks in agriculture, the use of mobile technology for reaching millions of farmers with seeds and fertilizers, access and security to land, and increased bio-fortification to improve nutrition. As a part of its membership in the New Alliance, Nigeria is committed to improving food security and nutrition by impacting on 10 million farmers by 2015 and lifting them out of poverty. Working in partnership with G8 countries, Nigeria will focus on generating greater private investment in the agricultural sector, scaling innovation, achieving sustainable food security outcomes, increasing income especially of smallholder farmers, and ending hunger.

No scar city of CPO in Nigeria — POFON scarcity shortfall is not a new phenomenon. It has spanned a few decades. In the past, government had switched between banning and tariff on importation to ensure availability of CPO in the country. The ban on the importation of CPO was removed in 2009 to ensure that the end users who complained against scarcity of the raw material were able to source their requirement from external sources.” Afolabi explained that in real terms there is “no scarcity of CPO in the country,” because end users can legitimately import to make up the deficit in local supply, saying that “end users are taking advantage of the subsidised two million tonnes increase in export quota granted by Malaysia. Such end users are importing CPO for their industrial

POFON Members Dansa Agro JB Farms Presco Plc Okomu Oil Palm Plc PZ-Wilmar Siat Nigeria Ltd. Presco Plc Okomu Oil Palm Co Plc Okomu Oil Palm Co Plc Presco Plc Siat Nigeria Ltd. JB Farms

Size 30,000 ha 5,000 ha 6,000 ha 6,000 ha 50,000 ha 16,000 ha 6,000 ha 8,000 ha 60 T/Hr 40T/Hr 40T/Hr 10T/Hr

processing and have resorted to trading in CPO. The domestic market is now flooded with imported cheap and low quality CPO from Malaysia and Indonesia reminiscent of the dumping in 2000-2001, leading to a total ban of CPO imports in 2002.” He said “POFON finds it ironical that some stakeholders are talking about scarcity at this time when massive importation has crashed the local market. The big plantations are holding back on their stock, while small-holders are offering their farms for sale because prices have fallen below profitable levels.” The POFON boss said his organisation is concerned that the local production has yet to catch up with increasing demand, adding however, that the concern is geared toward doing the utmost to achieve self sufficiency. Acord-

Location Cross River Ogun State Edo State Edo State Cross River Rivers State Edo State Edo State Edo State Edo State Rivers State Ogun State

ing to him: “Plantation owners have, over the last five years, increased and sustained investments in new plantings and processing facilities across the country. POFON also supports the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to implement the Oil Palm Transformation Plan.” He said that “this attribution is fallacious and misleading. The 35 per cent tariff is not a recent event. It has been in existence since 2009 and under this tariff regime, many of the downstream operations have flourished and gained a good number of new entrants. It is ridiculous to attribute “current scarcity” to a tariff regime that has not changed in the last five years. Those who are against the 35 per cent tariff should be made to explain why and how it has turned into an obstacle to availability of CPO in the country?” Afolabi also said that government has a duty to protect those undertaking investments of long gestation period as in oil palm plantations. It is also part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda wherein government protects certain key agric industries, like oil palm, wheat, sugar and rice in order to allow genuine investors to invest in these long term projects and not to allow traders to come and import these products.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Oy o farmer gr oups Oyo groups united —Olajire

•Cocoa

Nigeria’s cocoa set to beat world record T

HE cocoa industry in Nigeria is repositioning to compete favourably in the world market. This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akin Adesinaa, at the 23rd partnership forum organised by the World Cocoa Foundation in Washington, DC., recently At the forum, titled “Meeting Tomorrow’s Demand: Productivity, Quality, and Farmers’ Livelihoods,” Dr. Adesina told the stakeholders how Nigeria, is “developing a sustainable vehicle built on a public-private partnership platform to coordinate the whole cocoa sector that will be public sector-enabled but private sector-driven with all stakeholders playing active role.” To demonstrate the commitment of Nigeria in developing the cocoa industry, the minister disclosed the plans on rehabilitation of “200,000 hectares over the next four years through an aggressive plan developed in partnership with private sector to provide employment for skilled professionals called ‘Professional Cocoa Doctors and Grafters’ over the next five years who would be able to deploy their skills to earn a decent living and rehabilitate at least 200,000 ha cocoa farms

in Nigeria.” He said, “ with the support of MARS Incorporated, some personnel were sent to Indonesia to study Indonesia’s impressive cocoa plantation rehabilitation strategy.” Explaining the Nigerian Cocoa Investment Plan, the minister said “the theme of this partnership meeting very important to consider how to improve productivity, quality and livelihood to meet the growing demand for cocoa products estimated to reach some 5.0 million MT in 2020, some additional 1.0 million MT to the current cocoa

beans output. He highlighted major problems, which have militated against progress in cocoa business in Nigeria, namely: production: practices, productivity, environment, labour, youth engagement; poverty issue; access to credits; market exposures; price volatility; land tenure; environmental issue; social issues such as labour and migration. “Despite these challenges,” he said, “ we see a great opportunity in the face of emerging realities of the global cocoa economy. That is why we have put in place a Cocoa

Transformation Agenda (The CocTA PLAN) with a vision of ‘Growing Nigeria’s Share of the World Cocoa market.” I will therefore, like to share with you the Nigerian Government’s investment plan for the cocoa sector.” Peter Aikpokpodion, team leader for the Nigerian cocoa transformation agenda, observed that “entrepreneurship in cocoa programme, hitherto lacking in Nigeria, is now being emphasised, as government is working towards facilitating stakeholders to recognise agriculture and cocoa production as business.”

IIT A's Germplasm assists Mali tto o IITA's develop hybrid maize

ESEARCHERS using maize inbred lines from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have developed two early maturing hybrid maize varieties that have been released by the Malian government to boost maize production. The improved hybrids, which are locally named sanu and mata, are resistant to Striga, a parasitic weed, and possess genes that enable them to withstand drought which occurs at the flowering and grain filling periods. They are also tolerant of low soil nitrogen, and are high yielding with good cooking qualities. Sanu, which means ‘big man,’ has a yield of between 5 and 7 tons per hectare while mata — meaning

mama— has a yield of between 4 and 5 tons per hectare. Local varieties have yields of between 1.5 and 2 tons per hectare. Sanu and mata are recognized as IITA hybrids TZEI 86 x TZEI 60 and TZE-Y Pop DT STRC4 x TZEI 13, respectively “The release of these hybrids will help Mali and the west Africa region to boost the production of maize,” Dr Badu Baffour-Apraku, IITA Maize Breeder who is also the West Africa Coordinator of the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project said. “This is the first time early maturing hybrid maize with combined resistance/tolerance to Striga, drought and low soil nitrogen has been released in the sub region,” he added. Consumed in several forms

HE Oyo State chapter of The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has denied the existence of a splitter group in the state as it prepares for its election. Addressing journalists in Ibadan on the forthcoming election, Secretary of the Election Planning Committee from the 33 local government areas, Prince Abisoye Olajire said AFAN remained one and united in the state. Olajire who expressed concern over report of the existence of factions within the association said there was only one AFAN in the state led by Mr Emmanuel Elegbede until recently when the state executive officers were dissolved to pave way for fresh election. The Committee Secretary also denied that the state AFAN held an election earlier this year saying the coming election was the only one it would hold after approval by the national secretariat. He said Oyo AFAN was aware that some faceless individuals with political motive had been going about claiming to be representing farmers but he pointed out that they were not members of the association. He said that all over the federation, only AFAN was recognized as representing farmers, as such Nigerians should not give recognition to political farmers or their representatives.

AGRA President gets global panel appointment on agriculture, nutrition

RESIDENT of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Jane Karuku, has been appointed to a new high-level panel that will advise governments and the international community on agriculture and nutrition. The Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition was announced on Saturday 8 June by the UK Government on the occasion of the Nutrition for Growth conference, which brought together leaders from over 50 countries, as well as representatives from business and civil society, to address the issues of hunger and malnutrition. The Panel will assess the benefits of agricultural interventions and investments and will provide advice to policymakers. The Panel will be co-chaired by John Kufuor, former President of Ghana, and Prof. Sir John Beddington, former UK Chief Scientific Adviser. Along with Jane Kuruku, Panel members include Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture at African Union, and Akin Adesina, Minister of Agriculture for Nigeria.

including boil/roast and eat, or processed into flour, couscous, bread, beer or animal feed; maize is an important crop for the sustenance of livelihoods in Mali. Mr Ntji Coulibaly, the head of the national maize program with the Institute of Rural Economy, Mali, who led the testing and release of the hybrids, noted that the new hybrids would contribute significantly to improved food security and would be part of the solution to the problems of climate change. “They should solve some of the problems associated with maize production in the sub region,” he explained.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 — 25

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

YOUSEF Suleiman is a proud Jordanian, who is ready to sell the country as a tourist destination like a good sales person. It is not surprising, therefore, that he is here in Nigeria doing the ground work for the commencement of operations of the Royal Jordanian Airways soon. In this inter view interview view,, he shares his views and expectations on the coming of the airline into the country and what they are go to offer the Nigerian travelling public. Excerpts.

Jordan, a Kingdom steeped in history, culture area. You know Nigerians go to India and Egypt for medical treatment, if we start our operations, they can now go to Jordan, because it is a medical centre in the Middle East area. Although, we are not an oil rich country, but we believe our people are the oil in Jordan.

On Nigeria aviation sector

n when Royal Jordanian will commence ser vices

On choice of Nigeria now

Nigeria is new market for us, as you know Jordan as a country is tourist destination with tourists’ arrival every year in the range of 2.5 million tourists. We want to expand, we want to have more people from other areas and we think that Africa now is the future and Nigeria is one of the biggest in the continent and we want to do business here. So we want to start with Nigeria as a giant in Africa. We also want to take Nigerians to see our country. There is no mistaking the fact that Jordan is a Kingdom steeped in history and culture. From the moment you arrive, you get a sense of its rich heritage; all around are

On his stay in Nigeria

I came into Nigeria for the first time 2011, I spent five months and also came in 2012, I spent another five months. Now I came here in 2013 to start the operations of the Royal Jordanian Airways which will commence soon Nigeria is a nice and beautiful country; the only problem is the traffic.

On his expectation

My expectation is like that of every young business with hope of growing and winning the market through our services.

Tourism master plan implementation, Duke got it wrong — Adejuwon

•Yousef Suleiman remnants of ancient civilizations long since passed, yet they still remain, stamped into the very fabric of this amazing Kingdom and etched into the soul of the people who live here.

On target market

We are targeting people, the

Royal Jordanian will commence operation to Nigeria first week of July and will start with airbus 330 with a capacity to carry 281 passengers. The Airbus A330, equipped with the latest aviation technology and top of the line comfort facilities, is a wide-body, twin engine aircraft. Our unique, shell seats in Crown Class provide passengers with their own private space and a vast palette of entertainment options. Passengers in Economy Class can also enjoy comfortable seating and a personal entertainment screen complete with English and Arabic films, music, television programs, and games for the whole family. We are starting with two flights a week, Wednesday and Friday. We hope that next year we will increase frequency to Nigeria, because next year January we are will start receiving 11 aircrafts from Boeing for 787 aircrafts.

Aviation industry in Nigeria is very good now, there are lots of competitions which will benefit the passengers, and in this case, the people have choice and so many destinations to visit. Maybe in the past their choices were limited to London and South Africa, but now they can visit also Jordan, especially as we can arrange visa for them to visit Jordan.

We already have approval for Nigerians to visit Jordan as tourists and business. Now there is an honorary consul here in Lagos.

The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is located half an

Jordan as a country is tourist destination with tourists’ arrival every year in the range of 2.5 million

business community, corporate organisations, hajj and Umrah and those who can visit Jordan as holy land. Jordan is part of the biblical period and we have many historical places like where Jesus was baptised. The site of John the Baptist’s settlement at Bethany Beyond the Jordan ,where Jesus was baptized, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts.

hour by car from the Jordanian capital Amman. The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo.

On how Nigeria can benefit from the partnership

Jordan is not all about tourism; it is also a medical centre in the Middle East

INISTER of Tourism, Culture and national Orientation, Edem Duke, has come under attack for his statement that the Tourism master Plan prepared under former president Olusegun Obasanjo, has gone obsolete. The chairman of the Tourism master Plan committee, Dr. Franklin Adejuwon, said it was unfortunate that the minister who worked with the committee then could say that the document had gone obsolete. The Minister had said during a media chat on the presentation of Fascinating Nigeria brand in Lagos recently that the master plan which was developed and launched about six or seven years ago has gone slightly obsolete. According to Dr. Adejuwon, “Nigerian Tourism master Plan which was Obasanjo propelled and established with the support of the UNDP-UNWTO has 15 years lasting plan implementation. “I am a bit disappointed however by my avowed Minister of Tourism who worked very hard with me at the cross River end to establish this important road map now saying it is obsolete.” Adejuwon added that if the minister is condemning the document could as well condemn the existence of the Ministry of Tourism which Obasanjo hinged its establishment on the development of a road map on which it should thrive. “I least expected he would be making such negative remarks when till the present budget the ministry has been drawing down on the master plan from government purse. Is there any explanation for this contradiction?” he asked. Adejuwon said this was the same document that the UNWTO applauded as a means of improving the socio-economic conditions of the Nigerian people and diversifying its economic base. He added that UNWTO said then that the success of Nigeria’s tourism industry depended on its sustainability.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013—27

How Fatai Rolling Dollar was buried T

HE quiet community of Millen nium Estate, Oko-Oba, in Agege, wore a gloomy outlook yesterday as top musicians, friends and other entertainers stormed the place to bid farewell to the veteran juju musician, Fatai Olagunju popularly known as Fatai Rolling Dollar who died last Wednesday at Marritol Hospital, following a brief illness. The musician’s remains were committed to mother earth yesterday afternoon at his uncompleted building site in Ikorodu area of Lagos. He was buried without a casket according to muslim custom. The Fidau (Muslims prayer for the dead) was conducted earlier in the day at his Millennium Estate, Oko-Oba residence, where well-wishers and friends had the final glimpse of the octogenarian musician before the body was moved to Ikorodu for interment. Top musicians at the Fidau include, former PMAN President, Admiral Dele Abiodun, Segun Adewale, Dayo Kujore, Champion Kunle Opio, Islamic scholars, music industry titans, fans and family members. Meanwhile, veteran musicians, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Prince Adekunle and others were in the deceased’s Oko-Oba Millennium Estate residence on Wednesday evening to receive the corpse from the hospital alongside family members. In his condolence message, King Sunny Ade sounded emotional, saying that “We are going to miss Pa Rolling Dollars greatly.” He said, “Pa please come to life to make us happy again if God permits.” For Stella Monye, Rolling Dollar lived and rocked well as a veteran musician. Also, paying tribute to the deceased, the Secretary of the neighbourhood Association, Mr Shola Adebayo described, Rolling Dollar, as “ a loving and caring father who always concerned himself about other people’s problems within the neighbourhood.”

hief Tony Okoroji, Chairman Copyright Society of Nigeria who is presently on official duty outside the country also paid a glowing tribute to the late highlife maestro. “Just before leaving the country, I had been given a hint by a mutual friend, Mr. Niyi Ojemakinde, the radio personality, that Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar was in hospital. I had so badly wanted to go and see him but there was just no time. He was a legend, a fantastic person with a very positive attitude to life who treated everyone with courtesy. I believe that his

By BENJAMIN NJOKU, ANOZIE EGOLE & IYABO AINA

Life and times of Fatai Rolling Dollar in picture

attitude to life was responsible for the long life he lived and that should be a lesson for all us. He was committed to the unity of the Nigerian music industry and never missed any meeting of COSON. He will be missed by a lot of people whom he inspired. COSON will ensure that Fatai Rolling Dollar is immortalized’ The late Juju/highlife music maestro who reportedly died of cancer related disease left behind sixteen children and wives. Some of the children are Jamiu, Funmi, Mojeed, Nimota and Adewumi. Rolling Dollar was one of the highlife musicians who made the genre popular in the 60s and 70s. He was famous for his evergreen classic, ‘Won Kere Si Number Wa’.

efore his death, Rolling Dollar re portedly told his family members not to weep for him. Meanwhile, the promoter who took Rolling Dollar to a musical tour of the United States of America (USA),

Sampson Raji disclosed that the late musician actually died of cancer of the lungs. According to the Maryland, USAbased music promoter, the veteran musician fell sick during the tour and he was taken to a hospital and it was at the hospital that he was diagnosed to have lung cancer. Raji said Rolling Dollar went through series of tests for four days while he was admitted in the hospital for 12 days. “After 12 days, he was discharged because his health had improved considerably due to the treatment and the drugs administered on him,” the promoter narrated.

