Another air crash averted; 89 escape death

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61991

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

Protect schools from terrorists AS attacks on defenceless civilians go, the one launched against students of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State, in the early hours of Sunday September 29, was one of

the goriest. Innocent students were woken from their sleep, assembled in groups and then cut down

in a barrage of bullets.

Instantly, more than 41 of them lay dead Continues on page 16

BLOODBATH: 44 die in communal, cult wars 7

Another air crash averted; 89 escape death •IRS plane develops fault; guided to land in Kaduna •Associated Airlines pilot was on suicide mission—Falae •AIB report has gaps, says ex-NCAT rector

PDP's Aguariavwodo wins Delta Central senatorial by-election

NIGERIA, ONE LEG IN BRAZIL

Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

The Lord's Chosen Church holds normal services despite Lagos govt's seal •P.9

•P.17 C M Y K

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NOTHER plane crash was, yesterday, averted in Kaduna as IRS Airline plane with 89 passengers on board was assisted to land in Kaduna after it developed mechanical problems. The aircraft was said to have

•P.12

Economy still experiencing uneven development

By DAYO JOHNSON &, LAWANI MIKAIRU

DELE SOBOWALE •P.36

LES LEBA

•P.40

•P.46

Mr & Mrs

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER —Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike (r) celebrates after scoring during the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying football match between Ethiopia and Nigeria in Addis Ababa yesterday. Nigeria won 2See story on back page 1. AFP PHOTO

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POCKET CARTOON

L-r: Gaiv Tata, Senior Director, Africa Region, World Bank; Hubert Danso, CEO African Investor; Phillips Oduoza, GMD/CEO UBA Plc and Uche Orji, CEO, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority during the CEO Dialogue Forum with the World Bank in Washington DC, weekend.

89 escape death in IRS plane Continues from page 1 had hydraulic problem and on landing at the airport had to discharge its passengers on the runway instead of taxiing to the parking lot.

Speaking on the incident, Managing Director of IRS, Mr. Yemi Dada said, the F100 plane with registration 5N-HIR, left Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos for Kaduna with 89 passengers on board and “on final approach to Kaduna today (yesterday), our cockpit crew got a low hydraulic in System One warning and decided to take precautionary measures to ask for ground confirmation that all gears were down and

locked. The aircraft landed normally after the control tower had confirmed that the gears were all down normally. The crew proceeded to land but followed procedure to disembark on the runway and not taxi in accordance with the procedure.

“All passengers disembarked normally and the aircraft was towed to ramp.

The maintenance crew are inspecting to confirm the issue that caused the warning to the crew. Updates will follow shortly."

This incident came few days after Associated Airlines plane conveying the body of the former gover-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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OMPASSION also brings us into the terri tory of mystery encouraging us not just to see beauty, but perhaps also to look for the face of God in the moment of challenges, in the face of a stranger, in the face of another being — Krista Tippett Krista Tippett also says that compassion can be synonymous with empathy. It can be joined with the harder work of forgiveness and reconciliation, but it can also express itself in the simple act of presence.

It’s linked to practical virtues like generosity and hospitality and just being there, just showing up. I think that compassion also is often linked to beauty - and by that I mean a willingness to see beauty and goodness in others.

I’m not sure if I can show you what tolerance looks like, she says, but I can show you what compassion looks like - because it is visible. When we see it, we recognize it and it changes the way we think about what is doable, what is possible. It is so important when we’re communicating big ideas - but especially a big spiritual idea like compassion - to root it as we present it to others in space and time and matter.

Leo Buscaglia sums it beautifully: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

nor of Ondo State, Chief Segun Agagu and 20 others crashed 31 seconds after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos runway killing 15 of the 20 people.

Associated Airline plane was faulty The Accident Investigation & Prevention Bureau, AIPB, in its preliminary report of the accident released in Abuja, weekend, said investigations revealed that the aircraft was already faulty before the cockpit crew decided to embark on the journey. According to the report, the pilot, Capt.

Abdulraham Yakubu, insisted that the crew must continue with the journey even when the co-pilot suggested that the flight should be aborted. The aircraft crashed exactly 31 seconds after take off from the runway.

Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, whose son, Deji, was one of the 15 persons who died in the Associated Airlines plane crash said, weekend, that the pilot was on a suicide mission and that the crash was avoidable.

Falae speaks Falae who spoke in Akure while receiving some leaders of the South South Peoples Assembly who paid a condolence visit to him, argued that the plane crash was strange to a sane mind going by the several unheeded warnings by the crew members about the condition of the plane.

He wondered why the crew members ignored several warnings as regards the condition of the plane but embarked on a suicide

mission.

Falae said, “It was a suicide mission. If they had heeded the warnings all these people would not have died. The crash was avoidable. The genesis of the whole accident was the lack of necessary infrastructure in the country because the remains of Dr Agagu needed not to be flown at all if the road is good. In Nigeria, you cannot travel by road and the air is not safe again, the situation is a serious one. Even if the aircraft is alright, what do you say of the mind of the pilot? This crash was totally avoidable.”

Earlier, the South-South Peoples Assembly had said the preliminary report showed that the crash was avoidable and advocated periodic stress and psychiatric tests for pilots flying in Nigeria. Leading the delegation of the Assembly, Brigadier S.E Oviawe, said the preliminary report actually showed that the pilot embarked on suicide mission.

Oviawe presented the condolence letter signed by the Acting Chairman of the Assembly, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga and the Secretary, Chief Ayakeme Whisky.

He noted “if the pilot had been in the right frame of mind, he ought to have listened to the advice of the co-pilot even after he had been warned by the device in the aircraft. For the pilot to have rejected the warning of the co-pilot and the aircraft equipment itself showed that something was wrong."

They asked the Afenifere leader to “take solace in God and be comforted by those good things that people have been saying about his late son, who had lived for the principle of service

for which the family was noted. We feel your pains and grieve with you for this irreparable loss. Going by myriads of problems confronting the country, there is need for all to sit down and look at the affairs of this country in order to find lasting solution to those problems.

AIB preliminary report is an open report Aviation experts, yesterday, in their assessment of last Friday’s preliminary report released by the AIPB, on the crashed Embraer 120 aircraft belonging to Associated Aviation Services Limited said the report was open as some salient issues like the certificate of Air worthiness of the plane was not addressed.

Speaking on phone with aviation correspondents from London, UK, the immediate past Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Capt. Adebayo Araba, said the report did not indict any agency in the sector. He, however, noted that AIPB did not tell the public some salient points concerning the status of the aircraft.

According to Araba, AIPB in its preliminary report was silent on the last time the plane flew before it crashed on October 3, 2013. He also queried the certificate of airworthiness of the aircraft, stressing that the public would like to know the exact period this was last issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Araba said, “There are some salient points AIPB has not told the public. Although, the report was open and did not indict anybody, but their report did not tell us the status of the aircraft; when was the last time it flew before the crash? When was the last time the certificate of airworthiness was issued and the one that expired, when did it expire?

“Also, when was the last time the maintenance of the

aircraft was done by the airline operator and where was it done? Were the crew current on the plane? When was the last recurrent training the crew had on the plane? AIPB as an investigator in the sector should put their searchlight in these areas and tell us more about these. These are salient points that will tell the public about the true picture of the plane.”

Also, a serving flight engineer who craved anonymity said the report did not tell the public if the flight pilot had a current licence considering the kind of decision he took, even when the first officer was calling for caution. He said, “I doubt if the late pilot had a valid flight licence. When last did he go for training and retraining? Did Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority revalidate his licence, and if yes, who did and when? I think the report, though preliminary is still open. There are still issues to be addressed and questions answered. There is the need to make preliminary report detail so that the picture will be clearer from the begin.”

AIB commences investigation Meantime, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, said, yesterday, that Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau has commenced investigation into the IRS Airline plane that had mechanical fault and had to be guided to land and discharge its passengers on the runway.

In a statement, yesterday, night, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu , Director-General, NCAA said “An aircraft F100 with Reg no 5N-HIR , operated by IRS Airline landed safely, following a hydraulic leakage on the runway of Kaduna airport today, October 13, 2013.

NCAA directed the airline to tow the aircraft to the apron and Accident Investigation & Prevention Bureau, AIPB has commenced investigation into the incident. ”

6 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

SALLAH: Prices of cattle rise, sales drop

2 siblings die in Lagos fire

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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OKOTO— TWO days to Eid-el-Kabir celebration, prices of rams and camels have gone up in some livestock markets in Sokoto State.

At the Sokoto main livestock market, Kara, prices of rams range from N15,000 to N150,000, while sheep and goats range from N10,000 to N50,000.

Cows and camels cost between N50,000 and N200,000, depending on the size and age of the animals, and the purchasing power and choice of the buyer.

Alhaji Yusha’u Chika, a trader at the Sokoto Kara Livestock Market, said: “We have enough stock of animals, but there is a lull in the market.

“Maybe there is a kind of cash crunch in the economy, though Sokoto State and local government workers have been paid their October 2013 salaries.”

Salisu Musa, a trader at the Achida Livestock Market in Wurno Local Government Area, said that sales were low compared to previous years.

Another trader at the Bodinga Livestock Market in Bodinga Local Government Area, Sahabi Aliyu, said: “The situation is unlike previous years, but we are hopeful that sales will pick up as the Sallah draws nearer.”

At the Illela and Gada livestock markets, near the Niger Republic border, the markets were flooded with the sacrificial animals from Birnin Konni and Tahoua towns of Niger Republic.

Alhaji Musa Illela, a livestock trader in Illela, said that he was expecting sales to pick up by Sunday (yesterday) or Monday (today).

He said: “The market is currently very discouraging.”

Musa Lemu, a prospective buyer at the Sokoto Kara Market, said: “I came to the market with only N40,000 and I am yet to get the ram I can afford.

“The owner of the one I wanted to buy told me that the last price is N47,000.

So, I am now searching for another ram, which I can afford with the money I have at hand.”

ABOARD FOR SALLAH: Osun State Government provided free train transportation for indigenes of the state travelling home for Ileya celebration at the railway terminus in Iddo, Lagos State, Saturday.

Cultists hold ‘security summit’ in Edo

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—AGAINST the background of incessant kidnappings and other violent crimes in Edo State, members of various cult groups in the state came together in Benin, weekend, in a move they said was to tackle insecurity in the state.

However, the cult groups during their summit with the theme Interactive Peace Summit: Strategy for Social Cohesion, which held at the Sand Beach Resorts, Benin, expressed dissatisfaction with threats posed to Edo and other neighboring states due to the activities of kidnappers, armed robbery gangs and other criminal activities.

They resolved to tackle them.

Represented

Some of the cult groups represented by at the summit included Green Circuit (Maphites), Norsemen (Vikings), Black Axe, Eiye Confraternity, Family Fraternity of Nigeria and Avarian Organisation of Nigeria.

Also in attendance were representatives of Governor Adams Oshiomhole; the Iyase (traditional Prime Minister) of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe; representatives of the Edo State Commissioner of Police and that of AIG Zone 5 Benin and representatives of the Director, Department of State Services.

Others were representatives of the Commandant of Civil Defence and Security Corps, Edo State Neighbourhood

Watch Council and the OC, SIB, AIG Zone 5.

Chairman of the Consolidated Forum, Donald Edeoghon, while acknowledging the damage done by activities of the group, however expressed hope that the coalition of the groups would help in checking crime in the state.

He said: “If you remember, for over two decades, intergroup conflicts, which often resulted in violent and fatal crises, were the attributes of Edo State communities.

“Innocent lives and property of inestimable worth are de-

stroyed on a whim.

“Armed robbery, kidnapping, thuggery and sundry social vices rose to unprecedented levels; it became dangerous to reside and function legitimately in Edo State and in particular, Benin.

“The situation looked bad, but then came the platform of Rainbow Consolidated Forum with a template for all seasons.”

Chief Igbe expressed joy at what he witnessed and called on the groups not to disappoint, saying “you know I am going to brief the Oba on what I have witnessed here today.”

Gunmen kill one in A'Ibom

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA— A man, whose name was simply given as Dafe and said to be from Oghara in Delta State, was allegedly shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Etim Okon, said the incident took place along Aba\Ikot-Ekpene road in Akwa Ibom State.

He said that the gunmen, numbering about five in a Sports Utility Van, SUV, overtook a black Camry car, blocked it and ordered the victim, who he said should be in his early 30s, out, then shot him.

According to the witness, “I was in a commercial bus heading towards Aba from Uyo, when the SUV overtook the car ahead of us.

“They ordered the occupant out, shot him and put him in the booth of the car and drove off.

“Before he was shot, he was shouting ‘my name is Dafe, I am not an informant.’ And one of the assailants said ‘yes we know you.

You are from Oghara.’

“One of the gunmen drove the victim’s car.

“The gunmen zoomed off with the victim’s body to an unknown destination. We were even afraid in the bus because we thought they were armed robbers.

“It was as if they trailed him because it was only his car that was stopped.”

When the Police Public Relations Officer of Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Mr. Etim Dickson, was contacted for confirmation, he said that he was attending a function, asking to be called later.

AGOS—A three-yearold girl and her elder sister, identified as Abla, lost their lives in a fire that gutted their 8, Odofin Close, Ikotun, apartment, leaving their father with severe burns.

It was gathered that the fire started, last Friday, when their father, Pele Prazo, a Togolese, was turning petrol into their power generating set and Abla, who held a lighted candlestick, walked towards him. The apartment was razed.

Prazo’s three-year-old daughter, who was inside their apartment when the fire started, was burnt to death, while Abla died at Igando General Hospital, where her father is receiving treatment.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Dasmsus Ozuani, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard said policemen attached to Ikotun police division and men of the state fire service were at the scene, following distress calls.

Ozuani added that the police and fire servicemen took the victims to the hospital.”

Brutalised NYSC member sent abroad

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA— MISS Folakemi Akinbode, the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC member whose hand was almost chopped off in a brutal attack by suspected hoodlums in August at Okolobiri in the outskirt of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, has been flown abroad for further treatment by the state government.

Akinbode, a nurse attached to Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, NDUTH, Okolobiri, was returning home from work when she was attacked by the hoodlums.

She was flown to Italy last Tuesday by the state government for further treatment after undergoing two major surgeries in Nigeria.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013—7

BLOODBATH: 44 die in communal, cult wars, auto accident

CBN, NDIC takeover NERFUND

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—SEVERAL families were thrown into mourning weekend as no fewer than 44 persons died in violent clashes and auto accidents across the country.

Separate attacks on Benue communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen claimed 21 lives while 16 others died in an auto accident on the Makurdi-Gboko road.

Seven persons were also feared dead in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital in a clash between three cult groups.

Vanguard gathered from sources that the affected Benue communities that were attacked include Apera, Gberija, Tse Pilla, Uchagh, Ukaha, Atenger, Agema and Agule in Guma where six persons were killed while another 15 were killed at Oguchi-Ankpa in Agatu local government area by the invaders.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed 21 in Benue

BY PETER EGWUATU

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HANDOVER: From left: Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, and Chairman, Otto-Awori LCDA, Bolaji Robert during handing over of fishing materials to one of the beneficiaries in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Meantime, following the weekend invasion of Benue communities by suspected Fulani According to our source in Guma herdsmen, Governor Gabriel local government council, “They Suswam has charged the people marched into our villages from of the state to be vigilant and report Awe in Nasarawa State and suspicious movements in the passed through Damko before communities to security agencies.

Governor Suswam who spoke invading and burning down eight villages in Guma local yesterday at the Catholic Church, Oshigbudu after inspecting the government.

“Unfortunately, the herdsmen damage at Enogaje, one of the stormed the affected villages communities earlier attacked by the when most men had gone to their marauders, urged the people to farms and since we thought that “be security conscious and report the persistent crisis had been suspicious movements to the settled by both the Benue and relevant security agencies”.

Nasarawa state governments, we were not prepared for the surprise 16 die in auto accidents attack.

16 persons were also reportedly “They killed six of our people killed in a ghastly motor accident who were mostly women, because when a fully loaded 14-seater bus they were at home preparing ran into a heavy duty truck and a meals for their husbands and taxi on the ever busy Makurdichildren who had gone to their Gboko road. farms at the time of the attack.

Vanguard gathered from “Several persons were seriously eyewitnesses that the accident injured while many are still occurred at about 9a.m. Sunday missing as at today and no one after Wannune Market in Tarka has a clue as to their whereabouts. Local Government of Benue state.

“In fact this latest attack has According to the witness, “the 14 brought to the fore the need for seater bus belonging to Pleasure both the Benue and Nasarawa Travels (from the inscription on the state governments to take a closer body) was said to be heading to look at overhauling the security Jato-Aka in Kwande local apparatus operating on the border government when it collided with between the two states,” he said. a tanker at top speed that was

coming from an opposite direction after the truck had overtaken another car.