He stated further that the late musician insisted on coming back home, saying he would prefer traditional treatment for his health. “I had to change the ticket when he insisted on coming back home but I want to tell you that as at the time he was coming back home, his health had improved. He was even distributing his CDs to fans at the airport,” Raji said. Rolling Dollar started his musical career in 1953 and had mentored other great musicians like Evangelist Ebenezer Obey and the late Orlando Owoh, among others. Known for his dexterity at playing the guitar, Rolling Dollar’s last major hit was “Won Kere Si Number Wa”. The late musician was given a house in one of the low cost housing estates in New Oko Oba, Lagos. Juju music legend, Ebenezer Obey was among those trained by the late musician. Rolling Dollar, who had three wives and 16 children, died as the oldest surviving music artiste in Nigeria.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Why Mr. President appointed Emeka Ike ambassador N

OLLYWOOD actor, Emeka Ike has been appointed a Rhythm ‘N’ Play Ambassador by President Goodluck Jonathan in recognition of his selfless service to humanity. The ceremony was held last Thursday at the National Sports Stadium, Abuja. He was decorated alongside six other super stars including: Victor Moses, the Chelsea Football Club of England’s player, and Nigeria’s top music rapper M I. As part of its nationwide grassroots sports development campaign, National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) on June 6 got the Presidency backing for its noble initiative, when Mr. President launched Rhythm N’ Play in Abuja. According to NASCOM Chairman, Yemi Idowu, Rhythm ‘N’ Play is an exciting youth-friendly campaign aimed at enhancing mass youth participation in sporting activities and age-grade competitions. “There was the need to reposition sports in order to facilitate the mass participation and early discovery of young sporting talents at the grassroots. At the Presidential Retreat held last year, NASCOM was identified as a key component of government’s efforts at developing sports at the grassroots and Rhythm ‘N’ Play is a brand created by NASCOM and will serve as its flagship campaign to drive and revolutionise grassroots sports in Nigeria,” he said. He added, “Rhythm ‘N’ Play will rely heavily on the use of music, celebrities, volunteers, news media and other elements of pop culture to amplify and realise its objectives. Mr. President launched the campaign on June 6, first in Abuja, and will later on June 14, launch it in London, United Kingdom (UK) targeting the Nigerian youths in Diaspora. As a popular Nollywood actor, Eme-

Letter To My Mother Synopsis: The movie weaves a story rolled around deceit, lies and hatred in the life of a young man returning home with his wife to be and mother of her unborn child after five years stay in overseas. Mike (John Dumelo) experiencing a cold reception from her mum upon his arrival with his wife to be is left with no option than to probe and search in the path of the unusual to uncover the ‘hard to find’ truth. ‘Letters to My Mother ’ which hit the box office today is filled with great suspense as Mike embarks on a long journey to uncover the hidden truth which is creating a wide gap between him, his wife to be and his lovely mother.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK • Emeka Ike ka Ike has been commended from different quarters for fighting for Nigerian people whose rights and voices are trampled upon. Recently, he was also appointed a member of the board of Directors of Institute For Humanitarian Studies And Social Development (IHSD). And not long after that, he was appointed into the Board of Okigwe Zonal Development Authority (OZDA). His company CIS Movies and Entertainment Limited was recently commissioned by the (IHSD) to organise the first ever Humanitarian Heroes Award. Meanwhile, only recently, the actor expanded his investment in the education sector by establishing another school in Ghana, which is different from St Nicholas college, his secondary school located in Magodo Estate, Lagos. His school in Ghana which is known as My Academy West Africa, is an affiliate of Ghana’s premier institute National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), a school he says is founded on the philosophy that “practical learning” combined with best industry practices is more valuable than only theoretical study for filmmakers and actors.

ARED Leto and his platinum-selling rock & roll band, Thirty Seconds To Mars, producers of the Octapixxdistributed music/environ-doc,”Edge of the Earth” (1 x 60’),is due to begin their international tour to promote their fourth studio album. Performing in over 30 cities, the MTVaward winning band will travel to four continents to showcase the new music featured on their latest album titled “Love Lust Faith + Dreams”. As a backdrop to their international tour, fans of Jared Leto and Thirty Seconds to

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK AFTER EARTH FAST AND FURIOUS 6 TEMPTATION TURNING POINT THE HOST Exhibition Schedule for 14th- 20th June, 2013 SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Star Trek into Darkness :1:15pm,6:10pm,8:50pm Letter to my Mother :2:00pm,4:00pm After Earth :2:00pm,6:45pm,8:45pm Fast and Furious :11:40am,6:15pm, 8:45pm Temptation: 11:10am, 3:55pm. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaani: 5:10pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Star Trek into Darkness :10:40am,1:10pm,6:20pm,9:00pm Letter to my Mother: 11:20am,1:35pm,6:00pm After Earth :12:00pm,2:10pm,6:40pm. Fast and Furious : 3:45pm,8:45pm Turning Point: 5:55pm Temptation: 11:15pm, 6:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORTHARCOURT Star Trek into Darkness :12:40pm,3:20pm,6:00pm,8:45pm Letter to my Mother :4:15pm,6:35pm,8:40pm After Earth : 12:25pm,2:15pm,4:20pm,6:20pm ,8:30pm Temptation :2:00am,4:20pm Turning Point :12:10pm,2:10pm Fast and Furious :4:00pm,6:20pm,8:50pm Host: 12:20pm,5:40pm,8:00pm Journey to self :11:45pm, 4:10pm,20:35pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Letter to my Mother :12:30pm,4:30pm,8:30pm After Earth :12:40pm,2:40pm,4:40pm,6:40pm,8:40pm Temptation: 2:15pm, 6:55pm, 9:10pm. Turning point: 2:30pm,6:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS ABUJA Star Trek into Darkness :1:10pm,3:50pm,6:30pm,9:10pm Letter to my Mother :12:50pm,4:00pm,8:10pm After Earth :2:50pm,4:50pm,7:00pm,9:00pm Fast and Furious 6 :1:40pm,4:10pm,6:40pm,9:20pm Turning point :11:40pm,4:05pm G. I JOE: 1:00pm, 7:20pm

“Thirty Seconds to Mars” begin Intl. tour J

Synopsis

Mars will enjoy the Octapixx-distributed documentary “Edge of the Earth” (1 x 60’, HD) which goes behind-the-scenes with the band as they produce a global awareness, high-production-value music video against the backdrop of the environmental trouble-spot that is the Arctic. Octapixx Worldwide stands ready for delivery of the film to broadcasters as the band embarks on their international tour.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Letter to My Mother :12:10pm,2:20pm,4:50pm,6:50pm Host:11:35am,2:00pm,4:20pm,6:40pm Turning Point :12:30pm,2:40pm,4:50pm,7:00pm Temptation: 12:15pm,2:30pm,4:45pm, 6:55pm, Looper :11:50am,2:15pm Weekend Getaway:11:40am,4:15pm Journey to self :1:55pm,6:35pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Star Trek into Darkness :10:05am,12:45pm,3:20pm,6:00pm,8:30pm Letter to my Mother :12:55pm After Earth:3:00pm,5:05pm,7:10pm Fast and Furious :2:50pm,5:25pm,7:55pm Temptation: 11:50pm, 6:45pm, GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Letter To My Mother :fri-sat :10:20am,4:40pm,11:00pm,sunthur:10:20am,4:40pm Temptation : 9:30pm A f t e r Earth:9:30am,10:20am,12:25pm,2:30pm,4:35pm,6:40pm,8:45pm,10:50pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Letter To My Mother :11:40pm,1:30pm,3:45pm,5:25pm,7:15pm Turning Point : Fri- Sat : 9:35am,3:20pm,9:05,Sun-Thur :9:35am,3:20pm After Earth:9:30am,2:00pm,6:30pm,8:30pm

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Ronke Oshodi Oke not returning home soon!

MI, IcePrince, NaetoC, others to storm Lokoja for Star Music Trek 2013 gifts and the usual fantastic Star Music Trek experience. Other artistes who will be performing at the event include J FTER a successful outing of Star Trek 1st leg held in Martins, Dr Sid and 2010 Star Festac Town, Lagos on June 8, Quest winners, JukeBox. Star Music Trek 2013 spanmultiple award winner, M.I, ning 10 weeks, will tour 8 othIce Prince, J Martins, Naeto C, are ready to give eager Lokoja fans a lifetime show at the next stage of the concert which holds at Lokoja Stadium, Lokoja. Kogi State, come tomorrow. The first leg of the concert which had over 50,000 fans in FTER attendance was a spectacular much event with performances from anticipation the likes of Psquare, Africa’s since the number one rapper, MI, Icerelease of Prince, Naija Ninja, Sound “My Dear ” Sultan, hit maker Kcee, fast risa n d ing pop artiste, Kas, and win“ L i g a l i ” , ners of Star Quest Nigeria D a m m y 2012, Crystals. Krane has “The Lagos concert was awedropped some, the fans have a way of three new always inspiring me. I’m realsingles. The ly excited, can’t wait to see our s i n g l e s , fans in Lokoja and share the “Lobatan”, “ love.” M.I says. Xteristics” and Ice Prince, who rocked the “G r a t i t u d e ” stage in Festac says “We were released rocked Lagos. We’ll do it again last week. in Lokoja and even better! Our The rising star fans in Lokoja can expect the and Hypertek very best of music, surprise artist is persistent in making sure he keeps his audience locked into his fabulous Fuji style. The hat trick includes: Lobatan a Fuji inspired BENJAMIN NJOKU dance track that samples the njokujamin@yahoo.com great Kwam1 was produced by Tintin. “Xteristics” is an AYO ONIKOYI ode to Agbani Derego, the 1st black African Miss World OPEOLUWANI and “Gratitude” which OGUNJIMI highlights the best of BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

OR fans of Yoruba actress Ronke Ojo popularly known as Ronke Oshodi Oke who have been waiting to welcome the screen idol back home after delivering her baby in far away United States earlier this year may have to wait for too long. The latest buzz is that Ronke has been trying to get citizenship card for her son before returning home. Those who are close

er cities across the country, namely Aba, Abeokuta, Agege,(-Lagos) Asaba, Enugu, (-Lagos) Nnewi, Owerri and Surulere (Lagos). Star Music Trek 2013 ends on August 10, 2013 in Lagos.

Dammy Krane drops 3 hot singles

THE TEAM

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• Ronke

’Supermom‘ unveils fourth edition BY ANOZIE EGOLE

my Dame n Kra

Dammy Kranes style was produced by Spellz. Dammy Krane for the girls definitely isn’t showing signs of slowing down, so keep locked in for new material. The brand new tracks are definitely club bangers and can be downloaded via the spinlet app.

to the actress hinted that as soon as she succeeds in securing the green card, she will board the next available flight to Nigeria. The actress gave birth to baby in the night of Friday, March 8, 2013 in a Texas hospital. She’s married to a US based Nigerian businessman, Sylvester Omogbolahan Anthony in 2009. The couple separated a few months after, over her ex-husband’s alleged affair with another woman. The couple got back together in 2012 and are now blessed with their second child.

OR mothers who have pathetic stories to tell about the pains and agony of raising their children, “Supermom” is back with the answer. Promoters of the reality show that celebrates and rewards mothers have announced commencement of the fourth edition with tinkered model and focus. This year’s edition will not be celebrating biological mothers but women who gave and are still giving their all to children irrespective of their biological mother. The show which is sponsored by Procter & Gamble; makers of Safeguard, Ariel, Pampers, Always and Promasidor; makers of Onga seasoning and Cowbell is in the fourth year running and has consistently celebrated mothers who through dint of rare sacrifices raised children to enviable position in the society. The first and second editions focused on mothers whose stories their children told with emotive conviction. The stories bordered on the sacrifice, pain and sheer hardship that 13 women went through in raising their kids without any assistance from their husbands.

Their stories were told with short dramas while the eventual winners were decided via votes from members of the public. The first set of winners won: a brand new house, the first runner up, a brand new car while the second runner up smiled home with cash prize. This year, the focus is on mothers who raised children they did not give birth to. The founders of motherless babies’ homes naturally take the front rolls but the stories of mothers with heart of gold did not start and end within the four walls of orphanages.

• Sola

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With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Nigerians get opportunity for cheap iPad

Nigerian youths get star treatment with Galaxy Star smartphone

ESPITE the influx of different brands of tablets in the Nigerian market, many Nigerians still crave for the Apple iPad. In most cases the problem has been that getting one, doesn’t come easy for majority of low income earners. Establishing its presence in Nigeria, Apple has appointed a group known as Core Group Africa, which stands as official representatives and Apple’s official distributor for Nigeria. Part of its job was to get feedback on the products from Nigerian users and potential users. Apparently in discharging this duty, the group may have stumbled on the fact that many potential users still find it difficult to meet the asking price of iPad and so has struck a deal with one of Nigeria’s new generation banks, the Stanbic IBTC on how to make the acquisition of iPad easy for to be users. The deal gives Nigerians the opportunity to pay for an iPad in over 12 months, without additional interest. The deal covers any iPad with Retina Display and iPad mini,

as well as other selected Apple products. Director of Core Group Africa, Mr. Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk, said that offering a finance deal was to further show the commitment to making official Apple product more accessible to Nigerians. He described iPad as “a lifechanging product and we want to ensure that more Nigerians have the option of owning this revolutionary device. There has never been a more affordable finance deal to purchase iPad in Nigeria and we encourage customers to apply”. The Executive Director, Personnel and Business Banking, for Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Obinnia Abajue also commented on the deal, saying that,

•iPad

“we have partnered with Core Group Africa to offer our customers an opportunity to own an iPad or iPad mini at a 0% interest. This is consistent with our dedication to continually seek ways of delighting our customers by ensuring that we support their aspirations with convenient and affordable products and service at all our touch points.” Customers will be able to apply for the 0% percent interest deal at any Stanbic branch in Lagos . Once customers are approved for the finance deal, they will be able to collect their new iPad from iStore Ikeja Mall. The starting price of the finance deal is as little as N5375 per month.

Nokia users can no w ping U

features such as the ability to block certain users, SERS of Nokia’s Lumia series and the turn off public ID and stop people from dual SIM Asha 305, 308, 309, 310 and automatically adding you to their friends list. 311 can now ping like Blackberry users do Nokia’s collaboration with LINE was on Blackberry Messenger, BBM announced during this year’s Mobile World This is after Nokia introduced the ‘Line’ Congress in Barcelona. LINE’s partnership with messaging app and make it available for Nokia on Asha smartphones is expected to serve download in its Nokia store. as an important platform for improving The new app is compatible with the Nokia awareness on LINE’s global Lumia devices and Asha full touch service and attracting new ranges including LINE is a consumers from across the messaging application for globe. smartphones. After making LINE publicly For its first Asha app, LINE available in March this year, will unveil four varieties of the two companies said they default stickers - Moon, are now working towards Cony, Brown and James delivering more capabilities for while enabling 1:1 chat and Asha smartphone consumers. group chat. Nokia launched the Asha The app, which is huge in range in 2011 to target the Asia and growing fast in the next billion people in rest of the world, allows users emerging markets. to send instant messages to Marketing Manager, Nokia friends or groups, and send West Africa, Kesiena Ogbemi, photos and stickers to each said that LINE will take other for free. It also enables advantage of Nokia users to send messages to Notifications API solution friends from a PC to a mobile allowing consumers to receive phone. chat notifications in the LINE, currently boasts of background, saving memory, 130 million users in over 240 data and battery countries and has other •Nokia Line App C M Y K

he number of stars from Nigeria keeps growing as the global music, movie, sports and Technology fields can never produce any new stars without Nigerians being in the great majority. Could that be why Samsung’s new smartphone innovation, Galaxy star smartphone targets the youths and is being heavily focused towards the Nigerian market? The Star smartphone, is an affordable solution targeted at the younger generation of mobile phone users. Featuring a dual-SIM functionality, the entrylevel smartphone is powered by an A5 1GHz processor and the latest Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system. It has a three-inch touch screen, 2 megapixel camera, 512 MB RAM and 4GB internal memory. The device is already available at Samsung stores and accredited dealers nationwide, with a formal unveiling scheduled for sometime this month in Lagos. Director of Hand Held Products at Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, said that mobile handsets are rapidly becoming the centre of peoples lives, even as more and more users desire access to content and to enjoy more features and activities such as gaming, video and music anytime, anywhere, with their devices. “At Samsung, we understand that consumer habits and consumption patterns are changing, thus, we are providing our consumers with the opportunity to own a device with features of a high-end smartphone at a much lower cost. The Galaxy Star is a device that provides superior value to consumers based on its features, intuitive performance and design” Revmatas added.

amsung also said it will be sponsoring ten Nigerian amateur videographers and film makers on an all-expense paid trip to Dubai, where they will attend training seminars and workshops to hone their skills in video production and directing, through its Galaxy Star Campaign. Individuals interested in participating in the initiative are required to shoot a video using the Galaxy Star smartphone and upload same on Samsung’s website between June 3 and July 7, 2013. 20 winning videos will be shortlisted via public voting after which ten finalists will be selected for the trip to Dubai by a renowned Nigerian film producer. S a m s u n g Electronics West Africa’s Marketing Manager for Hand Held Products, Ms. Olajumoke O k i k i o l u , described the campaign as Samsung’s way of showing its commitment to the development of talent in Nigeria by providing young videographers and directors in Nigeria’s music video and film industry with the much-needed training •Galaxy star and global exposure.

Vanguard anguard,,

FRID AY , JUNE 1 4, 20 1 3 — 35 FRIDA 14, 201

YOUR LUCK TODAY By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 ARIES; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today. TAURUS; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble GEMINI ; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis?. CANCER; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but, you’ll succeed.. Entertain no fear, and take advantage of your sex-appeal for love.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

great thinker once wrote that words are the forerunner of our action. People first hear us talk before they see us act our talk. It is what we say that first captures their attention and ensure that they

Talking to people give us audience. You may be a great actor but if you are not able to market your skill you will have a scanty audience. And if you are a leader, if you can’t communicate your

intention, chances are that you will have a very low followership. This is where ability to speak and communicate appropriately comes in. It is not enough to know it,

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

the question is can you convince people that you know it? Talking to people is a skill everyone of us should develop. The leader, the marketer, the politician, the manager etc. we all need the skill. Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LEO;. Placement of the Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed VIRGO; The. Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powers-that-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation LIBRA; It is your day. But you will need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now. SCORPIO; If what you’re doing today’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today. Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now SAGITTARIUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being cooperative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble. CAPRICORN; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today. It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

AQUARIUS; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please. PISCES; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image

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,

Sagittarius please! Dear Joshua,\ Kindly give me characteristics of Sagittarius Remi. Lagos. Dear Remi, Here-under are basic characteristics of Sagittarius BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SAGITTARIUS Sagittarius is a mutable sign by its quality. It ‘s element is fire, symbolised by half horse half man and/or an Archer aiming at the sky. Mutable means changes and experimentation, while fire is all about enthusiasm, taking of the initiative and leadership ability. Thus, you are the type that will exhibit strong interest in an important project that catches your fancy and you will not mind to experiment with ideas just to achieve your objectives and aims. Sagittarius is 9th of the twelve Zodiac signs that rules philosophy, RELIGION, law, foreign land, higher mind/higher institutions, lawyer, long (distance) travelling, in-laws, future, optimism and bluntness. Major problem or weak points of Sagittarians are excessive openness/bluntness and sometimes fanatical approach to religion. Being a born adventurer, you are not afraid of exploration and new beginning. Sagittarians are incurable optimists and ever ready to listen to and eager to believe others. Honesty is truly in your inner self You are a tolerant person but you are not ready to compromise your FREEDOM Sagittarius as a fire sign can make you a quick tempered person. Half horse half man as the symbol, of Sagittarius indicates dual (double) personalities known in different circles with different personalities. Yet, you are not a pretender. As the Archer aims arrow into the sky so also Sagittarians have many lofty ideas and ambitions. But sometimes their ideas and/or ideals are not practical enough for realisation. Many times, they start too many things at the same time only to .either forget or lose view of their original target. Development of practical approach is more important for Sagittarians this is in order to make success of many of their brilliant ideas, otherwise they tend to become dreamers. In reality, Sagittarians are dreamers (by this 1 mean real dream many use to have at night when sleeping) and many of their dreams usually come to pass. Sometimes their dreams are vividly prophetic. Sagittarians are born philosophers. That is why they have well developed minds indispensable to rare wisdom, Then, they are humorous, lively, sports loving out going, energetic, good hearted, in love with change/experimentation, ever willing to co-operate, socially inclined, enthusiastic and highly intelligent. Ironically as intelligent as they are, they can surprisingly appear fanatical about their convinction and/or views.

VIRGINIA

HOME & AWAY

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

ACN cautions Abati on use of language T HE Action Congress of Ni geria, ACN, yesterday, decried the growing propensity of presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, to resort to the use foul language against critics of the Jonathan Administration, saying such crude verbal attacks may boomerang on the presidency if left unchecked. ACN said in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that there is a difference between a vicious verbal attack, which Dr. Abati now engages in with relish, and a robust response to critics of the Administration, which is what is expected of him. The statement said: "Contrary

to what Dr. Abati may think, ‘attack’and ‘criticism’ are not synonymous. An effective presidential spokesman is not the one who employs gutter language to respond to critics of his principal, or one who makes more enemies than friends for his boss, but one who is able to convey the activities and achievements of the president to the citizenry with dignified language. By virtue of what is believed to be his sound education, professional training and exposure, Dr. Abati should be well placed to know how to tell a man to go to hell and the man will still be smiling! "To be sure, the use of dignified language by a presidential

spokesman is important because whatever he says is believed to have emanated from his principal. It is, therefore, unimaginable that President Goodluck Jonathan will resort to the use of the kind of language that has been spewing out of the mouth of his spokesman in recent times. To the best of our knowledge, no presidential spokesman in Nigeria’s history has employed such base language in defence of his principal." ACN said using such words as ‘ethically-challenged’, ‘hypocrite’, ‘medieval-era ignoramus’, ‘habitual indolence and brainlessness’, ‘descent into moral abyss’, ‘mental indolence’, ‘bootlicking’,

‘hideous and second-rate characters’, and ‘foolish’ to describe the critics of the President is rude, crude, uncouth, unconscionable and uncalled for, and that those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. It added that while Dr. Abati was free to exhibit his bombastic prowess, the rarefied realm of the presidency was not the ideal place for that, because when those who are being assaulted with such words respond in kind, it debases the presidency and ultimately hurts the occupier of the office. In a truly global world, such unrestrained response to critics of the presidency also hurts not just the President but the image of the en-

tire country. "Even if some critics use words that Dr. Abati finds annoying and insulting or engage in criticism that he deems unfair, it is still incumbent on him to avoid responding in kind, simply because he is not speaking for himself but for an institution. It is, therefore, not enough defence for him to say that he is responding in kind to critics of his boss. May we also remind the presidential spokesman that there will be life after that office, and that he should remember that in an era where the power of the written word has assumed more potency for various reasons, it is important to be more circumspect in tongue-lashing critics of the President," the party said.

Group demands House of Reps position for Ado

HEAD of the 2015 General elections, a socio-political group, Movement for Equity and Justice for Ado, MEJA, has called on stakeholders in Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu federal constituency to ensure that they do nothing to breach the 2010 decision of the PDP Caucus which zoned the House of Representative seat in 2015 to Ado local government area. In statement signed by the President, Hon. Ede Ogaba Ede and Secretary, Barr. Goodluck Agbo, the group said Ado local government area has made tremendous contributions to the success story of the PDP without commensurate reward or patronage and would resist every move

to deny her the chance to represent the constituency in 2015. The statement said: “We wish to declare that anything short of giving Ado this chance would amount to injustice and shall be resisted with all the political strength we have.” The group which faulted clandestine moves by some politicians in the area to subvert the agreement and deny the Ado people the right of full participation in the politics of their area called on the state governor and leader of the party in the state, Gabriel Suswam, the State Working Committee of the party and the Zone C chapter of the party to ensure equity and justice for the Ado People.

Sefia asks PDP to discipline erring members

HAIRMAN, Del ta State Elders’ Forum, Chief Gabriel Sefia, yesterday, urged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to discipline its erring members. Sefia who spoke during the hosting of the Peoples Democratic Party, Udu Local Government Area chapter by Hon. Matthew Uparan at Ovwian said it was time to deal with erring members of the party. He said: “Hon. Uparan has shown that he is a worthy party man that deserves all the best for taking the bold step of hosting members of our party. There are some persons whom we elected into elective positions, who turn C M Y K

their back on the party in return. As far as I am still breathing, such persons will never get the blessings of the party for any position again. “Such persons are those destroying the party for us. I want to say this to the serving supervisory councilors that if they don’t behave like Matthew Uparan, they will never smell any political position again. You all know what the party is capable of, it can do and undo anything, the party is next to God in Nigeria.” Sefia advised PDP faithful in Udu to emulate Uparan’s good gesture of hosting the party for it to become the party to beat in the local government area.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013—37

S-West PDP report ready for submission

FADAMA: FCTA distributes N4.3m to farmers

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

BUJA—THE Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, yesterday, said it had given N4.3 million to FADAMA Community Associations, FCAs, and FADAMA user groups for the implementation of their identified and chosen sub-projects. Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, stated this when she paid a visit to some of the FCT FADAMA III projects in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils in Abuja. She challenged the FADAMA and FCT agriculture secretariat to re-double efforts in ensuring food security in the FCT. The minister said: “This visit is part of a deliberate strategy by the FCT Administration to monitor activities and track performance of our agencies to ensure the delivery of quality services to the people. "Over the past few months, I have received several reports and briefings on activities of the FCT Fadama III project and the significant milestones the project has achieved in its efforts at empowering our rural farmers, particularly women and youth groups".

Group urges FCT communities to task govt on responsibility

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State (right) receiving a souvenir from Mr. Ukaeje Uda, Brewery Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc Aba, during the governor’s visit to the company.

Anambra: Aspirants protest, demand conduct of LG polls BY ENYIM ENYIM

NITSHA—TIRED of wait ing for the conduct of local government election in Anambra State, aspirants for the position of chairmanship and councillorship, under the aegis of Movement for the Conduct of Local Government Election, yesterday stormed Government House, Awka, to demand the conduct of the polls this year. Leader of the group, Mr Ositadinma Obi, who spoke during an interactive meeting with Governor Peter Obi, described as criminal the non-conduct of council polls by past and present governments in the past 13 years. The leader of the group said: "Your Excellency, we are here to tell you that we want local government election conducted by this administration.There are

BY ALICE FESTUS

BUJA – A group, Society for Community Development, has urged communities in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to challenge government to live up to its responsibilities, especially with regards to meeting their demands. Assistant Director of the group, Ms. Omoayena Idaewoh, who threw the challenge at a one-day capacity building training on human rights and citizen’s education towards democratic governance, said it was essential for communities to stand up to government rather than wait on civil society groups and nongovernmental organisations to do it for them. According to her, one of the ingredients of democracy is that governmen t must be held accountable by the people.

some aspirants who have been neglected for the past 13 years as a result of the non conduct of the election". He threatened that the group would mobilize two million people in the state to stop the forthcoming governorship poll should Obi government fail to conduct the local government election this year. He said: "What we are saying is that if there is no local government election there will be no governorship election. Governor, I appeal to you to liaise with the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, to ensure that the local government election was conducted”. In his response, Governor Obi assured the group of his administration’s commitment to conduct the local government election but directed them to go

to the state electoral commission, ANSIEC, and demand that they fixed date and conduct the council polls without further delay. The governor said: “As you want the local government election is the same way I want it. I have no reason not to conduct the local government election. You should meet ANSIEC, they have the budget this year and can conduct anytime. "The government of Anambra State today is your member, a committed and financial member and we will not be part of stopping the election. “In Anambra State, the local government election is overdue. There is no time it is early or late to conduct the election. “So, go to ANSIEC, let them fix a date, let us go to the field and we will all be part of making sure that it will be free and fair.”

Imo workers threaten to resume strike over welfare BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—THE leadership of the Imo State Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, yesterday, issued a stern warning that it might be constrained to call out workers again on industrial action if the state government failed to address the myriads of workers' problems. JNC Chairman, Comrade Coleman Okwara, read the riot act when he addressed workers at the State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt Road, Owerri. Okwara said: “My dear, your leadership may be forced to call you all out on industrial action if

government fails to comprehensively address all the grievances presented to it by labour”. The labour leader was particularly irked with what he described as the attitude of the state government over the plight of its workforce, adding that workers might be constrained to resume the strike which they suspended recently. He wondered why government had refused to negotiate with JNC over, among other things, the unsettled workers’ promotion and attendant arrears of cash benefits, which he said took effect from July 2010.

He said: “When the time comes, the state government must pay workers the arrears of their promotion. It is just like the water in the broken calabash which is always there for the puppy.” Okwara said there was no need for government to turn a deaf ear to workers’ demand for study leave without pay, which Imo workers had been calling for. He also lamented the prevailing staggered payment of leave allowance instead of the usual bulk payment, stressing that government took that decision and started implementing it without reference to labour.