“The driver of another car following the tanker apparently lost control of his vehicle and also hit the already collided vehicles leading to the death of about 16 at the spot.

Efforts to get the Managing Director of Pleasure Travels were not fruitful as no staff of his company was willing to oblige his contact but a staff who pleaded not to be named confirmed the development and added that their staff, a mechanic who had joined the ill-fated bus to repair one of the company’s buses also lost his life in the mishap.

When contacted, the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent, DSP, Daniel Ezeala said the Police had so far recorded 14 deaths from the accident.

Cult war claims 7 lives in Akwa Ibom

Also, no fewer than seven persons were feared dead following the clash between three cult groups, the Vikings, Red Skin, and KKK, otherwise known as Klans men.

Although the cause of the clash was not yet known, Vanguard leanrt that trouble started somewhere around Akpan Essien Street, where some young men who were drinking engaged in an argument which degenerated into exchange of punches and a free-for-all One of the victims, a 27-year old boy, Anieyie Okon Essien of No. 10 Asukwo Akpan

Street, Ewet Offot, in Uyo Local Government, and a driver in Government House, who was killed was buried in the father’s compound on Saturday According to an eyewitness Anieyie was shot twice by some unidentified cultists, while another cultist who was a little far from him shouted, “finish it, confirm," before the people that shot him brought out their knives and matcheted him to death.

Vanguard learnt that another person was killed in Akpa Ubeh, around Itam Junction, and another on Iboko street.

When Vanguard visited the compound of a certain young man alleged to be cap'n of one of the cult groups in Anua village, there were more than 50 young boys in the compound said to be there to protect their leader.

Residents of Udo Ikpe, Urua Udofia, Udoinwang, Anderson, Akpa Edor, Asukwo Akpan streets, in Uyo metropolis complained that they have been living in fear as cultists have been harrassing and terrorising them in the last one month.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed that the police have arrested about seven cultists who were in the State Police headquarters, and that they would be prosecuted soon.

He said, “we are aware that for sometime now the cultists have been killing themselves.

We have made some arrests through the combined efforts of the Quick Response Squad, and the policemen of the ‘A’ Division.

We will make sure we prosecute them no matter who is involved."

HE Federal Ministry of Finance has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, to take over the affairs of National Economic Reconstruction Fund, NERFUND. The ministry in a circular, said the decision to take over the management and control of the Fund followed President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval of the recommendations of the CBN and NDIC Joint Special Examination report on the books and affairs of the Fund.

According to the report, the capital invested in the institution by the Ministry of Finance had been completely eroded with gross losses which stood at N5.7 billion. The Fund, the report added, had not been able to service loans taken for on-lending from the African Development Bank, ADB, the Ministry of Finance and other sources.

The new management team appointed by the Ministry of Finance is headed by Mr. Muhammad Gidado Kollere of the NDIC as Managing Director/CEO and Mr. Ihua Elenwor of the CBN as Executive Director (Operations).

The team which is to oversee the affairs of the institution for an initial period of one year is also mandated to, among other things, mount an aggressive recovery of all outstanding loans, overhaul the Fund’s records, reconcile all accounts with correspondent banks and render quarterly report to the Board of the Fund, headed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance.

NERFUND was established by Decree No. 2 of 1989 to act as a catalyst towards the stimulation of the rapid rise of real production enterprises in the country. The NERFUND was specifically mandated to provide long/medium term loans to entrepreneurs through commercial/ merchant banks for industrial growth of Nigeria.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

Reps query NIMASA over payment of $326m to Tompolo's firm

BY GODWIN ORITSE

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HE House of Representatives AdHoc Committee investigating the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, has queried the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, over the $326million payment to Global West Specialist Vessels Limited, a company purportedly owned by exmilitant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo.

The House Committee was set up to ascertain how much has accrued into the CVFF, including the interest, as well as how much the Fund disbursed and to whom it gave the money. It also demanded to know why such huge amount of payment was made to Global West.

During the investigation, a member of the Committee, Dr Adejare Samuel Babatunde, raised an alarm at the amount of money paid to one single company, and demanded that a detailed bank statement of account of the CVFF be forwarded to the committee.

The committee, it was gathered, was also irked by the payment of 50 percent of NIMASA’s generated revenue to the said company, contrary to laid down financial regulations of government.

The committee also picked holes at the NIMASA CVFF accounts and demanded an explanation on the movement of monies from the Fund to other accounts.

Beside the unauthorized movements of monies from the Fund, the committee further demanded the disclosure of names and the consultants engaged by NIMASA and how much has been paid to the consultants.

The committee then called for an amendment of the Cabotage Act with a view to quickening the process of disbursement of the CVFF which has been hampered by the guidelines.

Court 'll force INEC to recognize us—nPDP zGives FCT Minister 48hrs to open Adamawa lodge; asks him to apologise

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BY HENRY UMORU

BUJA—THE Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday boasted that the court will force the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise the group as the authentic PDP and not the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, just as it gave the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed 48 hours to reopen the sealed Adamawa State Governor’s lodge and apologise to the people of the state.

The group also described the disciplinary committee headed by Second Republic Minister of Transport, Alhaji Umaru Dikko as a set up by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to witch-hunt members of the Baraje-led new PDP. It argued that setting up such a committee at the time President Goodluck Jonathan was holding meetings with aggrieved members to find lasting peace, was an indication that Tukur was working at cross purposes with the President.

In a statement signed by the Barajeled PDP National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukuemeka Eze, the group said, “On the turning down of our letter for recognition by INEC, we are expectedly disappointed but we thank God that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chapter 1V Section 40 recognizes our right to associate amongst ourselves. To say the least, this decision by INEC to recognize Tukur ’s faction is unfortunate because INEC is aware of the flawed nature of the last convention where some of the aides of President Jonathan who are not our party’s delegates were allowed to vote.

This alone nullifies the outcome of that illegal convention. We need not to say much on this as we are very convinced that the court will give us fair hearing and by that time, INEC will be compelled to recognize us accordingly.”

It will be recalled that INEC in a letter by its Acting Secretary, U.F Usman to the Baraje- led group, had rejected the Baraje faction, insisting that Bamanga Tukur’ NWC was the authentic one. The electoral body said that it would not withdraw the recognition it accorded the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC because as an electoral umpire, it witnessed the processes that led to his emergence as National Chairman as well as other members of NWC. On the ultimatum to FCTA Minister, Bala Mohammed to reopen the sealed Adamawa State governor’s Lodge, the new PDP said, “The sealing off of the Adamawa Governor’s Lodge by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, only demonstrates his lack of understanding about the status of a Governor’s Lodge. What the minister has brazenly done is to indirectly attack the people and Government of Adamawa State in his desperation to impress the PDP tin

god, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

This unwarranted and rash action by Senator Mohammed can be equated with the recent attack against the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau by the Guinea-Bissau authorities, which sparked outrage and for which that country ’s government swiftly apologised."

“We advise the misguided minister to within 48 hours not only apologise to the people

and Government of Adamawa State but also to unseal the Lodge, which serves as our temporary National Secretariat following the sealing of our National Secretariat by the police. The Government of Adamawa State has not committed any offence by allowing us to use the Lodge as contact office.

“Senator Mohammed is usurping powers that do not belong to him. His unjustifiable

action is yet another evidence of impunity by some overzealous people in government intent on blackmailing President Goodluck Jonathan and portraying him as draconian and undemocratic President “Such people must be stopped forthwith! We, therefore, appeal to Mr. President not only to call Senator Mohammed to order but also sanction him accordingly for portraying Jonathan’s government as lawless, evil and anti-people."

BRIEFING—From left: Executive Director, Lagos/South West, First City Monument Bank Limited, Mr. Femi Bakre; Group MD/CEO, Mr. Ladi Balogun and Senior Vice President/ Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Mr. Olu Akanmu, during the bank's briefing on the 30th anniversary promo in Lagos.

Eid-el-Kabir: IG orders increased police presence

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—FOLLOWING recent discovery of stockpiles of improvised explosive devices, IEDS, AK 47 riles and other weapons said to have been targeted for use during Eid-el-Kabir by Boko Haram terrorists, InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has directed all heads of operational units and commanders of the force nationwide to put in place high visibility policing strategies targeted at achieving a secure, peaceful and incident-free Sallah celebration.

Consequently, he ordered commanders in-charge of the Police Special Forces - the Air Wing, the Maritime Command, the Counter Terrorism Unit and the Border Patrol Units to ensure purposeful and strategic deployment of their personnel and logistics to ensure all criminal threats are effectively checkmated.

A statement from Force headquarters signed by CSP Frank Mba said: “This directive is contained in a Police signal issued on October 12, 2013, by the office of the IGP addressed to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in-charge of Zones and State Command Commissioners of Police."

It reads: “As the Muslim faithful in Nigeria mark the 2013 Eid-el Kabir, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Abubakar has ordered all heads of Operational Units at commands and formations of the Force nationwide to put in place high visibility policing strategies targeted at achieving a secure, peaceful and incident-free Sallah celebration.

"Commissioners of Police are to adequately protect all essential infrastructure and vulnerable points, including highways, motor parks, and places of worship, shopping malls and recreation centres.

“In addition, Commanders of Police Mobile Force Squadrons

are to ensure that their respective Quick Reactionary Units remain on high alert throughout the holiday period."

Continuing, “The IGP reminded Operational Commanders that though the nation is on holiday, Policemen are not on holiday and all Commanders are expected to remain at their beats and posts throughout the Sallah period."

Meanwhile, officers and men deployed for the Eid-el Kabir celebrations have been enjoined to conduct themselves in a most professional manner, in line with the Force Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics and other extant laws regulating the rules of engagement.

The IG charged them to be mindful of the fundamental rights of the citizens, while discharging their responsibilities.

He sought the support, understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians in the ongoing transformation of the Nigeria Police, pledging the unalloyed loyalty of the Force to our fatherland.

Vanguard , MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013—9

Normal worship at The Lord’s Chosen Church despite govt’s seal zMuoka says shutdown is advertisement for the church

BY OLAYINKA LATONA & WILLIAM JIMOH

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AGOS — NORMAL activi ties continued at the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministry headquarters, yesterday, despite its closure by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment for environmental offences.

Activities at the church’s headquarters betrayed no sign of the sealing by a government task force.

This came as the church’s founder, Pastor Lazarus Muoka said the closure was an advertisement for the church.

Several gates leading to the church’s main auditorium were opened and there was no sign of government's seal to indicate a clampdown.

A few gates were shut, but without government's official seal.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Ministry of Environment announced that it had shut down the church’s headquarters last Tuesday over failure to comply with the state’s environmental laws.

A visit to the church, yesterday, revealed that members freely assembled at the premises as usual for worship and other activities while others busied themselves selling inspirational materials and other items.

However, it was noticed that the church has removed some structures on the drainage channel and cleared the canal, giving the area a new look.

Muoka also observed that the church had begun a process of erecting new toilet facilities.

Church founder, Pastor Muoka who was said to have just returned from a mission outside the country, told worshippers not be discouraged about the news of the church's closure by government agents, saying it was another way of advertising the church.

Preaching on a topic entitled, 'The Necessity of Faith in Challenging Cituation,' Muoka urged members not to be deterred by the current challenges confronting the church as such situation was only testing their faith.

Continuing, he said: “The shutdown of the church can only advertise the church and multiply us more. They are all after our faith. Any member that loses his or her faith in a situation like this is gone.

"As members, do not allow adverse news about the church to affect your faith because every true child of God must pass through trials and persecution but blessed are those who keep their faith to the end.

“No matter what the church is going through we shall overcome, we are unmovable, and

we will not look back. Despite all the noise they are making about Chosen, we do not look back, instead we keep moving forward.

"The more they speak about us, the more you should keep preaching righteousness, go out by faith. We are not moved, all the people causing these, will see you succeeding and they will be ashamed,” he stated.

The cleric after his sermon called on members who can build toilet facilities to join in the construction work.

The church’s Director of Public Relations/Press, Pastor Louis Chidi said the church had fully complied with the state government’s order with a reversion to its former status and was fully

operational.

Some church members, who gathered in groups after the service, said the Lagos government took on the church simply because the founder was away on an assignment outside the country.

Another member countered that it was better that the structure on the drainage channel was removed including the evacuation of solid waste dumped inside the canal.

As at the time of this report, it was not clear if the state government had lifted the order shutting down the church following the church’s non-adherence to the state’s

environmental laws.

Several phone calls made to the state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello and his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, were unsuccessful at press time.

However, a senior official of the state Ministry of Environment, who preferred anonymity, affirmed to Vanguard that “the church is still under seal and there is no way the authorities could have broken the seal.”

He confirmed that the church authorities had written to the state government of their willingness to comply with the directive in full.

Rep cautions students against cyber crime

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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HE CHAIRMAN, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Hon. Ojo Oyetunde has advised Nigerian students to avoid all forms of cyber crimes capable of destroying their future.

Oyetunde, gave the charge, weekend, while addressing students of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED, Noforija-Epe, Lagos, during the commissioning of 110 laptops donated by the committee to MOCPED and Okemagba High School, Mojoda-Epe, in line with its Advanced Digital Access Programme for Tertiary Institutions, ADAPTI, and Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, initiatives.

Ijebu-Ode flyover 'll be ready for Ileya, Ojude Oba festivals — Amosun

CELEBRATION: Ram sellers waiting for buyers for Eid-il Kabir celebration, at Agege Motor Road, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

Lagos out with new water policy

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — LAGOS State gov ernment in collaboration with stakeholders is currently designing a new policy to enhance sustainable water supply in the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola disclosed this, weekend, during the 2013 Walk for Nature pro-

gramme with the theme: “Water for Life,” organised by the state Ministry of the Environment in collaboration with Nigeria Conservation Foundation, NCF. The governor said 900 million people globally did not have access to potable water, with the number increasing,

hence the need to act positively now in water management.

According to Fashola who was represented by Dr. Taofeek Folami, Special Adviser to the Environment, “water is a valuable resource which must be managed very well from its extraction for producing potable water through treatment.”

Williams replaces Ogunlewe as HoS

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O V E R N O R BABATUNDE Fashola of Lagos State has approved the appointment of Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi Williams as the 17th Head of Service, HoS. A statement yesterday, by the

outgoing HoS, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, said Mrs. Williams was until her appointment the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.

Williams, a fellow of the In-

stitute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, Akoka and a post-graduate diploma in Computer Science.

THE FLYOVER at Lagos Garage Junction in Ijebu Ode will be ready for Ileya and Ojude Oba celebrations in line with Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s resolve and earlier promise to deliver the project.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, who stated this during the presentation of an award to him by the National Students Coalition Rebirth of Nigeria, NSCRN, said towards achieving this, contractors and Ministry’s engineers were working round the clock to ensure compliance and readiness of the project.

The commissioner added that the state government realised the importance of the annual celebration and would use the period to "make people of the state both home and abroad have a feel of the impact of the flyover and infrastructure development taking place in the state."

10—Vanguard , MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

Customs destroys seized frozen foods in Ibadan

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — OYO/ OSUN command of the Nigeria Customs Service, weekend, destroyed large quantity of frozen turkey and chicken at Arapaja village dump site in Ibadan.

According to the Area Controller of the command, Mr. Richard Oteri, who spoke through the Deputy Controller, Administration, Mr. Usman Buba, the frozen foods were seized on October 10 by his men at Ilugun area on old Eruwa Road after a tip-off.

The banned items were seized with other contraband, when they were being conveyed in eight vehicles.

He said: “A total of 5,390 cartons conveyed in eight vehicles were seized by the Customs officers. The vehicles are now at the headquarters of the command.”

He explained that importation of poultry products and other forms of smuggling were dangerous to the country ’s economy and also injurious to our health, emphasising that the command had several times warned members of the public to stop the consumption of the frozen food.

Huge crowd besieges Osun’s free train ride

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HOUSANDS OF holiday makers travelling to Osun, Kwara, Kogi and some other parts of the country have besieged the Iddo Terminus of the Nigerian Railway Corporation as the free Eidil Kabir festival free train ride provided by the government of Osun State entered its second day in Lagos.

The free train ride initiative of Osun State government has once more commenced commuting people coming home for the Eid-il Kabir festival with indigenes of neighbouring states also taking advantage to get to their various destinations as they get to Osun capital, Osogbo which reduces their travelling expenses.

Omisore, Osun govt trade words on merger of schools

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor & DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — SENATOR Iyiola Omisore, weekend, described as regressive and confusing the merging of schools in Osun State by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The former senator from Osun East in the National Assembly, said the action was a reflection of lack of administrative qualities.

Omisore spoke in Akure after paying condolence visit to Chief Olu Falae on the death of his son, Deji in a plane crash recently.

He said that the merger of schools “is unfortunate to be happening to us in the 21st century. I believe that it is a sign of lack of content and lack of in-depth administrative qualities in the area of education.

“Now schools are being merged, schools of different cultures, different backgrounds, some are males only, some females only; they are now being merged under the guise of educational policy.

“I think that is a start of gangsterism, activism, I think the government is under siege; it is confused.”

According to the former deputy governor: “The people have the right to protest the merger because it is against their wish and aspiration particularly, when in many states, schools are being returned to the missions.

Omisore boasted that, “I am telling you, we are going to eject the young man out of the Government House in 2014 by God’s grace.

He’s ignorant of the issues — Osun govt

In a swift reaction, the state government through the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said it is sad that Senator Omisore is unaware of issues surrounding ownership of schools: “The structures that we met were so bad that we decided that we were not going to allow it. Some schools were beyond repairs and were evident reasons of the mass failure in public examinations.

“Even if we wanted to repair them, they were so bad that repairing them would amount to sheer waste of our scarce resources.

“The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, says there must not be more than 1,000 students in a school. Beyond that, the management of the school will be difficult.

“Conscious of this fact, we decided that we should build schools with all facilities for children’s development –mental, physical and psycho- motor, in a given place to give

value to investment.

“Omisore’s incoherent, uncoordinated attack on the education reforms in Osun only demonstrates his penchant and those of his cohorts for the kind of educational standards that his party sustained in order to keep the bulk of our people totally relegated and weakened to be productive enough for the society.

“Selfish in their actions, parochial in their thoughts, Omisore and the culture he represents would never see anything good in people-focused, development-oriented educational policies that seek

to make a total, independent man out of an Osun child.

“Did this former senator ever bother about the statistics of performance of students in Osun to have the correct figures. We are happy to educate him that in 2009, Osun was 34th; in 2010 before this administration came in, Osun was 32nd, but the first examination conducted in 2011 after the emergence of this administration and a quick intervention, Osun came to 18th position in the country which still remains unacceptable. So, we challenge Omisore to come out with his statistics and where he sourced

it from.

“We must add here that it is obvious that Omisore was jolted by the royal endorsement of the Aregbesola educational reforms in Osun by his monarch, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.”

Coming on a day that national dailies reported Omisore’s traditional ruler as commending the education reforms and restructuring, describing it as the best thing that is happening to the state, Omisore has certainly lost touch with his root as he seeks to fault his traditional ruler over his honest assessment of the current trend in education in Osun.

ANNIVERSARY: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle); former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (left), and Chairman, Island Club, Lagos, Prince Ademola Dada, during the 70th anniversary of the club, in Lagos, weekend.

Taking raw eggs can cure breast cancer — POULTRY ASSOCIATION

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — THE Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, in the South West has said that researches have shown that drinking of raw eggs could reduce the risk of breast cancer in women, saying that there was no relationship between the consumption of eggs and heart diseases.

The body also argued that there was no link between the

consumption of eggs and the quantity of cholesterol in the human body system.

Addressing the media during the World Eggs Day in Abeokuta, weekend, PAN Chairman in the South West, Dr. Olufemi Faniyi, his Ogun State counterpart, Dr. Olalekan Odunsi and a veterinary surgeon, Dr. Jide Oluwawemitan blamed the medical professionals of misinforming the public about the health function of

Adeyeye hails Delta senatorial by-election result in a statement issued by the Di-

A

FENIFERE CHIEFTAIN and Peoples Dmocratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has hailed the party’s victory in yesterday’s Delta Central senatorial district by-election, describing it as “a pointer to what will befall the All Progressives Congress, APC, in future elections.

Reacting to the election results

rector General of his campaign organisation, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement, PAAM, Bisi Kolawole, the governorship aspirant congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan, the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan and the senator-elect, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo for the well deserved victory.

eggs.

According to PAN, the amount of cholesterol in eggs could not influence an increase in the quantity of cholesterol in the body system.

The body argued that it had been scientifically proved that eggs contain better quality of animal protein than that found in beef, fish and pork.

Faniyi stated that the higher consumption of eggs in countries such as Japan, Mexico and the United States of America had increased the rate of life expectancy higher than a country like Nigeria where the citizens consume less number of eggs.

“If a woman can drink six eggs per week, there is a likelihood of the reduction of the risk of breast cancer by 44 per cent,” Dr. Oluwawemitan said.

“It has been proved that egg contains better quality of animal protein than beef, fish and pork. It contains a lot of vitamins and minerals for brain and memory to function better.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013—11

Kidnapped Edo judge regains freedom

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—SIXTEEN days after he was abducted by kidnappers, on his way to Ekpoma from Benin City, Justice Daniel Okungbowa of the Edo State High Court, has regained his freedom in the early hours of yesterday.

The state high court judge was abducted while on his way to the Ekpoma division of the high court, three weeks after the release of human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN. The Benin branch of Nigeria Bar Association, had boycotted courts in protest over Okungbowa’s abduction. The protest grounded activities at the state judiciary for over two weeks.

It was learnt that Justice Okungbowa was released at 2 a.m by his abductors.

It was further learnt that his release was delayed due to negotiation between the kidnappers and the family over the ransom demanded. Vanguard could not confirm whether ransom was paid or not. The Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, who confirmed his release to Vanguard, yesterday, said the state high court judge

had rejoined his family.

Mr Adebanjo did not give details of how the judge was released. There was jubilation at the Benin City branch of the NBA, when the news came that the judge had been released. Mr Sam Abasilim, a member of the NBA, Benin

City, also confirmed the release to Vanguard.

According to him, “We are happy because we were scared due to the delay in releasing him. You are aware that we boycotted court sittings because of his abduction, so we are happy that we

will be going back to work now. It is not always easy for members of the Bar to concentrate on their jobs when a judge’s life is in danger. But we thank God for his release and we appeal to security agencies to stop this incessant kidnapping of Nigerians.”

PRESENTATION: Onitsha Palace chiefs presenting a cheque of N50, 000 to the representative of Aghaedo age grade which came third in the age grade competition during the ongoing Onitsha Ofala Festival, sponsored by Globacom.

Oil, gas communities want derivation raised to 25%

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA—THE Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, of Nigeria, weekend, called for an upward review of the 13 percent derivation fund to 25 percent.

The demand, it however, said, does not in any way infer a compromise to the 10 per cent Host Communities Trust Fund imputed in the Petroleum Industry Bill as a participatory equity share in the petroleum industry.

According to the group, the enormity of the devastation on ground makes the review of the 13 per cent derivation to a more standardised form imperative to address the marginalisation of the oil and gas producing communities in the Niger Delta region.

In a paper presented at the South-South zonal public hearing on the review of the revenue allocation formula held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by Chief Alfred Bubor, Chief S. Benjamin and Dr. Peter Egedegbe, National Chairman, National Vice Chairman and Public Relations Officer respectively, the

group described the 13 per cent as token, considering the environmental hazard faced by the oil and gas producing communities.

HOSTCOM argued that the Federal Government taking 52 per cent alone while the remaining 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory share 47.38 per cent of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account, was an aberration.

It submitted that the Feder-

al Government should have 42 per cent, while the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, have 58 per cent, lamenting that the 1999 Constitution and even the Petroleum Acts of 1985, till date, had not been fair to the region that produces the oil and gas that feeds the country.

“This country should be talking of making derivation fund work for the oil and gas producing communities in the country. The revenue from oil and gas resources

contributes over 80 per cent of the Gross Domestic Products, GDP, to this country and even at that the per capita income of the generality of the people of the oil and gas producing communities is zero.

“The government should encourage the oil and gas producing communities by giving them incentives coupled with an increase from the 13 per cent derivation to 25 per cent, which should be placed in the front line charge before sharing by all the tiers of government,” it said.

Ughelli CAN bosst urges good represention of Christians at confab

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—CHAIRMAN of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, Rt. Rev Diamond Emuobor, has urged the Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led national executive of the association to brace up for the full representation of the Christian community in the forthcoming national conference.

Emuobor, in a statement, said: “While the placement of Christians in national repre-

U

sentation was resisted by rulers of past and present day Nigeria, the position of Islam has been conspicuously promoted and foisted on all who are non-Muslims by the same leaders who resisted Christian placements.

“We take exception to the Nigerian currency having Arabic inscriptions representing Islam and other doctored identities that put Islam as the leading religion in Nigeria, while the Cross representing the Christian order is de-

fiantly absent from our currency.”

He canvassed the need for the place of religion to be conspicuously spelt out in the form of enumeration in the forthcoming 2014 census “so as to distinguish the lies from the truth about Nigeria’s population.”

According to him, the “position of the church should be properly listed in the laws and constitution of Nigeria to show who is developing what in Nigeria.”

Delta LG boss flags off SURE-P mass transit scheme

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OMADI—THE Bomadi Local Government Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme SUREP mass transport scheme has been flagged off with a charge on the operators to desist from arbitrary hike in transport fares.

Flagging off the scheme in Bomadi, the administrative headquarters of the council, Transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Collins Olorogun, said the scheme, which is a government-private partnership project, was subsidised to cushion the hardship faced by the people on land and water transportation on account of the partial removal of subsidy, adding that the buses and boats were be used to improve the living conditions of the people.

At the event were the vice chairman of the council, Mr. Ernest Tobi, political office holders, the Head of Personnel management, Mr. Sunday Ekeremor as well as party faithful.

DESOPADEC commissioner warns youths against criminality

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HE commissioner representing Isoko ethnic nationality on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Joseph Ogeh, has urged youths in his constituency to use the tricycles donated by his foundation judiciously and shun all forms of criminality.

Ogeh gave the charge to the beneficiaries of the tricycles otherwise known as Keke Uduaghan, during the official hand over of same at Oghara-Iyede, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.

On why he acquired the tricycles, he said: “ I believe in assisting the less privileged in addition to the fact I am serving under the leadership of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan the governor of Delta, who has human capital development as one of his three-points agenda.”

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

PDP’s Aguariavwodo wins Delta Central by-election ….It was rigged— DPP

….Poll marred by malpractices, violence—APC

I’ll deliver – Aguarviavwodo

BY EMMA AMAIZE, FESTUS AHON & GODWIN OGHRE

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GHELLI—CANDIDATE of the PDP in last Saturday’s Senatorial by-election in Delta Central, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo has won the election by a landslide.

The Returning Officer, Profesor Eric Arubayi, announced, yesterday, in Ughelli, Delta, that Aguariavwodo polled 263,024 votes to defeat eight other candidates.

Arubayi said Mr. O’tega Emerhor of All Progressives Congress, APC, scored 29,075 votes to emerge second, while Chief Ede Dafinone of Democratic Peoples’ Party, DPP, followed with 29,055 votes.

PDP won in all the eight local government areas of the senatorial district.

DPP, APC, LP, APGA fault polls Meanwhile, DPP, APC, Labour Party, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have faulted the elections, alleging that it was rigged and characterized by massive fraud. They all called for a fresh election.

In a statement by DPP’s chairman in Delta State, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, the party alleged that the election was a sham and disassociated itself from it.

He also alleged that “the scale of impunity and violence

by PDP thugs, cultists and security agents was unimaginable. There was no election and we know the conflagration that could have followed if we did not stop our people early enough from going to collation centres to witness the results collation.”

Delta Central denied — Dafinone

The party, however, urged its members and supporters to remain peaceful.

Its candidate, Dafinone, said: “We are here to tell the world that the people of Delta Central were on Saturday denied the right to choose a senator of their own. The exercise to elect a senator was a complete sham.

There was no election, as defined by our laws.

“The lopsided and partisan involvement of state security apparatuses in supporting the PDP and the brazen use of thugs to unleash violence and mayhem on our party members and the electorate was unprecedented. Thus, there are now very serious concerns for the progress of our nascent democracy and diminishing hope for peace, unity and good governance of Nigeria now and in the immediate future.”

No voting at all—

UDUAGHAN ADDRESSES PDP MEMBERS: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, (3rd left); addressing PDP leaders as Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (2nd left), Chief Peter Nwabaoshi, PDP, Chairman, (middle); Olorogun Emmanuel Aguariavwodo (4th right), Prof.

Sam Oyovbaire (3rd right), Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi (2nd right), Brig. Gen. Dominic (rtd) and Chief Austin Ogbaburhon (left), Member, House of Representatives, look on. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Lai Mohammed

On its part, APC, in a statement in Lagos State, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that there was no voting at all in most of the eight local governments and the 85 wards in the district, alleging that the PDP used armed security agents to chase away voters in opposition strongholds while thugs working under the cover of security personnel beat opposition party agents and seized voting materials in many areas.

He said that electoral officials were either overwhelmed by the intimidating presence of the security agents or were coerced into submission.

“This election is nothing but a sham as the activities of the partisan security agents ensured that hundreds of voters were disenfranchised, while state government and PDP officials openly gave out money to induce voters. Even in wards where voters successfully resisted armed security agents, the absence of complete electoral materials meant there was no voting,’’ APC said.

Emerhor outcome

rejects

The party’s candidate, Emerhor, said: “I hereby, place it on record that no by-election took place in Delta Central on October 12, 2013. What took place was a sham calculated to select a senator, the first by any democracy in the world, by the government and all its agencies, including the INEC, the military and other security agencies, all working together to achieve this nefarious and predetermined outcome.

“We, therefore, reject in its totality, the purported outcome and results as announced by INEC. We hereby, demand for a fresh election that will allow the people of Delta Central to

freely elect a candidate of their choice to fill the vacant senatorial seat.

“Our rejection and demand for a fresh election is predicated on the following: The whole environment was militarised with road blocks, where voters were intimidated to stay at home and clear of polling units. Soldiers supervised snatching of ballot papers by PDP stalwarts and thugs while giving them covering fire.”

APGA candidate, Chief David Omoru, said: “The by-election is a disgrace to the Urhobo nation. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo was never elected but imposed on the people by use of force and intimidation. We are going to the tribunal to prove our case for cancellation.

My legal team is ready with overwhelming evidence against the PDP.” Aguariavwodo is a former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and a former member of the House of Representatives.

Uduaghan reacts

Reacting to the victory, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who organised a thanksgiving service to thank God for the victory, said it was by the power of God that the party regained its lost territory in the state, which is Del-

ta Central senatorial district.

He said the victory was worth celebrating, as some parties had even written petition as at 2.pm on Saturday, while the election was still on-going, claiming there was no election in the state.

Uduaghan urged the victorious candidate, Chief Aguariavwodo, to give good representation to his people and the state by attracting democracy dividends to the state.

Delta State PDP Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, said he would not want to respond to unfounded allegation by his DPP counterpart, Chief Ezeagwu, that there was no election in Delta Central, adding, “He is not even a political party chairman because he was not elected by any congress. You are journalists, go and find out.”

Nwaoboshi pointed out that by the provisions of the Electoral Act, both Ezeagwu and APC do not have party chairmen in the state, but the PDP did not want to rely on technicality to knock their parties out of the polls, saying, “That was why we said let us go to the polls and prove who is who.”

The winner, Chief Aguariavwodo, said he could not find enough words to thank the governor, party leaders and members, who fought tooth and nail to deliver their various units, wards and local governments in the byelection to PDP. He assured that he would perform his new assignment to the best of his ability and would attract dividends of democracy to the state, as advised by the governor.

Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, commended Governor Uduaghan for providing good leadership that led to the victory and said the people were behind him.

Meanwhile, it was celebration galore by PDP leaders and their supporters in Delta Central, yesterday. In Sapele, party members thronged the residence of Commissioner for Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki.

Chief Akpeki, who woke up to find out that his house had been besieged by women and youths, flung his doors open and entertained them for a job well done. He was seen shaking hands and congratulating them for doing him proud.

Delta Speaker congratulates Aguarivwodo Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Victor Ochei, has congratulated Chief Aguarivwodo.

In a statement, Ochei said that the victory was a testament to Delta Central’s preference for worthy representation in the Senate, through a viable vehicle as provided by the PDP. He observed that this triumph could not have come at a more auspicious time, when the electorate desires quality and resultoriented representation, attributes which Chief Aguarivwodo has in abundance, considering his experience in legislative business as a former member of the House of Representatives.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 — 13

C M Y K

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

Sealing my lodge is height of impunity, says Nyako zWe are in order—FCTA

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL

EDITOR, NORTH OLA—GOVERNOR Murtala Nyako yesterday reacted with disbelief the closure of his official residence in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory on the orders of the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.

The governor said he was shocked over the decision by the FCT Minister to seal off his office without the courtesy of informing him of the alleged offence.

Nyako, who made his feelings public through his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Sajoh, described the action of the FCT Minister as the height of impunity being exhibited by the administration.