HE panel set up by the Chief Ishola Filani-led Caretaker Committee for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West to review the reports of the reconciliation committees from the six states in the zone is set to submit its report. A source said it would soon submit the report to the Zonal Working Committee, ZWC, which will deliberate on it “for further action”. Other members of the committee are Mr. Qudus Folami, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Jaiyeoba, Engr. Yinka Adigun, Barrister Sola Oludipe, Hon. Tope Ademiluyi and Hon. Semiu Babatunde. Desirous of reconciling all the contending interests within the party in the zone, the Filani-led committee set up a six-man committee for each of the six states of the South West. The various committees submitted their reports on May 23, 2013, after which the Prof. Otubanjo-led review panel was constituted.

Anambra gives N3,000 grants to indigent households BY VINCENT UJUMADU

WKA—ABOUT 11,750 households from five selected local government areas of Anambra State are to receive N3,000 monthly cash grant each for their upkeep as part of the state government’s measures to fight poverty. Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Professor Chinyere Okunna, said in an interview, yesterday, that apart from being poor, the benefitting households must have children of school age from Primary 1 to SSS 3, have trainable adults who would be trained in a life sustaining venture, must not have a member who earns any salary and must not be receiving any other pro-poor programme. She listed the five local government areas to benefit to include Anaocha, Ihiala, Anambra West, Ogbaru and Orumba North.

38—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Okada riders protest ban in Edo zCriminals now use motorcycle to terrorise our people —Oshiomhole

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

EIN CITY—THOUSANDS of commercial motorcycle riders, commonly called Okada, yesterday, protested in Benin, Edo State for several hours, over the ban of Okada in the three local government areas of Egor,Oredo and Ikpoba Okhai by the Edo State Government. Also, the government has identified some houses used by suspected kidnappers as hideout and vowed to demolish them in the next few days. The state governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, shortly after the State Security Council meeting in Benin, said it was now increasingly evident that Edo State was gradually becoming a safe haven for all manner of Okada riders, alleging that many of them are criminals. However, the protest paralysed commercial activities in major areas such as the GRA, Ringroad, Akpakpava, as the protesters urged the state government to reverse its decision in the interest of those who resorted to Okada due to lack of job. Meanwhile, Oshiomhole, who announced the ban, said: “In fact, there are confirmed Okada riders, who have been involved in kidnapping and other forms of violent crime, including robbery. We have tried our best as a government over the years to take steps to counsel Okada riders to ob-

serve certain codes, to watch out and ensure that criminals do not infiltrate their ranks and hide under commercial motorcycles to perpetrate crime. It is clear to me now that we have not been particularly successful. More and more Okada riders have been found to be involved in various acts of violent crime. “Also, because of the influx of Okada riders, arising from the decision of some of our neighbouring states, where Okada operations had been prohibited, Edo State has become a safe ha-

ven for all manners of Okada riders and because they do not get enough patronage, some have resorted to crime, while posing to be motorcycle operators. “I am convinced that we cannot continue like that. While I am very concerned about unemployment in the country, and in Edo State, we have our fair share of unemployment, I am convinced that the long term interest of job creation requires that you attract investors and investments to the state. It is a settled issue that investors will not be in a hurry to go to a state

where the level of crime has risen beyond acceptable level. “Everything considered, we have resolved as a government, effective from Monday next week, that Okada riders will not be allowed to operate in any part of Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Egor Local Government Areas. These three councils constitute the heart of Benin City. Law enforcement agencies have been informed accordingly and directed to strictly enforce this law.”

OATH OF OFFICE: Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (right), administering oath of office to the newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers, at the Exco Chambers of Governor's Office, Uyo.

Leave contractors alone, DESOPADEC advises oil communities

BY EMMAAMAIZE

ARRI—COMMISSIONER representing Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, has advised oil communities not to make unnecessary demands from contractors to enable them execute projects on schedule and according to specification. Otuaro, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said: “DESOPADEC has awarded contracts to contractors for various projects that will impact on the life of our people and the expectation of the commission is that the jobs will be delivered

on schedule. “So, I appeal to communities not to make unnecessary demand from contractors or put stumbling blocks on their way, so as not to let anybody

give us excuse. “All projects must meet engineering design and specification. No shoddy job will be tolerated because these projects are for us and our children.”

Bayelsa govt offers bursary to physically challenged students tutions of higher learning across BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—HENCEFORTH, physically challenged students of Bayelsa State origin from primary to postgraduate level are to enjoy annual bursary from the state government. While the physically challenged pupils in primary and

secondary schools are to receive N30,000 and N45,000, the undergraduates and post graduate students are to get N67,000 and N195,000 respectively. State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Salo Adikumo, who stated this, yesterday, at the state Scholarship Board, Yenagoa, while addressing the leadership of Bayelsa State students in insti-

SURE-P: Burutu LG to train 60 youths on fish farming

OMADI—THE Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, has yielded maximum result in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, as the council is set to train 60 youths on fish farming, at Shonghai Farms Nig. Ltd, Sapele, Delta State. Disclosing this to newsmen, Transition Committee Chairman

He explained that DESOPADEC was already carrying out enlightenment to sensitise Ijaw communities on the need for them not to disturb contractors so that they will be focus on quality and delivery.

of the council, Navy Capt. Deinne Buckman (rtd), said that the forms were ready under SURE-P for youths, whose qualification would not be compromised. On his youth empowerment programmes, Buckman said that his administration will set up four tailoring factories across the council to train indigenes on

modern, world-class sewing methods and that Tuomo and Kiagbodo communities had already been chosen out of the four proposed sites. He said that after the raining, the council will empower youths to enable them set up their fish farms within Burutu, adding that sensitisation on the importance of the project was on-going.

the country, also announced the upward review of bursary payment for other categories of students of the state origin in tertiary institutions in the country. Giving a breakdown of the amount, he said undergraduate students would receive N30,000, post graduates N120,000, Clinical students (6th year medical) N120,000, doctorate specialist course, N180,000, Law School N250,000, Mono-Technic N150,000, while French students on immersion programme are to receive N150,000. Flanked by the chairman of the state Scholarship Board, Mr. Foster Ogola and other members of the board, the commissioner said that “the bursary is a stipend (privileged) paid to students of the state origin in tertiary institutions in the country to ease the financial burden on their parents.”

Uvwie monarch drums support for Uduaghan’s Beyond Oil plan

HE traditional ruler of Uvwie Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, the Ovie of Uvwie, has called on Delta State indigenes at home and in the diaspora to support the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s vision of building a Delta State not dependent on oil. Abe 1, made the call in his palace in Effurun, when he played host to the board members of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, DBIR, who were on a courtesy visit to his palace. He said that there was an urgent need for the people of the state to key into the governor’s vision. Pledging total support for the administration particularly, the governor’s desire to lay a solid foundation for revenue derivable from other avenues, the monarch, said that going by the discovery that oil is a perishable natural resource, it was a wise decision taken by this administration to diversify. The monarch said: “When oil boom started, we neglected agriculture and other things we generated revenue from before oil. It was not only in Delta State but all over the country. But now that we are thinking well because oil can dry up one day, Delta State Beyond Oil is a welcomed venture, a welcome project. We all need to support the policy and make sure that our people benefit from same.”

Retreat

HE VINCENTIAN Retreat Centre, Ojodu-Ikeja, will end its three-day monthly retreat today. The event which on Wednesday with the theme: Victory Is Ours, will feature confession, stations of the cross, adoration, igil and holy mass. The retreat is hosted by the Vincentian fathers.

Meeting

AGOS State branch of St Enda’s College (Agbarho Grammar School), Agbarho, Delta State Old Students Association, holds its monthly meeting on Saturday, at 12B Abuja Close, Agbara Estate, Agbara, at 3pm. Members are urged to be punctual.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 — 39

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

TREBLE CHANCE Balcatta Joondalup Dianella Wanneroo Joondalup C Olympic Cumberland Enfield White City Adelaide O.

v Armadale v Bunbury v Canning v Mandurah vFremantle U v Subiaco v Campbelltn v Wt Birkalla v Para Hills v Pirates

SOCCER TIPS

Messi accused of £3.4million tax fraud

FOUR HOMES

SUPERSTAR footballer Lionel Messi is being investigated for an alleged £3.4 million tax fraud in Spain. The Barcelona star and his dad, Jorge, are accused of filing fraudulent tax returns from 20062009 according to a spokesman for tax crime in Catalonia. The 25-year-old recognised as the best player in the world and is rumoured to earn £250,000-a-week and £13MILLION in endorsements. Last year the player agreed a new six-year deal with Barcelona worth an estimated £17million-ayear AFTER tax which will run until 2018. He revealed his shock at allegations and insisted he has done nothing wrong. In a statement the Argentine forward hit back saying: “We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities. We are surprised about this news, because we have never committed any infringement. “We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation.” His club has not commented yet. Messi - who has won the world player of the year title FOUR times - is one of the world’s highest paid footballers earning around £250,000 a WEEK. Any club wanting to buy him would have to shell out an astronomical £320million to include his . wages and £210million transfer fee to release him from the Spanish champions Barcelona. But due to new tax laws in Spain, Messi’s new deal will cost Barca a lot more. Instead of 24 per cent tax they will now pay up to 52 per cent on Messi’s salary which means his wages will increase from £10m-a-year to £17m. LATE Last December Messi turned down a TIPS monster £460,000-a-week offer to quit Barcelona. As well as his Barcelona wages, he earns millions from sponsors including Adidas, PepsiCo and P&G and he is 10th on Forbes’s latest list of top-earning athletes. He came on for the final half-hour of Argentina’s World Cup 2014 qualifier against Ecuador in Quito on Tuesday which ended in a 1-1 draw. Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said Messi is expected to be included in the line-up for their friendly against Guatemala on Friday.

1 X 3 X 5 X 6 PAIR FOUR AWAYS 34 14 X 39 X 43 X X 44 41 PERMUTATION 2 X 8 X 9 X AVOID 12X 20 X 23 10 TIPS RISKY 17 45 X 46 X 47 CREDIT Seaford 2 AD Hills 2 AD Cobras 2 Knights 3 Inglewood 3 Balcatta 3 Westvale 3 N.Sunshine 3

EXCELLENT Central Coast 7 Albany Creek 7 Rochedale 7 Ballarat 5 E. Altona 5 Clifton Hill 5 Hume 5 Melbourne U 5

Ayew brothers back to Black Stars Two sons of Ghana’s football legend, Abedi Ayew Pele, who quit the national football team in a row withGhana Football Association (GFA), on Tuesday agreed to return to theBlack Stars.Their return followed the intervention of Ghana President, John Draani Mahama.Andre Dede and Jordan Ayew held talks with President Mahama, who hasmade himself available to speak with all football stars who left theBlack Stars for various reasons. for various reasons.

X-RAY OF THE DRAWS .WEEK 48 NSW Premier 1 Blacktown Sp 2 Central Coast 3 Sutherland

v Manly U. 1 v Bonnyrigg XX v Leichhardt 1

Bribane Premier

4 Albany Creek 5 Capalaba 6 North Star 7 Rochedale

v Peninsula.P XX v Eastern S 1 v University O. 1 v Wolves XX

8 Ballarat 9 E Altona 10 Moreland C. 11Whittlesea R

v Avondale XX v Brunswick CXX v LA Trobe 1 v Fitzroy 1

Victoria Premier

Vict oria Division TTw wo Victoria

12 Cliftn H. 13 Dandenong 14 Diamond V. 15 Doveton 16 Morewell 17 Noble Pk.

v Lagwarring XX v Malvern C 1X v Kingston C. 2X v Springvale W.1 v Mornington 1X v S.Springvale 1

Victoria Division Three 18 Banyule v Sunbury 1X 19 Cairnlea v Altona C. 1 20 Hume v Sp. WhittleseaXX 21 Melbourne U v Geelong. XX 22 N.Sunshine v Yarraville 1 23 Westvale v Moreland UXX

West Australia Premier 24 Armadale 25 Balcatta 26 Burnbury 27 Inglewood 28 Stirling L..

v Cockburn v Sorrento v Athena v Bayswater v Joondalup

West Australia Division One

X2 XX X2 XX 1

8 9 23 47

29 Knights v Ashfield XX 30 Mandurah v Uwa Needl'ds XX 31 Rockingham v Gosnells XX 32 Shamrock R. v Morley 1 33 Swan Utd. v Dianella X2

South Australia Premier

34 AD Cobras 35 Campbeltown 36 Comets 37 Enfield 38 Metro Star 39 Western S. 40 WT. Birkalla

v Croydon XX v Adelaide C. X1 v Blue Eagles XX v Cumberland 1 v White C. 1 v Adelaide R 2 v Para Hills 1X

41 AD Hills 42 Eastern U. 43 Grawler 44 Northern D. 45 Olympic SA 46 Salisbury 47 Seaford

v Modbury XX v W.Toros XX v S.Adelaide 2 v Playford 2 v Noarlunga XX v W,Adelaide XX v Pirates XX

South Australia State League

Tasmania S tat e League Stat tate 48 Devonport 49 Olympia

v Glenorchy 1 v Launceston C 1

Revised Pairs 2 x 8, 9 x 12 23 x 34, 41 x 47

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013—41

Plateau Poly matriculates 4,800 students

Nigerians need 17m houses to address accommodation problem — Okino

OKOJA —THE Gen eral Manager, Kogi Investment and Properties Limited, KIPL, Alhaji. Moses Ado Okino has said that Nigerians needed about 17 million houses to address the issue of accomodation for the homeless in the country. Okino spoke when the Kogi State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Rich Field Group to construct over 10,000 houses on owner occupier basis for the people of the state in Lokoja, the state capital. The General Manager signed the MoU, on behalf of the state governor, Captain Idris Wada, rtd.

Sambo's aide loses wife

BUJA—MALLAM Umar Sani, the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Media and Publicity to Vice President Namadi Sambo, has lost his wife, Hajiya Sahura Umar. A statement issued in Abuja by the Personal Assistant to the SSA, Alhaji Bashir Bello, said the deceased died at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, after a protracted illness. It stated that until her death, the deceased was a student of school of Nursing and Midwifery, Kaduna. “Hajiya Sahura, aged 32, was a devout Muslim and a community leader who will be missed by her peers,” the statement said.

COMMISSIONING—Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen(M), with Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe(R), during the Commissioning of a re-constructed bridge on Gombe-Potiskum Road,Tuesday.