The governor noted with dismay that such a brutal and primitive action could be carried out by one arm of government against another in a democratic system without any notice as required even in a private dealing.

The governor noted with dismay that the FCT Minister was acting in utmost bad faith by taking the provocative action against the government and people of Adamawa State without any justification.

“The question we may ask is, did they notify us of any infraction and intention to seal the Governor’s Lodge? If that was done, is the Adamawa Governor’s Lodge, the only one in Abuja where meetings-whether social or political are held?” the governor ’s aide asked.

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However, the minister, yesterday, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Nosike Ogbuenyi justified the action of the ministry and flayed the remarks of the governor and the Baraje-led New Peoples Democratic Party.

Viewing the allegations as diversionary since it failed woefully to address the issues at stake, the minister said chief among the issues at stake is violation of land use purpose which cannot stand.

The action by those persons behind the conversion remains illegal and abhorrent.

“The FCT is only interested in rule of law and not political posturing and propaganda. However, the point must be stressed that no person or group of per-

sons is above the law. The action taken by the FCTA in sealing off the Adamawa Government Lodge was a normal administrative and not political measure. If Eze and his masters have any issue with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its Governors Forum or the Presidential Villa, they should channel their grievances properly and leave the FCTA out of it,” he added.

Nyako insisted that the action was wrong. “You see, this is the impunity we are talking about and they have continued to act with more recklessness not minding that the spirit of inter-governmental relationship should operate with utmost good faith.

“This is a situation that all Nigerians of good conscience

should rise against because if they treat a governor and a state like they are doing, what they would do to a private individual can best be imagined,” Sajoh noted.

The sealed lodge is said to be the meeting point for members of the Abubakar Baraje facion of the Peoples Democratic Party, which has Nyako and six other PDP governors as members.

The FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, is a staunch supporter of the Bamanga Tukur faction and a dependable ally of Mr. President.

The Minister said on Saturday that he sealed the Adamawa Loge because it contravened the Abuja Master Plan by being used for meetings instead of residential purposes.

A statement by the Chief Press

A

BUJA—STRONG indi cations emerged yesterday that the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been infiltrated by the Presidency as part of moves to cause friction among its members and leadership, just as crisis looms in the fold of the new group following some irreconcilable differences.

Vanguard gathered that the cause of the impending problem was the fact that some members of the faction at the moment were not comfortable with what they said was the secrecy surrounding separate meetings President Goodluck Jonathan held with some G7 governors penultimate week.

In the camp of Baraje’s new PDP who attended the

FG reappoints Bello Mahmud CAC registrar

A

BUJA— PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment of Malam Bello Mahmud for a second term in office as Registrar General and Chief Executive of the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC. Mahmud, whose tenure as chief executive officer of the Commission expires at the end of this month was first appointed head of the Commission in October, 2009.

A highly reliable source in the VISIT: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) and Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Federal Ministry of Trade and Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, during a courtesy visit to the Investment confirmed to the Ecogovernor in Osogbo. nomic Confidential that President Jonathan approved a recommendation by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun October 7 meeting with APC, ‘abandoning the racy that we waged against ble their personal mat- Aganga, for the reappointment President Goodluck struggle midway’ or to be Tukur and the President is ters will only whittle of Mahmud as CEO of the ComJonathan were Governors with the Peoples Demo- not a personal one; we all down our fight." mission.

Aliyu Babangida of Niger cratic Movement, PDM, have our personal relationand Abdulfatah Ahmed of even as the last option was ships with either Tukur or Kwara, just as Liyel Imoke being considered as ‘too the president; but a situaof Cross River and Idris dangerous to gamble tion where some people, beWada of Kogi State were with.’ cause they have access to also at the meeting, but not The source said: “The the villa, will go in to meet in Baraje’s faction. fight for internal democ- with the president and taIt was also gathered that the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which recognised the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his National Working Committee, NWC as the authentic body, has also created a situation of ‘indecision’ in the group, just as some members of Baraje faction now have three options to know where the pendulum would shift to.

According to the source, some of them were contemplating joining the All Progressives Congress,

Cold feet in Baraje's camp over govs' meetings with Jonathan

BY HENRYUMORU

Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, read, “The FCT Administration has sealed off the Adamawa State Governor ’s Lodge in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital City for abuse of the Abuja Master Plan.

“All the governors' lodges in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are enshrined in the Abuja Master Plan to be for residential purposes but not for political party secretariat as Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge is currently being used.

“The Governor’s Lodge, as it is today, is being used as a political party office thereby negating the spirit of urban planning and causing nuisance and disturbance on the residents dwelling in that area of the city as well as inflicting undue pressure on the infrastructure and services therein, contrary to the principles of the Abuja Master Plan.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 — 15

SHOBANJO RECEIVES THE SUN NEWSPAPERS ADVERTISING MAN OF ALL TIMES AWARD IN LAGOS. PIX: AKEEM SALAU.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (left) and the recipient, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo.

From left: The recipient of The SUN Newspapers Advertising Man of All Times Award, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, his wife, Joyce, Ogun Sate governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman, The Sun Newspaper, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Mr. Tony Onyima, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, at the presentation of the award, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, weekend.

From left: Mrs. Joyce Shobanjo, MD, Insight Communications, Mr. Jimi Awosika and his wife Omolara.

From left: Mr. Sam Amuka,Chairman/Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper, Dr Orji Kalu,Chairman,The Sun Publishing Limited and Mrs. Bunmi Oke, President, Association of Advertising Agency of Nigeria, AAAN.

From left: Yeye Seyi Aderinokun, Princess Yemisi Oyegunle and Sir Richard Ibe.

Tunde Shobanjo and Bimbola Shobanjo, at the event.

From left: Mr. Dapo Egbeyemi, Mr. Muyiwa Bakare and Otunba Bimbola Ashiru, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.

From left: Mr. Dimgba Igwe, and Mr. Mike Awoyifa.

From left: Mr. Femi Adesina, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors and Deputy Managing Director, The From left: Olakanmi Amoo-Onidundu, Ayo Sun Publishing Limited and Mr. Steve Nwosu, GenOwoeye and Tosin Adefeko. eral Editor, The Sun Publishing Limited, at the event.

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 Continues from page 1 and more bodies were later picked from bushes.

Before the gunmen escaped, they set fire to some school buildings.

The terrorists have, since last year, targeted schools in the North-East zone of the country, perhaps to justify its name: Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden.” A massacre similar to that of Gujba happened in Mubi, Adamawa State, last year: Over 30 students were killed. More than 40 other students in the town of Mamudo, Yobe State, were later shot dead in another school. In July this year, scores of students and some teachers fell to the guns of these daredevils in Damaturu, Yobe State.

Schools have not been the only soft targets of Boko Haram. Buffeted on all sides in the forests of the North-East by the military, they have descended on innocent villagers. A week or two before Gujba happened, they had laid a siege to the town of Benisheik, Borno State, killing over 150 hapless men, women and children. In the not too distant past, the massacres were routine in Potiskum, Maiduguri and several other towns bordering Chad and Cameroun.

All these have been happening in states where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May. Does it mean the military authorities are failing in their duty of maintaining

Protect schools from terrorists law and order in the areas? Not really. The insurgents have been chased to remote forests and mountains, many of them have been killed, and even the “civilian JTF” has emerged to help in hunting for the terrorists. But the easy way the terrorists have been reaching schools and wreaking havoc have suggested that the security operatives have not managed checkpoints and barricades efficiently. Why should a convoy of vehicles travel several kilometres in the dead of the night, in a period of emergency, and yet no military man was able to stop them? Since they started attacking schools last year, there should have been tighter security around schools in the NorthEast. And, in the case of Gujba, it appears strange that there was no security person in the school to even raise the alarm when the gunmen invaded it. Most schools now have fences around them. It is possible that cutting off communication in the

areas under emergency state is doing more harm than good. If people had access to their phones, they would have been able to send distress calls whenever they noticed strange movements. The authorities would do well to consider restoring GSM services in the areas, even if occasionally.

The affected state governments are right in keeping all schools open, despite the barbaric attacks from Boko Haram. If the terrorists really forbade Western education, they wouldn’t be carrying firearms, using phones, driving vehicles and appearing on YouTube, for all these are products of the Western education they vilify. In any case, they can choose to avoid Western education but they have no justification for killing those, who want it. They said they were doing battle with the Nigerian state. Why have they been avoiding soldiers and preferring to attack unarmed civilians in remote villages and young students in their schools?

Their objective, of course, is to cause pain in the hearts of families and friends.

It is clear that trying to pacify Boko Haram will not prevent them from terrorising law-abiding Nigerians. Therefore, the military authorities should push harder. In collaboration with civilians, they should step up their intelligence-gathering efforts.

These invaders should be defeated quickly. Students across the nation must be assured that they are being protected from blood hounds.

OPINION

BY GODWIN ETAKIBUEBU

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HE answer the President gave to the very naughty question of the “resurrection” of Alhaji Abubakar Shekau during his recent media chat shall continuously attract different interpretation from diverse groups.

Yet, the question was simple enough. ‘The leader of the Boko Haram, Alhaji Abubakar Shekau, said to have been killed by the Military ... sometime ago seems to have come back to life,’ the journalist explained to the President before dropping the question. “Does it mean the military did not kill him or what actually happened”? Mr President’s answer: “I don’t know whether he is dead or not”, he said, adding “I don’t know him because l have not seen him before".

My interpretation of his answer is that the man (President) told the whole world the truth, nothing but the truth.

And this is where l sympathise with the President of the largest Black country on earth. Yes, he should be praised for his audacious admission of not knowing because he could have been politically diplomatic by saying that “l don’t want to comment on this question because it is a classified information”.

If he had said that, what he knows or does not know about the Nigerian security debacle, ditto Boko Haram, would have remained a matter of rhetoric. But we now know that our President does not have the whole fact about us, ditto the problems confronting us. There must remain therefore, nagging doubts if the man without the knowledge of our problems can ever proffer solutions to overcome our challenges.

If the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces; the one with enormous constitutional power to declare war against any other country, declare state of emergency on any part of the country, deploy the Armed Forces into any combat inside and outside Nigeria [of course he has to go

What does President Jonathan know about Boko Haram? to the Senate – which is almost, always, fait accompli] does not have facts about the true situation of Nigeria’s security, as his answer to the question reveals, then we are in serious trouble.

Permit me, at this point, to recommend a book – No Easy Day, written by one of the American SEAL Group, the very member that pulled the trigger which terminated Osama Bin Laden’s life in Pakistan, for Mr President’s reading.

After reading it – that is if he will read it- he may therefore come back to Nigerians to speak with authority of the security situation in the country.

The book confirmed other known facts on the military operation that put an end to OBL’s ten years reign. Unlike our President, who knows nothing about the situation in the zone where he declared a state of emergency, Barack Obama, the American President, personally approved the operational plan to capture the target [OBL] in Pakistan.

Beyond approving the operational plan, Obama remained in the Operation Situation Room of the White House, monitoring the attack while it lasted.

H

e was spiritually and emotionally involved in the operation. He saw it all and even confirmed further, through DNA test conducted that the body in question was exactly that of Osama Bin Laden. At the end, the American President was able to tell the whole world that “we got [Osama Bin Laden] him”. How l wished our own President could stand tall [or even sit upright] to tell Nigerians that “yes, Abubakar Shekau is dead”!

The book further revealed that identification of the subject’s place of hiding plus geographical location of the hiding place – all in Pakistan, was not the direct responsibility of the dreaded Navy Seal that carried out

the operation final phase, but the full adventure of the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] and other security agencies of the USA. What that proves is excellent synergy of committed security agencies operating under a dynamic leadership in achieving advantages of collectivism. We don’t have such or something near it in Nigeria. What an irony!

In the Nigerian subject matter under discussion – “death and resurrection” of Abubakar Shekau – facts of the Presidential Media Chat revealed that Jonathan is either not in control of his security apparatus [which include his security chiefs] or there is no synergy between him and his men, or victim of both. We cannot afford such President in either case. We suggest solution to ensure that this type of destructive embarrassment does not come again, ever.

Nigerians want to know the officer who told them about the death of Abubakar Shekau – the name, rank and position. We demand to know who, amongst Jonathan’s security gurus that cleared and approved the statement which intimated us about the “death” of Shekau. Then, we the people of Nigeria, who elected Jonathan to office as President, demand with immediate alacrity, the dismissal from office of those officers.

We [Nigerians] further demand that Jonathan must wake up from his sleep, take direct control of all segments of security agencies with powers of hire and fire [which he has but has ceded to some ghosts] so that he can place us in a safe ground and also save us the continuous embarrassment of a President “that does not know”. Enough is enough!

*Mr Etakibuebu, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013—41

METHODIST PRELATE ELECTION: I leave them to God, says Mbang

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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HE controversy that trailing the September 1 election of a new Methodist Church of Nigeria prelate continued yesterday, as the man that picked holes in the electoral process, Prelate-Emeritus, His Eminence Sunday Mbang, says he had no choice than to leave those who endorsed the election to God. Reacting in a telephone interview to his successor, His Eminence Sunday Makinde’s comments that the said elections were not manipulated, Mbang said: “I leave them to God and to their conscience.”

Mbang, who cited several breaches of the church’s constitution, said: “One expected them to address the issues raised. But what did one see?

A blanket endorsement of the process.

“If religious leaders decide to cover such weighty allegations bordering on credibility of an electoral process, I can say that I leave them to God. “He was quoted as saying

that the elections were unanimously ratified by the first emergency conference of the Methodist Church Nigeria held on September 1, adding that the Conference Connexional Council, which is the highest organ of the church, the regis-

tered trustees and the three legal advisers that met on October 4, commended the process and outcome as free, fair, transparent and credible.

“I don’t want to trade words with anybody. I would rather leave it at the court of the Almighty God.” Mbang said they failed to re-

spond to all the points he raised in his protest where he described the election as an ecclesiastical fraud of the highest order for several reasons.

Makinde who handed over to the new Prelate, His Eminence Samuel Uche last week, said the election process, which was endorsed by the

leaders of the church, including its legal advisers, was credible and therefore urged the secular world to emulate the church.

He said: “The election was absolutely devoid of manipulation and fraud of any kind, be it ecclesiastical, executive recklessness, or otherwise.”

Think global, Shobanjo tasks advert practitioners

BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

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HAIRMAN, Troyka Group, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, has charged his colleagues in the advertising profession to take on the mindset that Nigeria can be represented in the profession at the global stage.

Shobanjo gave the advice when he was honoured with the Advertising Man of All Times Award by the Sun Newspaper penultimate week in Lagos.

He said that the advertising industry had become more in-

triguing as competition was no more limited to any small geographical sphere, called countries.

Shobanjo said: “The globe is one stage now and everyone aspiring for success must have his/her sight set on conquering the world.

“I charge my colleagues in the advertising profession to take on this mindset so that Nigeria can be ably represented in the profession at global stage.

“It requires passion and diligence. I have encountered much skill. Please spice it up with passion and commitment

so that Nigeria can earn her deserved place in advertising in the comity of nations.”

Speaking further, Shobanjo while acknowledging The Sun newspapers for deeming it him worthy of the award, acknowledged professional colleagues, lieutenants and rivals for supporting him and making his march to success in advertising possible.

He charged the current crop of advertising professionals to spice their skill with passion and diligence to stand a chance of realising full potentials.

He said: “Permit me also to

use this opportunity to charge our successors to keep the flag flying. The industry has become more intriguing as competition is no more limited to any small geographical sphere, called countries.

“The globe is one stage now and everyone aspiring for success must have his/her sight set on conquering the world.”

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State described Shobanjo as a boost to the state in his contribution to the advertising industry in Nigeria, and Africa in general, and that he is an institution in the industry.

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 — 43

Delta by–election: How PDP machine crushed APC, DPP, others •Ogboru beats Ogboru in Abraka

BY EMMA AMAIZE, FESTUS AHON & GODWIN OGHRE

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ESIDES the takeover of Delta Central senatorial district by the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, from Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in weekend’s senatorial byelection in Delta state, one of the major surprises was that DPP leader, Chief Great Ogboru, popularly known as the ‘People’s General’, lost his Abraka home base in Ethiope East Local Government Area.

Also, his party ’s candidate,Chief Ede Dafinone, not only lost in his local government, Sapele, but also his polling unit to PDP, whose forces were marshaled by the Commissioner for Housing and Ugo of Okpe kingdom, Chief Paulinus Akpeki.

The All Progressives Party, APC, candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, was also visited by the same earthquake in his local government, Ughelli North.

The outcome of the byelection is like a political tremor and 24 hours after, the impact is reverberating and is

People's general •Aguariavwodo: Recorded landslide victory Akpeki, who is the Chairman of the state PDP Campaign Council, confirmed Gbagi’s assertion, saying, “some people in Delta Central were aggrieved with the PDP, but when you ask them, what is

,

The outcome of the by-election is like a political tremor and 24 hours after, the impact is reverberating and is bound to last for a long time. And if you call it a pound of flesh, you are not wrong, because that was what PDP took from DPP

bound to last for a long time.

And if you call it a pound of flesh, you are not wrong, because that was what PDP took from DPP. However, the landslide victory did not come by happenstance. It was a collective victory coordinated by the governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who relocated to Warri to prove to Chief Great Ogboru and his party that PDP owns the state.

Former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, was categorical when he told Vanguard that the resounding triumph was the handiwork of Dr Uduaghan, who not only directed that the warring chieftains of the party in Delta Central should sink their differences and work together, but gave marching orders to party stalwarts and appointed office holders to deliver their polling units, wards and local governments to the party unfailingly.

AP Fovie, Dr Chris Oghenechovwen, Chief Ovis Uto, Chief Francis Aguonigho including the party candidate, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo ensured that the party won crushingly in their area.

Udu In Udu, the PDP led with a margin of 53,700 votes to beat the DPP, 4,037 votes and APC 4,598 votes. At Udu, Chief Austin Ogbaburhon who just decamped to the PDP, Chief Henry Sakpra and others ensured for once that the party swept the local government area.

Okpe In Okpe Local Government Area PDP polled 8,138 votes to beat the DPP with 1,914 votes in the second home of Chief Ede Dafinone with the APC polling 1,065 votes.

The e DPP got 180, APC 19, and in unit 9, PDP got 102, DPP-75 and APC- 4 Ethiope- East PDP polled 10,616 votes against the 5,844 votes scored by the DPP, while the APC polled 3,195 votes.

,

the problem, they will not talk. The governor also noted that there were misgivings among the leaders in the district.

“It was like a command, but he said we must reconcile before everything else, after which we poured into the field, having heard that the people were complaining of empowerment. They said the problem was not actually PDP but some few persons and we went round explaining the various empowerment programmes and efforts of the government."

The governor himself, Dr. Uduaghan, confirmed yesterday in Warri that it was disunity that robbed the party of its position before now in Delta Central.

Speaking to party leaders from the area at a thanksgiving service in his residence, he said it was PDP chieftains, who left the party out of anger

•Emerhor: Lost in his local council

in the past that won whatever victory the party’s rivals were claiming, saying, “With the newfound unity in PDP, it has taken back its strength, let us now see the power they are going to use again.”

To record weekend’s victory, PDP actually overpowered its closest rival with a wide margin. While it polled 263, 024 votes, the APC, which came second, got 29,075, while the DPP secured 29,055 votes.

Sapele In Sapele, where the DPP candidate got only 5,003 votes in his homestead, Chief Akpeki and his troops, overran him with 19,795 votes, while APC’s Emerhor trailed with 2,194 votes.

Beaten in own polling unit Indeed, Chief Dafinone was beaten in his own polling unit.

He scored 10 votes as against 570 votes scored by the PDP in the unit in front of his father’s compound.

Akpeki was joined in the battle by the likes of Chief Monday Igbuya, Chief Charles Obule, Mr Michael Diden, Mr .Joseph Atsenku, Mr. Austin Ayemidejor, Chief Felix Anirah, Mr. Godwin Atuse and a host of others ensured that Sapele was delivered to the PDP. These men embarked on rigorous campaigns for the PDP. Ughelli North

In Ughelli North, PDP polled 51, 387 votes to DPP's 5,706. The rest are , APC (11,138), LP (763) and APGA 1,211 votes, thereby defeating the APC candidate, Emerhor and Chief Andi Osawota of LP in their home local government.

PDP big wigs, notably the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Dr Steve Oru, former Secretary to State Government, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Omeni Sobotie, Chief Peter Kgbogban, Chief Fred Majemite, Chief Austin Uloho, Mr Abel Oshevire, Chief Patrick Egone, Chief Shedrach Imonieroh, Chief Austin Uloho, Chief Benson Asore, Chief JB Oduma, Mr Igho Aragba, Chief Joe Ereketa, Chief Friday Onodjae, Chief Isaac Akpoveta and a host of other leaders worked round the clock to give victory to the party in the area.

Ughelli South In Ughelli South, home local government of Chief Aguariavwodo, PDP polled 38,931 votes to beat the APC and DPP candidates who scored 2,412 and 2,552 votes respectively.

Here, former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, who got 467 votes in his polling unit and cleared his ward for PDP, Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, Olorogun John Oguma, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, Mr Oma Djeba, Chief

The ‘people’s general, Great Ogboru, was practically brought to his knees in Ethiope East Local Government Area by his elder brother, Chief Julius Ogboru, former “Field Marshal” of the Ogboru Campaign Organization, Chief Mike Adiotomre, Commissioner for Finance, Chief Kenneth Okpara, Chief Bennerd Edewor, Mrs Faith Majemite, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, Chief Sunday Onoriode and others. Chief Okpara, moved from house to house in Eku soliciting for votes.

Ethiope-West In Ethiope West, the PDP polled 46,571 votes, DPP, 1,449 votes and the APC, 1,912 votes, while the PDP scored 33,886 votes in Uvwie, the DPP had 2,550 votes and the APC 2,271 votes.

At the forefront to ensure victory for the PDP in EthiopeWest are Chief Ighoyota Amori, Chief Halims Agoda, Chief John Nani, Mr Ben Igbakpa, Mr Emmanuel Ighomena, Mr Princewill Ejogharado and Mr Christian Onogba.

Uvwie PDP chairmanship candidate, Henry Baro and other party leaders worked hard in Uvwie, turning the tide overnight. This is a local government that bookmakers narrowed to either APC or DPP, but in ward 10, Ekpan 2, Baro polled 9,201 for PDP, DPP got 311 and APC-129.

Baro’s ward result could well be the best PDP performance in Delta Central.

C M Y K

44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

2015: Only the constitution can resolve Jonathan’s eligibility—Jemibewon FORMER Minister of Police Affairs, Gen David Jemibewon (rtd), in this interview, avers that the current crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is a fallout of the party’s non adherence to the principle of fair play and absence of internal democracy.

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BY GBENGA OKE

IS take on the PDP crisis as an elder statesman and a founding member of the party Looking at how the crisis developed, I am not too sure that the beginning can be traced to the Special Convention that took place recently. I think what actually happened was that it was the first time that the crisis became a public concern because problems just don’t emanate suddenly. My guess is that, there must have been circumstances that led to some misunderstandings and it was at the convention that it first became clear to the public that something was wrong. This is my thinking because there was nothing one could associate with what could have provided the basis for the spontaneous problem. Part of the disagreement was that President Goodluck Jonathan should not

interpretation. What that means is that it is the judiciary that can properly interprete any area of the constitution that seems to confuse the populace.

On clamour that power should return to the North On the call that power should return back to the North, I will say that there is no party called West, East or North. What is happening is that some group of people came up to say that this is what they want. But if what you want is not provided for by the constitution, it cannot be enforced.

For me, for a group to say either the governorship or presidency must come to us, that group must be a political party. So all these should not create controversy but the press has been creating some of the problems. For example, I am not from the South-South but I am involved in the arrangement for E.K Clark foundation. We held a meeting in Chief E.K Clark’s

,

I have no doubt that what Tukur is trying to do is to bring the party back to the line of sanity but somehow things have gone so bad for the number of years that the party was not handled properly

contest the 2015 election because if he does, he would have been sworn in to office three times.

On whether or not President Jonathan should re-contest Honestly I have no opinion on this issue. All I can say is that we have elders in the party and these elders will not like the party to be divided. Like any quarrel among two parties, each will put forward its own grievances.

I believe the elders are experienced and in every situation, there is basis for agreement at one point or the other. So I believe that with less influence from external forces, they will be able to reach an agreement.

The issue of whether the President is contesting for a second or third term in office can only be solved by constitutional provisions. In this case the constitution requires legal C M Y K

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house and after we had left, probably other meetings took place with different subject but just because people saw us coming out of that meeting, they said E.K Clark and David Jemibewon told people to disregard what Chief Tony Anenih said. That was very embarrassing.

On the Baraje-led faction's demand for the resignation or removal of PDP chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Bamanga Tukur is an elderly person, he has held many responsible professional and political positions. He was a governor and an effective one. Above all, he is a foundation member of the PDP. Most of our meetings in the early days of this party in 1998 and 1999 were held in his office. I was part of those meetings.

Even after the convention in Jos, some of us supported the possibility of him Tukur being the

•Jemibewon: It is wrong to suspend Governor Amaechi publicly running mate to ex -President other side may have some good Olusegun Obasanjo, grounds and so what it calls for, unfortunately someone else was in my view, is communication, announced. I can’t claim to know dialogue, inter personal what is happening but the man relationship. And whatever knows what the vision of the comes out in the long run will be founders were, what we were for the good of the party. aiming at and how we were You talked about elders of the wishing that PDP will be party coming to the rescue at formidable on the line of this time of disunity. Do you democratic principles. think they can succeed, given that I have no doubt that what some of them are being Tukur is trying to do is to bring fingered in the matter? the party back to the line of sanity When two people have but somehow things have gone misunderstanding and a third so bad for the number of years party decides to intervene, that the party was not handled publicising their approach may properly. not help the issues on ground.

Now that he arrived and felt All I can tell you is that elders are things should be rightly done, making frantic efforts. Whatever some people now see him as the position I am taking or whatever one doing the wrong things and other elders are doing, it will be that is the tragedy of this country. unreasonable to now publicize Things have gone so bad that that. It is not the appropriate people now feel the bad things thing. The PDP is the party in are the right things. For example, control at the national level and if Chief Sunday Awoniyi was most states in Nigeria. So if there given the opportunity when he is no peace it is likely to affect the showed ambition to lead the performance of government. party, if those who worked against that possibility had Performance allowed democratic practice to of government take place in the election, he would have made a difference.

I felt sad when Governor Rotimi If the elections were held, I have Amaechi and another state no doubt that Awoniyi would governor were suspended months have won because people wanted ago because these are people in him to win. And that would have charge of administration in their allowed for proper leadership respective states. And when you and effective democratic suspend them, you are indirectly governance. making them to lose focus. Even The Chairman being a man of in schools, it is not something honour and integrity would have really positive when a student is been able to influence the suspended. So for somebody who leadership of this country, being is a state governor, to be publicly a product of a free and fair suspended is wrong. I think we election. And the country would should have better ways and have been better today. So a lot better procedures of calling such of things have been destroyed a governor to an in house and he Tukur might have wanted discussion rather than making it to right the wrongs of the past public. and that is why he is having I believe it affects not just him problems. This is my thinking. but also the administration of the Also, those who are on the state, that is the way I look at it.

When I was the governor of old Oyo state, when I wake up and see headlines in Tribune saying something negative about me which does not represent the truth at the time and I thought I was doing my best, I get depressed. We should not forget that these people in government also have families and children who go to school, I am not sure too many people think about things like this. So how do you expect the best from such governors when they are expelled?

Having said all these, will you say the party is still on the way to realising the goals it was meant to achieve at the beginning?

A lot of people who were involved during the formative period of this party have been dis-regarded and that is unfortunate. Few days ago, someone visited me and was lamenting how badly he has been treated despite being a former minister of state in one of the ministries. Allegations were made against him as a substantive minister in that ministry, he was investigated by the EFCC and taken to court for several years.

At the end, the Supreme Court which is the highest court in the land found nothing against him.

Political activities He felt he would have been a happy person if the authority could just communicate to him to say they are sorry. We also have people in the party who joined in the middle of political activities, they were accused of somethings and were sent to jail and they seem to enjoy some recognition today far above the man who went through court processes and was cleared off allegations of wrongdoing. I am saying this because of some founding fathers of this great party, who have not been treated fairly. A lot of people who got involved at the early stage of the PDP have long been forgotten. Ordinarily, we don’t expect people to be in a position in perpetuity, but occasionally you should recognize the contributions some have made to the party. And that will gladden their hearts. If you forget and treat people who founded a party shabbily, those coming behind will be scared away. For example, headed the team that wrote the constitution of the PDP with which it was registered. And that is the only constitution that did not create problem.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 — 45

If 2015 election is postponed for national conference, it’s worth it — Adebanjo •We can't continue with this awkward federation AFENIFERE and The Patriots chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has thrown his weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan’s move to convene a national conference, saying that no efforts should be spared in making the exercise a success. The 85-year-old lawyer in this interview urged critics to cooperate with the President and criticise him when he fails.Excerpts:

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IS comments on President Goodluck Jonathans’s moves to hold national conference I am happy about it. No matter what some people might think or say, it is in the right direction. If you don’t get all that you want, you take the one that is given and ask for more.

In fact, there is no complain except that I congratulate the President for being a listening leader.

Here is a man who originally opposed the system but who is now yielding to the pressure of responsible citizens. Those who are opposing his new decision, what is it for? People are already criticising him that he is not going to do anything about the outcome of the conference. But we have just started! And I believe that it is an evidence of good faith for him to, first and foremost, set up an advisory committee to go and find out the modality on how to go about it. And the committee is a composition of credible and responsible people.

On skepticism trailing the move in some quarters I don’t see any reason for the skepticism.Those of us in NADECO and Afenifere had insisted that there was not going to be election in 1999 unless we had a Sovereign National Conference.

Civilian government If you could recollect, that was what we told the then Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar but he said, “No, no. I don’t have the time for that. When you get your civilian government, go and do it.” We had made national conference a condition precedent for whatever we were gong to do in this country. We can’t continue with this awkward federation.

Whatever you are doing is under restraint, dissatisfaction, complains here and there. You do an election today, tomorrow one of the states will take you to court. The revenue allocation controversy too is there. All these are products of defective Constitution.

But then we say okay, let’s go and settle all these and then

some are now hijacking that noble course to say when we go there we are going to disintegrate. Do you see how awkward their reasoning is?

On fears that the conference may dismember the country If people want to disintegrate, you don’t need to call conference for that. Each person will just go on his own way. It is those of us who don’t want the country to break that are anxious that we should live in peace and that all those things that are causing problems and disaffection among us should be settled around the table.

But settling these issues around the table has not been possible because of the word 'sovereign'...

(Cuts in) There is nothing difficult thing about that sovereign thing.

The sovereignty we are talking about is not what they think.

What we are saying is that, the stakeholders who have been elected to decide on how we are going to live together, once they have agreed on anything there should be no subcommittee to review it. That is all! And it should only go to referendum. We are talking about the sovereignty of the people.

And in any event, one point must be made clear, and this is point even some of the people – lawyers, more intelligent people – are saying that they can’t touch this Constitution,

Contribution to national economy

•Adebanjo: Those opposed to confab are enemies of Nigeria of the country. The thought be no more conflicts. What is that ‘he won’t do it or won’t do wrong with that?

On perceptions that it well’ is the thing that is affecting the bottom-line of the President Jonathan wants to whole conglomerate in the use the confab to deal with the country. If he doesn’t do it then North In what way will anybody the whole world will see.

And look at it, even from the think he wants to deal with the beginning a man who doesn’t North? That is what I am believe in the national saying that whoever thinks that conference has now not only way is reading unnecessary begun to believe in it, he has into it. To deal with the North also set the process in motion in what sense when we say let us come together and discuss our differences? Is that the To me, if the 2015 election is to be way to deal with the North?

Niger State Governor, postponed for us to settle how we are Babangida Aliyu, warned going to live together, it is worth it. What against people making is the point of having an election only for statements he said made it look like Nigeria was heading for us to start quarreling immediately after? breakup, saying the North would survive on its own if that this Constitution is not and he is talking of no 'no-go Nigeria breaks up ours! You and I know that it is areas.' That is an evidence of If there has been anything a military Constitution and now seriousness, sincerity and I am that has been the cause of you want to tie us to it with all going to toe that line until the grudge by the Yoruba, the Igbo, the defects and that it is going contrary is proved. So, all to say, “Well, this is what you to be amended. The people these pr-empting should stop are doing which we don’t like. that you are trusting to amend for us to at least move forward.

Don’t do it again,” is that it are part of the problem! We Don’t forget that every other dealing with the North? shouldn’t confuse ourselves at committee you might have been The point is, we must discuss all. talking of, this conference is with ourselves. Some people In one word, would you say the bottom-line. The people are enjoying some advantages that you trust the sincerity of had been forced to live together as a result of this awkward President Jonathan not to since 1914 by amalgamation. federation. They would not make this conference go the So, we have enjoyed economy like us to settle the problem. way of his predecessors? of scale and so nobody is This is an awkward We are all people of talking about breaking up. We federalism! You say you are a goodwill. We want to do want to discuss the terms of our federal government but you are something for the development living together so that there can

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BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

practicing unitary system and as a result, a lot of conflicts arise! These are the things we are talking about. And it must be made clear that this is not the Constitution our founding fathers gave us.