Many feared dead as gunmen attack Kwasakwasa village Kaduna

ADUNA— GUNMEN have attacked Kwasakwasa village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State killing several people including security personnel. The attack, which came four days after a similar one on three villages in the area, was said to have occurred at about 6 am on Thursday. A resident of Kwasakwasa, located about 70 kilometres from Birnin Gwari, Malam Isa Jatau, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in a telephone interview in Kaduna that four vehicles belonging to security personnel were also burnt. He said several other villagers and security men were injured, but added that the bravery of soldiers and other security officers helped to fend off the attackers. The Secretary of the the local

government, Alhaji Zubairu Zakariya, confirmed the attack on the village but said details on the casualty was being compiled. He said that the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Idris Alhassan had helped to convey the victims of the attack to Birnin Gwari General Hospital. The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Olufemi Adenaike, told NAN that he

Suswam urges Immigration Service to check influx of illegal immigrants BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—GOVER NOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has

ICPC boss identifies challenges against anti-graft war BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—HEAD of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, in Benue State, Mr. Hassan Mohammed, has identified nepotism and tribalism as major impediments against the war against corruption in Nigeria. Mohammed spoke when

played host to the Commissioner representing Benue State at the Federal Character Commission, Mrs. Margaret Icheen, at his Makurdi office. He said: “If all Nigerians can muster enough will to eschew these vices, 50 per cent of the war on corrupt practices in the country would be won.” Mohammed also lamented over what he described as “the weak mechanism for checking

was awaiting details on the incident. NAN reports that the thick forest in the area which stretches to parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, and the Southern part of the country was being used as cover by armed gangs for some times. Last Saturday’s attack had left seven people dead, while 24 villagers were killed in a similar attack on a mosque at Dogon Dawa village in October last year.

OS—THE Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin-Ladi, yesterday, matriculated 4,800 students for the 2012/2013 session. The new intakes, according to Mr Dauda Gyemang, its Rector, are the “lucky ones” the 35year-old institution’s could cater for, out of the more than 12,000 applications it received. Gyemang, in his speech on the occasion, reaffirmed the commitment toward quality products, and promised to provide a conducive environment that would stimulate and enhance better learning and scholarship. “We want to produce graduates that will compete favourably with their counterparts from similar institutions,” he declared. Gyemang later told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that the Plateau government would soon award contracts for the construction of additional laboratories and hostels in the institution, to cope with its increasing student population. He said that government had begun the employment of additional manpower in needy areas, while funds would soon be released for the conduct of seven convocations that had been pending.

corruption in various sectors of the country,” and urged Nigerians to support moves by anti graft agencies to effectively stem and prosecute such cases in the country. According to him, “the ICPC is taking its task farther with the introduction of integrity based subjects in our schools’ syllabus from next year."

urged the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, to step up its operations along Nigerian borders, in order to check the influx of illegal immigrants into the country. Suswam spoke, yesterday, when he hosted the Assistant Comptroller of Immigration in charge of Zone “H” , Mr. Ndubuisi Chukwuemeka, in Makurdi and assured that his administration would continue to partner the service in the task of checking illegal immigrants into the state. His words: “With the security challenges facing our country, it becomes even more imperative for the service to step up its surveillance of Nigerian borders to ensure that would-be security threat to the country are stopped from

entering into the country. ”We cannot pretend that we need the service to be proactive and alive to it’s responsibilities to Nigerians if we must stem the security situation in parts of the northern states. ”On our part as a government, we will continue to partner and support the service to enable it discharge it’s responsibilities to the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole.” Earlier, Mr Chukwuemeka had said that the successes recorded by the NIS in the state were predicated on the cooperation it received from the state government. According to him, “the support has enhanced the output and goals of the service in all areas in the state.”

42—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Patience and perseverance member on an Eid day when Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) lost his son Qazeem, yet he went for the prayers. Should we also remind ourselves of innumerable circumstances of hunger and poverty he went through with his family; should we recount how he

Prophet and said, “If you wish, then I will give the order for two angels to crush the residents of Ta’if between the two mountains in which it lies.” The Prophet replied in the negative and said, “I am hopeful that their descendants will accept Islam.”

NE of the virtues which Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) harped on and indeed shoed exemplary leadership is Patience and Perseverance. Unfortunately this is found missing in the lives of many Muslims. Even our leaders who are supposed to show this character are dound deficient in patience. That account for some of the ills we have in Islam especially in this part of the world. Allah mentioned the word Sabr - patience in the Qur’an in 90 places and in difference chapters. He equates patience with success and at another point with faith. He places huge reward for those who are patient. But how do we exercise patience, at what point and situation in our lives is it necessary. First, there are three levels that we are required to show patience and perseverance. One, in carrying out the ordinances of Allah; two, when trouble befalls us; and three, under a circumstance where a Muslim has to persevere to abstain from sins. Carrying out the ordinances of Allah sometimes might be somewhat difficult, but as servants of Allah who are very submissive to His will, nothing should stand the way of doing what Allah commands us to do. It could be our daily salat, our fasting or other ibadah, no matter the circumstances, they must be carried out with equanimity and gratitude. We also need to show a lot of patience when trouble befalls us. Note that the submission to the will of Allah is not limited to a certain condition. We can only subdue any challenge with prayers. The Prophet had challenges, including other prophets of Allah. If they were tried and tested, we can also be tried, what is important is the ability to persevere and overcome these trials without loosing relationship with Allah. Re-

Allah enjoins us to be patient because despite all the provocations and temptations, it is a means of rejecting an invitation to sin. It is bringing wretched passions to decency, it is bravery in the face of hardship in war, and it is satisfaction without measure

was hounded, persecuted for preaching monotheism? In a city not far away from Makkah, known as Ta’if, the Prophet went there to preach Islam to the locals. The Prophet approached the leaders of Ta’if and called them towards Islam. Not only did the leaders reject the call to Islam but they humiliated him, ordered the youths to inflict severe injury upon him. They stoned him and chased him out of Ta’if. The Holy Prophet bled till his footwear was drenched in blood. At that point, Angel Gabriel (a.s) came to the

This was the patience of the Prophet, although he had the power to crush them, he did not, but he persevered. The Qur’an says: “Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, ‘To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.’ They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance.” (2:155-157)

Again, a lot of sabr is required when in a dilemma over terrible situation that could lead to sin. For example, when a person is trapped in a situation of committing adultery to get freedom or remain incarcerated. You remember the story of Yusuf, (Joseph). As a young man, Yusuf was a complete handsome man, with a radiant look and well built. The king’s wife wanted to commit adultery with him and threw herself at him. She was also beautiful, she was the a mistress to Yusuf who must be obeyed. Even under that circumstabces, Yusuf, of course refused. He did not only walk away from sin, he ran from it. Allah stood by him, remove all his pains, gave him freedom and of course made him the King. Being patient is a great virtue and comes with a great reward. “Seek Allah’s help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble.” (2:45) “Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere.” (2:153) “Oh you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy. Vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other, and be pious, that you may prosper.” (3:200) “And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will

not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.” (11:115) “Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah.” (16:127) “Patiently, then, persevere - for the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your faults, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.” (40:55)“No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” (41:35) “Verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy.” (103:2-3) Patience is the way to find a good life, with all it teaches us. Patience is not the same as resignation or defeat… It is the ability to walk towards problems with courage and the will to solve them. It is finding that Allah is with us on the way. “Allah is with those who have patience.” (AlBaqarah 153) Patience is a power for the Muslim as it increases the resistance towards the difficulties of life. It is a potent source of energy; it is the essential condition of victory and success; an armor that protects, in every way, the glory and honor of the one who possesses it. Allah enjoins us to be patient because despite all the provocations and temptations, it is a means of rejecting an invitation to sin. It is bringing wretched passions to decency, it is bravery in the face of hardship in war, and it is satisfaction without measure. Patience is embracing moral virtues even when there is the possibility to do the opposite. It is to cease being merely human and to begin to use human initiative to go higher and above the ordinary. “Call for help (from Allah) with patience and prayer” (Q2:153). We shall discuss prayer next week insha Allah.

Ask Your Imam Could you please let me know if dating is haram, and un-Islamic?.What does the Quran say about it?

From left: AbdulRaheem Ahmad Sayi, Chief Imam of Lekki Muslim Community, LEMU; Alhaji Lawal, chairman of the Ummah and Alhaji Ninalowo, secretary during a Dawah programme organised by LEMU.

Let us first know what datimg means, then, we can attempt to give answers to the question. . 1-When a couple is dating, it means they may or may not get married on the long run. It is different from being engaged. In dating, the intention is not always as clear as when a couple is engaged. When a couple is dating, the nature of the relationship is usually more intimate than between ordinary friends of the opposite sex: i.e., the couple stay alone together, they look at each others, they may physically touch each others, and they may get much more intimate. Dating, if it is premised on good intention, is by delaying the true purpose of any relationship which is marriage. Having confined dating within this framework, Islam is clear about prohibiting it for many reasons: One is that non-Mahrams are allowed to be alone. Two, Islam prohibits physical contact like touching, kissing or intimate interaction between opposite sex. Islam prohibits fornication and adultery and whatever that could lead to sin should be avoided. Quran 17 vrs 32 says: And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way. You may also read Q24: 2-3, 30-31; Q25:68 and Q60:12. Thank you for asking and God knows best.

Send your questions to facingthekaabah@yahoo.com Question must be brief and names and telephone numbers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 —43

World famous preacher, Zakir Naik storms Lagos

N the Qur’an, Allah reminds us: “Say to the believing men to lower their gazes and guard their chastity,” (Q24:30) “And say to the believing women to lower their gazes and guard their chastity, and let them not display of their charm - except what is apparent.” (Q24:31) Commenting on the phrase, “ what is apparent”, Ibn `Abbas, the famous Companion and the Qur’an analyst, said, “It means face and hands.” Another verse in the Qur’an has Allah (S.W.T) reminding us: ”O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (Al-Ahzab: 59) A strong Prophetic Sunnah or Hadith relates Prophet Muhammad cautioning Asma’, the daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with both of them) on the dress-code for women: ”O Asma’! Once a girl reaches puberty, nothing of her body may be seen (by non-mahrams) except this and these, (he pointed to his face and hands while saying so).” The Qur’an therefore reminds us thoroughly of our responsibility as a Muslim woman with regards to her fashion sense when in the presence of non-Mahram men. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) too demonstrates the importance of modesty that should be found in the etiquette of Muslim women. It does not mean that sisters should not look somewhat “fashionable”. Islam is beauty and it encourages beauty but not lustfullness. We can be very corporate as much as we can without losing our identity as Muslims. Every Muslim whether male or female is an “ambassador ” of Islam. We truly represent our religion when we walk out of our homes. So, we have to comply adequately with the dress code in Islam to be able to represent the religion very well. We

Be fashionable with hijab

HE world famous orator on Islam and comparative religion, Dr Zakir Naik, will be in Lagos this weekend. The international preacher is coming on the invitation of the Islamic Platform of Nigeria. Naik arrived Nigeria a few days ago. He was at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja last Saturday, where he moved to Lagos to discuss

•A cross section of Muslim women at a show organised by Faith Meets Fashion, Abuja.

‘Similarity between Islam and Christianity’’ at the Sky Pavillion, Adebola House, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, the following day. Today, Friday 14th June, Dr. Naik will discuss “Religion in the Right Perspective,” while on Saturday, 15th of June, he is expected to deliver lectures on “Salat, the programme towards Righteousness”. Insha Allah, on Sunday, 16th of June, the scholar will discuss “Media and Islam: War or Peace.” The event comes up at the Mainbow of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos at 10am to 1:30pm daily. Dr Zakir Naik founded the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Naik says he was inspired by Ahmed Deedat, an Islamic preacher, having met him in

•Dr Zakir Naik 1987. Naik is sometimes referred to as “Deedat plus”, a label given to him by Deedat himself. Naik says that his goal is to “concentrate on the educated Muslim youth who have become apologetic about their own religion and have started to feel the religion is outdated.”

NASFAT holds conference

ll the branches in Lagos Zone 1 of Nasru-llahi-l-Fatih society of Nigeria will gathere at the Ibeju-Lekki branch for the second quater of its conference taking place tomorrow. The one-day event which holds at Teslimat Elemoro Central Mosque, Ibeju-Lekki

will attract key officers of all the 18 branches in the zone to discuss various issues that affect the islamic organisation as well as issues ralating to the forthcoming Ramadan activities. The Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Taofeeq Adeseun said the conference starts at 10am prompt.

Insecurity: Prayers are complementary to efforts —Ansar-Ud-Deen By Abdallah el-Kurebe

•Hijabites are fashionable have to show what Islam truly is, if we follow the Islamic standards and not society’s standards. If you go out of your

home to work with your flowing gown, drawing your veil or hijab, and you are clean, why should anyone raise

eyebrow? You just have to be yourself and close your ears to whatever anybody says about your Islamic dressing.

Hajj: Sokoto secures accommodation for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

HE Sokoto State Government said on Wednesday that it had secured decent and convenient accommodation for its Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Alhaji Muktari Mapia, a member of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agency, told newsmen in Sokoto that the facility was secured for the 6,450 prospective pilgrims expected to perform this

year’s Hajj. Mapia said the board had taken steps to address the issue of Maharam (Male escort) which prevented some Nigerian pilgrims from performing last year’s exercise. He said that a mobile clinic would be set up in all the residential areas to address the healthcare needs of the pilgrims.

The member explained that the measure was part of the agency’s commitment to ensure the smooth conduct of the Hajj. Mapia said that massive enlightenment campaigns would be intensified to sensitise the pilgrims to methods of performing the Hajj rites properly. We want our intending pilgrims to know the dos and don’ts of all the Hajj rituals while in the holy land,” he said.

HE Northern States Council of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has observed that fervent prayers would contribute in bringing about peace as the nation continues to face security challenges. The Society stated this during its 6th Triennial Congress, which held at Sultan Maccido Institute in Sokoto recently. According to the Chairman of the Northern States Council of the Society, Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf, “The security situation in the country is indeed a cause for worry for all, particularly the north,” he stated adding, “We have never stopped praying for peace to reign as it is only in an atmosphere of peace that development can take place. We shall continue to fervently pray for peace, and believe that Allah in His infinite wisdom, will answer our sup-

plications.” Delivering his paper titled, “Religious Tolerance as a Means of Achieving Peace and Unity,” Dr. Isa Muhammadu Maishanu, quoting from the Qur’an stated that since all prophets brought the message of God, adherents of all religions must learn to tolerate each other. “Allah instructed us not to prefer one prophet above and over the other. All of them were prophets from God; they brought a single message of ‘There is no god but Allah,” he said. Represented by Commissioner of Police, Shuaibu Gambo and State Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mallam Jibril Danmalam, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed D. Abubakar and Director General of the DSS, Mr. Ita Effiong, respectively concurred, adding that solving Nigeria’s current security challenges is a collective responsibility.

44—Vanguard , FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Delta sets up peace c'ttee on Ndokwa communities' crisis BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—DELTA State Government has inaugurated a 12-man committee to help restore peace between Emu-Ebendo and Obodougwa-Ogume communities in Ndokwa West Local Government Area. Mr. Vincent Omorie, Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Matters, is Chairman, while Mr. Omamuzo Erebe of the Department of People’s Rights, Ministry of Justice is to serve as Secretary. Other members of the committee are the community representatives and representatives of security agencies.

Stay off Egbema, Gbaramatu, EGCDF warn vandals

NDICATIONS have emerged that it will no longer be business as usual for suspected illegal oil bunkerers and vandals of oil facilities in Egbema and Gbaramatu oil producing communities in Delta State. Chairman of Egebma and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, who gave the hint, yesterday, in Warri, warned illegal oil bunkerers and vandals of oil facilities in Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdoms to, henceforth, desist from such destructive acts or be ready to face the law of the land.