It was the military that destructured Nigeria in 1966 and we have been battling with this de-structuring ever since.

And we now say, okay we have had enough of this violence here and there, we have had enough of this disagreement here and there. Let’s sit down round the table and put all these causes of disagreement on the table and trash them out.'

The people in the Niger Delta, talking of resource control is not the beginning. Awolowo had been talking of revenue allocation on the basis of derivation since 1952. The people of Niger Delta now say they should be having 13 percent. How do they arrive at this percentage?

In the First Republic and Second Republic when the mainstay of economic growth was cocoa, groundnut and palm-kernel, we had 50 percent and that was the agreement.

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The North was having 50 percent of their contribution to the national economy, the West had 50 percent and so the East, 50 percent on palm-kernel.

Why are you opposed to going back to this? Is that equity?

These are the inequities there and again you created Local Governments arbitrarily and on the basis of this you are distributing revenue! And we say let us settle down.

Lagos is bigger than Kano.

Kano has 40 Local Governments, Lagos has 20.

If you look at all these and you want me to stay in a federation where I have bitterness; we say don’t let us fight over it.

Let’s discuss it and find the way out. Even those who are victims of this awkward federation and have been fighting against it, now say it is not necessary that we should sit down and talk it over.

To me, if the 2015 election is to be postponed for us to settle how we are going to live together, it is worth it. What is the point of having an election only for us to start quarreling immediately after?

Let us find a way of putting a stop to this boil. We want to live together. Yes. We want to live in peace! Not Boko Haram today, Niger Delta militants and kidnappers tomorrow. I have said it before and I have told the President that those opposed to a national conference are the people who want disintegration of this country.

46—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

WHEN the Dana Airlines plane crashed in Lagos on Sunday, June 3, 2012, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah called a press conference, broke down and wept. But when the Associated Airlines aircraft plunged to earth on Thursday, October 3, 2013, she made a media appearance, this time defiant.

She waved the sad event that has so far claimed about 15 lives aside as “an act of God”, saying that as minister, her job is to provide leadership and ensure that the right policies were in place for the aviation sector to run efficiently. She passed the buck on safety and industry regulation to the heads of the agencies in the sector, such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN; Nigerian Airspace Management Authority, NAMA and the rest.

But if any of them wins an international award she would count it as one of her achievements in office, to be sure!

Her mood change owed to calls in some quarters for her to be replaced because under her watch, Nigeria recorded unprecedented number of air mishaps totaling seven in just two years, with nearly 200 precious lives lost. One of those who put their mouths in this matter was – (yawn!)

– Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation. It was probably his intervention that put Madam Minister on warpath.

Femi has made a great ass out of himself in recent times in the public sphere, embracing controversial issues controver-

Stella Oduah’s ‘act of god' justice. Once they are caught in the act and alarms of “ole” or “onye oshi” or “barawo” are raised, death is imminent through jungle justice. So, the thief got smart. Once caught in the act he would shout “ole, ole” along with the crowd, hoping to confuse the mob and escape.

Femi was among the first to rush to the media to condemn his successor in office, forgetting that Nigerians have not forgotten he is a major culprit for the diseases of the sector for which he is being held accountable in the courts of the land. Nigeria has deteriorated to so low a level in public morality that people who should go and hide from the public due to their scandalous and discredited lifestyles are now the noisiest advocates and defenders of virtue and integrity!

Honestly, I am an admirer of the physical impact that Stella Oduah has brought into the aviation sector in just a little over

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Nigerians are very quick to blame their failures on God; a Nigerian would promise you: “I will be there, in sha Allahu” (by the grace of God); if he failed to turn up (even when he did so deliberately) he would say it was because God did not want him to be there

sially and getting called all the dirty names in the book. The fact that he is a major contributor to the rot in the aviation sector for which he is answering charges in the courts for allegedly stealing billions of naira does not faze him. He has obviously learned from his employer, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has perfected what ace Nigerian music star, Sound Sultan terms: Ole de shout ole, or the thief that shouts “thief!” In our society, pickpockets and petty thieves are visited with instant

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two years. The airport remodelling projects all over the country are modern marvels Nigerians have never seen in this generation. Never was there a time in recent history where government projects were embraced in such a wholesale manner and completed in such record quick time; a pace of achievement only often seen in private sector ventures.

In particular was the fact that two international airports at Owerri and Enugu were taken along and completed, a depar-

Princess Stella Oduah

ture from the past when the South East was always studiously avoided in the establishment of ambitious, economy-stimulating federal projects. I am also enamoured of Oduah’s vision of our airports as areotropolises or commercially oriented mini-cities which we all see in advanced countries when we travel.

But on the issue of industry regulation for greater safety, Oduah’s tenure has not been up to speed. Seven air crashes in two years cannot be swept aside with a gale of bravura and boldfacing. The Senate did the right thing in summoning her and the heads of the aviation industry chief executives to tell Nigerians exactly why we are having such a grim harvest. Are we paying more attention to the contracts side of this business than working on the more important and technically tasking side that ensures safety and comfort of air travellers? I do not support Oduah’s assertion

that the crash of Associated Airlines or any other crash was “an act of God”. Nigerians are very religious people, but most of them do not know God. They like to go to churches and mosques, flaunt their religious identities, fight for their religions and wear the garbs that set them aside as people of their faiths. But when it comes to the things that really matter in religion – the Almighty God – Nigerians do not bother to know what He is really all about.

Nigerians are very quick to blame their failures on God. A Nigerian would promise you: “I will be there, in sha Allahu” (by the grace of God). If he failed to turn up (even when he did so deliberately) he would say it was because God did not want him to be there. If God wanted him to be there He would ensure it. They run away from the truth, which is that God has given man the power to take decisions and actions and account for them. A person given the power to make sure that only properly maintained aircraft are allowed to fly cannot blame God when he allows corruption, ineptitude, politics or any other distractions in the environment to make him fail in his duties.

My own understanding of the English expression “act of God” simply means, “factors beyond human control”. Accidents will happen. But most accidents happen due, mainly, to human failings. Air crashes can happen for a variety of reasons, such as pilot error, severe weather, mechanical or electrical failures, conflicting signals from the control tower, sudden obstructions on the runway, bird strike and so on. Most of these factors can be controlled by man through discipline and competent handling. That is why crashes are high in some places and low in others.

For me, it becomes an “act of God” when, especially, the force of nature is at work.

Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and typhoons, floods, wildfires and such natural disasters can be called “acts of God”, but even at that, man has come to minimise the havoc they wreak through expert handling. That is all we ask for. That is why we have so many specialists and experts at work. For Minister Stella Oduah, the Associated Airlines crash is a Yellow Card. We do not want to see the crash that will amount to the Red Card.

OPINION

BY CHIDI EJIKEME

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HIS conspicuous outrage at Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged weakness and or ineffectuality calls to mind Shakespeare’s line “methinks thou dost protest too much”.

The protestations are all the more conspicuous because the backdrop of precedents in leadership is so starkly absent of excellence, the very absence which has denied us and continues to ensure our backwardness such that over a hundred years after a ship crossed the Atlantic from Britain to the US with a light bulb on, our various leadership, soaked in martyr’s blood and the people’s oil, unable to give the people electricity and other basic services and amenities, has managed only to enrich itself most conspicuously. A denial which highlights the greatest intellectual myopia and anachronistic management style and philosophy and which should now be considered as treason against the people given the needless loss of lives we have all suffered owing to a most crass and long lived incompetence.

The leadership cabal that has been throttling this nation for over four decades cannot give voice to condemnation and

This conspicuous outrage judgement if it had even a micro fibre of conscience left to it. Alas, I fear that the virulent disease of gluttony has eroded everything that would naturally validate its claim to humanity.

Nigerians should be most weary of this conspicuous and spurious claim of a weak Jonathan because it is not borne out by hard facts as we continue to witness a keen and gradual expansion of our private sector by way of local content policy and the gradual untying of the Gordian Knot that incapacitated our power sector for so long that it defied even the strong reforming zeal of “strongman” OBJ; he lost $16 billion in his bid. Not forgetting the railway system which is slowly stirring from its ages-long slumber of the dead. These are just some of the major services and policies that impact the macro dynamics from which the ebb and flow of daily life issue.

To be sure, much remains to be done. Coal from Enugu and oil in the Anambra basin, and others, remain, inexplicably, untapped resources, and the second Niger Bridge, a continuing mirage.

Nigerians should be wary of a leader-

ship that in four decades constituted itself into a cabal that was only talented in simulating real succession and change as it subjected the pinioned citizenry to an endless change of guards in alternating costumes of uniform and agbada. The unscripted appearance of a Jonathan in power is galling to this cabal in a primal sense that we need not go into here. And it is the one baying loudest with a charge of weakness.

Nigerians should ask as to the nature of this purported weakness. Is it vis-à-vis Odi? Vis-à-vis various letter, box and car bombs and murders in the land, unsolved or unsolvable because of Oga at the top?

We should be looking for a way to cleanse this blood-soaked land, not looking to invite more bloodlust.

N

igerians should realise that something sinister and atavistic lurks at the heart of these charges of an incompetent or weak leadership. Had we suddenly had a 20-year spurt of growth truncated by a Jonathan presidency these calls would have had a basis in reason

rather than the rancid rejection of an upsetting of a status quo that benefited a very few at the heartrending expense of a good many. Had the self-righteous cabal put into effect a WAFTA (West African Free Trade Agreement) with Nigeria acting as a hub for various activities, particularly the refining of crude oil, or had they not contracted the economy into a singularity based solely on oil and shrunk the potentials of our youth by attenuating the educational sector into a global joke with quota system? The only expansion and growth we have experienced in 40 years is the size of government and its executive aides and their conspicuous consumption.

What people should know is that right from inception this very powerful cabal has worked assiduously to undermine Jonathan’s credibility, his governance, his policies and programmes, as had indeed been promised. These are pretty strong challenges for a man to contend with whilst trying to crank up a huge ship for a motion that it hasn’t experienced in too many decades. *Mr Ejikeme, a political scientist, wrote from Lagos

47

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 —

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EGARDING the November 16, 2013 gubernatorial election in Anambra, I am rooting for APGA; and I am rooting for Anambra North to produce the State’s next governor. This article wraps up the reasons behind my choices. Democracy, in the last analysis, is all about choices; stark choices that go beyond the spectrum of outright politicking and extend to the basic freedom to hold and express personal opinion.

On paper, the November 16 election is to choose who governs Anambra State. More fundamentally, the ballot is about the right of Ndigbo to political choice, the right of Ndigbo to a voice of their own, the very right of Ndigbo to reject machinations aimed at converting them into political eunuchs.

Mark the distinction between being a slave and being enslaved.The Igbo nation, through history, was never slave territory. ButNigerian post-civil war politics have rendered Ndigbosy stematically enslaved.

They are blessed with abundant deposits of crude oil and natural gas. But these may never be mined, lest they benefit from the paltry percentages vomited by derivation. They produce some of the best footballers around and

some of the best musicians about.

But woe betides any ambitions of national leadership from their quarters. Censuses must never properly enumerate them. Above all else, they are sacrificial lamb to be incessantly led to the slaughter, the most massacred ethnic group on the African continent.

Most of us long declared our democratic right to a full and final stop to these injustices. One good way of reiterating our insistence on justice is to return APGA to power in Government House, Awka. No ethnic or linguistic group anywhere in the world has the slightest chance of survival, let alone thriving, which has no voice. There are a dozen political parties in the Anambra governorship contest.

Bar APGA, none of these other parties speaks for Ndigbo. In none of the leading national parties does any Igbo politician hold an office higher than janitorial.

Who ever saw a janitor in a boardroom arguing for the benefit of his kind? Did such effrontery not earn the manual labourer a few bashes on the temple with his mop handle?

The critical message must not be lost. An APGA defeat in the Anambra ballot will extinguish the political voice of Ndigbo until further notice. True, APGA has had its ups and downs in its de-

So the Boko Haram has become invincible

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

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BELONG to the school of thought that claims thus: “ We all came to religion in our individual ways and we each needed to respect the religious practices of others, seeing as it was up to every human being to find his or her own way to heaven”. This logic can also be extended to our tribal/ ethnic origins and geographic locations.

It is a sociological thing that should crave the understanding of every human being on earth. It is what has brought order to the world and why a Black man is sitting pretty over there as the President of the United States of America.

Furthermore, a society that does not open its doors to other cultures is bound to be stagnant in the race for development. The more exposed a society is to education, the clearer an understanding of this reasoning. That is why the Boko Haram sect, in its present form, content and execution, will never thrive in the Southern section of the country. It is not only in the North that you experience abject poverty, it abounds everywhere along the coasts of the South.

In fact, the oil producing area of this country is a paradox in the study of wealth and poverty.

Recently, the papers reported of a notorious kidnapping kingpin named Kelvin, trying to become a modern day Robin Hood to his people in the South. In one week, he was fished out by the security agencies from where he was hiding. Why is it not possible to get Shekau and the key Boko Haram leaders in the North?

With the understanding of the above, it is clear that the Boko Haram war would have been needless if the elites and leadership of the North had fed the largely illiterate masses with correct information. A lot of

C M Y K

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cade of existence. But no rationale human being argues because of protracted famine that the head of cocoayam is preferable to his mother ’s head. There are politicians from outside the South East who, bereft of constitutional backing, have beenscreaming that President Goodluck Jonathan cannot run for a second term. How can these characters have the nerve to dictate who our governor must be?

This amounts to indiscreet petulance. During the campaigns that preceded the unconstitutional governorship ballot of 2007, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo– a president who awarded the “contract” for the 2 nd Niger Bridge on amplitude and frequency modulated wavebands – had the temerity to announce from our state capital, that his ward was the man to govern Anambra State! Why? Because the would-be governor had served him for seven years, whereas Igbo traders settled their apprentices after only five years of tutelage!

towns and villages in the South survive, not because of government presence but through community, co-operative and town development unions. It is very clear that, with our political structure- the way it is now- over-bloated centre, impoverished states and local governments, corrupt leaders and politicians, nothing much is expected from government.

Due to the illiteracy in the North, a myth has been created out of the Boko Haram sect. They are far gone into delirium of being unaware of the fact that the destructions being created have impacted deeply into our existence. Whose duty is it to pass this knowledge to the largely illiterate people of Borno and neighboring states? I ask so because, a few years ago, a state governor from Borno was quoted in the newspapers as saying that he was happy his people do not read newspapers, when he was being fired by the Southern press for keeping 70 jeeps in his fleet. Ironically, this state is the headquarters of the Boko Haram sect today.

Let us not beat about the bush, the principal cause of the Boko Haram insurgency today is the woeful failure of the Northern educated and political elites to give the people the right leadership and training; instead they use the people for their own selfish and political aggrandizement. The creature has now grown into a Frankenstein monster that does not separate the shepherd from the sheep, all is game to it.

They are killing Christians, Muslims, students, women, children; and -wait for it- , people who cannot find solution to the simple problem in their domain, now want to rule the whole country as president. I say simple because, if the issue had been handled very professionally from the beginning, we would not have gotten to this stage.

There is an unwritten rule in the field of criminology that no law enforcement of-

The scenario hasbecome even ghastlier. We now have,amongst the cacophony prattle of interlopers,the duo of Alhaji Nasir el-Rufai and AlhajiNuhu Ribadu dictating who the next Governor of Anambra State must be.Ndigbo resolutely declaim this petulant indiscretion, which is an outcome of the recent political marriage of strange bedfellows named after an obsolete analgesic.How can the epitomes of deafening silence in the grotesquery of the Sunday-in-Sunday-out bombing of our people in their places of worship presume to impose leadership on Ndigbo? When did we ever dictate the occupants of the Government Houses in Borno, Dutse, Kano, Lagos, Minna and Sokoto?

I authored a book in 2007 entitled The Case for an Igbo President of Nigeria. In it I argued that Nigeria’s presidency was not solely for Obasanjo and the Hausa-Fulani. Inherent in a presidency circulating around the rest of Nigeria was a logic that should propel it to the Igbo country! The very arguments in the book are applicable to the call for the next Anambra governor to come from the State’s North Senatorial District. Fortunately, APGA’s candidate, Willie Obiano, is from Anambra North and, from all indications, possesses the dominant infrastrutures of great political leadership. Something tells me that a man with impeccable academic credentials who rose to the apex of the Nigerian banking industry before retiring with an unblemished record should command

ficer must be killed by the criminals, no matter the level of provocation. Whenever such a thing happens anywhere in the world, the authorities ensure that the culprit is quickly identified, apprehended and summarily dealt with. This rule has been torn to shreds in Nigeria. Policemen and

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BY CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

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APGA, Anambra and the Igbo question

The critical message must not be lost; an APGA defeat in the Anambra ballot will extinguish the political voice of Ndigbo until further notice

the attention of Anambra’s electorate.

I am yet to meet Obiano. His running mate, Dr. Nkem Okeke, is a friend.It is crucial to note that no one ever accused this duo of suffering rustication in their university days. Nobody ever accused them of cultism. No quarters ever accused them of decorating their names with the prefixes and suffixes of unearned academic qualifications or dubious royalty. No Inland Revenue boards accused them of posting false tax returns. They are no mobsters. Pointedly, they didn’t number in the “tried and tested” Anambra politicians who justified the recent deportations of their kith and kin. It is general knowledge that, more than any other ethic group, Ndigbo were responsible for Jonathan being inside Aso Rock today. Ndigbodid it while Jonathan’s party was not in charge in Anambra State.

Ndigbo can repeat the feat on an even grander scale in 2015 withObiano inside Government House, Awka.

We have been in the crucible and have, like gold, been tempered by fire. With heads held high, we shall demonstrate on November 16 that we have little problem choosing between our head and a head of cocoayam.

Anambra State will notbe a stepping-stone for the consolidation of the political marriage of convenience aimed at permanently burying the Igbo leg of the tripod of Nigerian politics. *Mr Iloegbunam, a journalist, author and commentator, wrote from Lagos

be sent to the area to contain their own people and if they fail, they should be held accountable.

With the level of destruction, it is clear that majority of the Boko Haram fighters are not Nigerians. No sensible person will help bring destruction to his homeland to

The principal cause of the Boko Haram insurgency is the woeful failure of the Northern educated and political elites to give the people the right leadership and training

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military officers are slaughtered like cows the extent the Boko Haram have gone in in their numbers. Barracks- supposed garthe North. The authorities must begin to rison- have been sacked. Not one decisive look at the international connection to action from our Police and Military authis. Nomads from Mali, Somalia, Niger thorities to discourage a re-occurrence. and so on, are the foot soldiers for Boko War is a serious matter, it involves Haram. There is also a total disconnect lives. Failure that leads to loss of lives to between our intelligence officers and the both the uniformed and civilians should people. Without information, no war can not be treated with levity. How did Boko be won. It is very important that the forces Haram men over run our military posts/ on ground carry the people along. The way barracks, taking with them spoils of war the insurgents are carrying on- killing the like ammunition and vehicles? Were our civilian JTF supporting the army- there sentry guards sleeping? will soon be loss of confidence on the Definitely, there is a gap in our planning people’s part. and execution of this Boko Haram war.

Every successful strike by the Boko We have too many saboteurs amongst the Haram is a direct indictment on all our rank and file. If that is the case, is our army intelligence agencies; we have many of not a professional one? Do they not have them. Present day war is based on intelliprocedures for dealing with saboteurs? Evgence. It does not matter the caliber of eryone along the line that has been your arsenal, you must be able to infilinvolved in failed operations, including trate the rank of the opponent and checkcommanders, must be sanctioned, unless mate their next move. Intelligence! Inthere are genuine causes for pardon in extelligence!! Intelligence!!! This is the ceptional cases. A drastic situation key. requires a drastic remedy.

It is time for all to wake up, as the secuStill on saboteur issues, the army and rity of the nation is the responsibility of police authorities should post men who all, no exception. are familiar with the terrain to contain the insurgents. By this I mean, people from *Mr Ikhioya, a commentator on national Borno State in the Armed Forces should issues, wrote from Lagos

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 14, 2013

France to increase troops in Central African Republic F

RANCE will boost its troops presence in the Central African Republic by the year end under a forthcoming U.N. resolution to help prevent the country from spiraling out of control, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Sunday.

Fabius and European Union’s aid chief, Kristalina Georgieva, are in the country to drum up support and international interest for a largely forgotten crisis.

“We will increase our support especially in the logistics domain after United Nations resolutions (are approved). We will also increase troops, a little at first. This will be done before the end of the year,” Fabius said.

France currently has about 400 troops in Bangui, protecting the airport and French interests. Fabius did not say how many troops will be added, but sources have told Reuters the num-

bers could be increased to about 700-750.

The Central African Republic has descended into chaos since mostly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in March, the latest coup in the country that remains one of the world’s poorest despite resources ranging from gold to uranium.

Since seizing power aided by the Seleka alliance, transitional President Michel Djotodia has failed to control the exrebel fighters who have been accused of unleashing a wave violence on civilians despite being officially dissolved.

The African Union has

stampede at a bridge leading to a remote Hindu temple in central India on Sunday killed at least 89 people and injured more than 100, police said.

Nearly 150,000 devotees gathered to celebrate the holy festival of Dussehra at the Ratangarh temple, in a forest outside the town of Datia, 390 km (240 miles) north of the Madhya Pradesh state capital, Bhopal.

But pilgrims panicked when the railings broke on a bridge that led to the temple, triggering the stampede. Some devotees were crushed to

O

PENING a rare Sunday session of the Senate, Majority Leader Harry M. Reid said he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are continuing talks to

death under the feet of fellow worshippers, others drowned after falling or jumping into the river Sindh.

“The death toll has shot up to 89 now and nearly 100 people are injured.

Relief work tends to slow down after the sunset but will start in full swing from tomorrow morning,” Dilip Arya, a deputy inspector general of police, told Reuters.

Local media said the police used batons to control the crowd, prompting many people to panic. A team of 20 doctors was been sent to help, the media said.

Muslim hajj crowds thinned by virus concerns

M

USLIMS from across the world poured Sunday into a sprawling tent city in the Saudi desert before the start of the annual Islamic hajj pilgrimage, but the number of the pilgrims this year has been reduced in part by concerns over a respiratory virus centered in the Arabian peninsula.

More than 2 million pilgrims — about 1 million fewer than last year — streamed from the holy city of Mecca to a huge tent encampment in Mina about five kilometers (three miles) away to be-

•Muslim pilgrims in Mecca yesterday.

US Senators begin talks to end shutdown

89 killed in stampede at Indian Hindu temple

A

responded to the conflict by deploying about 2,500 troops. But its resources are limited, prompting Paris to seek a U.N. Security Council mandate that would turn the operation into a U.N. peacekeeping force ultimately supported by French troops.

Fabius said the dissolution of Seleka, a grouping of five northern rebel movements, must be real and concrete with some of them returning to civilian life while others should be in barracks.

“We cannot have armed bands roaming the country,” Fabius told a news conference in the riverside capital.

gin preparations for the hajj with a day of prayer and supplication.

Saudi authorities sharply cut back on visas for groups such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses as a precaution against a new respiratory virus related to SARS that has killed more than 50 people in the kingdom this past year.

The Saudi health minister, Abdullah al-Rabiah, said late Saturday that no cases of the coronavirus infection have been detected among pilgrims.

raise the debt ceiling and reopen the government, but gave no hint of progress in their negotiations.

“We’re in conversation today,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “I’m confident the Republicans will allow the government to open and extend the ability of the country to pay its bills. And I’m going to do everything I can throughout the day to accomplish just this.”

With the two sides stuck over whether to leave in place deep automatic spending cuts known as sequestration, Reid stressed that Democrats have agreed to leave the reductions in place into November and suggested they would be open to allowing them to remain in place longer. He noted that was part of a continuing resolution to fund government that has been adopted on a bipar-

tisan basis in the Senate but blocked in the House.

But another round of cuts is set to take effect in January. Democrats have balked at a deal proposed

by Senate Republicans that would have opened broader budget talks in coming months but might have allowed that hit to occur in January.

“There was one conversation on the Sunday shows today that said we were trying to break the

caps set in the budget act,” Reid, referring to the 2011 Budget Control Act that put sequestration in motion. “We voted differently than that. We voted to extend the [continuing resolution] until November 15. Not a word about breaking caps.”

The debate came a day after Senate leaders began negotiations aimed at reopening federal agencies and avoiding a government default after other efforts to end Congress’s impasse had crumbled in the previous 48 hours.

IMF chief warns against drastic US spending cuts

A

S debate rages over the US budget and borrowing limit, International Monetary Fund Director Christine Lagarde Sunday warned US spending cuts must not be too drastic or they could threaten global economic recovery.

In an interview on NBC Sunday talk show “Meet the Press,” Lagarde said the United States must address its spending on social programs like Medicare and Social Security.

But she said, “The point is not to contract the econ-

omy by slashing spending brutally now, as recovery is picking up.

“The pace of consolidation has to be sensible in order to protect that growth which is generating jobs, and which is helping in all sorts of

ways,” Lagarde added.

The United States must deal with “entitlement (spending) that will come up and haunt you in a few years’ time,” she said, but the government needs “a balanced approach.”

Israel finds tunnel dug under Gaza-Israel border

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HE Israeli military said Sunday it discovered a concrete-lined tunnel dug from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip into Israel, alleging militants planned to use it to attack or kidnap Israelis.

In response, the military froze the transfer of all construction materials to the Palestinian territory, the army said. A Hamas military spokesman in Gaza, Abu Obeida, was defiant over the tunnel

Egypt: Detained US citizen found dead in cell

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HE Egyptian gov ernment said a U.S. citizen it detained in the Sinai Peninsula last month for violating curfew was found dead Sunday in his jail cell, the second foreigner to die in detention in recent weeks.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo confirmed that an American citizen held prisoner in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia died from an apparent suicide and

The IMF director said the US economy is already showing “real improvement,” evident in indicators from the housing sector to the automobile industry to banking and household spending.

that it was in contact with Egyptian authorities. It had no further comment.

In Washington, the State Department identified the American as James Lunn and said U.S. consular officials in Cairo were informed of his arrest on Aug. 28, a day after the Egyptians detained him. Consular officials had been in touch with Egyptian authorities and Lunn since, it said.

A statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry, which is in charge of police, said Lunn was detained on Aug. 27 during “combing operations” that followed a car bombing outside a police station in the turbulent northern region of Sinai. It said a computer and maps of “important installations” were found in his possession. It did not identify the facilities.

discovery, saying on his official Twitter account that “thousands” more tunnels would be dug out.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza for six years, has dug tunnels into Israel in the past. In 2006, a year before seizing power, Hamas-allied militants sneaked into Israel through one such tunnel, killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped a third, holding him hostage in Gaza for five years.

According to the Israeli military, the latest tunnel stretches 1.7 kilometers (a little more than one mile) and appears to have been recently dug and in use until its discovery last week.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 — 49

50—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

Vanguard CLASSIFIED NEWUWUMI—We, formerly known and addressed

Ibori: UK taxpayers to bear cost of retrial

as Newuwumi Godfrey Omolubi, Ejero Marian

T

to known and addressed as Omolubi Godfrey

HE London South wark Crown Court has been told that the abrupt manner the asset confiscation hearing of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, ended in London after the prosecution and defence had closed their cases and filed their final briefs, and the order for retrial will have cost implications for the court and the British taxpayer.

Ibori’s lead counsel, Mr. Ivan Krolick, made this clear to the court for granting the crown prosecution’s request to halt the assets confiscation proceedings after three weeks of exhaustive legal arguments.

He told Judge Anthony Pitts that “there will be cost implications.”

Preparations for the abruptly ended proceedings started in January leading to the last three weeks in September and a review of 63,000 pages of prosecution papers by the defence team.

The arguments overshot the assigned time frame by a week.

Still, pushing aside all the efforts of the defence team to present the position of the defendant against the confiscation request order being made by the prosecution should indeed have cost implications, which will be borne

by British taxpayers, who will be paying for the crown prosecution’s shoddy preparation and lack of tangible evidence to support their confisca-

tion claims and accusation against the former Delta State governor.

Judge Anthony Pitts, rather than give judgment or give a date for judgment after three weeks of legal battle during which final submissions were made, ordered the retrial of the case from the start and granted the Crown Prosecution’s request for more witnesses to be called and more evidences to be brought in for him.

To quote him directly, Pitts said while giving ordering for a retrial: “This matter must proceed in a way that I can make proper decision.”

One question that has agitated Ibori’s camp and lawyers interested in the case since, is what will “proper decision” mean in this case?

This is because the British Crown prosecution claimed they presented in their trial bundle 63,000 pages of statements, flew in Nigeria’s former EFCC chairman, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, to give evidence in court, made over 50 trips to Nigeria, had boxes of documents taken from the government of Delta State in the course of investigation, investigated James Ibori’s alleged criminality against Delta State for over eight years with unhindered access to government information and supported by the government of Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala laments Liechtenstein's attitude on • 185m Abacha loot

BY OMOH GABRIEL & EMMA UJAH, Washington DC

A

T the conclusion of the 2013 World Bank annual meeting, yesterday, in Washington, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, lamented that Liechttenstein has continued to frustrate efforts by Nigeria to recover • 185 million popularly called Abacha loot, after 14 years.

She said that the World Bank had agreed to help monitor how the recovered fund is spent.

She said: “There have

been several hurdles put in Nigeria’s way in the central European nation’s courts by the Shell companies or their representatives, challenging every step, and the World Bank has offered to help ensure that the recovered funds are judiciously utilised for the good of Nigerians.”

Okonjo-Iweala, who was fielding questions on the sidelines of the 2013 annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, said “it has gone to a stage where the courts in Liechtenstein have now litigated and said it should be returned.”

Oritsegbubemi, Newuwumi Jeffrey, Newuwumi Amaju and Newuwumi Jerry Omolubi, now wish Oludewa, Mrs. Omolubi Marian O., Omolubi Jeffrey, Omolubi Amaju and Omolubi Jerry Oritseweyinmi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

E YA K P U V I E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss E y a k p u v i e Oghenerutejiro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Koroye Nanabo Oghenerutejiro. All former documents remain valid. Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku and general public please take note.

IGINI—I, formerly known as Miss Igini C a t h e r i n e Oboawharhevwo, now wish to be known and adressed as Mrs. Omoike Catherine Oboawharhevwo.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MUHAMMAD—I, formerly known and addressed as Muhammad Balkisu Ahmad, now wish to be known and addressed as Ahmad Balkisu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABDALLAH—I, formerly known and addressed as Abdallah Ahmad Abdulsalam, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdulsalam Ahmad. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONYEAGHASI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Lucy Chikaodinaka Onyeaghasi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lucy Chikaodinaka Braimah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OSSAI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ossai Echigeme Blessing, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Udowo Echigeme Blessing. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

A B DA L L A H — I , formerly known and addressed as Khadreea Abdallah, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdallah Khadreea.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GEORGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Bibian Oyabrade George, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bibian Oyabrade George Emmanuel Goga Yusuf. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EFENI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Omonigho Francisca Efeni, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omonigho Francisca Nomuoja. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BASSEY—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jo-Anne Andrea Bassey, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jo-Anne Andrea Anyia. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UGBEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Juliet Ugbeh, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Juliet Osanebi. All former documents remain valid. Trustfund Pensions Plc and general public please take note.

NWOSU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwosu Rosemary Njideka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okwara Rosemary Njideka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ECHEOZOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Andy Ikechukwu Echeozor, now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Andy Ikechukwu.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EMPIRE—I, formerly known as Empire Akporodeh Governor, now wish to be known and addressed as Akorodeh Ukpe.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OPONE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Opone Patricia Ifeoma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Patricia Ifeoma Orji.

All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EDEH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Edeh Ndidiamaka Linda, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. C h u k w u e z e Ndidiamaka Linda.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

E Z E N WA N N E — I , formerly known and addressed as E z e n w a n n e Omelebere B., now wish to be known and addressed as I z u c h u k w u Omelebere B. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Immigration Service, First Bank Ltd. and general public please take note.

ADELAKUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adelakun Elizabeth Adebanke, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Ajagbe Elizabeth Adebanke.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ERHURHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Erhurhe Oghenero Rita, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Ebioke Oghenero Rita. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AKINNAGBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinnagbe Aanu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ikuemonisan Aanu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AKINREHINOTE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinrehinote Omowumi Elizabeth, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sanni Omowumi Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AFURE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Afure Omerhomo Mercy, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Irozueh Omerhomo Mercy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGAGA—I formely known and addressed as Miss Oghenvwede Blessing Ogaga, now wish to known and addressed as Mrs. Oghenevwede Blessing IzoboOghene. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E R T S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T P AV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

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52 — Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 14, 2013

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...Now that we know Ethiopia

,

HERE is celebration in the land, celebration that was not seen in the first half. A first half that made a mess of all those stupendous predictions by overzealous fans who believed that Ethiopia will be meat for super.

It was fun listening to radio and television programmes where Nigerians predicted two or three goals victories for The Super Eagles. Yes, why not?