Oil, gas deposits to deplete in 40 years BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

ORT HARCOURT—A PROFESSOR of Medicine and sustainable environment advocate, Prof. Vincent Idemyor, has predicted that Nigerian oil and gas deposits, particularly in the Niger Delta region will not last beyond the next 40 years. The US-based Idemyor, currently visiting the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, gave the prediction in a lecture at a one-day workshop convened by National Orientation Agency, NOA, in Port Harcourt on Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Development in Nigeria. He said: “Experts are undivided on the reality that the oil and gas being drained from the Niger Delta is non-renewable. “But the experts, oil takers and regulators in the Nigerian environment are reluctant to talk about it, but it is not their prerogative to tell us the truth. I have been doing my calculation based on the trends in our proven reserves and production figures.

“I can tell you that what we have in the soil at the rate we are taking it may not last beyond the next 35 or 40 years. That poses a serious question mark on our capacity for sustainable development.”

On the way out, he called for greater public and private sector commitment to the development of agriculture and significant progress in the fight against corruption to mitigate the challenges of a Nigeria

without oil “as 40 years is not such a long time to come.” Rivers State Director of NOA, Oliver Wolugbom, noted that most of the challenges faced by the environment are caused by man himself.

Ize-Iyamu performed, says ex-Edo HOS BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—FORMER Head of Service in Edo State, Dr. Sunny Okpaise, yesterday, reviewed Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu’s account of former governor, Lucky Igbinedion’s administration in the state and described Ize-Iyamu as the bridge builder, who vehemently opposed the retrenchment exercise of that government. Also, the Congress for the Sustenance of Good Governance in Edo State, in a statement by Mr. Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama, faulted the attacks on the South-South Vice Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ize-Iyamu, who was the Secretary to the Government of Edo State during Igbinedion’s administration.

Ogbeide-Ihama said: “The claim by Edo State PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih that IzeIyamu was a major player in a failed government does not credit any person with a quality of bravery in our views. “Should any person be credited for bravery, it ought to be the man (Ize-Iyamu) who acknowledged the failings of the time and went about ‘fighting’ to achieve the needed change when most persons preferred the cover of anonymity or were absorbed in their self-serving silence.” Meanwhile, Okpaise said criticisms that trailed IzeIyamu’s account of the problems with Igbinedion’s administration were unfair. He insisted that the former SSG did his best to ensure that

the administration worked for the betterment of the people of the state.

We 'll stamp out oil thieves— Navy boss BY GODWIN OGHRE

APELE—FLAG Officer Commanding, FOC, Nigerian Navy Logistic Command, Oghara, Delta State, Rear Admiral Abdu Shettima, yesterday, said that the Federal Government will continue to renew its onslaught against oil thieves and all acts of sabotage, pervading Nigerian waterways. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 57th anniversary of the Nigerian Navy at the Nigerian Naval Logistics Command, Oghara, Delta State, Shettima, reiterated the determination of the command to deal ruthlessly with oil thieves in the area and ensure

steady growth of the country’s economy. He said the force had recently commissioned and deployed three Ocean and two SHALDOG patrol boats to boost Nigerian Naval fight against illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta water ways.

He added that the Nigerian Navy was irrevocably committed to putting in place a virile fleet that would effectively tackle security challenges in the maritime sector. He said plans were on to acquire more offshore patrol vessels before the end of the year.

LASAA repositions

AGOS State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, has said it has repositioned to actualise its mandate of regulating and control signs and outdoor display in the state. Managing Director LASAA, Mr.

Kayode Noah, “our relocation to the new head office will offer better outlook for the agency’s expanding operations. “From our new location, we will be able to serve our clients better and more professionally.”

BY EMMA ARUBI

ARRI—NATIONAL President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, will tomorrow, present a pidgin English audio version of the New Testament Bible. The public presentation of the audio Bible, billed for Word of Life Bible Church Headquarters, Ajamimogha, Warri, Delta State, will be witnessed by the South-South Chairman of CAN, Archbishop GodDo-Well Awvwomakpa; Delta State Chairman of CAN, Rev. Gideon Oyibo; Bishop, Diocese of Sapele (Anglican Communion) Rt. Rev. Blessing Erifeta and Rt. Rev. John Usiwoma Aruakpor, Bishop of Oleh Diocese. The event is put together by the Nigerian Pidgin English Bible Promoters Committee that has Rev. Solo Adams as Chairman and Dr. Mark Erumi as translation consultant.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Pidgin English Bible for launch

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On President Jonathan's mid-term report(3)

HE Minister of Finance can say the economy has improved. But the ordinary man is not feeling the impact of the improvement of the economy. Development should be in practical terms and not theory.— Miss Temmy Williams, Businessperson.

N the energy sec tor, at least there is a noticeable change. In my area at Ago, Lagos, there is steady power supply, which is good. In terms the oil sector, there has been stability. I don’t hear of scarcity anymore.— Mrs Olukemi Adeniji, Lawyer.

HIS administration is trying, but there are one or two lapses that really call for attention. For instance, our roads are terrible and the rains are here. President Jonathan should do something to ensure that cases of flooding will be minimal.—Mr. Osagie Ukpebor, Video Man.

S a Nigerian and an observer of what has been happening, the mid-term report has fallen below expectation. More need to be done. When you measure the performance of this administration, the criteria must be in terms of welfare.— Mr. Shaibu Aliyu, Lawyer.

RANKLY, I will score this administration 20 percent. I think the President, with an eye on 2015, has not been able to put his foot down. If you look at it, there was an upsurge in power at a time and suddenly everything dropped. —Mr. Oyeshina Oyedunle, Lawyer.

DUCATION needs to be looked into. The failure in the last UTME was massive and unacceptable to Nigerians. Polytechnic students have been at home for months due to ASUP strike. How then would I score the administration well?— Miss Ebereke Kelechi, Student.

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From Left: Head, Card Services Department, Unity Bank, Ugo Obasi; Director, Account Management, West Africa, MasterCard, Obi Okwuegbunam; Head, Payments and Collections Department, Unity Bank, Emmanuel Alade, at the 13th edition of Card, ATM & Mobile Expo Africa, in Lagos

From left: Programme coordinator, MTNfootball scholar, Tom Demaio; coach from Berkshire School, United kingdom, Jon Moodey; Head, Client Service, Peculiar People Management, PPM, Kikelomo Owo and coach from Western Reserve Academy,United Kingdom, Herb Hnller, at the final selection of MTNfootball scholars, in Lagos.

From left: Mr. Yomi Awobokun, MD, Oando Oil and Gas Plc and Alhaji Nuhu Yakubu, MD, Banner Energy Ltd, at the official launch of Eko cooking gas by Banner Energy Ltd, in parnership with the Lagos State Government, in Surulere, Lagos

From left: Chief Operating Officer, Pharmacy Plus, Mr. Chukwuemeka Obi; Chairman of Association of Industrial Pharmacist of Nigeria, AIPN, Dr. Lolu Ojo; Chairman of occasion, Dr. (Mrs.) Dere Awosika, and Ag. Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria; Mrs. Gloria Abumere, at the Reload Multivitamins stand, during the 32nd annual national conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, in Calabar, Cross River State.

From left: Mr. Gbenga Ibikunle, Executive Director, British American Tobacco; Emmanuel Uzeh, Chief of Staff to Executive Chairman, Essien Udim LGA and Chief Okoronkwo Akaneka, Village Head, Ekpenyong Ufum Community, during the handover ceremony and commissioning of the Palm Oil Processing Cottage, in Ekpenyong Ufum Community, Akwa Ibom State

From left: Engr. Adelana Odutola, Lagos State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works (rtd), with media relations practitioner, Aramide Noibi, at the 60th birthday reception for Chief (Mrs.) Oluwatoyin Adewunmi, at Ikeja C M Y K

From left: Ope Akintomide, Commercial Manager, Service & Support, of CFAO Electro-Hall; GMD, CFAO Plc, Steve Faderin; Tomoo Shimizu, Director, Business Solutions Sharp; Stanley Samuel, Marketing Manager, Middle East/Africa; Nelson Jose, Country Manager, Sharp, Middle East/ Africa, and Sukirti Kakkar, Assistant Marketing Manager, Sharp, Middle East/Africa, at a press conference, after the formal launch of Sharp new ranges of products.

From left: Dr. Femi Olugbile, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State; Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health and Dr.[Mrs.] Adetoun Agbe-Davies, Chairman, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, during press briefing on forthcoming Blood Donor Day Celebration, in Lagos State, at Alausa, Ikeja, Photo: Bunmi Azeez

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Senator raises alarm over infiltration of terrorists into Ebonyi A

BY PETER OKUTU

BAKALIKI—CHAIRMAN Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Paulinus IgweNwagu, yesterday, raised alarm that suspected terrorists were gradually infiltrating Ebonyi State from Niger Republic and other parts of Africa Receiving the leadership and members of Ebonyi State council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, at his country home at Oriuzor, Ebonyi State, Igwe Nwagu, who represents Ebonyi Central senatorial zone of the state, asserted that he had received reliable information that the terrorists masquerade as herdsmen and had infiltrated the state in their numbers. He urged the people of the state to be more vigilant and report suspicious people in their areas to security agencies, adding that security was not only the responsibility of security operatives but every individual in the society. He said: “I also want to warn again that people should collaborate now, particularly in Ebonyi State, to work with security agencies. “I have received reports that people are coming in with cattles and so on and so forth; yes, that is how insurgency starts. All these

Plateau gov advises new Immigrations, Film corporation chieftains BY TAYE OBATERU & HOPE OFOBIKE

HE Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang has urged the newly appointed Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. David Paradang and the Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr. Danjuma Dadu, to uphold excellence and professionalism. Jang gave the charge in a congratulatory message to the duo, both indigenes of Plateau State on their recent appointments. According to a press statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor, Mr. James Mannok, the governor urged them to see their appointments as a call to service and remain ambassadors of the state by carrying all Nigerians along in the course of their duty. Jang challenged them to bring in new innovations and ideas that would lead to the development of the Nigerian society adding, “I challenge you to bring a new dawn into your organizations upholding excellence”. While appreciating President Jonathan for finding them worthy of the appointment, he admonished them to write their name in “gold” by being transparent in their activities.

cow rearers, they may come all the way from Niger Republic, you may not know and they may come with different ideas, we may not know. What is important is that we the villagers should be able

to look at them, report them to the appropriate quarters that is, the security agencies, so that they will probe into their activities so that another insurgency will not start from here."

Group calls for health minister's resignation over NAUTH crisis BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

GROUP, Equity Mandate Forum, EMF, has called on the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, to resign, following the unsettled controversy surrounding the appointment of the new Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi. In a statement by the Chairman, Dr. Usman Bello, and the Publicity Secretary, Mr Onyibo Daniel, the group posited that the health minister was biased and supporting illegality, stressing that Nigerians would not fold their arms and watch the situa-

tion degenerates into crisis or administrative collapse of the health institution. It said: “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, made an explicit provision of a tenure of three months unless renewed by appropriate authorities, except on the state of emergency proclamation which has a tenure of six months and can be renewed only by the National Assembly as stipulated in Section 305. “But contrary to this provision, our investigations reveal that Dr. Anthony Igwegbe resumed as acting CMD in January 2013 and the tenure expired in March, 2013 when the substantive CMD should resume."

We've equipped 7 hospitals for kidney transplant —Health Minister BY VICTORIA OJEME

BUJA—SEVEN tertiary hospitals in Nigeria have been equipped with state-of-the– art facilities and personnel to undertake kidney transplant. Minister of Health, Professor Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu, who disclosed this at the 2013 Ministerial Platform, yesterday, also said University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital had the capacity to undertake open heart surgery. The minister said: “With these achievements and improvement in the health sector, there is no need for anyone to leave Nigeria to other countries for medical treatment, apart from cases where we do not have expertise in Nigeria because no country in the world can provide all the health needs of its people”. He noted that in an effort to ensure that Nigerians imbibed healthy lifestyle, his ministry was intensifying efforts and collaborating with members of the National Assembly to ensure that the tobacco bill became law. This, according to him, will moderate the smoking habit of the people and prevent them from contracting deadly diseas-

es, such as cancer, lungs diseases and many others. “In the same vein, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, is also reviewing its laws to provide stiffer penalty for fake drug manufacturers and importers,” he stressed. The minister also revealed that, “very soon, herbal medicine will soon be introduced in our medical schools. This is because before you treat any diseases, you must have the ability to diagnose it and administer the needed treatment. Herbal medicine practitioners will be given the needed training to perform optimally. ” He charged Nigerians to embrace the various health insurance programmes introduced by the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, stressing that for Nigerians to have access to affordable, effective and efficient healthcare services, health insurance was the way to go. Minister of State for Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said that between 2009 to 2012, Nigeria was able to reduce maternal mortality rate by 47 per cent.

Taraba: Pictures, clips of Gov Suntai are fake — Group

POLITICAL pressure group, Taraba Justice Forum, has described pictures and clips of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai being circulated as fake and challenged those behind the circulation to come up with credible evidence of recuperation of the governor. The group said in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Abulus John, that a recent clip shown on NTA of the governor and the Acting Governor, was false and mere propaganda. The statement said: “The game started when a picture of Governor Jonah Jang with Governor Suntai was released with the Plateau governor assuring that Danbaba will soon return to the country to resume work. Four months after, Danbaba is yet to return. That is false propaganda one. “Few months ago and on more than three occasions, Emmanuel Bello, the commissioner for information, went on air to boast that he will put the governor on telephone once he reached Germany. Danbaba is well and he will soon be back, Bello told the whole world. The next thing we heard was that the governor has been flown to USA for intensive care. “Up till date, Bello has not put the governor on telephone for Channels or any other medium. The next thing was a pic-

ture of the governor and his wife and another of the governor cutting birthday cake. All such pictures confirm that all is not well with Danbaba. The last circus show was on NTA. It was so embarrassing that even the NTA had to apologise that the audio quality was bad. Why will there be a good visual without good audio? The fact is that the governor cannot talk or converse correctly because he is brain damaged. “If truly the governor is okay and recuperating, why not take Channels and NTA along to USA so that they can independently interview the governor? Why are they bringing all these fake clips to further embarrass Taraba. The fact is that the governor is not suffering from physical deformity but he is brain damaged and so medically inacapacited. This is the bitter truth that Bello and others are trying to cover up. But the matter can no longer be swept under the carpet."

L-r: Queen Ayo Balogun, president, Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria; Admiral Dele Abiodun, former PMAN president; and Evangelist Ebenezer Obey at the burial of Fatai Rolling Dollar, yesterday.

L-r: Temidayo Adeyemi, former Secretary, Agege Local Government; Lateef Ibirogba, commissioner for information representing Lagos State Governor; Mrs Zainab Olagunju Fatai, widow; and Jamiu Olagunju, son at the burial. Photos: Akeem Salau

Kwara students laud gov over bursary payout ILORIN—STUDENT of Kwara State origin in tertiary institutions across the country have commended Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for the payment of bursary to them. President, National Association of Kwara State Students, NAKSS, Azeez Bamgboye, made the commendation, yesterday, in Ilorin in an interview with NAN.

He said the association was grateful over the release of another tranche of N50 million to pay bursaries to the students who were yet to benefit. NAN reports that with the release of the N50 million, the government had so far released N100 million for the payment of bursary to Kwara students in tertiary

institutions. The government had earlier in December 2012 released N50 million for payment of bursary. Bamgboye said that the money would not only assist the students to solve their financial needs, but would also be of assistance in their academic pursuits.