It was ok to be patriotic and optimistic, but reality was yesterday.

Reality was our defence working overtime and Enyeama being called to make breath taking saves.

Was it the white jersey? Don’t laugh. It seemed even the Ethiopians played on our psychology because their preferred yellow dominated jersey was substituted for green to deny us our top choice.

The first half was torture for Nigerians. Nothing that the Eagles did right. Yes, analysts have blamed the altitude, the weather, pressure and wind that worked against Nigeria. Did I see the Ethiopians going for water break?

Whatever it was, Ethiopia used the first half to earn respect and prove to us that they did not get to this stage by fluke. Ethiopia played as a team. They understood each other perfectly and strung passes that made our defence look amateurish.

That they recorded over 60 per cent possession in the first half was an indication of their control, so much that we started praying for a goaless draw, believing that perhaps when we get to Calabar we will finish it off.

The second half started like the first with the Ethiopians all over the place. It took Enyeama’s effort in the 55th to keep us alive.

Two minutes later, If the referee believed that the first incident against Nigeria had not crossed the line, his second assistant did not allow him to think

Then came Emenike, that moving train, the tanker, the modern day Amokachi, African Nations Cup highest goalscorer who manufactured a goal from nothing with a stupendous shot in the 67th minute.

twice about the second, ruling that Enyeama had plucked the cross from inside the goal post.

One goal down, panic!

Then came Emenike, that moving train, the tanker, the modern day Amokachi, African Nations Cup highest goalscorer who manufactured a goal from nothing with a stupendous shot in the 67th minute. That was the tonic the Eagles needed to prove that one on one they were the better team, even if on paper.

The same Emenike it was whose solo effort ended in a penalty call from Camerounian referee Alioum Neant. Now that we have seen Ethiopia, now that we know Ethiopia, we will certainly respect them come

I saw it coming — Kalu F

ORMER Abia state governor Dr.Orji Uzor Kalu was a bundle of confidence as Nigeria fought from behind to nail Ethiopia in Addis Sunday.

“I was so sure the Ethiopians would fall.My pre-match prediction was that the Eagles were unstoppable.You saw how they electrocuted their opponenents,”Kalu said in his Lagos home at the end of the clash.

The ex-governor had even calmed nerves when the going got tough emphasising that Nigeria could pick a late goal.

“I saw a late goal coming.When most of my guests were panting,you noticed i was enjoying myself.I sensed the Eagles would grab the winner in the last minute.And that came to pass”, he added.

Kalu had told compatriots that Ethiopia would concede two goals ,like their clubside Electric Company did to Enugu Rangers in the 1977 Mandela Cup.

,

Up Eagles... Nigerian fans rejoice in Ethiopia.

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S the main draw of the 13 th Governor’s Cup Futures I serves off today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has said that it was committed to the tournament because of the need to improve the ranking of Nigerian players.

Explaining the reason for its sponsorship of the tournament, the bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Olufemi Bakre, said the concept of the competition was what endeared the Bank to the annual

Nestle Milo gives scholarships to 32 Edo pupils

T

HE season of the Milo Football Clinic ended on Saturday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City with 32 pupils from various schools in the city and environs securing scholarships.

The scholarship awarded was for those who made the final selection and participated in the novelty match for the closing ceremony.

Each member of the winning team called Team Green went home with N40,000 cash as part of a scholarship scheme initiated by Milo

to build up in the pupils in their formative period. Team White members who lost the match by 6-3 got N20,000 each.

Benjamin Julius who scored for the winning team in the first minute was named Man-of-theMatch.

But every player was a champion as the over 2,000 pupils that participated got branded gifts to take home apart from the knowledge imparted on them on and off the football pitch. The scholarship and gifts

award was the second in line as those who featured in the programme nearly a fortnight ago in Abuja left the Old Parade Ground in similar fashion.

The programme is anchored by a former Super Eagles captain Peter Rufai. In Benin he was assisted by many coaches including Monday Eguavoen.

Another former captain and coach of the Eagles Austin Eguavoen addressed the pupils on Friday and was also a part of the closing events on Saturday.

November 16. But I make bold to say that this same Ethiopian side can be slaughtered, if we play traditionally, like Cote Divoire, Ghana and Cameroun would have done.

The Ethiopians played like the English. European football if you ask me, a football that Mikel and Moses are used to, where the opposition has the ball and you allow him all the space to caress, dress, move into position, pass and take possession until they miscue and you take over.

If we crowd the Ethiopians in Calabar, power play them, bulldoze may not be the word, but there will be need to utilize our muscle against their frail nature and bombard them to submission, in which case we can score more than three goals.

Well that is the future for you. For the present, it is celebration galore. a 2-1 victory away is a great result, one that sees us one and a half leg in Brazil. We congratulate Keshi and his glory boys, we congratulate Nigerians for this great step.

Brazil, here we come, despite a brief stop over in Calabar.

FOR LINUS MBA. This week end, FIFA Referees Advisor and the Referees Consultant to the Nigeria Football Federation Linus Mba will be burying his brother in the sleepy town of Neke Isi Uzo Local Government in Enugu State.

The late Dr Anthony Ifeanyi Mba ( 69) was a staff of Wellcome Nig after which he graduated to supplying sports equipment to the military, and veered into other businesses that spanned various areas.

Our commiserations go to Oga Linus, for this great loss.

See you next week.

FCMB commits to Gov’s Cup sponsorship tournament is the 13th tournament organised by the Lagos State Government.

“We are proud to sponsor the Governor’s Cup again this year. At FCMB, we believe in supporting what our stakeholders value.

Sports and indeed the game of lawn tennis are a key passion point for them which is why we have thrown our weight behind this tournament,” Mr Bakre said.

The Governor ’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship is the longest International Tennis Tournament (ITF) in the country. This year’s

•Abunu

edition and FCMB has co-sponsored the tournament for four consecutive years.

The Bank’s support is in line with its commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria considering the huge opportunities it offers not just to the people, but also for national unity.

According to Mr. Bakre, the excitement and bond generated by previous editions of annual tournament is a testimony to this. Hence, “it is always FCMB’s desire to support worthy causes that would benefit the youth and engender national development”.

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54 — Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 14, 2013

Musa: We showed we’re champions A

HMED Musa has said that the Super Eagles showed champions stuff to win a Brazil 2014 World Cup playoff in Ethiopia on Sunday.

The African champions fought back from a goal down to beat a determined Ethiopia 2-1 with the return leg clash fixed for November 16 in Calabar.

A delighted Musa said the game was tough, but they showed the character of true Africa champion to win. ”The game was a very tough and hard one. The Ethiopia played well, but we are more exposed and experienced than them, that won the match for us.

We showed them that we are the Africa champions,” Musa said.

Musa came close to getting on the scoresheet in the 77th minute, but his powerful shot from inside the box crashed against the right post. ”I really thought the ball had gone in, but it hit the post. All the same, the eventual victory made me

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DOWN AND OUT......Ethiopia’s Asrat Magersa sits dejected on the pitch after his team 2-1 to Eagles in Addis Ababa yesterday..PHOTO: AFP to forget the miss and I am sure we are in Brazil already because we can’t lose to them in Calabar, but we will still take them seriously,” he vowed.

Sporting Braga defender Elderson Echiejile tweeted his appreciation to Nigerians for their support, saying there is still another match to be played next

down the frayed nerves of Nigerians, who were scared by the pin-point passes of the Ethiopians in the first half.

Emmanuel Emenike, a reliable striker who made it possible for Nigeria to win the African Cup of Nations in South Africa in February, brought his scoring prowess to bear when he fired in a cannon to cancel the lead established by the Ethiopians. Emenike collected a pass from the middle and bullied himself forward before unleashing a ferocious shot that took refuge in the net. The jam-packed stadium was like a grave yard and the Nigerian supporters celebrated almost unheard in the sea of green and yellow jerseys of passionate Ethiopians.

Ethiopia’s first real chance of scoring came on 25 minutes as Salahdin Said skipped past two defenders before apparently prodding his shot over the line before Godfrey Oboabona

clawed the ball away, but the referee adjudged the defender to have prevented the goal, controversially ruling the strike out and leaving the score still goalless.

Behailu Assefa had opened scoring for the Walya Antelopes in the 56 th minute and the goal was greeted by rapturous celebration.

In retrospect, Enyeama was to blame as he was ball-watching, only to react too late when he caught the ball inside the net.

However, after Emenike equalised and the minutes ticking away, it was Emenike again, who surged forward but was dragged down by Abebaw Butako and referee Néant Alioum pointed for a penalty.

The heart-beat of Nigerians could be be heard as Emenike stepped forward and calmly tucked the ball into the net, sending the goalkeeper to the wrong side of the post.

Stephen Keshi was mobbed by his

IRECTOR Gener al of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye have lauded the Super Eagles for beating the Walyas of Ethiopia 21 on their home ground and thanked for honouring President Goodluck Jonathan who paid the team a visit in Addis Ababa with this victory.

The DG of the NSC observed that President Jonathan’s unwavering support to the team did the magic in Ethiopia and he charged the team

Oliseh, Akpoborie hail Emenike E

X-NIGERIA stars Jonathan Akpoborie and Sunday Oliseh have praised Emmanuel Emenike after he inspired Eagles to a 2-1 win in a World Cup playoff in Ethiopia.

However, Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi has warned that there is still 90 min-

utes between Nigeria and a place at Brazil 2014.

Akpoborie told MTNFootball.com that it was Emenike’s intelligence that won the game for Eagles and that they need to work harder for next month’s return leg clash in Calabar. ”I see it as the individu-

assistants in celebration of a win, which if looked on account of what happened in the first half, could have been different story altogether.

As expected, Ethiopians excelled in the passing game and their agility running rings on the Nigerian players, who could not find their bearing. Like one Nigerian said, if passes were counted as goals, perhaps, Ethiopia could have joined the powerhouses of World football as they tickled souls with their tailormeasured passes.

In fairness to the Ethiopians, they made the African champions look ordinary in the first 45 minutes. Eagles three-man midfield of Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi and Nnamdi Oduamadi was largely ineffective, allowing the Ethiopians, powered by Menyahel Teshome to dictate the pace of the game.

In the attack, Moses was a shadow of

himself as he struggled to find his range even when he found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Jenal Tassew and blasted into the waiting hands of the keeper But for the inspired substitutions of Coach Stephen Keshi, who had to take off Moses and Oduamadi for Brown Ideye and Nosa Igiebor, the outcome could have been different. The changes stabilized the Eagles midfield, allowing Emenike, the Fenerbahçe striker, to have a free hand to do the damages in the attack. Ahmed Musa was also on point on the right side of attack, disturbing the Ethiopian leftfullback.

As they Eagles soared higher, the fans of the Wayla Antelopes were left wondering what might have been. They had come thinking of victory as their Coach Sewet Bishaw had promised but left the stadium defeated, with the chances of qualifying for next Summer’s World Cup finals looking bleak and dented.

Eagles Continues from BP

President Jonathan made Eagles victory possible — Elegbeleye

al brilliance of Emenike that took us over this hurdle called Ethiopia,” Akpoborie said ”Congrat to the Eagles and Nigerians but they have to work harder ahead of the home tie.”

Former Eagles skipper Oliseh through his twitter handle said Nigerians should savour the victory as he labelled Emenike “5-Star Emenike.”

Glo congratulates Eagles

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EADING telecom munications operator and sponsor of Nigerian National teams, Globacom has congratulated the Super Eagles for recording an important away win against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in the World Cup qualifying match played in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

Globacom in a press statement released in Lagos eulogised the Super Eagles for recording the crucial away win in Addis Ababa which gave the team a brighter chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

“Playing under a high altitude, the Super Eagles displayed an unlimited attitude and triumphed over the Walya Antelopes right on their home turf.

By this victory, the Super Eagles have again proved that no challenge is too complex for Nigeria to surmount.

to finish up the job in Calabar, Cross River in November 16, 2013. ”I am highly elated for the Eagles’ victory over Ethiopia in today ’s (Sunday) match. The team and their coaches have justified the support given to them by Mr. President (Goodluck Jonathan). ”The President’s visit to the team in Addis Ababa also spurred them to victory. Mr. President despite his tight schedule ensured he visited the team and had ome on ome with the players and players eventually did not disappoint him”, Elegbeleye disclosed. ”The team should go all out and win the second leg in Calabar without conceding a goal to justify their current rating as African Champion and go to Brazil on that platform.” Elegbeleye charged.

Imoke hails Eagles

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ROSS River state governor,senator Liyel Imoke says he is confident the Super Eagles have already booked their flight to Brazil for next year ’s FIFA World Cup following their 2-1 win against the Waliya Ibex of Ethiopia in the first leg of their play-off tie in Addis Ababa Sunday evening and will only need to reconfirm it in Calabar next month when the return leg is played.

Governor Imoke made this assertion while congratulating the team for making good the promise that they will repay the confidence he (the governor) has in them by accepting to host their home games since the qualifiers began. ’Like all Nigerians,I congratulate the team for showing the true,neversay-never die Nigerian spirit during the match.When they were a goal down and many were already expressing the fear that a repeat of what happened in 2006 looked imminent,the boys rose to the occassion and came back to win the match,’’said Imoke .

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013 — 55

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VANGUARD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

Tunisia 0 Cameroun 0

Super Eagles as good as in Brazil •Beat Ethiopia 2-1

BY TONY UBANI & JOHN EGBOKHAN

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F R I C A N Champions, Super Eagles yesterday in Addis Ababa boosted their chances of playing in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when they defeated boastful Ethiopia 2-1 to look too good to hoist Nigeria’s flag in the samba county in June.

And one man shot himself into reckoning, scoring a brace to calm

Continues on Page 54

Qualified for Brazil World Cup Ekweremadu congratulates Eagles, Uduaghan •Brazil (hosts) •Japan •Australia •Iran •South Korea •Italy •Holland

•Argentina •Costa Rica •USA •Colombia •Belgium •Switzerland •Germany

advises them

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EPUTY Senate President, Ike Ekweremade, has congratulated the Super Eagles on their victory.

Said he: I commend the

Emenike: Brazil not far off TWO-GOAL hero Emmanuel Emenike says he had confidence he would get a goal despite

the tight attentions of Ethiopian defenders in the Super Eagles’ 2-1 win over the Walyas.

PUZZLE

Ethiopia took an innocuous lead 10 minutes into the second half, but Emenike held

Eagles for their resilience and determination. They have made us proud and it is my hope that they will consolidate on this victory backhomeinNigeriatobook a place in Brazil in a superlative style.”

Sports loving governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghanalsocongratulated the Eagles and said that the victory should inspire them to do more. Uduaghan had these words for the Eagles:

“Yourvictorymadeusproud.

The victory should inspire you to seal it up in Nigeria and do us proud in Brazil.

You should not relent. The passing game of Ethiopia was a source of concern but your power, experience purposefulness gave us victory. In Nigeria, you must stick to those qualities and even improve on them. They can continue to pass the ball while we continue to score.

Congrats our ambassadors.”

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

CELEBRATING TO BRAZIL........Super Eagles two-goal hero Emmanuel Emenike (L) celebrates a goal with Ogenyi Onazi, during yesterday’s 2-1 win over Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. PHOTO: AFP

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Start (6) 5 Join (6) 8 Immerse (8) 9 Lock (4) 10 Vestment (3) 12 Brag (5) 15 Stitch (3) 17 Regret (3) 18 Novel (3) 19 Enemy (3) 20 View (5) 21 Epoch (3) 22 Chopper (3) 23 Strive (3) 24 Hit (3) 26 Wash out (5) 29 Attempt (3) 33 Region (4) 34 Benevolence (8) 35 Phill (6) 36 Number (6)

DOWN 2 Normal (5) 3 Ditto (4) 4 Pitch (5) 5 Coil (5) 6 Succulent (4) 7 Fad (5) 10 Dire (5) 11 Fish (5) 12 Cut (5) 13 Fire-raising (5) 14 Rogue (5) 15 Dulcet (5) 16 Tired (5) 25 Over (5) 27 Nugget (5) 28 Hoax (5) 30 Monarch (5) 31 Repast (4) 32 Sprig (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1, Trim 4, Fun 6, Hack 8, Unison 9, Remiss 10, Dam 12, Await 14, Untie 15, Leash 18, Career 20, Ascend 24, Motto 26, Share 28, Yacht 30, Wet 32, Beggar 33, Aviate 34, Zest 35, Tot 36, Gala

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Renew 3, Missile 4, Fond 5, Norm 6, Human 7, Cusion 11, Ass 12, Arc 13, Tee 16, Arm 17, Hat 19, Achieve 21, Sty 22, Coating 23, Dot 25, Ode 27, Right 29, Hotel 30, Writ 31, Tart

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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