52 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

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Edo: The scenes and sins of the past COMRADE Adams Oshiomhole successfully interrupted the hegemony of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State. Now, as stakeholders ponder the prospects of the post Oshiomhole era, the men of yesteryears jostling for reckoning are being made to confront their past. BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

T is a mystery that continues to amaze many Edolites. As a local government chairman in the zero party system thrown up by the Ibrahim Babangida administration, Mr. Lucky Igbinendion performed wonders in Oredo local government area, especially in the delivery of democracy dividends. His second outing in public office as governor of Edo State on the platform of the PDP between 1999 and 2007 in the view of many, including key aides and associates was at best a letdown. Now, six years after Chief Igbinendion exited the office of governor echoes of the past are now reverberating on the political landscape of the Heartbeat State in a simulation of the shape and style of the politics to come. Delivering a lecture in Benin last weekend, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, arguably one of the most powerful figures within the Igbinendion government gave reasons for what he claimed to be the constraints of that administration.

•Igbinedion: Ruled for eight years

•Ize-Iyamu: Lucky was caged

•Orbih: There was no office of godfather

•Anenih: The leader!

Absence of manifesto

administration failed. “I want to state that looking at the profile of that government from 1999 up to the time they left office, there was no office or position created by that government which was supposed to be occupied by a godfather,” Orbih said at a press conference earlier this week. “What I could pick from his statement is that on his own, he has publicly admitted that they failed as a government. What ought to have followed that admittance is an apology and not to be looking for innocent people to put the blame of their failures on. It is a mark of statesmanship for people to own up to their failure; if he has admitted that as Secretary to the State Government, it is not Lucky Igbinedion, it is a collective responsibility of all the adults in

that government, also, I don’t want people to single out Chief Lucky Igbinedion as the one that failed. Orbih’s assertion of collective failure was no doubt a deliberate effort to indict IzeIyamu, given the latter’s much speculated gubernatorial ambition. Orbih’s assertion it is believed has already excited the parallel faction of the ACN led by the deputy governor, Mr. Pius Odibo who also has gubernatorial ambition. Orbih’s assertions were faulted by one of the political stakeholders from the state, Barrister Robert Okpaivbe who is himself a confidant of IzeIyamu who accused Orbih of political mischief or ignorance. Taking Orbih up on the assertion that there is no constitutional role for a godfather in the PDP, Okpaivbe said:

“Orbih’s statement is laughable as it is equally mischievous. How did Orbih who was a member of defunct APP become State Chairman of PDP? Okpaivbe defends Ize-Iyamu: “To say there was no

Ize-Iyamu, head of the GRACE group which provided the structure that produced Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN cited the debt overload inherited from the military, the absence of a manifesto by the PDP and the dominance brought on the politics and government by a godfather, assumed to be Chief Tony Anenih. “The PDP that produced the governor of the state between 1999 and 2007 had no manifesto, blue print or plan for governance and Edo State was actually personified by one lead character that was literally worshipped as the owner and giver of political power. The pressure and subtle threat from the god father and his supporters were excessive and distractive in the process of project planning and execution as well as management of resources of the state”. His assertion immediately drew the ire of the incumbent state PDP chairman, Chief Dan Orbih who said the assertions were an admission that the Igbinendion

PDP lost woefully who ordered Orbih and his executive to withdraw from the law suit by PDP against governor Oshiomhole". On the assertion that the PDP lacked a manifesto during the Igbinendion years, Okpaivbe said: “What Ize Iyamu means is that the PDP may pretend to have a manifesto on paper but over the years there is no clear cut commitment to any recognizable ideals by PDP”. According to him: “in the Second Republic the NPN was known for commitment to Agriculture, the UPN was noted for its free education programme but today what can you say the PDP stands for? Also, you will discover no similarity in the execution of programmes by the PDP governors across the states unlike where you see a definite commitment and similarities to set goals like improving internally generated revenue, education, provision of good roads and infrastructure across all the ACN States. So it is obvious the PDP has no manifesto or commitment to any as their leaders don’t even insist on such commitment.” Okpaivbe said as he defended his associate who he said was the first person to openly challenge the dominance of the godfather with through his GRACE group with its slogan, ‘No man is God.’ Besides Ize-Iyamu, another former senior PDP stakeholder that has also been made to confront the past is Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the incumbent secretary to the state government and former Presidential Adviser on Project Monitoring. Ihonvbere had in a statement following Anenih’s controversial call for automatic tickets for the incumbent president and

Orbih’s assertion of collective failure was no doubt a deliberate effort to indict Ize-Iyamu, given the latter’s much speculated gubernatorial ambition

manipulative and over bearing godfather in Edo State PDP because there is no constitutional role for one is to deny the obvious and being hypocritical.” “During the reign of Igbinedion, who said there was no vacancy in Government House? Even in the last governorship election, where

governors, chided the PDP chieftain describing his call as evidence of the continuing lack of democratic principles in his former party. “That is his (Anenih) style as usual, corruption and contaminating the political process. When they are afraid of competition they look for short cut."

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE

T is perhaps the harshest rebuke to a party leadership desperately trying to assert itself on its members. Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State who was last week suspended from the PDP has called the bluff of the party leadership putting the pressure back on the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who he said should be dismissed. The governor gave his reasons for the removal of the party chairman as: “He is incompetent; he is running the party from his private house; up till now Bamanga did not see wisdom in going round the states in this country to say, ‘THANK YOU’ to those who voted him; up till now Bamanga did not visit any state in the federation to find out the true position of the party and proffer some guidance where need be; Bamanga is running the PDP as his personal and private business.” Wamakko spoke on his return to Sokoto on Wednesday night after an eventful trip to Netherlands during which time he was suspended from the party for alleged acts of indiscipline including failure to return or pick calls from Tukur.

Absence at the reception But stressing the confidence with which he spoke were the dramatic events at the Sokoto airport earlier that day when thousands of his supporters thronged the airport forcing his plane not to land and causing the plane to find shelter at the Kaduna airport. Wamakko who earlier arrived Abuja on Tuesday had in his entourage back home that Wednesday all three senators from the state and nine of the 11 members of the Sokoto State delegation to the House of Representatives including Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Perhaps the only other notable politician on his side who was absent at the reception was the minister of youth affairs, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir who understandably would be thrown between the devil and the deep blue sea in the unfolding crisis between Abuja and Wamakko. But when they made the first attempt to land following the successful deplaning of the advance team in an aircraft that arrived earlier, the crowd surged on to the runway forcing the plane to go back and find ground in Kaduna. After the crowd dispersed the governor returned to Sokoto later Wednesday night to the embrace of still a tumultuous

Wamakko turns tide on Tukur GOVERNOR Wamakko of Sokoto State and the mainstream of the PDP in Sokoto are challenging the suspension of the governor from the party raising issues about the authority of the party leadership

*Wamakko: Tukur should be sacked gathering of supporters. Reacting to Tambuwal’s presence at the rousing reception for the suspended governor, his Special Adviser on Media, Imam Imam said: “Speaker Tambuwal was in Sokoto (for the rally) because he believes in the saying that all politics is local. Any politician worth his onion must understand and influence the issues of his constituents. The people of Sokoto came out in numbers to welcome their Governor, why shouldn’t the Speaker be there? He is in Sokoto because that is what the people of Sokoto want and he is happy to be part of the gathering.” On his suspension, Wamakko was quick to finger what he described as the machination

*Tambuwal: Faults Wamakko's suspension

of some Abuja based politicians from Sokoto who are working in cahoots with elements in the presidency, notably the political adviser to the president, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak “Ahmed Gulak should be sacked from being your Political Adviser because he lacks the relevant credentials to be so. He is only gaining more enemies day by day because of his incompetence and arrogance. Mr. President Sir, I appeal to you to please prevail on Dr. Ahmadu Ali or Abubakar Kawu Baraje to come back and take over PDP with a view to saving it from collapse in the hands of Bamanga-led NWC,” the governor observed. Challenging those he described as ‘opportunists’ to

display their political pedigree, Wamakko listed his achievements since he entered the PDP, which according to him did not have any structure in the state. “Let me briefly outline my credentials in the PDP and I challenge anyone of them to forward his/hers to compare with that of Wamakko. On taking over the PDP in 2007, the party today has 234 councilors, 23 local government chairmen, 30 House of Assembly members, 11 members of the House of Representatives, 3 Senators, one governor and one deputy governor.” “Secondly, in 2007/2008 when the issue of Speaker Eteh was threatening the collapse of the PDP, I with five other people

Why I’m supporting local council autonomy — Adaviruku, Adavi LG chair

MR Salihu Adaviruku, Chairman of Adavi Local Government area of Kogi State in this interview opens up on expectations from his administration and his concerns about local government autonomy. Excerpts: BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

HAT are some challenges facing you at the local government? The issue of women and youth empowerment is paramount. Most of the youths are unemployed and for us to give them employment is very difficult because to even pay workers’ salary has not been easy. The work force is a problem to us. The only area we can assist now is to introduce youths and women empowerment with money to help them establish small-scale businesses. How are you financing your projects? I have already set up a

screening committee and the report is before us and we are looking at implementing the screening report. By the time we implement the report it will reduce the wage bill and we will be able to have left-over to use for some projects. Also, we have set up a revenue committee to see to our internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Presently, our IGR is nothing to write home about and it is one of the areas that we are focusing on. What is your stance on LG autonomy? I’m one of those agitating that LG autonomy should come to stay. It will help the rural community to benefit because

*Adaviruku what is coming from the federal given the state joint account is reduced before it reaches the Local Government level. But if the allocation is coming directly to the LG it will help a great deal.

sat in Maitama, Abuja and worked out the solution that produced Dimeji Bankole and Usman Nafada as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively,” he continued adding that they later communicated to then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, then PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali and late President Yar Adua. Governor Wamakko further stated that he got some states back to the PDP, including resolving the feud between former Kwara governor Bukola Saraki and his late father. He challenged Bamanga Tukur and Ahmed Gulak to tell the world what they have done for the party to be more PDP than himself. Tambuwal in his own remarks said that members of the National Assembly from Sokoto state “are a one united family under the leadership of Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko,” adding that “anything that touches Alu naturally touches us.” “We have heard that you have been purportedly suspended. I said so because as a Lawyer, I have double-checked; I have cross-checked the constitution of the PDP and I have come to the conclusion that what was done was unconstitutional. That is why I am referring to that as purported suspension,” Tambuwal said. He added that governor Wamakko might have been suspended as a member of the PDP but he remained their leader.

I am fully in support of LG autonomy. We have three tiers of government: Local, State and Federal. Now that the Federal and the State operate on their own, I don’t see any reason why the Local Governments which is closer to the people should not stand on their own. By the time the LGs stand on their own you will discover that all these problems will be solved. How are you addressing insecurity in your area? Before, the Kogi Central Senatorial axis of this state was facing serious security challenges. For you to stay in this office, you will be looking over your head to ensure your safety, but now it has stopped through the effort of security personnel and stakeholders who understand the importance of peace. I shall ensure the sustenance of that peace by discouraging thuggery.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013—55

Romance of politics and the delight of economics T

HE joy of political freedom is the realization of the fact that free people are their own masters. After independence in 1960, Nigerians assumed responsibilities for their own destiny as a nation endowed by nature with immense human and mineral resources. In size alone, Nigeria is known as the ‘Giant of Africa’. If politics is, according to its dictionary meaning ‘the art of government’ and politicians are its practitioners, Nigeria has a reasonable degree of exciting experience. Before independence in 1960, Lagos had tasted politics, as being practiced by the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) and the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) of the 1920s and 1930s. The colorful figures those halcyon days were Herbert Macaulay and Dr. C.C. Adeniyi Jones of NNDP and H.O. Davies, Dr. Azikwe, Dr. Abayomi of the NYM. The politics of the 1940s was dominated by the NNDP which later merged with the new party, National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) of Herbert Macaulay and Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe. The colourful political figures of the 1950s were Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe who became the leader of the NCNC (after the death of Herbert Macaulay), Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the leader of the Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC). Both Dr. Azikwe and Chief Awolowo were members of the NYM in the 1930s; but fell apart during the nomination of Ernest Ikoli(an Ijaw) against Akinsanya (Ijebu) for a vacant seat for the Legislative Council. While the Executive dominated by the Yoruba rooted for the Ijaw candidate, others including Dr. Azikwe on principle, supported Akinsanya (late Odemo of Ishara). Ernest Ikoli won the vacant seat. It could be inferred that Lagos politics of the time was without bitterness and tribalism, but based on principle. The political panorama in the 1950s was less cloudy but little understood by the masses. Sir. Ahmadu Bello, the new entrant into national politics stood clearly for Northern solidarity while Chief Awolowo’s idea of separate development of the West was not hidden. The earlier nebulous concept of “one Nigeria” of Dr. Azikwe later became an illusion when the great ‘Zik’ became the Premier of Eastern Region after a party coup against the incumbent Prof. Eyo Ita, an Efik. The post – independence political structure failed to support the envisaged economic aspirations of prosperity. The crash of political experiment in 1966 which was caused by the military coup of that year introduced the men in uniform into the administration of the country, and the inability of the military rulers to solve political problems led to the unnecessary and costly civil war of 1967 to 1970. If the past military rule destroyed the essence of party-politics, perhaps that would confirm the saying of former President Obasanjo that the Greeks that bestowed democracy on the world did practice it without political parties. According to him, ‘multi-party bickering is definitely a luxury we cannot afford’. Many analysts have credited the dividends of democracy to the joy of being a clever politician who changes alliance at will to create fortunes and enjoy personal prestige and if possible, to pass the legacy to his family. On the number of terms for future Nigerian Presidents, a former president once proposed a ‘one six year term for the President, noting that once he has been elected into office he cannot present himself for election into

07059197616 office immediately, he can only succeed his successor. This would mean that there would be no need for any incumbent president to seek self perpetuation in office’. THE ECONOMY: It is now being observed that though the Civil War (196770) was destructive, wasteful and costly, it showed also the resilience of the Nigerian economy. “One of the lessons of the war is that the strength of the Nigerian economy does not depend on crude oil alone as the crucial determinant for growth. The pillars of the economy are the overall natural resources of the country. These include agriculture, livestock, forestry, fishing, water resources, mineral oil, solid minerals, fuel and energy, and the national manpower”. Today, the economic scene has changed from the confident postures of the 1970s and 1980s; oil has become the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The black gold (oil) and gas, provide more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s export earnings and provide more than 80 per cent of the budgets of Federal, State and Local governments. It looks as if dependence on oil is total even with the loud cry of many for diversification of the economy. The increasing oil production in USA and oil funds in many parts of Africa should ring a bell of warning to Nigeria. It is good news that the economy is stable according to our able and respected Minister of Finance and Minister for Economic Coordination, Dr.(Mrs.) Okonjo – Iweala. The GDP rate of growth is about 6.6 per cent, foreign exchange stability is assured and foreign exchange reserves are rising. Also, inflation is under control at less than 10 per cent and the President’s Economic Transformation Agenda is on stream. Also, the Banking Reforms have brought hope to the banking industry to the extent that the fortunes of the lending banks continue to flow (huge profits) while those of the industrial sector continue to ebb disastrously. Perhaps the hardworking Minister might be asked, without being impolite, that at what cost has macro-economic stability been achieved? Certainly, there would be murmurings on unreported dislocation of economic activity and ‘a very high rate of unemployment. Inflation has been the mortal fear of the present administration in the adoption of the Central Bank’s tight monetary policy. As noted by past economic planners, ‘a fast growing economy is often subject to strong inflationary pressures, some of which are not bad, and may even be beneficial to the development processes’. The present government, has at times, increased the prices of some commodities (gasoline, electricity tariffs, etc) to attract foreign investment. However, it is the essential duty of the Central Bank that inflationary pressures do not get out of control and become hyper-inflation. It should be realized that any policy of macro-economy stability based on very heavy unemployment and low value of the naira (Nigeria being an import dependent nation) could be counterproductive at the moment.

56 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

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60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Zuma urges S/Africans to remember Mandela’s struggles

RESIDENT Jacob Zuma of South Africa , yesterday called on his country to remember Nelson Mandela not only for his years as the nation’s first black president but also for his time as a revolutionary and a prisoner as the beloved hero spent his sixth day in the hospital. In an address to parliament, Zuma said South Africans should not create a “superficial” image of Mandela but

•Nelson Mandela remember his lifetime of work. Zuma also spoke of the need to improve the lives of the country ’s

black majority, many of whom live in poverty nearly two decades after the end of racist white rule. Mandela is being treated for a recurring lung infection. There was no update on his condition as of Yesterday evening, though Zuma on Wednesday had reported that Mandela was responding better to treatment. Family members again visited the former president yesterday.

UN says 93,000 killed in Syrian conflict

EARLY 93,000 people have been confirmed killed since Syria’s civil war began more than two years ago, the the United Nation said yesterday. This, according to the

UN is a sharp rise in the death toll as the fighting turns increasingly sectarian and the carnage gripping the country appears unstoppable. The grim benchmark

Former Iranian president opposes election boycott

S Iranians go to pool today, a former Iranian president blocked from a comeback bid urged voters yesterday not to boycott the vote in protest over crackdowns on dissent or in anger over his exclusion from the race. The appeal by former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani came in response to persistent calls by many among reformminded voters to stay away from Friday’s election, despite the apparent rising profile of moderate candidate Hasan

Rowhani, a former nuclear negotiator. The boycott drive seeks to mount a symbolic rebuke to Iran’s ruling system after years of arrests and pressures against op-

came as President Bashar Assad’s regime has scored a series of battlefield successes against the rebels seeking his ouster and international efforts to forge a round of peace talks have stalled. After regaining control of the strategic town of Qusair near the border with Lebanon, regime forces appear set on securing control of the central provinces of Homs and Hama, a linchpin area linking Damascus with regime strongholds on the Mediterranean coast, and Aleppo to the north.

Turkey protests: Erdogan issues final warning

URKISH Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a “final warning” to protesters to leave Gezi Park in central Istanbul. “Our patience is at an end. I am making my

warning for the last time,” he said. Clashes between police and protesters in the park and adjoining Taksim Square have continued for nearly two weeks.

Family of murdered Nigerian to sue Irish govt

HE family of a Nigerian man who died in prison while serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of his wife plans to sue the Irish State over his death. Goodwill Udechukwu died recently at a Dublin hospital following a battle with cancer that was complicated by Aids-related illness, according to reports. He had been serving a life sentence for the 2003 murder of his wife , Natasha Gray in Phibsborough, north Dublin. It was learnt from some members of the Nigerian community in Dublin that the family has written to Government through the Irish Embassy in Nigeria to

express their upset on his death, alleging there was foul play involved. It is believed that the family is being assisted by human rights organizations, and has also demanded the repatriation of Udechukwu?s body, currently with an undertaker since his death a few weeks ago. Just before murdering his wife, Udechukwu had been released from prison after receiving a suspended sentence for assaulting a garda. He subsequently fled to Britain, where he was arrested for shoplifting and was extradited to Ireland on murder charges. In July 2006,

Udechukwu was found guilty of murdering his wife by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. He claimed he had been found guilty because he was from Africa and he was black. Udechukwu was regarded as one of the country’s most violent prisoners and often got into fights. On the first day of his life sentence in Mountjoy Prison, he was beaten and stabbed in the back and in the eye by a gang of inmates in the prison?s D wing.The Nigerian had spent the two months before his death in April in a critical condition at St James?s Hospital in Dublin.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 — 61

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

waits K eshi in Salv ador Confederations Cup: Owubokiri a aw Keshi Salvador F

EW African-born players have decided to make a go of it in Brazil, but as Richard Owubokiri has shown, it can be a perfectly logical and successful career move. Now a players’ agent and the head of a real estate office in northeastern Brazil, the former striker left his native Nigeria in 1983 to try his luck in the so-called spiritual home of football. After several successful seasons in his homeland, where he played for Sharks and ACB of Lagos, the then 21-yearold was persuaded to make what was an unusual move by two Brazilian coaches. As it turned out, his journey across the Atlantic proved to be a vital step in his 19-year career as a penalty-box predator, which would later see him end one season as Europe’s second-highest marksman. It was so vital

in fact, that after moving on to Portugal, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, he decided to return to Brazil and settle in the northeastern city of Salvador, the capital of Bahia state, where he is known to everyone as Ricky. “Things are going nicely here,” he told FIFA.com. “Nobody knew me when I arrived but I pursued my goals and reached them. Salvador is a second home for me and I feel great here.” The two Brazilian coaches who instigated Owubokiri’s move to Brazil three decades ago were Luciano de Abreu, who coached him at Sharks, and the legendary Otto Gloria,

who made his name in Portugal, enjoying trophy-laden spells with Benfica and steering the Portuguese national side to third place at the 1966 FIFA World Cup England. Together they convinced the young Nigerian to make the journey that would change his life. The striker’s first port of call was Rio de Janeiro side America, who had enjoyed great success in the first half of the century before gradually losing ground to the Rio elite. In the early 1980s, however, they remained a competitive outfit, with the young goalscorer from a faraway land finding first-team opportunities hard to come by.

Super Eagles players celebrate a goal at the 2013 Afcon.

Messi tops transfer market ranking NFF, Eagles resolve Messi has ranking undertaken by transfer valuations for bonus row LIONEL been named the the CIES Football the world’s top 60 stars, most valuable player in the world by the latest market valuation

Observatory. The latest annual review updates the

Messi

and according to the CIES, Messi is worth between €217m and €252m - 2.5 times the world record transfer fee. Messi at the top is little surprise though, what’s more interesting is the composition of the rest of the list. In the top 60, Chelsea have four entries Romelu Lukaku, Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. The Belgian is ranked highest valued between €55.5m to €64.5m Hazard comes in

*Team Flies Out Saturday To Brazil

HE bonus row between the Super Eagles players and the Nigeria Football Federation has been amicably resolved after both parties agreed to bury the hatchet and let sleeping dogs lie till after the Confederations Cup hostilities. An elated Team Secretary, Dayo Eenbi Achor said late Thursday that what happened was a mild misunderstanding that have since been resolved and the team will now fly out to Brazil on Saturday morning. NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari has already said the players have a right to demand for higher bonuses but the federation is compelled to work within the budget at its disposal.

Onazi Continues from BP

Cyclefest Race: N1m prize money at stake BY UCHE UDEH

CTION-starved cycling enthusiasts in Lagos will have more than they bargained for when the First Cyclefest Race billed for Sunday, June 16, flags off from the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere. Over 250 cyclists are expected to participate in the epoch-making event which has N1 million prize money at stake. Explaining the motive for staging the event, Inyang Effiong, Team Principal, CycleShop said, “Cyclefest is aimed

at resuscitating the interest of Nigerians in the sport and above all, produce championship cyclists for Nigeria.” Effiong who, alongside Yemi Odusote

and Humphery Otalor of PF&C, Lorenz Mba of Canig Innovative Solutions and Suleh Daniel of Benola, a cerebral palsy initiative paid a visit to Sports

Vanguard said that the new thinking about popularising cycling could only be achieved through a competition of Cyclefest magnitude.

MTN WGC: Western regional qualifiers teeoff Saturday opportunity to enjoy the so far produced some

TILL relishing the e x c i t e m e n t generated by the Eastern Regional qualifiers, which took place recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, golf enthusiasts will, once again, have the

best of the game of golf, as the MTN Western Regional qualifiers will tee-off on Saturday June 15, 2013. The Ikeja Golf Course, Lagos, will host the Western version of the qualifiers, which have

golfers, who will compete at the National Finals that will take place in Akwa-Ibom State, with the likes of S.U. Amadi, whose stellar performance, has kept improving by the

told BBC Sport. “Unfortunately, it means I will miss our Confederations Cup in Brazil.” After undergoing a scan on Thursday, Onazi told BBC Sport he will be back in action in about a month’s time. He added: “I’m very disappointed because I always want to give my best for my country. “Sometimes you face something like this to be stronger as a player. I can only wish my teammates well in Brazil.” Onazi’s absence is a huge blow to Nigeria, who are already without

Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Kalu Uche for the 15 -30 June tournament. Coach Stephen Keshi said: “There’s no denying the fact that we’ll miss Onazi because he’s an important player, he is the engine room of that midfield and this tells you how important he is to the team team. “This is football and we have to be without him. The young boy is dedicated, committed and level headed on and off the pitch. “I know we can find another player in the squad who will step up and fill that void.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013 — 63

Continues from BP Champions who forced the Brave Warriors of Namibia to a 1 -1 draw on Wednesday to remain on top of their group with nine points were scheduled to fly out of Windhoek to Johannesburg on Thursday afternoon, and be on their way to Sao Paulo. They were to arrive Sao Paulo and connect to Belo Horizonte, venue of their first match of the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament against Tahiti, which comes up on Monday. But none of that happened as the players were adamant to pleas by the Football Federation President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari who explained that the body could not afford to pay $10,000 winning bonus to each player and $5,000 for a draw. Maigari we learnt pleaded that the NFF

Eagles could only afford $5,000 bonus for a win and $2,500 for a draw. His pleas, however, fell on deaf ears as the revolting players refused to shift ground. Sports Vanguard gathered that another of the player’s grievances centred on the cutting of the backroom staff of the team, a situation that saw the exit of workaholic assistant coach, Sylvanus Okpalla and Valerie Houdenmou, who coach Stephen Keshi had to employ and pay from his own (Keshi) salary. The players threatened that they would head back to their various clubs if these backroom staffs were not re-called. We learnt that an embattled NFF President Maigari placed a call to Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi who took the matter to the Presidency

to avert a national embarrassment. And a very reliable source said yesterday that the Minister got additional funds to pay the full bonuses of the players and allow them partake in the Confederations Cup. “Yes, the Minister got additional funds from the Presidency for the players. We’re making calls to both the NFF and the players to sheath their sword and proceed to Brazil for the Confederations Cup”, the source informed. Nigeria sit atop Group F with nine points, two more than Malawi’s Flames, whom they confront in Nigeria in the first week of September. The Eagles need only a draw from that match to reach the 10-nation final elimination round of the African series for 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Continues from BP “Not only will we get there, we will also conquer whichever team comes our way and get the ticket to the World Cup finals.” Maigari spoke at the Nigeria House in Windhoek, hours after the Super Eagles forced the Brave Warriors to a 1-1 draw in a hardfought 2014 World Cup qualifying clash at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. Following Malawi’s 22 draw with Kenya in Blantyre earlier in the day, the Group F became Nigeria’s to conquer with a win against the Namibians. But after a bright opening spell, during which Sunday Mba and Anthony Ujah missed opportunities, the hosts began to grow in confidence and

Maigari looked dangerous going forward. The Brave Warriors combined pace and endeavour with commendable ball sense, but they found the central defensive network of Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona impregnable. At the other end, Germany-based forward Ujah shot wastefully over the bar with the net gaping. On the hour mark, the hosts could have taken the lead with a fierce shot, but Enyeama was equal to the task. Their attacking menace continued to cause apprehension among the few Nigerians at the stadium .In the 74th minute,

Ahmed Musa, hero of the qualifier against Kenya in Nairobi a week earlier, fluffed a great chance when clean on goal. And two minutes later, Namibia shot into the lead. Substitute Deon Hotto Kavendji was unmarked in the area to steer a pull-out from the left past Vincent Enyeama. As it has happened in all their four previous qualifying matches, Nigeria would not get a goal until after 80 minutes. Defender Godfrey Oboabona lashed a free-kick from the edge of the box, which goalkeeper Virgill Vries could only help into his net in the 83rd minute.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2013

Onazi out of Confed Cup N

IGERIA’S Ogenyi Onazi has been ruled out of the Confederations Cup in Brazil because of a knee injury. The Lazio midfielder, 20, suffered the injury during

Eagles go on strike! *Over bonus *Backroom staff for Keshi *Minister wades in

Continues on Page 63

Eagles will qualify — Maigari

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will qualify for next year ’s FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil. “I have no doubt that we will qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals. We expected to win here but things didn’t turn out that way. However, nothing has changed. All we need do is beat Malawi in September and we’ll be through to the final round of the elimination series.

BY TONY UBANI

PPARENTLY stung by the national embarrassment that reared its ugly head in far away Windhoek where the Super Eagles are locked in dispute over match bonus with Nigeria Football Federation, Sports Minister and Chairman of National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has stepped into the face-off to prevent the team from boycotting the Confederations Cup. The African

Continues on Page 63

Ogude Keshi

Maigari

PUZZLE

Continues on Page 63

Bolaji

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw in their World Cup qualifier against Namibia on Wednesday. “I thought it was something I could manage when it happened but there was no point pushing myself to the extreme,” Onazi

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

Across 2 Seize (5) 7 Slumber (5) 8 Bog (5) 10 Dismay (5) 12 Sphere (3) 13 Ascended (5) 15 Eye-glass (7) 17 Stripe (6) 19 Pinch (6) 20 Curl (7) 23 Jot (4) 25 Entrance (4) 26 Obvious (7) 30 Stray (3) 31 Rule (6) 34 Evaded (7) 37 Deserve (5) 38 Skill (3) 39 Sofa (5) 40 Inlet (5) 41 Hard (5) 42 Melancholy (5)

Down 1 Vigilant (5) 2 End (5) 3 Seem (6) 4 Stuff (4) 5 Dived (7) 6 Stroll (5) 9 Curve (3) 11 Yen (7) 13 Moving (5) 14 Speechify (5) 16 Nothing (3) 18 Relations (7) 21 Turret (5) 22 Award (5) 24 Avoided (7) 27 Annoy (3) 28 Fruit (6) 29 Amulet (5) 32 Poison (5) 33 Crest (5) 35 Anger (3) 36 Face (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 2, Maria 7, Maze 8, Depart 9, Tread 11, Sue 13, Pie 15, Tend 16, Web 18, Calm 19, Chariot 20, Mild 22, Stun 23, Outlook 25, Lose 27, End 28, Iron 30, Ewe 31, Nut 33, Cynic 35, Enigma 37, Rude 38, Bully.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

Down: 1, Vague 2, Met 3, Nee 4, Add 5, Spy 6, Trail 10, Area 11, Stumble 12, Enclose 13, Pattern 14, Eminent 16, Whole 17, Brood 18, Cos 21, Due 24, Only 26, Owing 29, Outdo 32, Age 33, Cab 34, Nil 35, Cry.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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.